As Canada approaches the April 28, 2025 federal election, it’s surprising that cryptocurrency—a technology rapidly reshaping our financial landscape—remains largely absent from major party platforms. Despite a Shakepay survey indicating that 90% of undecided voters would support parties with pro-crypto policies, most Canadian political parties have failed to develop comprehensive cryptocurrency agendas. This suggests that parties either view crypto with skepticism or haven’t recognized its growing importance in our daily lives and economy.
For the millions of Canadians who own, trade, or use cryptocurrencies, this political blind spot is frustrating. While countries like El Salvador and Switzerland are embracing crypto innovation, Canada’s political establishment seems stuck in traditional financial thinking. Today, I’ll break down where each major Canadian party stands on cryptocurrency policy, from those with clearly defined positions to those seemingly avoiding the topic altogether.
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Party Positions
Conservative Party (Pierre Poilievre)
The Conservatives take the strongest pro-crypto stance, with Poilievre explicitly positioning himself as a blockchain champion. He aims to make Canada the “blockchain capital of the world” and has publicly purchased items using Bitcoin to demonstrate his commitment.
Poilievre views cryptocurrencies as a hedge against inflation and a way to reduce government control over money—a perspective that resonates with many crypto enthusiasts concerned about the Bank of Canada’s monetary policies and inflation rates affecting their savings. His approach suggests potential policy changes that could:
- Reduce regulatory barriers for crypto businesses
- Create tax incentives for blockchain innovation
- Establish clearer legal frameworks for digital asset ownership
- Limit the powers of financial regulators to restrict crypto access
For crypto supporters, Poilievre represents the most aligned candidate with the core values of decentralization and financial freedom that attracted many to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in the first place.
People’s Party (Maxime Bernier)
Similarly pro-crypto, Bernier has stated that cryptocurrencies offer “another new and innovative way” to counter central bank control. His libertarian approach aligns with cryptocurrency’s decentralized philosophy, appealing to voters seeking financial autonomy.
Many people are asking if I support #Bitcoin and cryptos. Of course I do!
I hate how central banks are destroying our money and economy. I’m more of an old-fashioned gold & silver fan, but cryptos are another new and innovative way to counter this that should be encouraged.
— Maxime Bernier (@MaximeBernier) September 15, 2021
Bernier has been explicit in his criticism of central banking, stating: “I hate how central banks are destroying our money and economy… cryptos are another new and innovative way to counter this that should be encouraged.”
The PPC’s stance suggests potential policies that would:
- Resist international pressure to heavily regulate cryptocurrencies
- Possibly explore limiting CBDC development that could compete with private cryptocurrencies
- Reduce government oversight of peer-to-peer financial transactions
- Support individual financial sovereignty principles
For crypto purists who believe in minimal government intervention, Bernier’s position represents the most ideologically aligned stance.
Liberal Party (Mark Carney)
The Liberals adopt a cautious regulatory approach. Prime Minister Carney, with his central banking background, has expressed skepticism about Bitcoin’s fixed supply and potential economic risks. In a 2018 speech, he called Bitcoin’s fixed supply a “serious deficiency” that could create deflationary pressures.
For crypto enthusiasts, Carney’s position represents several pain points:
- His preference for CBDCs over decentralized cryptocurrencies suggests potential restrictions on private crypto
- His background at the Bank of Canada and Bank of England indicates a traditional banking mindset
- The regulatory approach could stifle innovation and limit crypto adoption
- Focus on “financial stability” could translate to increased compliance burdens for crypto users and businesses
Carney’s approach to cryptocurrencies supports Central Bank Digital Currencies as regulated alternatives that could enhance financial inclusion while maintaining government oversight—precisely what many crypto adopters are trying to move away from.
New Democratic Party (Jagmeet Singh)
Surprisingly, the NDP has no discernible position on cryptocurrencies. Their platform focuses on traditional social justice and affordability issues, completely overlooking this emerging financial technology.
For crypto supporters, this silence creates several concerns:
- Uncertainty about how an NDP government might regulate the space
- Missed opportunities to address how crypto could help the unbanked and underbanked populations
- No clear position on how crypto mining could fit into Canada’s energy and economic policies
- Potential for hasty, uninformed regulation if crypto-related issues arise during their governance
This policy vacuum represents a significant missed opportunity to engage tech-savvy voters and those looking for innovative economic solutions.
Green Party (Elizabeth May & Jonathan Pedneault)
Despite potential environmental concerns about crypto mining energy consumption, the Greens have not articulated an official position. This omission seems particularly noteworthy given their environmental focus.
For environmentally conscious crypto supporters, this creates a dilemma:
- Uncertainty about how Green policies might impact proof-of-work cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin
- No clear vision for how renewable energy could be integrated with crypto mining
- Missed opportunity to discuss proof-of-stake alternatives and their environmental benefits
- Concern that uninformed environmental policies could restrict crypto innovation
The absence of a Green Party crypto policy leaves environmentally-minded crypto enthusiasts without political representation for their specific concerns.
Bloc Quebecois (Yves-Francois Blanchet)
Focused primarily on Quebec’s interests, the Bloc has no defined cryptocurrency policy. Their opposition to a Conservative MP’s crypto-friendly bill in 2022 suggests a cautious approach, but no proactive policy exists.
For Quebec-based crypto businesses and enthusiasts, this creates specific regional concerns:
- Uncertainty about how Quebec’s abundant hydroelectric power might be regulated for mining operations
- Questions about whether the Bloc would support or oppose federal crypto initiatives
- Lack of representation for Quebec’s growing blockchain sector
- Potential for provincial-federal conflicts on crypto regulation
The Bloc’s silence may reflect prioritization of regional concerns over emerging financial technologies, but leaves Quebec’s crypto community without clear political advocacy.
What This Means for Crypto Enthusiasts
The limited engagement with cryptocurrency policy across the political spectrum suggests several challenges for Canada’s crypto community:
Regulatory Uncertainty
Without clear political positions, businesses and individuals face uncertainty about future regulations, making long-term planning difficult.
Investment Climate
The lack of crypto-friendly policies could push innovation, talent, and capital to more receptive jurisdictions like Portugal, Switzerland, or Singapore.
Tax Complexity
The absence of clear tax guidelines specific to cryptocurrency creates compliance headaches for traders and investors, who often face complex reporting requirements.
Banking Relationships
Many crypto users continue to face banking difficulties, with traditional financial institutions limiting services to crypto-related businesses and individuals.
Education Gap
The political silence on cryptocurrency reflects a broader education gap among policymakers about blockchain technology and its potential benefits.
