Coinbase Agrees to $100 Million Settlement With New York Financial Regulator for Anti-Money Laundering Violations

Coinbase has agreed to pay a $100 million settlement with the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), according to a consent order signed by the NYDFS superintendent Adrienne Harris on Jan. 4, 2023. New York’s financial regulator said compliance problems were detected and the exchange’s anti-money laundering controls were inadequate from 2020 through 2021. … Read more

European Union to Put a 10,000-Euro Limit on Cash Payments; Transactions Over €1,000 in Crypto Will Be Scrutinized

The states of the European Union have convened to establish a new limit on cash purchases and to strengthen the controls on cryptocurrency transactions. On Nov. 6 the bloc agreed to put a limit of €10,000 ($10,557) on cash payments and to exert stronger oversight on crypto transactions of over 1,000 euros ($1,055). European Union … Read more

Argentina to Revamp Anti Money Laundering Law, Proposes Creation of VASP Registry

Argentina is preparing to revamp its anti-money laundering and terrorism financing law. It has proposed to include the creation of a registry for virtual asset services providers (VASPs) in the country as part of the new modifications. The changes would prepare the country for the review that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is slated … Read more

UAE Now Requires Agents to Report Real Estate Transactions Where Virtual Currency Is Used as Payment

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has said it now requires real estate agents, brokers, and law firms to report to the Financial Intelligence Unit real estate transactions in which virtual currency is used as payment. Similarly, real estate purchases or sales where “the funds used in the transaction are derived from a virtual asset” must … Read more

South African Central Bank Now Considers Cryptocurrency to Be a Financial Asset

The deputy governor of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) recently said the institution has changed its position on cryptocurrency, and now regards it to be a financial asset which must be regulated as such. The SARB expects to have a cryptocurrency regulatory framework in place by the end of 2023. A Safer Crypto Ecosystem … Read more

Report: Morocco’s Central Bank to Unveil Crypto Regulation Bill Soon

The Moroccan central bank is presently working on a cryptocurrency regulation framework bill and according to the bank’s governor, Abdellatif Jouahri, this is set to be introduced soon. The regulatory framework being worked on will result in Morocco’s money laundering and anti-terrorism financing regulations being upgraded. Crypto Regulation Best Practices A Moroccan central bank committee … Read more

EU Members Want to Task New AML Watchdog With Crypto Oversight, Report Unveils

A group of EU nations have reportedly been lobbying to entrust oversight of the crypto space to a new anti-money laundering (AML) agency. Behind the move are concerns that companies dealing with digital assets can be engaged in the processing of illicit funds. Germany Leads Push to Place Crypto Firms Under EU Anti-Money Laundering Supervision … Read more

US Treasury Warns NFTs May Present New Illicit Finance Risks

The U.S. treasury department has warned that non-fungible tokens (NFTs) may present new illicit finance risks. According to industry estimates, the NFT market could reach $35 billion in 2022 and more than $80 billion by 2025. NFTs May Present Illicit Finance Risks The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced Friday the release of a “study … Read more