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Prohibition of Cash Withdrawals From VASPs Operated Accounts May Contradict Central Bank’s Cashless Policy — Nigerian Lawyer
7.1.2024
Nigerian fintech lawyer Senator Ihenyen said the new central bank guidelines which bar the withdrawal of cash from accounts operated by virtual asset service providers (VASPs) seem “reasonable and understandable.” The lawyer however believes an “outright” prohibition of cash...
Nigeria’s Central Bank Rolls Out Regulations For Financial Institutions Dealing with VASPs
4.1.2024
Source: AdobeStock The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued new regulations to guide banks and other financial institutions that offer domestic accounts for virtual assets service providers (VASPs). In an official circular released on its website on Jan 3, the country’s leading banking...
India Cracks Down on Offshore Crypto Exchanges — Blocks Binance, 8 Other Platforms
30.12.2023
The Indian government has directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to bar access to offshore cryptocurrency exchanges deemed illegal within the country. The nine affected crypto platforms include Binance, Kucoin, Huobi, Kraken, and Bitfinex. The Ministry of Finance also...
Nigerian Central Bank Lifts February 2021 Crypto Prohibition Order
23.12.2023
The Nigerian central bank has reversed its Feb. 5 order which barred banks and financial institutions from extending their services to crypto entities. The central bank said new guidelines align with the Financial Action Task Force’s updated recommendation 15, which calls for the regulation...
VARA’s New Leadership in Dubai Marks Next Phase of Crypto Regulation
21.12.2023
Source: AdobeStock / Grigory Bruev The hands-on approach by Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) has enabled it to set a global precedent for regulator-industry cooperation, its executives said. All virtual asset service providers (VASPs) must obtain a license from VARA before...
Ripple registered to Ireland’s Virtual Asset Service Providers
21.12.2023
The Central Bank of Ireland recently added Ripple to its registered VirtualAsset Service Providers list. Now, Ripple will offer certain virtual asset services in Ireland. The news was shared on Ripple’s official website via a post. The post read that the CBI has added its Irish subsidiary...
New EU Sanctions Package Preclude Russians From Owning Crypto Companies
21.12.2023
The European Union said Russian nationals from owning or controlling crypto service providers under the bloc’s twelfth package of restrictive measures against the country. According to the EU, diamonds entering its will now have to be traced from “the mine to the finger” and this...
Central Bank of Brazil Opens Public Consultation on Virtual Assets Service Provider Rulemaking
19.12.2023
The Central Bank of Brazil opened a new public consultation to obtain feedback for regulating the operations of virtual assets service providers (VASPs) in the country. The bank organized a questionnaire of 38 questions divided into different themes that can be partially, or fully answered until...
Crypto KYC Solutions Advance to Ensure Adoption and Better User Experience
14.12.2023
Know-your-customer (KYC) measures are becoming more important as the cryptocurrency sector grows. These models have proven to help digital asset service providers prevent against crimes such as money laundering, terrorist financing and more. Yet while KYC processes can help financial firms better...
Indian Government Reveals 28 Crypto Service Providers Are Registered With Financial Intelligence Unit
5.12.2023
The Indian government has revealed that 28 crypto service providers are currently registered with the country’s Financial Intelligence Unit. Furthermore, the Ministry of Finance has clarified that the anti-money laundering guidelines and reporting requirements apply to offshore cryptocurrency...
28 Indian Crypto Service Providers Have Registered With Country’s Anti-Money Laundering Unit
4.12.2023
As many as 28 Virtual Digital Assets (VDA) or crypto service providers have registered themselves with India's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND)
Study: Less Than 5% of South Africa-Based Crypto Asset Providers Generate Revenues Exceeding $8 Million
3.12.2023
Only five percent of surveyed South African crypto-asset financial service providers (FSPs) are generating revenue between $8 million and $10 million. The Financial Sector Conduct Authority study found that many of the crypto asset FSPs “earn their revenue from trading fees.” Only...
European Banking Authority Launches New Consultation on Crypto Travel Rule
28.11.2023
The European Banking Authority (EBA) has recently launched a new consultation process concerning implementing the so-called travel rule for cryptocurrency transactions. The institution is seeking feedback on the defined procedures that crypto assets service providers (CASPs) must complete...
Crypto Custodian Hex Trust Secures Full Operating License in Dubai for Institutional Services
15.11.2023
Source: Pixabay Institutional-grade crypto custodian Hex Trust has successfully obtained a full operating license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), the firm announced today. This operating license represents the conclusive approval under VARA’s regulatory...
Spanish Securities Regulator Hints at Probing X for Hosting Crypto Ads For Unlicensed Organizations
13.11.2023
The Spanish securities regulator has recently hinted at investigating and sanctioning X (formerly known as Twitter) for allowing unlicensed providers to post crypto ads. According to Spanish law, social networks and other service providers must verify that ad campaigns come from authorized...
Gemini Adapts to UK’s Travel Rule, Implements Outward Transfer Restrictions to Comply
9.11.2023
Gemini, a cryptocurrency exchange, has implemented changes in response to new regulations affecting virtual asset service providers (VASPs) in the UK. On November 7, Gemini announced adjustments to align with the new Travel Rule regulations in the UK. These changes involve a set of global standards...
Gemini’s Travel Rule measures reflect ‘worrying creep’ of overregulation
9.11.2023
Gemini will be restricting its UK users to sending only to 58 virtual asset service providers that are registered under the Travel Rule starting Nov. 17. A Trezor analyst argues the measures will go against the principles of Bitcoin and financial freedom
UAE central bank to penalize unlicensed virtual asset service providers
8.11.2023
UAE lawyer Irina Heaver explained that the new guidance is part of the UAE’s efforts to be removed from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) “grey list.”
Crypto Firms in Dubai Have Until Nov. 17 to Clear all Licensing Requirements: VARA
7.11.2023
Source: Pixabay Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) has set a new deadline for all crypto-related businesses to clear their licensing papers. VARA, the license issuing authority for crypto firms, wants all digital asset service providers to get licenses by November 17. According...
EBA and ESMA Release Consultation Paper on Assessing Suitability for Crypto-Asset Service Providers
20.10.2023
The European Banking Authority (EBA) and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published a joint consultation paper on two draft guidelines.
On October 19, the European Banking Authority (EBA) and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published joint guidelines that...