European Commission and AGENCE EUROPE excerpts say the EU signed an Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe’s Warsaw Convention on 14 October 2026, extending the cross-border asset-recovery framework to criminal assets, including crypto-assets. The reporting says the protocol strengthens cooperation on freezing, seizure and anti-money-laundering measures, but signature alone does not establish that it has entered into force.

What Was Signed and Who Joined

The reported event was the 14 October 2026 signing of an Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism, commonly known as the Warsaw Convention. A European Commission news-page excerpt identifies this treaty framework, while AGENCE EUROPE describes the signing as part of a Council of Europe process rather than a standalone new EU crypto law.

The distinction matters. Although the initial flash framed the development as an EU move, the reporting points to a broader Council of Europe instrument involving the EU. According to AGENCE EUROPE, the opening-day signatories were the EU, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Luxembourg, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino and the United Kingdom—a more complete list than the shorter country set in the original flash.

What Powers the Protocol Is Reported to Strengthen

The reporting describes the protocol as strengthening freezing and confiscation measures, asset management, police and judicial cooperation, and anti-money-laundering coordination for criminal assets, including crypto-assets. In practical terms, the clearest reported change concerns the emergency preservation of assets in cross-border cases.

AGENCE EUROPE says authorities could urgently freeze or seize property without prior notification where there is a risk that it could be transferred or concealed. That is narrower than saying authorities have a confirmed power to impose immediate final confiscation in every case. Freezing or seizure preserves assets, while confiscation is the final deprivation of property following further procedures.

Other reported mechanisms are also significant, but should be understood within the limits of the available evidence. An American Society of International Law excerpt says the protocol enables Financial Intelligence Units to suspend bank or crypto-asset transactions linked to suspected money laundering or terrorist financing. A Council of Europe result excerpt says victims or legitimate owners would take priority in recovery, while sums above €10,000 would generally be shared among the countries involved.

Why the Signing Does Not Mean the Protocol Is Already in Force

Signature alone does not establish that the protocol is enforceable. AGENCE EUROPE and Fincrime Central say it will enter into force only after at least five ratifications, including three by Council of Europe member states. The 14 October ceremony is therefore a legal and political milestone, but not the same as immediate and uniform application by all parties.

The European Commission excerpt also points to further EU procedures. It says the Council must still discuss and decide on the conclusion of both the Protocol and the Warsaw Convention, while the conclusion process also requires the European Parliament’s consent. The current answer to the central question is therefore straightforward: the protocol has reportedly been signed; it is intended to broaden cross-border recovery and preservation of criminal assets, including crypto-assets; and the signing itself does not establish that it is already in force.