Polish crypto enthusiasts have launched a unique campaign to educate lawmakers, sending 560 copies of a seminal Bitcoin book to parliamentarians as the nation debates a controversial new cryptocurrency law.
The initiative aims to address what organizers perceive as a fundamental lack of understanding among legislators regarding digital assets, a concern heightened by a proposed law that critics argue could severely impact the local crypto industry. The group sent the book “The Bitcoin Standard” to every member of the Polish parliament’s lower and upper houses.
The book, written by economist Saifedean Ammous and published in 2018, has become a key text in the cryptocurrency community. It critically examines traditional fiat monetary policies and advocates for Bitcoin as a decentralized alternative to central banking.
Organizers state their goal is purely educational, not political, intending to “illuminate those trying to regulate the industry.” Each book is accompanied by an open letter emphasizing the need for lawmakers to comprehend what they are legislating. “If someone is going to regulate an industry, at least they should know what they are regulating,” the letter states.
The proposed legislation seeks to adapt the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation into Polish law. However, industry representatives contend that the current draft goes beyond EU requirements, threatening to force local crypto businesses to relocate abroad.
Jeremiasz Krok, a journalist for Bitcoin.pl, noted that even a single book might prompt legislators to ask: “Do I really understand what I am voting on?”
Funding for the campaign came through Geyser, a cryptocurrency-based crowdfunding platform.
The political stakes are high, with the bill currently awaiting a decision from the Senate after approval by the lower house. President Karol Nawrocki, who took office in August, retains the power to veto the government’s proposed law.
Meanwhile, Viceminister of Finance Jurand Drop warned that without such legislation, cryptocurrency companies would struggle to operate legally within Poland, stating, “Without a regulatory framework, the sector will remain in legal uncertainty.”