South Korean Financial Regulator Confirms Privacy Coin Delistings- Adds New Guidelines to Report Unusual Transactions

South Korean financial watchdogs are about to start overseeing crypto-related activities in the nation, and additional barriers for exchanges keep appearing. Moreover, one of the South Korean regulatory bodies codified the measures announced last year on privacy coin listings. No Major Domestic Exchanges Can List a Privacy-Centric Crypto-Asset According to Electronic Times, the Financial Services … Read more

Bithumb CEO Predicts Only Four to Seven South Korean Crypto Exchanges Will Survive New Rules

The CEO of the South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb has made some predictions regarding the upcoming new rules governing the national industry. In fact, the executive believes there will only be between four and seven exchanges surviving the new regulation. Smaller Companies Unlikely to Meet New Banking, Anti-Money Laundering Protocols on Time During an interview … Read more

Kyrgyzstan Central Bank Is Set to Introduce Bills to Monitor Crypto Exchanges Activities and Forcing Them to Apply for Permits

The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic (NBKR) revealed its new-year plans for the national crypto industry. They are about to introduce two drafts to regulate the country’s exchanges that aim to combat terrorism, money laundering, and protecting consumers. Kyrgyzstan Central Bank Set to Introduce Two Crypto Bills to Combat Terrorism Financing and Fraud According … Read more

South Korea To Ban Crypto Exchanges From Handling Privacy Coins

South Korea is to ban crypto exchanges from handling digital assets it considers “dark coins”. Regulator Financial Services Commission (FSC) is specifically targeting privacy coins such as dash, monero and zcash. ● The ban is with effect from March 2021. In an update to crypto regulations under the Special Payments Act, the FSC accuses privacy … Read more

Crypto Startup Avanti Receives License To Operate as National Bank in Wyoming

Crypto startup Avanti Financial Group has been granted a license to offer banking services by the Wyoming State Banking Board. The license, or bank charter, means Avanti can now operate as a conventional bank – but one with a twist, capable of holding both crypto and dollars. It plans to launch in 2021. According to … Read more

Dutch Police Seize $33 Million in Bitcoin from Couple Accused of Money Laundering

Prosecutors from the Netherlands have seized 2,532 bitcoins worth $33 million after a couple was convicted of money laundering by the Rotterdam District Court. The man and his wife were sentenced to two years for illegal money transmission and the court claims the couple’s bitcoin stash was used on the deep web. Dutch officials recently … Read more

Bitmex Fast-Tracks KYC Program as Regulators Tighten Screws on Anti-Money Laundering Rules

Bitmex said Wednesday that it is fast-tracking its user verification program in order to comply with regulatory requirements. Users must now be fully verified by Nov. 5, 2020 “to continue trading on the platform,” it said. In a statement, the crypto derivatives exchange stated that “unverified users will not be able to open new positions” … Read more

US Financial Watchdog Fines Bitcoin Mixer Service for $60 Million

Larry Dean Harmon, founder and operator of early bitcoin mixing services Helix and Coin Ninja, is being fined $60 million by the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (Fincen) for allegedly violating anti-money laundering rules. According to documents published Oct. 19 by Fincen, the fine surrounds the transmission of “at least 356,000 bitcoin transactions through … Read more

Banks in Mexico Pose Greater Money Laundering Risk Than Crypto Firms, Says Report

Commercial banks by far pose the greatest risk of money laundering in Mexico compared to crypto-related companies, according to a new report by the country’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). The study singles out what it calls the “G7 banking group”, which includes BBVA, Santander, Citibanamex, Banorte, HSBC, Scotiabank, and Inbursa, as the biggest conduits of … Read more

US Regulators Target Bitcoin ATMs: 88% of the Funds Exit the Country via Machines

Bitcoin automated teller machines (BATMs) will become the next target for regulators, as world governments tighten screws on money laundering. According to Ciphertrace CTO John Jeffries, crypto-cash machines will attract “greater…regulatory focus” in a bid to rein-in alleged cross-border illicit financial transfers. Jeffries urged “the need for more uniform regulatory enforcement and compliance” as governments … Read more