Members of the Polish parliament have been promised a copy of the book “Bitcoin Standard” to help them learn about the issues they are trying to regulate.
The initiative comes at an opportune time, as lawmakers in Warsaw are still struggling to introduce a legal framework that introduces rules for the industry without stifling it.
Polish politicians urged people to read about Bitcoin
A group of Bitcoin enthusiasts in Poland has launched an initiative to educate representatives of the legislature about cryptocurrencies.
They plan to send a copy of Saifeddine Amos’s book “Bitcoin Standard” to the Same Congress, all members of the House of Representatives, and all senators of the Senate.
Bitcoin.pl on Tuesday informed about the voluntary move of the Polish crypto community and stated the reasons behind it:
“If someone is going to regulate an industry, they should at least know what they are actually regulating.”
The initiative is being funded through a campaign on Geyser, a crypto crowdfunding platform that supports various causes and spreads awareness about Bitcoin in Poland.
The aim is to distribute 560 copies of the book to as many members of Poland’s bicameral parliament as possible. Each volume will be accompanied by an open letter, which organizers stress is intended as an invitation to dialogue, not a political statement.
What they want to say is simple. Before lawmakers decide on the future of cryptocurrencies in the country, they need to have a clear understanding of the fundamentals of the technology they are trying to regulate.
“The Bitcoin Standard” is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand what Bitcoin actually is. Not just a speculative asset, but an alternative currency system, the Polish cryptocurrency news media argued, with article author Jeremiaz Klock further commenting:
“Some may be skeptical of this effort. After all, one book won’t change the system. But some members of Congress may be asking themselves: Do they really understand what they’re voting for?”
The book, officially titled “Bitcoin Standards: A Decentralized Alternative to Central Banks,” was written by Saifedian Amos, a Palestinian-Jordanian economist and prominent cryptocurrency advocate, and was first published in 2018.
He strives to explain the economics of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin while criticizing fiat currencies and mainstream economic policy, which has earned him a large following both within and outside the crypto industry.
Poland stalls over controversial cryptocurrency law
This year, Polish authorities are finally adopting delayed legislation to translate the latest EU crypto rules into national law.
The bill introduced by the Warsaw Ministry of Finance was passed by Seim at the end of September, but has not yet been approved by the Senate.
The draft law has come under criticism for some provisions that go far beyond the requirements of the European Union’s Markets in Cryptoassets (MiCA) law, creating a risk of overregulation.
Representatives of Poland’s cryptocurrency industry and community warned that if adopted as is, it could threaten the survival of domestic cryptocurrency businesses and lead to them leaving the country.
Their last hope lies with the new head of state, President Karol Nawrocki, who took office in August and is preparing to veto a cryptocurrency bill introduced by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s cabinet, Rzeczpospolita reports.
However, the government has now issued a warning, with Deputy Finance Minister Jurand Drop claiming that without the bill, it will be impossible for cryptocurrency companies to operate legally in Poland.
Organizers of the Bitcoin book giveaway for Polish parliamentarians believe that Poland faces an important choice: become a center of financial innovation or repeat the mistakes of countries that continue to ignore the digital revolution in finance.
