Tagged: virtual asset service providers

January 19, 2021 @ 2:11 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last week, Christine Lagarde, the President of the European Central Bank (ECB) commented on the need to regulate Bitcoin on a global level last week during a virtual event hosted by Reuters. Speaking at the Reuters Next conference, Lagarde pointed to the “funny business” affiliated… Read More

January 9, 2021 @ 12:23 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Blockchain security firm CipherTrace recently explained and discussed the differences between virtual asset service providers (VASPs), money service businesses (MSB), money transmitters, digital asset customers, and how they impact crypto-related compliance measures. CipherTrace noted that cryptocurrency, digital assets, convertible virtual currency, and other terms seem… Read More

December 19, 2020 @ 12:29 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

On December 18, 2020, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) published a proposed rule change for digital currency transactions with “unhosted” wallets. Under the newly proposed change, banking institutions, and money services businesses (MSBs) may be required to verify customers’ identities and turn in reports… Read More

December 12, 2020 @ 12:05 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Blockchain security firm CipherTrace reports that only 22% of banking industry professionals and financial investigators “feel confident” in their ability to accurately identify cryptocurrency -related payments. In a December 9, 2020, CipherTrace-ACFCS Webinar on “How Cryptocurrency Intelligence Tipped the Scales in 2020 Sanctions Evasion,” more… Read More

November 18, 2020 @ 9:15 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Sygna Bridge, the “market-ready” solution developed for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) to fulfill the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendation 16’s “Travel Rule,” has reportedly become the very first FATF Travel Rule solution to go through an independent assessment by The Association of Cryptocurrency… Read More

November 14, 2020 @ 2:52 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Blockchain security firm Ciphertrace has noted that FinCEN’s suggested rule change for the Travel Rule Threshold would “more than double” compliance events for US-based virtual asset service providers or VASPs. CipherTrace confirms that FinCEN had released a proposed rule change (in October 2020). The recommendation… Read More

November 12, 2020 @ 8:10 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Sygna Bridge, the “market-ready” solution provider developed specifically for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) to fulfill the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendation 16’s “Travel Rule,” has confirmed that Switzerland-based online bank Dukascopy Bank SA has joined its network of over 20 VASPs operating across… Read More

November 3, 2020 @ 9:13 am By JD Alois  |  

The Hong Kong Government has launched a consultation to gauge public opinion on legislative proposals designed to enhance anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CTF) regulation in Hong Kong. The targets include cryptoassets (digital assets) with the introduction of a licensing regime for virtual asset services… Read More

September 14, 2020 @ 9:02 am By Omar Faridi  |  

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

July 17, 2020 @ 8:59 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental organization that develops policies to combat money laundering and terrorism financing, recently concluded its year long review of its Travel Rule standards for virtual asset service providers (VASPs). The FATF confirmed that it will be extending its… Read More

June 21, 2020 @ 12:23 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

  Blockchain analysis is quite useful when conducting investigations into cryptocurrency-related transactions. It has also become essential when determining whether digital asset service providers are complying with application regulatory and compliance guidelines. Blockchain security and analysis firm Chainalysis says that it uses special software tools… Read More

May 16, 2020 @ 5:50 pm By JD Alois  |  

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

May 8, 2020 @ 4:22 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

  CoolBitX, a blockchain security firm that’s developing the infrastructure needed to bridge the gap between the mainstream financial market and cryptocurrency sector, recently presented its findings of Sygna Bridge’s production report to Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Contact Group members. As mentioned in a… Read More

May 8, 2020 @ 8:31 am By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global anti-money laundering and terrorist financing organization, posted requirements for virtual asset service providers or VASPs in 2019. The guidelines required intermediaries to maintain information on digital asset transactions from both buyers and sellers – called the Travel… Read More

February 25, 2020 @ 11:19 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Asia-based CoolBitX, a leading blockchain or distributed ledger tech (DLT) security firm, has acquired $16.75 million in capital through a Series B investment round from several large investors. CoolBitX’s funding round was led by Japan-based financial services company SBI Holdings. Monex Group, South Korean crypto-asset… Read More

February 25, 2020 @ 8:44 am By JD Alois  |  

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

January 2, 2020 @ 4:34 pm By Cali Haan  |  

International Investment (II) is reporting that Qatar’s financial regulator, the QFC, has banned the use of cryptocurrencies in the region. The ban appears to be comprehensive. It covers, “anything of value that acts as a substitute for currency, that can be digitally traded or transferred… Read More

December 8, 2019 @ 6:26 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Ukraine’s government has reportedly approved the nation’s final draft of a new money laundering law that applies to virtual assets (or cryptocurrencies) and virtual asset service providers (VASPs), according to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) guidelines. The Rada, the country’s legislative body, released a… Read More

June 29, 2019 @ 8:59 am By JD Alois  |  

The V20 Summit, a crypto focused event taking place alongside the G20 in Japan, has announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by a “group of key national trade associations” to create a single association to provide a unified, global voice representing “Virtual Asset Service… Read More

June 24, 2019 @ 12:35 pm By JD Alois  |  

Later this week the V20 conference will take place alongside the bi-annual G20 event being hosted in Japan. The G20 is, of course, the global powwow of 19 leading nations plus the EU. While mostly a lot of hobnobbing and back-room policy wrangling, while in… Read More