Moldova to Legalize and Regulate Crypto by 2026
• New comprehensive crypto law: Moldova plans to adopt its first nationwide cryptocurrency law by the end of 2026, aligning it with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory framework.
• Legal status of cryptoassets: The proposed legislation would legally recognize the holding and trading of cryptocurrencies within the country under regulated conditions.
• Payments and legal tender: Despite legalization for ownership and trade, cryptocurrencies will not be permitted as a means of payment for goods and services, and the Moldovan leu will remain the official legal tender.
• Taxation: The draft framework reportedly includes taxation provisions: crypto gains will be taxed (e.g., at a rate of about 12 % on income and capital gains from transactions, though holding itself isn’t taxed).
• Regulatory alignment: The move is driven by Moldova’s ambition to align with EU standards as part of its broader integration path with the EU.
• Drafting and oversight: Multiple agencies, including the Ministry of Finance, National Bank of Moldova, financial market regulator, and anti-money-laundering authority, are collaborating on the legislation.
• Under current law, cryptocurrency activity in Moldova is largely unregulated and not formally recognized, meaning there isn’t a clear legal basis for crypto markets yet.
• The planned regulation draws on the EU’s MiCA framework, which sets common standards for crypto-asset service providers, licensing, consumer protection, and market conduct across EU jurisdictions.
