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Hungary Rolls Back Orbán's Tough Crypto Rules and Decriminalizes Trading

Hungary is rolling back the criminalization of crypto trading after pressure from the EU. That could open the market back up for platforms that had to pause services before.

By Mike Hesp
• 2 min read
Hungary Rolls Back Orbán's Tough Crypto Rules and Decriminalizes Trading

Key Takeaways

  • Hungary is scrapping Viktor Orbán's tough crypto rules and decriminalizing crypto trading.
  • The July 1, 2025 rules made unlicensed transactions a criminal offense and could lead to prison time.
  • Pressure from Europe and political changes sped up the rollback, and platforms like Revolut may resume services.

Hungary is set to scrap the tough crypto rules introduced under Viktor Orbán's government. Those rules made crypto trading a criminal offense and could have led to prison sentences. The reversal means crypto trading will no longer be treated as a crime, Hungarian government spokesperson Anita Kobol said.

Strict Validation Rules Led to Service Disruptions

The rules, which took effect on July 1, 2025, required crypto-to-fiat and crypto-to-crypto transactions to go through approved validation processes. That led several digital asset platforms, including Revolut, to suspend their crypto services in Hungary. The law punished the use of unlicensed exchanges and certain unauthorized transactions with fines ranging from 50 million to 500 million Hungarian forint, which is about $162,000 to $1.62 million. Depending on the value of the transactions, users could face prison terms of two to five years, while service providers could get up to eight years if they operated without a central bank license.

European Pressure and Political Change Drive the Rollback

The strict validation requirements did not line up with European rules, which led the European Commission to investigate Hungary's compliance with EU regulations. In February 2026, the Commission launched infringement proceedings against Hungary because the national rules were incompatible with EU standards. That pressure, along with the political shift in Hungary in April 2026, when the pro-EU Tisza Party gained ground, cleared the way for the criminal penalties to be removed. Minister of Science and Technology Zoltán Tanács said the earlier rules were more politically motivated than necessary for market safety.

This move could lead platforms like Revolut to restart their crypto services in Hungary and bring the country's crypto market more in line with EU rules. It would also end a period of strict restrictions that had a major impact on digital asset trading in the country.

Why This Matters for European Crypto Users

Hungary's easing of crypto rules is a sign that member states can adjust their national laws to better align with EU-wide regulations like MiCA. For European crypto users, that could point to a future where cross-border services and trading opportunities inside the EU face fewer roadblocks from national restrictions. This development could also improve access to and confidence in crypto exchanges across Europe.

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