Poland has strong cryptocurrency regulatory laws, primarily enforced to fight against terrorism financing and money laundering, as well as the 4th and 5th EU Directives on financial market supervision. Essentially, such laws are important in ensuring that Poland’s cryptocurrency market operates transparently and securely, thereby fostering investor confidence and market stability.
The Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) is the leading regulator for these activities. Individuals as well as companies must pass through an authorization procedure to engage in businesses related to virtual currencies, obtaining essentially a permit equivalent to a cryptocurrency license. This involves record and subsequent inclusion in the Ministry of Finance’s registry of crypto companies. Let’s learn more about the Poland crypto license and how to get it!
Activities Covered by Cryptocurrency Licenses Issued in Poland
These include:
- Virtual currencies exchange: Acting as intermediaries between various cryptocurrencies.
- Virtual currencies exchange with fiat money: Enabling the conversion between cryptocurrencies and traditional “legal tender” monies.
- Custodial crypto wallet establishment and maintenance: Offering secure means of storing electronic assets.
- Brokerage services: They act as intermediaries between cryptocurrency transactions and transactions involving fiat currency.
Benefits of having a Crypto License in Poland
Poland’s progressive regulatory approach offers several major advantages for crypto businesses, including:
- Scalability: Authorizing a company in Poland allows it to operate within its expansive market or even think about expanding into other European nations while partnering with international corporations.
- Easier Registration Process: Compared to other jurisdictions, Poland’s authorization procedure is not complex, thus saving time since it usually takes around 2-2.5 months, which can be done remotely.
- Friendly Regulatory Requirements: The Polish jurisdiction does not require crypto companies to have physical offices; only legal addresses are enough. Additionally, there is less requirement for accounting services costs as well as administration expenses, hence reducing the initial investment required before starting up.
- Flexible Hiring Practices: Any foreigners who wish to occupy key positions like CEO or AML officer since no residency is required. This makes Poland a preferred destination for crypto enterprises.
How to Obtain a Cryptocurrency License in Poland
To register a company and obtain a cryptocurrency license in Poland, one has to follow specific steps stipulated under the Polish cryptocurrency regulations:
- Preparation of Documents: Gather all the necessary documents, including the company charter, ensuring they are written in Polish.
- Registering Legal Entity: Officially form a legal entity.
- Tax Identification Number Acquisition: Get a Polish tax identification number (PESEL) and submit an electronic application via the ePUAP platform. This step can be completed remotely.
- Forming Limited Liability Company (Sp. z o.o): Create Limited Liability Company.
- VASP Registration: Apply for registration as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) with a trade register.
The registration process has several requirements before it proceeds. Directors in a firm must have relevant education and work experience in the cryptocurrency industry. From the first day of registration, the company should keep accurate accounting information and financial statements. Registered companies are required to:
- Open a bank account.
- Pay for share capital and state fees.
- Create AML policies, KYC procedures, risk control, and monitoring rules.
- Employ an AML officer who is competent.
Cost of Cryptocurrency License Acquisition in Poland
The cost of acquiring a cryptocurrency license in Poland is comprised of several items, which include:
- Legal Fees: These costs go towards retaining lawyers who will assist with the registration process and ensure regulatory compliance. They can vary depending on how complex the business structure is and what services are being offered.
- Registration Fees: These fees are applied when registering a legal entity and submitting applications via the ePUAP platform. They are standard administration charges imposed by the Government.
- Share Capital: This refers to the minimum amount that must be deposited as share capital at registration, depending on the type of entity (e.g., Sp. z o.o.).
- State Fees: What you pay for your company to enter into the cryptocurrency enterprises registry as stipulated by regulations set by the state.
- AML Compliance Costs: The expenditures involve developing AML policies and KYC procedures, hiring an expert officer for AML, etc. These expenses ensure that there is continual conformity with anti-money laundering legislation.
- Accounting and Administrative Costs: It entails keeping accounting records, preparing financial reports as well as meeting various administrative obligations. Compared with other jurisdictions, these expenses tend to be lower in Poland generally.
This will largely depend on different variables associated with each particular situation or need to be expressed by companies; however, overall costs could range from several thousand up to tens of thousands of euros or even more than that because it all depends upon presenting firms’ special aspects.
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