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Dubai Virtual Assets Regulator Establishes HQ in the Metaverse
5.5.2022
The Dubai virtual assets regulator, the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), has established its metaverse headquarters in The Sandbox virtual world. By establishing a presence in the metaverse, the regulator said it hopes to make itself accessible to all stakeholders. World’s...
Report: 100,000 Cubans Are Using Cryptocurrencies to Bypass Financial Sanctions
3.5.2022
On May 2, 2022, a report stemming from the broadcast television and radio network the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), 100,000 Cubans are leveraging crypto assets. The report says increased crypto usage is due to the fact that Cubans cannot use certain payment vehicles due to the sanctions...
Central Bank of Cuba Introduces Specific Virtual Asset Service Providers Regulation
29.4.2022
The Cuban government has issued new regulations concerning the operation of virtual asset service providers (VASPs) in the country. In an official resolution, the Bank of Cuba establishes specific procedures that these individuals or companies must follow to operate legally in the country, after...
Cryptocurrency Draft Law Presented in Peru
5.1.2022
A draft of a new cryptocurrency asset law was introduced in Peru in December, seeking to regulate the cryptocurrency interactions that are already happening in the country. The draft law, besides defining what a crypto asset is and establishing the duties of virtual asset service providers (VASPs)...
Donated or Inherited Virtual Assets to Be Taxed by South Korea’s NTS
31.12.2021
Starting in the year 2022, donated or inherited virtual assets will be assessed and taxed accordingly, South Korea’s National Tax Service has said. Dunamu, Bithumb Korea, Korbit, and Coinone are the new virtual asset service providers (VASPs) tasked with evaluating digital assets for such...
Chainalysis to Offer Lightning Network Monitoring Service to VASPs in 2022
11.12.2021
On December 10, the blockchain intelligence firm Chainalysis revealed that the company has added support for Bitcoin’s second-layer protocol the Lightning Network (LN). According to Chainalysis, firms like exchanges and virtual asset service providers (VASPs) can leverage...
Bank of Spain Opens Mandatory Registry for VASPs
26.10.2021
The Bank Of Spain has finally opened the mandatory registry for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) in the country. The bank also dispelled doubts that financial institutions had regarding whether they had to apply for the registry given they already comply with AML legislation....
Spanish Banks Interested in Offering Crypto Assets to Their Customers
22.10.2021
Spanish banks are preparing for the possibility of offering crypto assets directly to their customers. According to new regulations, the Bank of Spain must formulate a list of virtual asset service providers and custody companies. However, these institutions are still not sure if they must apply...
New Draft Law in Uruguay Could Legalize Crypto as Payment Method
6.8.2021
A new draft law introduced to the Senate in Uruguay could regulate cryptocurrency transactions, and also legalize cryptocurrency as an accepted payment method in the country. If approved, the draft proposed by Senator Juan Sartori would also introduce licenses for Virtual Asset Service Providers...
Zimbabwe Proposes Inclusion of VASPs in Its Securities Law — Move Applauded as ‘Step in Right Direction’
20.7.2021
The Zimbabwean government recently revealed its intention to widen the definition of securities to include virtual asset service providers (VASPs). According to a document released by the cabinet, the proposed inclusion of VASPs into the category of defined securities will be made possible via...
Portugal Begins Approving Cryptocurrency Exchanges — Two Licensed So Far
22.6.2021
Portugal now has two approved cryptocurrency exchanges. The country’s central bank, the Banco de Portugal, has licensed Mind the Coin and Criptoloja. In Portugal, the central bank is responsible for registering entities that intend to act as virtual asset service providers (VASPs). The bank...
Irish MEP calls for stringent crypto regulations in Europe
2.6.2021
One Irish MEP wants even stricter stablecoin and crypto regulations in Europe
Uganda’s Financial Intelligence Authority Wants Government to Formulate a Crypto Regulatory Framework
25.5.2021
Uganda’s Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) says it wants the country’s Finance Ministry to help formulate a regulatory framework for crypto service providers. According to the FIA, this call for the government’s intervention has prompted by the Ugandan crypto industry’s...
Venezuelan Crypto Regulator Sunacrip Strengthens AML/KYC Requirements for Virtual Asset Service Providers
3.5.2021
Sunacrip, the Venezuelan cryptocurrency watchdog, has recently published a new set of AML/KYC requirements for VASPs (Virtual Asset Service Providers) that establishes new and updated rules about the kind of information these providers must require and share with the Venezuelan government, raising...
Irish crypto firms must comply with money laundering laws for the first time
27.4.2021
It is now a criminal offense to operate a crypto firm in Ireland without registering with the Central Bank of Ireland
New FATF Guidance Applies Regulatory Standards to Decentralized Exchanges, Defi and NFTs
24.3.2021
On March 19, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) published draft guidance on the risk-based approach to virtual assets. The newly updated guidance now applies anti-money laundering and know-your-customer rules to stablecoins, decentralized finance (defi), and non-fungible token (NFT) assets....
Cayman Islands introduce regulations for virtual asset service providers
2.11.2020
The notorious tax haven appears to be cleaning up its act on AML and counter terrorist financing ahead of an FATF review
Prepping for Next Year’s Travel Rule: 25 US Crypto Service Providers Publish Compliance Solutions Paper
24.10.2020
A great number of cryptocurrency businesses are preparing for the upcoming Financial Action Task Force (FATF) rules toward cryptocurrencies, specifically the Travel Rule. This month 25 Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) published a paper that outlines how American-based VASPs aim to comply...
Gibraltar Updates Distributed Ledger Framework to Align With FATF Crypto Regulations
19.9.2020
The Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC) has updated its guidance notes for distributed ledger technology (DLT) providers to include recommendations for risk management, as well as clarify aspects around the issuance of digital assets. In a statement released on September 17,...
Enforcement of Updated Crypto Guidelines From FATF Has Far-Reaching Implications
25.6.2019
The FATF (Financial Action Task Force) has revealed updated guidelines that would require cryptocurrency and digital asset exchanges—and potentially independent business owners and crypto holders—to share sensitive customer information as VASPs (Virtual Asset Service Providers)...