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From now on, Cryptocurrency Transactions are under strict aml regulation in Israel

...talization jumped by more than 250% within the first 10 months. With rising popularity, the use of digital assets in illegal financial transactions has also increased. To counter that, many European and Asian countries have introduced strict KYC and aml rules for the detection and prevention of cryptocurrencies in illegal activities. Israel is one of the fastest-developing crypto-hubs in the wh...

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New 6 amlD Compliance Conditions for EMIs

...d an updated list of high-risk third countries. Money laundering has become a huge problem worldwide. Money service businesses have become the new vehicle for criminal groups to laundry cash and move it across the borders and inside countries. Thus, aml regulations are tightening towards Money service businesses, making sure that they do everything to prevent criminal activities With the new me...

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From now cryptocurrency will be under aml rules in Thailand

**Thailand’s financial regulator is willing to amend local laws in order for those to include cryptocurrency.** Preecha Charoensahayanon, Police Major and secretary-general of the Anti-Money Laundering Office (amlO), said: *"We believe that, while currently not an issue, cryptocurrency will be a tool of new money laundering. We may not find any clue, but that doesn’t mean the wrongdoin...

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Financial Business Innovations in The Cayman Islands

*October 2017 has been an innovative month for the Cayman Islands. Therefore, we are ready to reveal the governmental initiatives that will transform doing financial business in this country.* First of all, we should mention the new aml/CTF country whitelist. What is the main point of this **legal change**? Business registered in the **Cayman Islands** will now be spared of the long and comp...

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Impact of New Legal Framework on Estonian Crypto Market

...th, and have operated many licenses in Estonia. Recently market has been changed, and, considering favorable conditions for crypto exchange, Estonia has become most affected country by these changes. The EU's 5th anti-money laundering directive (5amlD) that was supposed to be fully implemented by January 2020 in all EU Member States have taken a very heavy toll on the regulators around the Euro...

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FINMA provides guidelines on "stablecoin"

...he Principles for Financial Market Infrastructures (PFMI) and, beyond that, PFMI also cover cyber risks management. As any other Swiss payment system, ‘stablecoin’ project must ensure full conformity with international Anti-Money Laundering (aml) standards. For the purposes of prevention of financial crime and money laundering every payment system is subject to the Anti-Money Laundering Ac...

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Virtual Currencies’ Control in Singapore

...y should be banned. An important statement was issued by the Deputy Prime Minister of **Singapore**. He claimed that in the matters of money-laundering and terrorism financing, virtual currencies are not distinguished separately. All rules of the aml/CFT policy apply the same way as for money and virtual currencies. Singapore took up an interesting position: this jurisdiction accepts innovat...

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South Korea to tax capital gains on crypto

...des, South Korea’s government will have to decide whether the crypto gains tax will be implemented in the line with stocks or real estate capital gains. South Korea is currently enhancing the know-your-customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (aml) requirements and is moving towards the regulated crypto industry. It worth noting that the National Assembly greenlighted legislation that re...

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Attempts to Unify Cryptocurrency Regulation and Introduction of the Travel Rule

...,000 (1,000 CHF). Merging with FATF’s travel limit, the new Financial Services Act aims to address the “increased money-laundering risks” within the crypto market. On January 10th this year the EU’s Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (5amlD) came into force, which is considered as not as stringent as the FATF’s guidance. The 5amlD take a lighter approach to customer recordkeeping. ...

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CySEC Requires to Follow Recently Introduced FATF’s Policies

...iting from COVID-19 fears skyrocketed in recent months the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) has ordered all regulated entities under it to implement the Financial Task Force (FATF)-recommended pandemic-related anti-money laundering (aml) and counter-terror financing (CFT) policies. The official letter from CySEC was issued on July 16 to all CIFs, ASPs, UCITS management companies, ...

