Canada’s crypto donation ban clears key vote with support from Conservatives
Bill C-25, the Strong and Free Elections Act, cleared second reading Friday and heads to committee as Conservative lawmakers raise but don’t challenge the proposed ban on bitcoin contributions
What to know:
- Canada’s Bill C-25, which would ban crypto donations to federal political campaigns by classifying them alongside other hard-to-trace funding methods, passed a second reading in the House of Commons and moved to committee review.
- The proposal covers all major participants in federal elections, including parties, candidates and third-party advertisers, requiring any illegal crypto contributions to be returned or sent to the Receiver General within 30 days.
- The measure has drawn little opposition in Parliament, reflecting the minimal role crypto has played in Canadian campaign finance, even as the U.S. continues to allow such donations while the U.K. has already banned them.
The legislation would prohibit political contributions made in crypto, alongside money orders and prepaid payment products, grouping them as funding methods that are difficult to trace.
The ban would apply across the federal system — registered parties, electoral district associations, candidates, leadership and nomination contestants, and third parties that run election advertising.
Recipients would have 30 days to return illegal crypto contributions or remit them to the Receiver General, Canada’s equivalent of the U.S. Treasury.
The bill’s lead defender on the floor was Kevin Lamoureux, the Liberal parliamentary secretary to the government’s House leader, a junior official who helps manage the ruling party’s legislative agenda and acts as a floor spokesperson during debate.
