Tagged: fincen

FinCEN Targets Bitcoin Mixer with $60 Million Penalty Pertaining to Money Laundering

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has targeted Larry Dean Harmon, of Akron, Ohio, the founder of Helix and Coin Ninja in a first enforcement action targeting a crypto mixer. In a release, FinCEN said Harmon and his operations were assessed a $60 million civil… Read More

Collapse of Belize based Choice Bank Hit Some Payoneer Customers – Report

The ongoing exposé of leaked documents from FinCEN (the enforcement branch of the US Department of Treasury), and allegations of money laundering, continues to ripple through the media. A story shared by NBC News today covers the collapse of Choice Bank, based in Belize, and… Read More

Over 90% of Actual Cryptocurrency related Transactions within a Financial Institution Might Not Even be Detected: Report

Current Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) regulations state that it’s the responsibility of all financial service providers to accurately and promptly identify and report any suspicious or potentially fraudulent activity. This activity may be related to how criminals or bad actors exploit convertible virtual currencies… Read More

FinCEN Director Kenneth Blanco Discusses Travel Rule for Crypto, COVID-19 is a Lure for the Bad Guys

FinCEN Director Kenneth A. Blanco delivered a speech at virtual Consensus this past week addressing several hot topics of the day – including the “Travel Rule”; the FATF requirement that virtual asset service providers (or VASPs – think crypto exchanges) maintain information on purchasers and… Read More

Binance-backed Cryptocurrency Derivatives Exchange FTX to Launch Spot Trading in the US

FTX, a digital assets derivatives exchange that primarily caters to Asian traders and investors, will be introducing a spot exchange in the US markets. Sam Bankman-Fried, CEO at FTX, noted that the company’s US-based trading platform is presently in its beta testing phase. The spot… Read More

As Confusion Swirls Regarding PPP, FinCEN Provides FAQ Regarding BSA Requirements

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), one of the elements of the CARES Act designed to help the US SME sector that has been demolished by the COVID-19 pandemic, has been lauded in its intent but criticized in its execution. Confusion continues as banks struggle to… Read More

US-based CoinZoom, a FinCEN Regulated Digital Asset Exchange, Officially Launches Crypto Trading Platform and Company Visa Card

US-based CoinZoom, a regulated digital asset exchange, has announced the official launch of its crypto trading platform and its company Visa card. Users will now be able to purchase, sell, and spend a wide range of cryptocurrencies via CoinZoom’s exchange platform. According to a press… Read More

Former Chainalysis Chief Technical Counsel Joins FinCEN as Deputy Director

Michael Mosier has joined the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) as its new Deputy Director and Digital Innovation Officer. FinCEN is part of the US Department of Treasury. Mosier will be FinCEN’s first Digital Innovation Officer helping the agency to adapt to the fast-changing world… Read More

Crypto Powwow: FinCEN and Others Meet to Discuss Virtual Assets

Last week, 50 senior officials convened in Paris to discuss “global issues surrounding virtual assets.” Participants included FinCEN, part of the US Department of Treasury, as well as the Financial Intelligence Unit Germany, France’s Tracfin, and other FATF countries. Virtual asset experts from the Financial… Read More

Social Media Firms that Support Cryptocurrencies Must Look Out for Illicit Financial Activities, Says FinCEN Deputy Director

Jamal El-Hindi, deputy director at the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the US Treasury Department that analyzes information about financial transactions in order to prevent illicit activities, is calling on firms interested in bridging the cryptocurrency space with social media networks and… Read More

State & Federal Regulators Issue Statement Regarding Banking & “Hemp Related Businesses” – No More SAR Reports

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) along with three other federal agencies and in conjunction with the state bank regulators have issued a statement clarifying the legal status of hemp growth and production and the relevant requirements under the Bank Secrecy Act… Read More

FinCEN Director Kenneth Blanco Says US Government will Strictly Enforce Rule Requiring Cryptocurrency Firms to Share User Data

The US government will reportedly be enforcing a rule which requires companies dealing in cryptocurrencies, including digital asset wallet providers and exchanges, to share details about their clients. This, according to Kenneth Blanco, director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The “travel rule” for… Read More

US Treasury Department Blocks Crypto Addresses of Chinese Fentanyl “Kingpins”

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) have named several Chinese nationals, “as significant foreign narcotics traffickers pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act).” OFAC is also, “identifying Bitcoin addresses associated with these… Read More

FinCEN Director: Casinos Must Report Suspicious Transactions, Including Suspect Use of Cryptocurrencies

America’s federal financial crimes enforcement agency, FinCEN, has noticed “a gap” in the reporting of illicit use of cryptocurrencies at casinos and card clubs in recent years, the agency’s director told attendees at the 12th Annual Las Vegas Anti-Money Laundering Conference this week. Director Kenneth A…. Read More

Dutch Finance Ministry “Intensifying” Cryptocurrency and Anti-Money Laundering Rules Ahead of FATF Evaluation in 2021

The Dutch Finance Ministry and Ministry of Justice have vowed to regulate cryptocurrencies as part of the Netherland’s comprehensive new plan to combat money-laundering in the region. “Our goal is to guarantee an honest and safe financial system,” co-authors Minister of Finance Wopke Hoekstra and Minister… Read More

FinCEN Director: Agency Receiving 1500 Reports of Suspicious Transactions Involving Cryptocurrencies Per Month

FinCEN Director Kenneth A. Blanco told an audience at the  NYU Law Program on Corporate Compliance and Enforcement earlier this month that his agency is receiving 1500 reports of suspicious transactions involving cryptocurrencies per month- 500 more than it receives regarding regular transactions. Blanco has… Read More

FinCEN Slams Venezuela’s Attempt to Circumvent Sanctions with El Petro Crypto, Warns Maduro Regime Against Corruption, Money Laundering and More

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has issued an updated advisory to warn financial institutions of continued widespread public corruption in Venezuela. This is part of an ongoing effort to isolate the Maduro regime who recently lost a popular election but has refused to leave… Read More

FinCEN Issues Guidance on Virtual Currencies, Posts New Advisory on Threats Associated with Misuse

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today issued guidance entitled, Application of FinCEN’s Regulations to Certain Business Models Involving Convertible Virtual Currencies (CVC). FinCEN is the enforcement branch of the US Department of Treasury. The guidance issued today does not establish any new regulatory expectations…. Read More

FinCEN Fines and Bars Independent Cryptocurrency Exchanger

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), part of the US Department of Treasury, has fined the operator of a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency trading service $35,350 USD and barred him from money-transmitting, “for willfully violating the Bank Secrecy Act’s (BSA) registration, program, and reporting requirements.” In a release… Read More

Prolific 22-Year-Old Unlicensed Bitcoins Dealer Sentenced to Two Years Imprisonment

Jacob Burrell Campos, 22, from Rosarito, Mexico, has been sentenced to two years in prison and will forfeit $823,357 “in illicit profits” after being convicted of running an unlicensed money transmission business, that, “…(sold) hundreds of thousands of dollars in Bitcoin to over 1,000 customers throughout… Read More

Send this to a friend