Canada moves forward with a ban on crypto donations: plans to block channels for crypto political funding.

On March 26, the Canadian government introduced the Strong and Free Elections Act (Bill C-25), proposing a ban on donations to political campaigns using crypto assets such as Bitcoin. Crypto assets, along with money orders and prepaid payment instruments, would be classified as "difficult-to-trace" sources of funds. The ban would apply to the entire political system, including registered political parties, candidates, campaign teams, and third-party campaign advertising entities. This move follows the UK's recent suspension of cryptocurrency political donations, citing concerns about preventing foreign funds from flowing into the political system through crypto assets. If the bill passes, illegally received crypto donations must be returned or disposed of within 30 days, with maximum fines of up to twice the amount of the violation plus a maximum penalty of $100,000. The bill is currently in its first reading in Parliament. It's worth noting that Canada previously allowed crypto donations since 2019, but actual use was minimal; no donation records were disclosed in the 2021 and 2025 elections. Regulators have long been concerned that the "pseudo-anonymity" of crypto assets could affect election transparency, ultimately leading to a complete ban. (CoinDesk)