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Covid-19 Effect on Growing Number of Crypto Related Scams

...ld. Given the fact that 1.4 billion USD was lost to crypto crimes during the first five months of 2020, in the middle of the year it is hard to tell exact number netted by criminals could exceed 2019 statistic. Due to the implementation of effective aml controls, the amount of criminal funds directly received by exchanges dropped by 47% in 2019. Remining of 2020 could bring more regulatory atte...

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Potential PayPal Entry into Cryptocurrency Market

...nature’; some cryptocurrencies are really created to have a constant value and are therefore great for payments – others are fluctuating and will be less used for payments but more for investment, saving and speculation. Company’s existing aml and KYC measures could be enough for crypto purchases, but there may be some additional regulatory requirements, in practically, there could be ex...

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New requirements for Lithuania and UK EMIs

Electronic Money Institutions (EMIs) will be facing uncertainty over regulations due to post-Brexit and Sixth Anti Money Laundering Directive (6 amlD) which provides obligations that need to be transposed by European Union Member States by the December 20th, 2020. Due to the worldwide covid-19 pandemic Brexit was postponed for few months, however currently Brexit has been brought back and is ...

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Brand-new product - Crypto Exchange & Wallet License in Lithuania

...act as the shareholder, director and compliance officer all in one. However, for the compliance officer position previous work experience and supportive documentation is needed. It is recommended to out-source a 3rd party service provider to fulfill aml and KYC requirements. The recommended setup structure is to include at 2 least board members while the compliance officer should have previous pro...

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Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) accepts new policy for Crypto-Asset providers

... • Administrative, accounting, internal control, risk assessment, digital processing of data systems and confidentiality of data are required to be at the top-notch level. • Also, in order to ensure business continuity and compliance with aml regime and the applicable and regulatory framework – maintenance of adequate outsourcing arrangements is required. **To sum up, it is clear,...

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Mauritius is set to rise as one of the best jurisdictions for global financial services once again

On the 21st of October, 2021, right before the closure of FATF (Financial Action Task Force) Plenary, Marcus Pleyer, the President of an intergovernmental policy body that sets global Anti-money laundering and combatting terrorism financing (aml/CFT) standards and ensures the effective implementation of such standards in all jurisdictions stated the following: “after completing its action pla...

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Legal bitcoin to be!

...rt Mark Weber also said that the results of initial experiments were published as means to solicit feedback from crypto experts and help to inspire others to join the effort to make financial systems safer by developing new techniques and models for aml. Read our blog to keep abreast of all actual and interesting crypto news.

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South Korea enforcing crypto rules

...crypto trading platforms that are already operating will be obliged to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). Taking into account the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations, the crypto exchanges will have to comply with strict KYC and aml regulations as well as the processes relating to the customer verification. South Korea has been criticized for the lack of preventive measure...

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German crypto companies will require BaFin license as of next year

...hority (BaFin)**. Crypto derivatives will not fall under these regulations, but remain subject to the ESMA’s current restriction and any future proposals by the BaFin regarding the sale of these instruments to retail investors. Based on the new aml (Anti-Money Laundering) regulations that will come into effect, crypto companies working in Germany will be required to apply BaFin for the licens...

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New anti-money laundering rules for crypto exchanges in Norway

...stration contains, among others things, certain data about the business (company name, registration number, address, type of services offered to the clients), along with information about the company’s manager. In regard to compliance with the new aml rules - the customers will be obliged to provide information about the purpose of a transaction and/or the origin of funds. Service providers will...

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Blockchain regulations are on the way to Malta

... during the conference it was declared that the government had performed rigorous work to meet all requirements of the newborn industry. New legal regulations will meet the needs of both, technological companies’ as well as anti-money laundering (aml) and counter financing of terrorism (CFT) requirements. This implies that the technology will be able to live and breathe, meanwhile the industry ...

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A unanimous decision regarding Vanuatu delisting from FATF Grey List

**The Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) is an international organization that identifies countries with insufficient measures of combatting money laundering and terrorist financing (aml / CFT)**. Following the FATF Plenary in February 2016, Vanuatu was classified as a Grey List country. Just recently, there was a significant change of the situation when, during the annual FATF Plenary held on...

