An EU Parliament committee rejects a provision for its Markets in Crypto Assets framework that would have effectively banned proof-of-work cryptocurrencies
Dubai recently adopted a law to regulate the crypto sector. Good for you! Scott Chipolina / Decrypt : EU Votes 32-23 Against ‘De Facto Bitcoin Mining Ban’ Kevin Helms / Bitcoin News : EU Parliament Committee Votes Against Proof-of-Work Ban, Supports Alternative Amendment on Crypto Assets Matthew Gooding / Tech Monitor : MEPs vote against European Bitcoin ban, but the proposals could return Vince Dioquino / Crypto Daily : EU Votes Down Crypto Markets Bill, Bitcoin Mining Operations Continue Paul Hill / Neowin : EU Parliament committee decides not to ban proof-of-work cryptos Kollen Post / The Block : Returned “proof-of-work ban' in EU crypto markets bill fails in committee Reynaldo Marquez / Bitcoinist.com : Why The European Union Voted Against A De Facto Bitcoin Mining Ban Brooks Butler / Crypto Briefing : European Parliament Votes Against Proof-of-Work Ban Lachlan Keller / Forkast : EU votes against de facto Bitcoin mining ban John P. Njui / Ethereum World News : EU Committee Rejects Proposal to Ban PoW Networks Such as Bitcoin Erie Maxwell / ZyCrypto : EU Parliament Votes Against The ‘De-Facto Bitcoin, Ethereum PoW Ban’ Ambar Warrick / CoinGape : Breaking: EU Votes Against Banning PoW Crypto Tokens In MiCA Bill Namcios / Bitcoin Magazine : EU Parliament Backtracks Ban On Bitcoin's Proof-Of-Work Tweets: Patrick Hansen / @paddi_hansen : BREAKING: The ECON committee of the EU Parliament just voted against the de-facto POW-ban: 32 against, 24 in favor. Big relief & political success for the bitcoin & crypto community in the EU💪💪 Will share a breakdown of the vote and what's next here in this thread. #Bitcoin Pierre Person / @pierr_person : It seems that reason and common sense prevailed. We must continue to defend the principe of technological neutrality. Thanks you MEP @OKovarikMEP and all the others who try to understand this revolution. Europe must remain in the global competition ! https://twitter.com/... Sumit Gupta / @smtgpt : As #crypto continues to cement its position as the future of finance, it is important to embrace sustainable regulations that balance industry growth with environmental impact The EU's regulatory steps could be a great move for the crypto sector globally https://www.europarl.europa.eu/ ... Guy Swann / @theguyswann : I want the ratio to be much better than this. We still have a *ton* of work to do. https://twitter.com/... @millaliraj : A EU proposal to limit the POW consensus mechanism has been rejected. As an environmentalist, I see POW as a superior system than paper money with the majority of mining is done via renewable energies. Crypto innovation continues in the EU! https://www.coindesk.com/... #Altcoins https://twitter.com/... @zenledgerio : gm ☕️ JUST IN: EU Parliament voted against the proof-of-work mining ban! Miners rejoice 🥳 But don't forget to report/pay taxes on your mining rewards! https://www.coindesk.com/... Pete Howson / @peterjhowson : Rollout of electric vehicles worldwide has prevented 50 million tonnes of CO2. #Bitcoin emits 114 million tonnes. Every year! EuroParl votes to keep madness going. https://www.coindesk.com/... Lark Davis / @thecryptolark : This is going to be a big deal potentially for #bitcoin and other proof of work coins. Proof of stake coins not on the radar. https://www.coindesk.com/...
Context & Ripple Effects
The committee had already postponed its crypto-rules vote after backlash over leaked proof-of-work language, then set a new vote after removing the proposed ban wording. The rejection confirms that the energy-focused restriction did not survive that legislative sequence.
The decision matters because it separates the immediate ban fight from the broader MiCA process. Related coverage later shows the economics committee approved a MiCA bill that regulates mining and limits stablecoin issuance, indicating that crypto oversight continued without the rejected mechanism.
First-order effects
- Bitcoin and other proof-of-work cryptocurrency users and mining operations avoid the proposed MiCA restriction that would have limited their use.
- The EU Parliament committee must advance crypto-asset rules without the rejected proof-of-work provision.
Second-order effects
- Crypto firms facing EU compliance planning can focus on the remaining MiCA requirements rather than redesigning activity around an effective proof-of-work prohibition.
- Mining policy becomes a distinct regulatory question within MiCA rather than a categorical restriction embedded in the framework's initial language.
Third-order effects
- The MiCA process points toward technology-neutral crypto regulation that governs activities such as mining and token issuance rather than excluding a consensus mechanism outright.
- Repeated revisions around proof-of-work show that energy concerns can shape the terms of crypto regulation even when they do not produce a ban.
The trend: European crypto policymaking is moving from proposed technology-specific prohibitions toward a broader rulebook for token issuance, mining, and market activity.