Tagged: virtual asset service providers

October 10, 2023 @ 8:33 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

During the 2019 Fintech Week, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (HKSFC) reportedly demonstrated a stern regulatory stance towards cryptocurrency through its publications “Position Paper: Regulation of Virtual Asset Trading Platforms” and “Warning on Virtual Asset Futures Contracts,” emphasizing strict licensure and professional investor… Read More

June 20, 2023 @ 9:16 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Mastercard (NYSE: MA) is continuing its move into the volatile crypto sector. The payments giant has submitted a trademark application claiming plans for software for crypto and blockchain/DLT transactions, as well as interconnecting virtual asset service providers for crypto transfers. It appears as if Mastercard… Read More

April 12, 2023 @ 6:16 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

BitMEX, which claims to be one of the world’s most trusted crypto trading platforms for professional and institutional traders, has joined the Travel Rule Universal Solution Technology (TRUST), which is described as an industry-driven Travel Rule compliance solution for global virtual asset service providers (VASPs)…. Read More

August 22, 2022 @ 4:08 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Services Commission of Korea has issued a warning to 16 unregistered “Virtual Asset Service Providers” or VASPs – the term utilized by the FATF for crypto exchanges. According to a statement by the Commission, the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit (KoFIU) has notified 16… Read More

July 4, 2022 @ 10:07 am By JD Alois  |  

FATF (Financial Action Task Force) has issued an update on virtual assets (VAs) and virtual asset service providers (VASPs) and approved standards and implementation. FATF is a global entity but does not have rule-making authority as regulations must be set by members. FATF has pursued… Read More

February 20, 2022 @ 11:59 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Bit2Me has reportedly become the first Spanish firm to successfully obtain registration from the Bank of Spain as a provider of services for exchanging digital currency for fiduciary currency and custody of electronic wallets. Bit2Me was notably the first exchange to apply for registration with… Read More

February 5, 2022 @ 12:26 pm By JD Alois  |  

Yesterday, the US Department of Treasury issued a statement on illicit activity in the “high-value art market.” More specifically, activities that include money laundering and terrorist financing risks. The study found that while there is some evidence of money laundering risk in the high-value art… Read More

January 12, 2022 @ 3:40 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The team at ComplyAdvantage, an AI-enhanced financial crime detection firm, notes that from regime change in Myanmar and Afghanistan to a “spotlight on environmental crime at COP26 and the explosive Pandora Papers leak, 2021 has been another landmark year for compliance professionals.” ComplyAdvantage writes in… Read More

July 17, 2021 @ 4:26 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Leading blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis has released an update titled, “Not All Blockchain Analysis Providers Are the Same and Other Insights from FATF’s Second 12-Month Review.” The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is the inter-governmental entity that’s responsible for establishing international standards relating to anti-money… Read More

July 8, 2021 @ 8:02 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

On July 5, 2021, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) had completed its second 12-month review of the implementation of its updated Standards on virtual assets and virtual asset service providers or VASPs. A review from CipherTrace examines how different jurisdictions and the private sector… Read More

July 1, 2021 @ 7:57 am By Omar Faridi  |  

As part of its commitment to compliance, Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange that has been under investigation by US regulators and other international authorities due to allegations of engaging in recognized markets without authorization (and also contributing to money laundering and other illicit activities),… Read More

May 31, 2021 @ 11:27 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Hong Kong’s Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) has published a paper that reveals the key findings and conclusions reached after a consultation on a proposed licensing requirement for digital asset trading platforms. Hong Kong‘s government has reportedly proposed certain regulatory changes in order… Read More

March 20, 2021 @ 7:37 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Notabene has teamed up with blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis to bring a “scalable” Travel Rule solution to cryptocurrency-focused businesses. Crypto-related businesses are working consistently to meet updated regulatory guidelines involving counterparty risk. According to a blog post by Chainalysis, the most notable of these requirements… Read More

March 14, 2021 @ 6:56 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Earlier this year, the team at Elliptic, which works to assist with categorizing financial crime typologies while protecting legitimate crypto-asset users from illicit activities, had explained how proper and effective compliance can prevent (potential) money laundering activities using Bitcoin (BTC) or other digital currencies. Elliptic… Read More

March 11, 2021 @ 11:10 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

South Korean authorities have stated that they’re planning to impose heavy penalties or fines on individuals and businesses violating applicable guidelines for cryptocurrency transactions. The Korean financial regulator stated that it would impose a fine on virtual currency exchanges if they fail to report suspicious… Read More

January 29, 2021 @ 9:05 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has reportedly reviewed and approved the applicable guidelines for virtual asset service providers (VASP) and other entities that facilitate financial services by using VASPs (also referred to as cryptocurrencies). The new guidelines have updated the… Read More

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