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The new anti-money laundering law of the Island of Man

**Government of the Isle of Man recently announced that Royal Assent was granted to the Anti-Money Laundering and Other Financial Crime Act 2018.** This actually means that it is an official aml/CFT law from now on. This was an expected development in mind of the recent trend of updates in the field of Anti-Money Laundering Law. The Isle of Man is a well-regulated and developed international...

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New financial crime combating plan was released in UK

...ensure cryptocurrencies are not used for money laundering and other illegal activities. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the country’s financial regulator, will supervise the regulations, meaning it will introduce and maintain a sufficient aml regime for cryptocurrency companies. Further, an Asset Recovery Action Plan will help reclaim the proceeds of crime, including funds retained o...

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Polymath CEO Trevor Koverko on smart investing, secret societies, and security tokens

...t a share certificate that’s collecting dust in your filing cabinets, you have a token that lives on the blockchain that you can command to do things. You can have modules. I guess what we do at Polymath is we have different modules for KYC to streamline that process.” So, right now, when it comes to KYC or managing the security of your security token, Polymath is not your one-stop shop jus...

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Fresh breath of air for innovative financial services in Labuan

...ocal entities will resort to respective measures. Among the other things, having adequate safeguards to handle risks related to money laundering and the countering of terrorism financing. By doing this, Labuan entities committing IFS shall adhere to aml and CFT Requirements issued by Bank Negara Malaysia and LFSA. Labuan entities implementing IFS have to assure that their trade operations can s...

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Bahamas issued guidance related to financial crimes prevention

...ctors and is aimed to deliver instruction on financial crime-related risk management at the business and client levels. The aforesaid document also helps in implementing of anti-money laundering measures and countering the financing of terrorism (aml/CFT) standards of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global aml/CFT standard implementation. This contains instructions on implementing a...

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What is coin selection and why does it matter?

... and given how Bitcoin calculates fees, there are lower costs in doing it this way. The good news is that this is likely to happen. However, this is only since the Bitcoin developer team updated the algorithm earlier this year, to ensure more streamlined coin selection. Before this update, the coin selection process was a little less sophisticated. Continuing with the above scenario, when yo...

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Malaysia is planning to regulate initial coin offerings as securities offerings

...ing fit and properness of issuers and exchange operators, disclosure standards and best practices in price discovery, trading rules and client asset protection.”* **The relevant companies, dealing in digital assets will be required to adhere to aml / CFT requirements, along with cybersecurity and other related measures.** In accordance with the statement of the Securities Commission and Ba...

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Australia is planning to implement blockchain technology in order to automate transaction reporting

...ockchain Innovation Lab, the BSOE is planning to work with Capgemini to develop blockchain solutions from the point of Proof of Concept to collaborated production. Last spring, AUSTRAC presented new rules for cryptocurrency exchanges adhering the aml&CTF (counter money laundering and terrorism financing), which also included implementation of obligatory internal registration with its division. ...

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EU Has Amended The List Of Non-Cooperative Tax Jurisdictions

...o monitor 34 countries remaining in the ‘grey’ list, while 25 countries from the original screening process have now been cleared. The ‘black’ list of offshore companies was created on the basis of the 4th Anti-Money Laundering Directive, amlD4, which was adopted in 2015. According to this document, the list includes countries whose efforts in the field of combating money laundering and...

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Crypto exchange industry is not as compliant as it appears to us

...studies, numerous crypto exchange companies still do not have sufficient KYC policies. 69 percent of crypto companies does not have proper know-your-customer (KYC) procedures, and only 26 percent of exchanges had appropriate anti-money laundering (aml) procedures in place. In particular, experienced in aml staff members responsible for transaction monitoring and internal compliance staff with su...

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Estonian government tightens up licensing requirements for cryptocurrency companies

... local experts, the new conditions will significantly complicate the procedure for getting a license. In addition, the regulator will have the right to invite a company’s responsible person for an interview to evaluate the applicant's knowledge of aml requirements. New rules will apply to both new applicants and those who applied earlier. Those companies that already have a license will have ...

