On 23 February 2026, the Ministers’ Deputies held an informal meeting to address the urgent challenges posed by the rapid development and expansion in the use of crypto-assets and decentralised digital finance. The main purpose was to examine regulatory, compliance, and security issues related to digital assets, with a particular focus on combating crime and foreign interference facilitated by such technologies. The meeting explored how crypto-assets are increasingly misused for illicit activities — including sabotage, unlawful political financing, terrorism and money laundering — while also enabling covert financing of foreign operations that threaten the integrity of European democratic institutions. There were discussions on whether existing regulatory frameworks are sufficient and how the Council of Europe’s standards, monitoring bodies, and cooperation programmes can further support member States in combating malign foreign interference, ensuring financial integrity and defending democracy. This initiative is part of the Council’s broader Roadmap towards a New Democratic Pact for Europe, underlining its commitment to safeguarding democratic resilience and addressing the risks and opportunities in the evolving digital environment.
The Agenda was as follows:
Opening by Ambassador Daniela Cujbă, President of the Ministers' Deputies
1. Scene-Setting: The Council of Europe’s Role in Addressing Crypto-Related Crime and Democratic Threats
Gianluca Esposito, Director General, Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law (DGI)
2. Crypto-Enabled Illicit Finance: Risks, International Standards and Regulatory Responses
Discussion with the participation of:
Maud Bökkerink, Council of Europe AML/CFT and sanctions compliance consultant (Netherlands), online participation
Theo Byl, Judge at the Court of Appeal of Antwerp (Belgium)
3. Countering Crypto-Enabled Foreign Interference: Safeguarding Democratic Institutions
Discussion with the participation of:
Andrian Munteanu, Director of the Office for the Prevention and Control of Money Laundering (Republic of Moldova)
Tom Keatinge, Director, Centre for Finance and Security, Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI) (United Kingdom)
Closing remarks by Ambassador Daniela Cujbă, President of the Ministers' Deputies
