Moldova plans to introduce cryptocurrency legislation by the end of 2026, aligning with the EU's MiCA framework.

Moldovan Finance Minister Andrian Gavrilita said on January 16 that the country plans to roll out its first comprehensive crypto regulation by the end of 2026, aligning its framework with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) rulebook. The new rules will let citizens legally hold and trade crypto but will not recognize it as legal tender. Gavrilita noted the government is collaborating with the central bank, financial market regulators, and anti-money laundering (AML) agencies to build the framework and meet its EU alignment commitments. He emphasized crypto should be seen more as a high-volatility speculative space than a traditional investment, but citizens still have the right to participate in related activities if they follow compliance rules. Reports state this will be Moldova’s first formal crypto legal system. Previously, the Moldovan central bank had issued warnings about crypto’s price swings and money laundering risks. The EU’s MiCA fully took effect at the end of 2024, becoming Europe’s first unified regulatory framework for the crypto industry. (Cointelegraph)