Canada’s ’Strong and Free Elections Act’ Bans Crypto Donations in Major Election Security Overhaul
BREAKING — Canadian political parties and election groups are now barred from accepting cryptocurrency, money orders, and prepaid cards under sweeping new legislation introduced Thursday. The 'Strong and Free Elections Act' directly targets payment methods deemed difficult to trace, with officials warning they could be exploited by foreign actors to funnel untraceable funds into the country's political system. Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon stated the measures are designed to keep elections 'free, fair and secure,' with severe penalties including forced return or destruction of funds, forfeiture to electoral authorities, and individual fines reaching up to $25,000 for violations.
With the introduction of the Strong and Free Elections Act, new investments to counter foreign threats, and stronger government coordination we are acting to ensure our elections remain free, fair, and…
— Steven MacKinnon (@stevenmackinnon) March 26, 2026
Not Canada’s First Try
This isn’t the first time Ottawa has pushed for this kind of ban. A nearly identical bill was introduced in 2024, but it stalled after its second reading in the House of Commons and never made it to a vote. That earlier attempt was led by Dominic LeBlanc, who was then serving as minister of public safety.
The current bill follows a recommendation made by Canada’s chief electoral officer, Stéphane Perrault, in a 2024 report. Perrault argued that crypto donations present a unique problem because identifying who actually made the contribution is far harder than with conventional payment methods.
Crypto has been an accepted form of political donation in Canada since 2019, treated much the same way as property donations under existing rules.
To become law, the bill must clear multiple readings in the House of Commons, pass through committee, move through the Senate, and receive royal assent from the Governor General.
Deepfakes Also In The Crosshairs
Beyond the donation rules, the bill takes aim at AI-generated content. It would expand existing restrictions on realistic deepfakes that impersonate election candidates in ways meant to mislead voters.
The issue drew widespread attention during the lead-up to the 2024 US elections, when a fabricated audio clip depicted US President Joe Biden telling voters to stay home on election day.
Canada is not acting alone on crypto donations. Reports indicate the UK announced similar plans the same day, following an independent review and pressure from senior members of parliament.
The parallel moves suggest growing concern among Western democracies about the role anonymous digital payments could play in influencing elections.
Whether Canada’s bill succeeds where the 2024 version failed will depend on how quickly it moves through parliament — and whether it has enough support to survive the process this time.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
