moldova

According to Decrypt, the National Anti-Corruption Center of Moldova (CNA) has disclosed a plan to influence the country's parliamentary elections in 2025 using cryptocurrency, involving an amount of $107 million.CNA Director Alexandr Pinzari stated that the plan involved "complex trading operations" through non-custodial cryptocurrency wallets, transferring virtual assets to intermediaries in Moldova, who would then convert them into cash and distribute them to local activists for bribing voters, promoting specific candidates, and mobilizing rally participants. The source of the funds can be traced back to two centralized cryptocurrency platforms in Russia and Kyrgyzstan.Blockchain analysis firm TRM Labs linked the activity to the "Russia-backed foreign influence operation InfoLider" and confirmed that the Kyrgyzstan cryptocurrency exchange TokenSpot is one of the sources of the transactions. TRM Labs had previously identified TokenSpot as a potential front company for the sanctioned Russian exchange Garantex, both of which are closely related to the "Kremlin-backed sanctions evasion ecosystem."

According to market news, Moldova's Finance Minister Andrian Gavriliță announced that the country plans to introduce cryptocurrency regulatory legislation in 2026.As a candidate member of the EU, Moldova must adhere to the EU's regulatory framework for crypto assets (MiCA). The new regulations will clarify the legality of citizens holding, trading, and converting crypto assets, and will authorize specific institutions to conduct related business. However, cryptocurrencies will not be allowed for payment of goods or services. In terms of taxation, while holding cryptocurrencies will not be taxed, profits generated from transactions will be subject to a 12% income tax.The regulations will also include strict anti-money laundering and security risk management measures. Andrian Gavriliță emphasized that the government's goal is to legalize this sector while preventing cryptocurrencies from being used for illegal financing and money laundering activities.