On January 16, Moldova's Minister of Finance Andrian Gavrilita said that the country plans to introduce its first comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation by the end of 2026, aligning its regulatory framework with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). The proposed law will allow citizens to legally hold and trade crypto assets, but will not recognize them as legal tender.
Gavrilita noted that the government is working with the central bank, financial market regulators, and anti-money laundering authorities to develop the legal framework, fulfilling its commitment to align with the EU. He emphasized that crypto assets should be seen more as a highly volatile speculative domain rather than traditional investments, although citizens retain the right to participate in such activities under compliant conditions.The report stated that this legislation will become Moldova’s first formal legal framework for cryptocurrencies. Previously, Moldova’s central bank has repeatedly issued warnings regarding the price volatility of crypto assets and associated money laundering risks. Against this legislative push, the EU’s MiCA regulation has fully taken effect by the end of 2024, becoming Europe’s first unified regulatory framework covering the crypto industry. (Cointelegraph)[BlockBeats]