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A new license assessment procedure will be adopted for certain AFS applicants

...services licensing procedures (AFS) for certain applicants. ASIC has also released an actual guideline in this regard. Warren Day, ASIC Executive Director said the following: *"ASIC has reviewed the AFS license assessment processes and has streamlined its assessment processes in some limited respects. This is designed to avoid unnecessary delays that may arise when ASIC seeks additional info...

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Mandate registration is coming! South Africa wants to regulate crypto

...n despite that, the bank clarified that it does not regard digital assets as legal instruments. The complete registration process shall be finished by the end of Q1 of 2019. Moreover, the cryptocurrency service providers would also have to abide new aml&CFT requirement with regards to suspicious transactions, such as cash transactions of R25,000 and more. Read our blog in order to stay updated ...

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Mauritius Global Business License (GBL), PIS

...hat reason, please provide us with the following documents. Detailed Business Plan Various manuals which will be drafted / reviewed by Offshorelicense (e.g. procedure manual, privacy policy, disaster recovery plan, complaints hanging policy, aml policy, security policy and procedures)

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Bermuda Digital Asset license

...with whose instructions or directions the applicant in accustomed to acting (shadow directors)) must be “fit and proper” The business must be conducted in a prudent manner (taking into account any failure to comply with the provisions of DABA, aml/ATF requirements, Codes of Practice issued by the BMA and international sanctions measures), including a requirement for the maintenance of minimu...

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Lithuania Payment Institutions License

... the types of payment services to be provided Evidence that the minimum size of the equity capital does not fall below the required amount Various manuals (e.g. procedure manual, privacy policy, disaster recovery plan, complaints handing policy, aml policy, security policy and procedures)

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Marshall Islands International Business Company Formation

... Company name must end with such sufixes or their abbreviations: Limited, Public Limited Company, Corporation, Incorporated, Proprietary, Sociedad Anónima, Société Anonyme, Aktiengesellschaft, Aktiengesellschaft, Berhad, Besloten Vennootshcap, Naamloze Vennootschap , Société Anonyme à Responsabilité Limitée Restricted words: bank, trust, insurance, chartered, foundation, partnershi...

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Switzerland Crypto License

... securities); asset tokens: a token whose function is similar to stocks and bonds (as a rule, they fall under the license for trading activity in the field of securities). Financial intermediary license Under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (amlA), financial intermediaries who are not members of a self-regulatory organization require a license from FINMA. Before a license can be issued to ...

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Bahamas Dealing in Securities License

...solution of the Company to invest in the Bahamas Company (to be certified true copy by the Company Secretary) Additional Due diligence may be prescribed by the Commission*: Original documents that prove source of capital Business plan aml manual and policy All documentation shall be provided in English* * Additional documents may be requested by the Commission or local Bank ...

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Estonian Cryptocurrency Exchange License

...al wallet services. Application for a cryptocurrency exchange license, must be submitted to the Register of Economic Activities. It is important to note that a company must appoint a management board member or a compliance officer for performance of aml/CFT duties and obligations. This person must be a qualified specialist and will communicate with the authorities in the respective tasks. Along...

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Vanuatu Dealer's in Securities License

...tfolio of investments and to operate with securities (sell and buy) for the client or even on his behalf. The Company should have a responsible Anti-Money Laundering officer, who is registered with the Financial Intelligence Unit in Vanuatu. This aml officer cannot be the director or take any other position within the Company. Alternate Anti-Money Laundering officer must be appointed as well. ...

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St.Lucia Company Formation

...international business with ease, thanks to St. Lucia's straightforward regulatory practices. The jurisdiction is renowned for its supportive approach to foreign investment, providing a stable and welcoming environment for businesses. Streamlined Registration Process: Offshorelicense simplifies the incorporation process, making it seamless and hassle-free. From initial consultation to f...

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