35 Countries, EU and FATF Agree to Revise Global Cryptocurrency Standards

Thirty-five countries and the European Commission have asked the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), responsible for setting global anti-money laundering (AML) policies, to revise its standards relating to cryptocurrencies. The organization promised to present its revised AML countermeasures for cryptocurrencies at the upcoming G20 meeting of finance ministers. Also read: Indians Look to Buy Bitcoin Overseas … Read more

ICOs and Exchange Sign-Ups Create Boom for Automated Compliance Industry

Many of the major cryptocurrency exchanges have announced that a massive influx of new traders in late 2017 caused them to be overwhelmed, leading to degraded services or forcing them to close their doors to new clients. Much of the problem was the need to ensure compliance with complex KYC/AML regulations, which the companies struggled … Read more

Most Crypto Traders in South Korea Remain Anonymous Despite Regulations

Most cryptocurrency investors in South Korea remain anonymous without moving their accounts to the government-mandated real-name system. So far, less than 10% of crypto traders have converted their virtual accounts into real-name ones. Also read: Japan’s DMM Bitcoin Exchange Opens for Business With 7 Cryptocurrencies 8% Conversion Rate So Far The real-name system for cryptocurrency exchange … Read more

South Korea Ends Anonymous Cryptocurrency Trading Today

The new South Korean cryptocurrency account system has entered into force nationwide today, ending the current practice that allowed for anonymous trading of cryptocurrencies. Traders must open real-name accounts at the same banks as their exchanges in order to deposit money to trade cryptocurrencies. Also read: Japan’s DMM Bitcoin Exchange Opens for Business With 7 Cryptocurrencies … Read more

South Korea Releases Official Guidelines for Cryptocurrency Exchanges and Banks

The South Korean government has officially released two sets of previously promised guidelines that specify cryptocurrency regulatory measures. In addition to details of the new real-name system to end anonymous trading of cryptocurrencies, the government also published its anti-money laundering guidelines for banks providing services to cryptocurrency exchanges. Also read: Cryptocurrency Activities Will Be Legal and … Read more

Korean Crypto Exchanges to Share Data with Banks in New Account System This Month

The South Korean government has announced that six major banks will be ready to provide services to cryptocurrency exchanges this month. Under the new system, the government requires exchanges to share user data with banks. Also read: South Korean Officials Caught Trading On Insider Knowledge of Crypto Regulations Exchanges to Share Data with Banks The Korean … Read more

New Research: Laundering of Illicit Funds Less than 1% of Bitcoin Transactions

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Center of Sanctions and Illicit Finance in conjunction with blockchain analytics company, Elliptic, has published a study seeking to track the circulations of illicit funds within the bitcoin economy from 2013 to 2016. The research concludes that the share of funds of illicit origin comprises less than one percent … Read more

Some UK Mortgage Lenders Refuse to Serve Bitcoin Investors

British bitcoin investors trying to use their earnings to buy real estate are facing difficulties in securing loans from mortgage lenders. Several building societies refuse to work with them even after they converted the cryptocurrency to fiat and provided a paper trail for its origins. Also Read: Pineapple Will Match up to $4M in Bitcoin … Read more

South Korean Banks Reverse Decisions on Cryptocurrency Accounts

South Korean banks have backtracked from their decisions to stop servicing cryptocurrency accounts as crypto investors protested and the government re-discussed its policy. The country’s 6 major banks have been told that they must follow through with the original plan and install the system that would end the anonymous trading of cryptocurrencies. Also read: South Korea … Read more

Strict Regulations Force South Korean Banks to Stop Servicing Cryptocurrency Exchanges

Following the inspections of six major banks this week, South Korean regulators have uncovered some inadequate internal controls for handling cryptocurrency exchanges. Given the government’s strict rules, some banks have decided to stop providing services to cryptocurrency exchanges instead of overhauling their systems further to comply with the regulations. Also read: South Korea Urges 23 Countries, … Read more