Members of the European Parliament are pressing the European Commission to address corruption risks involving crypto assets, hidden ownership arrangements and digital tools as it prepares the European Union’s first dedicated anti-corruption strategy.
Parliament adopted a nonbinding resolution on Thursday setting out priorities for the strategy. The resolution also calls for more effective efforts to trace, freeze, confiscate and recover proceeds linked to criminal activity. According to Cointelegraph, the Commission is expected to adopt its strategy by the end of 2026.
Crypto and opaque ownership under scrutiny
MEPs want the Commission to examine how crypto assets and digital tools could be used to conceal, move or retain funds connected to corruption. They also highlighted opaque ownership structures, which can make it harder to identify the people or entities controlling assets.
The lawmakers’ position does not itself create new binding rules. Instead, it sets out Parliament’s priorities for the Commission’s forthcoming strategy and adds crypto-related risks to a wider anti-corruption agenda.
The strategy is intended to complement the EU’s anti-corruption directive, which entered into force in May. That directive harmonizes definitions of corruption offenses and establishes minimum penalties across the bloc. The planned strategy will therefore sit alongside an existing EU legal framework rather than replace it.
Broader priorities for enforcement and transparency
Asset recovery is a central part of the resolution. MEPs called for stronger systems to follow criminal proceeds and for authorities to improve their ability to freeze, confiscate and ultimately recover those assets.
Their recommendations extend beyond cryptocurrency. Parliament also urged action in several areas:
- Stricter rules for public procurement and grants.
- More consistent standards covering conflicts of interest.
- Clearer rules for lobbying and common rules on political financing.
- Stronger protections for whistleblowers and investigative journalists.
Together, these priorities cover both the movement of potentially illicit funds and the institutional practices that can create opportunities for corruption. The resolution links the two by calling for better transparency and stronger cross-border enforcement across the European Union.
Moneyiar market picture
Moneyiar data at the stated times show mixed performance among the selected digital assets. TRON (TRX) was priced at $0.3326916877 at 21:44 on October 8, 2026, down 0.72% over 24 hours and 0.78% over seven days.
AKEDO (AKE) stood at $0.026346877 at 21:43, falling 3.63% in 24 hours and 14.34% over seven days. REAL (ASSET) was at $0.1927052765 at 18:54, up 3.26% over 24 hours but down 2.28% over the week. Ontology (ONT) traded at $0.0601424223 at 21:43, gaining 3.98% in 24 hours and 3.22% over seven days.
The Commission’s stated deadline is the end of 2026. Until then, Parliament’s resolution provides a political outline for how crypto, ownership transparency, asset recovery and broader integrity safeguards should feature in the EU’s anti-corruption work.
