The Switzerland-based branch of a major Russian bank has also joined OpenVASP. Gazprombank Switzerland, a subsidiary of one of the largest banks in Russia, has piloted its Bitcoin (BTC) transaction service following regulatory approval by Swiss regulators. According to a Nov. 19 announcement, Gazprombank will provide its new cryptocurrency solution in collaboration with its long-running…
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David Lewis, executive secretary and G20 deputy at the Financial Action Task Force, says crypto firms still have a long way to go before they’re compliant. In 2019, the Financial Action Task Force asked jurisdictions worldwide to adopt its regulatory guidelines for virtual assets. At the V20 conference today, held online, David Lewis—executive secretary and G20 deputy…
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Regulation can add value by strengthening the reputation of a marketplace and creating the conditions to unlock innovation and enhance it. Regulation is sometimes positioned as the enemy of innovation, an antagonistic force that reduces progress in the name of bureaucracy. However, when implemented sensitively and proportionately, regulation can strengthen a private sector’s reputation by…
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Once again, Gibraltar is taking the lead in crypto regulations. The Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC) has updated its regulations governing the operation of distributed ledger technology (DLT) providers to include the latest Financial Action Task Force (FATF) rules. The GFSC said this is in response to blockchain’s fast-moving nature, especially as the agency seeks…
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The platform hopes to help in meeting AML standards. Blockchain company AnChain.AI and decentralized finance and technology provider Bluehelix plan to launch solutions addressing compliance within blockchain networks. According to reports, the two companies will roll out its Blockchain Ecosystem Intelligence, or BEI, risk engine solution. BEI is based on an API and will offer…
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Singapore’s crypto industry association is providing resources for local firms as they navigate new regulatory requirements. Cryptocurrency firms in Singapore can now draw upon detailed guidance for their license applications to offer regulated services in the city-state. On Aug. 13, the Association of Cryptocurrency Enterprises and Startups, Singapore (ACCESS), rolled out its new Code of…
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Compliance with FATF’s travel rule presents major technical difficulties, but the blockchain industry is best-equipped to overcome them. In June 2019, the intergovernmental Financial Action Task Force (FATF) introduced its revised set of standards for virtual asset service providers. The document establishes the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism (AML/CFT) requirements that regulated VASPs — the term…
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Laundering money with Bitcoin is actually an ineffective strategy because of its complexity and high risk. There is no doubt that digital currencies provide benefits for an individual, a company and an institution by facilitating better access to financial products and services. Money laundering costs the global economy between $800 billion and $2 trillion annually,…
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CEO Michael Ou says Elliptic’s wallet screening tools with CoolBitX’s Sygna Bridge could help firms comply with the FATF travel rule. FinTech company CoolBitX may have a solution for countries that have not yet complied with the Financial Action Task Force’s “travel rule”. According to a statement from CoolBitX shared with Cointelegraph on July 21,…
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Crystal Blockchain reports that crypto transfers in the Republic of Seychelles keep growing as regulatory pressure increases for the G20. A new report released on Tuesday by Crystal Blockchain attempts to categorize cross-border transactions of Bitcoin based on their “country of origin,” which may have important implications for the FATF Travel Rule. The analysts used…
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