Cointime

Download App
iOS & Android

Industry Players Express Concerns Over FinCEN's Proposed Crypto Mixing Services Regulations

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network proposed a new regulatory regime for crypto mixing services in October, which could potentially treat privacy tools as a threat to money laundering and impose new recordkeeping rules on those using them. The industry had a chance to provide feedback through a comment period that closed last week, with some expressing concerns that the proposed rule would infringe on personal rights and drive legitimate crypto use offshore. The Financial Intelligence Unit of Bangladesh has also expressed concerns about the proposed rule to regulate self-hosted crypto wallets. FinCEN will review the comments before deciding whether to finalize the proposal or take other action. Additionally, the UK government has published the results of a public consultation into a digital pound, while the European Banking Authority will hold a hearing on prudential regulation details within the Markets in Crypto Asset regulatory framework.

Comments

All Comments

Recommended for you

  • Xinjiang launches special campaign to combat illegal fundraising, with key areas including virtual currency, blockchain, etc.

    According to Chang'an Xinjiang Public Account, Xinjiang Autonomous Region and Corps have launched a joint special action to crack down on illegal fund-raising, with key areas including third-party wealth management, fake private equity, fake gold exchange and other traditional fields, as well as emerging fields such as virtual currency, blockchain, cultural tourism, film and television investment, and debt resolution services. It is reported that key cases include cases involving more than 100 million yuan and cases that have been criminally filed for more than five years.
  • A British court has postponed the final sentencing of Wen Jian, a British-Chinese national involved in the country's largest Bitcoin money laundering case, until May 24.

    On May 11th, it was reported that Jian Wen, a 42-year-old British Chinese citizen, was found guilty of "participating in arranging money laundering" in the UK's largest Bitcoin money laundering case. He could be sentenced to up to 14 years in prison. Jian Wen's defense lawyer, Mark Harries, stated that due to the judge's busy schedule, the UK court has postponed Jian Wen's final sentencing, which was originally scheduled for May 10th, to May 24th.
  • US Department of Justice: Tornado Cash indictment has nothing to do with "free speech"

    On May 11th, the US Department of Justice explained why the motion to dismiss the criminal case against Tornado Cash founder Roman Storm was invalid. The Department of Justice reiterated that their indictment was not related to whether the Tornado Cash computer code had freedom of speech or was protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. The defendant was not charged for publishing computer code, but for using it to facilitate profitable illegal activities.
  • SEC rejects Coinbase's request for appeals court ruling on cryptocurrency rules

    The US SEC has rejected Coinbase's request to appeal to the court to review whether traditional securities rules are applicable to cryptocurrencies. In its application, Coinbase stated that it hoped the appeals court would consider whether the Howey test, which has long been used for securities evaluation, should be applied to digital assets. However, the SEC pointed out that Coinbase has not successfully demonstrated the need for such an evaluation. The SEC stated that Coinbase is attempting to create a "new legal test," but this attempt was rejected by the court. The court found that Coinbase's arguments lacked consistency and did not successfully demonstrate the existence of decisive issues. Currently, the judge responsible for hearing the SEC's case against Coinbase will make a ruling on Coinbase's intermediate appeal motion.
  • Colombian President Suspected of Accepting $500,000 in Illegal Crypto Donations

    Colombian President Gustavo Petro is suspected of accepting over $500,000 in digital token donations from a fraudulent cryptocurrency project during his 2022 election campaign. A former contractor revealed that the illegal donation occurred during a meeting in February 2022 that discussed the advantages of cryptocurrency and the possibility of working with the government. This allegation is one of the latest charges faced by President Petro during his election campaign, with the Colombian Prosecutor's Office investigating his campaign last year.
  • Ethereum's Evolving Ecosystem - Staking, DeFi, and Derivative Markets

    The third part of our Glassnode Spotlights series, presenting the most interesting and actionable insights from the Coinbase x Glassnode Q2 Guide to Crypto Markets, explores Ethereum's Evolving Ecosystem - Staking, DeFi, and Derivative Markets.
  • South Korea’s Monetary Authority: Confirmed to include token delisting standards in the Virtual Asset User Protection Act

    The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) of South Korea has confirmed that token delisting standards will be included in the "Best Practice for Compliance with the Virtual Asset User Protection Act" released in early June. An official from the Financial Supervisory Service stated in a conversation with Bloomberg on Tuesday that the upcoming "Best Practices for Compliance with the Virtual Asset User Protection Act" will not only include listing standards for virtual assets, but also provide guidance on whether to maintain trading of listed virtual assets. The guidance will provide a basis for cryptocurrency issuers to delist in the event of problems. The guidance will be released from the end of May to early June. Currently, the Financial Supervisory Service is developing guidelines to support self-regulation by cryptocurrency exchanges under the Virtual Asset User Protection Act before it is implemented in July. The plan proposes standards for virtual asset issuance, circulation, and trading support, prohibits the listing of virtual assets with a history of hacking attacks, and requires the release of Korean white papers and technical manuals when listing overseas virtual assets.
  • US court orders seizure of 279 virtual currency accounts containing criminal proceeds from North Korean hacking

    A US court has ordered the confiscation of 279 virtual currency accounts containing proceeds from North Korean hacker crimes. US District Court Judge Timothy Kelly in Washington, DC approved the federal prosecutor's request for a summary judgment on these accounts and ordered their confiscation on May 8. This ruling means that these accounts are now under the control of the US Department of Treasury.
  • South Korea’s National Tax Service announced that it would collect 40 billion won in taxes from Bithumb users

    Bithumb has issued a preliminary notice of comprehensive income tax to some users who participated in activities held between 2018 and 2021, and announced full support for the related tax amount. The position of the National Tax Service is that rewards paid to users through various activities (including virtual assets) constitute taxable income. Bithumb does not agree with the National Tax Service's opinion, but explains that taxation is mandatory.
  • US House of Representatives passes SAB 121 crypto rule overturning SEC

    The US House of Representatives has passed H.J. Res. 109, a resolution aimed at overturning the Securities and Exchange Commission's SAB 121 regulation on digital assets. The resolution aims to reduce regulatory burden and promote regulated banks to safely hold digital assets. However, the White House supports the SEC and has threatened to veto the resolution, emphasizing that if the President receives H.J. Res. 109, he will veto it.