Moldova plans to introduce its first comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation by the end of 2026, aligning its regulations with the EU’s Markets in Cryptocurrency Regulation (MiCA) framework, according to the country’s Finance Minister Andrian Gavrility.
Gavril he said He told state television TVR Moldova on Wednesday that the government was working with regulators to develop a legal framework that would allow citizens to own and trade cryptocurrencies, while not recognizing digital assets as a means of payment.
“We have an obligation to regulate them and citizens will have the right to have these currencies,” he said. “I’m not sure if we can do it in the next month, but this is our commitment to the European Union. You can’t forbid [cryptocurrencies.]”
The announcement comes more than a year after the full implementation of the EU’s MiCA framework, the first comprehensive regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency industry, which entered into force for crypto asset service providers on December 30, 2024.
The move would mark the first formal cryptocurrency law in Moldova. Its central bank issued a lot warnings on the volatility and money laundering risks associated with digital assets.
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According to the plan, the draft regulations will be developed jointly by the Ministry of Finance, the National Bank of Moldova, the national regulatory authority for financial markets and its anti-money laundering authority.
The legislation aims to legalize cryptocurrency ownership and transactions, but will not include provisions to legalize digital assets for payment purposes in the country, Gavrilita said.
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Cryptocurrencies are a speculative domain, warns the Minister of Finance of Moldova
During the interview, Gavrilita repeatedly emphasized the speculative nature of cryptocurrencies. “I avoid using the term investment when it comes to cryptocurrencies,” he said.
“I see them more as a speculative domain, but citizens have the right to manage them in any way they want, and this year we will have appropriate regulations.”
While he didn’t share more details about the future bill, he said countries like Estonia serve as an example because of the “simplicity” of the country’s legislation.
Meanwhile, other countries are opposing potential licensing loopholes in Europe’s MiCA framework.
In September 2025, France became the third European country to call on the Paris-based European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) to take over supervision of major cryptocurrency firms, joining Austrian and Italian securities regulators.
The move followed growing criticism of Malta’s cryptocurrency licensing system. In July, ESMA published a review of the Malta Financial Services Authority’s approval of a crypto services provider, finding that the regulator had only “partially met expectations”.
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