EU and eight countries sign agreement to track crypto assets and seize property

On October 14, 2026, the European Union and eight countries signed an agreement to enhance the recovery of assets obtained through criminal activities, including crypto assets. This protocol aims to strengthen the authorities' ability to locate and recover funds that criminal networks transfer across jurisdictions. The document complements the 2005 Warsaw Convention and was approved on May 15, 2026, in Chișinău, Moldova. The first countries to sign it are Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Luxembourg, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, and the United Kingdom. The treaty allows authorities to freeze or seize assets urgently and without prior notice. It also provides for the confiscation of property linked to criminal activities without the need for a criminal conviction in certain cases. To locate the funds, access to financial information and virtual assets is expanded, and the establishment of specialized tracking offices is required. Confiscated assets will be prioritized for return to victims, and amounts exceeding 10,000 euros will be distributed among the involved countries. The protocol is not yet in force and requires five ratifications. Although it does not prohibit the use of cryptocurrencies, it strengthens the authorities' ability to track assets and access data from service providers.

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