The Canadian Parliament is considering Bill C-25, which would prohibit political donations in cryptocurrencies.
The restrictions apply across the entire political system, covering registered parties, electoral alliances, candidates, and third parties involved in election advertising.
The "Strong and Free Elections Act" raises concerns that the pseudo-anonymity of cryptocurrencies poses transparency issues, making it "in principle difficult" to identify participants.
The provisions include a penalty of double the amount of any improper contribution.
C-25 is the second attempt to ban cryptocurrency donations. Its predecessor, Bill C-65, contained identical provisions but was rejected after Parliament was dissolved in January 2025.
The new version is currently in its first reading in the House of Commons.
From Regulation to Prohibition
In Canada, cryptocurrency donations have been permitted since 2019 under an administrative system that classifies them as non-monetary contributions, similar to property. However, no major federal party publicly accepted cryptocurrency during the 2021 and 2025 elections.
Additionally, such contributions could not be counted towards tax benefits, and contributors donating over $200 had to be publicly identified.
Over time, Canada’s Chief Electoral Officer, Stéphane Perrault, shifted to a "prohibitive" stance. After the June 2022 elections, he recommended tightening the rules regarding cryptocurrency donations.
In November 2024, Perrault proposed a complete ban on crypto donations due to identification issues.
It’s worth noting that in March 2026, the UK government implemented urgent legislative changes to restrict political donations in cryptocurrency.