- Canada‘s federal government proposed a bill to ban cryptocurrency donations to political parties on March 28, 2026.
- The legislation aims to prevent anonymous, hard-to-trace contributions that could facilitate foreign election interference.
- Violations could result in penalties up to twice the contributed amount plus fines of $100,000 for corporations.
- A similar 2024 bill failed to advance, but Canada’s chief electoral officer has recommended a crypto donation ban since 2024.
The Canadian federal government introduced legislation on Thursday, March 28, 2026, proposing a total ban on cryptocurrency donations to political parties. This move, spearheaded by House Leader Steven MacKinnon, aims to safeguard elections from anonymous contributions that could mask foreign interference. The proposed Strong and Free Elections Act would amend the Canada Elections Act to prohibit crypto, money orders, and prepaid card donations.
According to the official announcement, the ban targets payment methods deemed “hard to trace.” MacKinnon stated on X that these measures are intended to block foreign threats and ensure free elections. Consequently, the UK government also announced plans for a moratorium on crypto donations the same day.
However, this is not Canada’s first attempt at such legislation. A similar bill was proposed in 2024 by then minister Dominic LeBlanc, but it failed to pass second reading. Crypto donations have been permitted since 2019, treated similarly to property. Meanwhile, a 2024 report by Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault recommended a ban due to identification challenges.
If passed, banned contributions must be returned or delivered to the chief electoral officer. Penalties for violations include up to twice the contributed amount plus $25,000 for individuals or $100,000 for corporate entities. The bill also expands existing bans on realistic deepfakes impersonating candidates. This reflects growing global concern, highlighted by a deepfake of then-President Biden during the 2024 US elections.
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