Canada advances Bill C-25 to ban crypto political donations

Canada is moving toward banning crypto political donations under Bill C-25, the “Strong and Free Elections Act.” The bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons on Apr 27, 2026 and now heads to committee review, where amendments are still possible and no final date is set. If enacted, the crypto political donations ban would stop parties and candidates from accepting cryptocurrency donations. Lawmakers say it closes perceived gaps in Canada’s election-finance rules and fits a broader election-law overhaul focused on transparency, stronger enforcement, and reducing risks like foreign interference. The move lands alongside tighter digital-asset regulation. Canada is also advancing stablecoin frameworks and refining rules for crypto investment funds, custodians, and cold storage, with policy leadership under PM Mark Carney despite his earlier skepticism toward crypto. For traders, this is primarily a compliance and election-finance headline rather than a broad market crackdown. Still, it could add a modest bearish sentiment overhang for Canadian crypto adoption—especially around stablecoin and custody infrastructure—though the direct price impact is likely limited given the historically small use of crypto in Canadian elections.