Moldova to Regulate Cryptocurrency Market by 2026 Under EU Pressure
Moldova, an EU candidate country, will implement comprehensive cryptocurrency regulations by 2026 after conceding it cannot ban decentralized assets. Finance Minister Andrian Gavriliță confirmed the draft law will govern ownership, trading, and conversion of digital currencies while enforcing strict anti-money laundering (AML) and taxation rules.
The legislation—developed with Moldova’s central bank, financial watchdog, and AML agency—mirrors the EU’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) framework. "We can’t just ban it. Citizens have the right to own these currencies," Gavriliță stated, emphasizing the inevitability of regulation over prohibition.
The law will define permissible crypto transactions, fiat conversions, and licensing requirements for exchanges. This move aligns with Moldova’s EU accession commitments, though the minister did not specify whether stablecoins or DeFi protocols WOULD face additional scrutiny.