ANTI MONEY LAUNDERING
Hong Kong Monetary Authority Penalizes 33 Financial Services for Regulatory Breaches
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has imposed a fine on 33 Financial Services Limited for non-compliance with the Payment Systems and Stored Value Facilities Ordinance.
KuCoin and Founders Charged with Bank Secrecy Act and Money Transmission Offenses
KuCoin, along with its founders Chun Gan and Ke Tang, has been charged with violating the Bank Secrecy Act and operating an unlicensed money transmission business, allegedly allowing its platform to be used for money laundering and terrorist financing.
SEC Faces Criticism from Elizabeth Warren over Bitcoin ETF Approvals
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren has expressed strong disapproval of the SEC's recent decision to approve 11 spot bitcoin ETFs, emphasizing the necessity of stringent anti-money laundering regulations in the cryptocurrency sector.
FINRA's 2024 Oversight Report Emphasizes Crypto Asset Compliance
FINRA's 2024 Regulatory Oversight Report emphasizes compliance in crypto asset activities, emphasizing cybersecurity, anti-money laundering protocols, and transparent reporting, reflecting its commitment to guiding members in the evolving cryptocurrency world.
US Court Orders Binance and Changpeng Zhao to Pay $2.7 Billion in Settlement with CFTC
A US court has imposed a $2.7 billion fine on Binance and a $150 million fine on Changpeng Zhao for violating the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations.
Circle Formally Refutes Allegations of Illicit Financing and Connections to Justin Sun
Circle denies CfA's allegations of illicit financing and Justin Sun ties, emphasizing regulatory compliance and advocating for stronger stablecoin laws, as clarified by Dante Disparte.
Richard Teng Signals Unchanged Core Values at Binance Amid Leadership Transition
Richard Teng, Binance's new CEO, prioritizes user protection and appeal amid leadership changes following Changpeng Zhao's resignation and $4.3 billion legal settlement for anti-money laundering violations.
EU Proposes Cap on Anonymous Crypto Transfers
The European Union is proposing a 1,000 euro cap on anonymous crypto transfers to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. The limit would apply to transfers when a customer cannot be identified, and the proposal also caps cash transactions at 7,000 euros. The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism package is expected to be confirmed in April.
Binance Responds to U.S. Senators Letter, Excludes Financial Data
Binance has responded to a letter from U.S. Senators sent earlier this month requesting information about the crypto exchange’s operations in the country, including its balance sheet. Despite omitting financial data from the letter, Binance reportedly sent the information to U.S. regulators. In the 14-page document, Binance's chief strategy officer, Patrick Hillman, addressed the exchange's compliance history and recognized previous mistakes while claiming the firm has built solid Know Your Customer and Anti-Money Laundering policies in recent years. However, the response failed to address the senators’ concerns about Binance’s lack of transparency.
BaFin Declines to Classify NFTs as Securities, Recommends Case-by-Case Approach
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority of Germany (BaFin) has stated that it is not yet prepared to classify non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as securities. While NFTs may be considered investments in certain cases, BaFin suggests that classification should be approached on a case-by-case basis. The lack of immediate exchangeability and standardization makes it unlikely that NFTs will be classified as crypto assets. However, if an NFT contains documentation of exploitation rights or ownership, it could be considered an investment. BaFin does not expect NFTs to comply with the licensing requirements of the Payment Services Supervision Act or fall under its Anti-Money Laundering supervision, except for NFTs that are considered "crypto assets."
Pakistan Banks Develop Blockchain-based KYC Platform
The Pakistan Banks’ Association has signed a contract to develop Pakistan’s first blockchain-based national eKYC banking platform aimed at strengthening anti-money laundering capabilities while countering terror financing. The blockchain platform will also improve operational efficiencies, mainly focused on improving customer experience during onboarding.
SEC to Regulate Binance Chain With Blockchain Analytics Firm CipherTrace
The US Securities and Exchange Commission plans to award CipherTrace blockchain analytics firm with a contract pertaining to Binance Chain.
AML BitCoin Lobbyist Abramoff to Pay $55K in Convicted Guilt Plea for ICO Fraud
In the civil case filed against Jack Abramoff for his role in the 2018 Initial Coin Offering (ICO) scandal, the AML BitCoin lobbyist is expected to pay $55, 000 in disgorgement and interest for his conspiracy in fraud.