DOJ Task Force ‘KleptoCapture’ to Target Crypto Exchanges in Sanctions Evasion Crackdown – Regulation Bitcoin News

A new task force set up by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), KleptoCapture, will also target cryptocurrency exchanges. Financial institutions, banks, money transmission services, and crypto exchanges that allow Russian oligarchs to move money “will be in the crosshairs of this investigation.” DOJ’s KleptoCapture Task Force Will Take ‘Broader View’ A new Department of Justice (DOJ) task force, KleptoCapture, will enforce sanctions against Russian oligarchs as well as target anyone who helps hide their money, including crypto service providers, a senior DOJ official reportedly said Friday. The KleptoCapture task…

Upcoming AML Regulations in Estonia to Affect Cryptocurrency Industry – Regulation Bitcoin News

Estonia is preparing to enforce a set of new anti-money laundering rules that will stiffen requirements for crypto companies operating under Estonian license. The changes come amid concerns that Russia may use crypto to evade western sanctions and an ongoing audit of the Baltic nation’s AML policies. Government of Estonia Creates Stricter Regulatory Environment for Crypto Businesses Estonia, whose banking sector has in the past been implicated in the processing of billions for suspicious Russian clients, is now taking steps to close the loopholes that could allow Russia, its elites,…

Canadian Police Seize Bitcoin Worth $28 Million From Former Government Employee in Ransomware Case – Regulation Bitcoin News

Canada’s police have seized bitcoin worth more than $28 million from a former government employee who has been extradited to the U.S. to “face charges for dozens of ransomware attacks resulting in the payment of tens of millions of dollars in ransoms.” Canadian Authority Seizes Bitcoin Worth $28 Million The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Thursday that a former Canadian government employee was extradited the previous day from Canada to the U.S. to “face charges for dozens of ransomware attacks resulting in the payment of tens of millions of…

US Treasury Launching Cryptocurrency Awareness Program – Regulation Bitcoin News

The U.S. Department of the Treasury is launching a cryptocurrency awareness program. “We’re just trying to raise awareness without trying to stamp out new technology and new innovation,” said an official of the Treasury. Treasury’s Efforts to Raise Crypto Awareness The U.S. Department of the Treasury is launching an initiative to raise awareness about cryptocurrency investing, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing an interview with Nellie Liang, Treasury undersecretary for domestic finance. “We’re hearing more and more about investors and households who are purchasing crypto assets, and we recognize the complexity of…

South Korea Elects Crypto-Friendly President Who Vows to Deregulate Digital Asset Industry – Regulation Bitcoin News

South Korean voters have elected a crypto-friendly president. Yoon Suk-yeol of the conservative People Power Party has vowed to deregulate the crypto industry and introduce favorable tax laws for crypto investors. “To realize the unlimited potential of the virtual asset market, we must overhaul regulations that are far from reality and unreasonable,” he said. South Korea’s President-Elect Vows to Deregulate Crypto Industry South Korean voters elected Yoon Suk-yeol of the conservative People Power Party as their new president in the country’s most closely fought presidential election Wednesday. Yoon served as…

How Europe’s new AML regulation will affect crypto

According to recent media reports, six European countries, led by Germany, are working on launching an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) body that will include the cryptocurrency market in its purview. Details remain scarce, but it is known that the initiative involves Germany, Spain, Austria, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The group is working on “the remit and design” of a new international AML watchdog force that will have a particular emphasis on crypto, and the European Commission — the key executive institution of the European Union — will be the primary…

Dubai Approves First Law to Regulate Digital Assets, Establishes Regulator to Oversee Crypto Sector – Regulation Bitcoin News

Dubai has adopted its first law to regulate the crypto sector. It has also established a dedicated regulator to oversee crypto activities and related service providers. Crypto Sector Regulated in Dubai The emirate of Dubai has adopted its first law to regulate crypto assets and established a regulator to oversee crypto activities and regulate crypto service providers. The official Twitter account for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced Wednesday that the first virtual assets law has been approved in Dubai and the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has…

Crypto Industry Could Benefit From Biden’s Executive Order, Regulations Provide Legitimacy – Regulation Bitcoin News

A Cornell University economics professor says that President Joe Biden’s executive order on the regulation of cryptocurrency could benefit the industry. “Ultimately what these sorts of regulations provide to the industry is legitimacy,” said the professor. Cornell Professor on Crypto Industry Benefiting From Biden’s Executive Order Eswar Prasad, professor of economics at Cornell University, shared his thoughts on U.S. President Joe Biden’s crypto executive order and what it means for the industry in an interview with CNBC, published Thursday. Prasad is the Nandlal P. Tolani senior professor of trade policy…

Estonian Prime Minister Calls for Restriction of Cryptocurrencies – Regulation Bitcoin News

The Prime Minister of Estonia has said cryptocurrencies must be restricted in order to address loopholes that may be used by sanctioned Russian entities to evade the punitive measures. In addition, the premier wants all Russian as well as Belarusian banks to be removed from the global payment network. Sanction Evasion Concerns The Estonian prime minister, Kaja Kallas, has told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that cryptocurrencies must be “restricted” in order to deny Russia the opportunity to evade recently imposed sanctions. Prime Minister Kallas’ comments, published by Reuters,…

Regulator in UAE’s Special Economic Zone Unveils Consultation Paper on ‘Crypto Tokens’ – Regulation Bitcoin News

The regulatory arm of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s special economic zone, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has unveiled a consultation paper outlining its proposed regulatory regime for crypto tokens. Changes to the Draft Legislation The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the financial regulatory agency of UAE’s special economic zone, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has released a consultation paper proposing a regulatory regime for crypto tokens. The DFSA said the public has until May 6, 2022, to comment on the regulatory agency’s proposal “for a regulatory regime…