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FinCEN Guidance: Crypto Firms Take Notice

The U.S. Treasury financial crimes unit clarifies how its rules apply to virtual currencies

Friday, June 7, 2019

By Ted Sausen

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On May 9, 2019, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued guidance on the Application of FinCEN's Regulations to Certain Business Models Involving Convertible Virtual Currencies. While the guidance does not set forth any new regulatory requirements, it does combine all FinCEN regulations, rulings, and guidance around convertible virtual currencies (CVCs) since they were issued, going back to 2011.

In addition to the guidance, FinCEN issued an advisory to highlight the risks associated with virtual currencies and how to identify and report suspicious activity. These came on the heels of FinCEN's April statement which announced the first-time-ever penalty against a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency trader for failure to comply with the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). Trader Eric Powers was fined $35,000 and is barred from providing money transmission services because of his failure to register as a money transmitter and failure to file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) and Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs).

CVC Clarifications

As noted, the purpose of the FinCEN guidance release was to provide more clarification based on questions raised around dealing with convertible virtual currencies. The format of the release consists of six sections:

  • Key concepts and definitions [relating to CVCs]
  • Explanation of current regulations and previous rulings
  • Summary of FinCEN's 2013 guidance on regulations around transactions denominated in CVC
  • BSA guidance to common business models
  • Exemptions
  • Available Resources

One key point, raised in the definitions, is that FinCEN's definition of “money transmitter” includes a “person that provides money transmission services” or “any other person engaged in the transfer of funds.” As a result, these individuals are subject to comply with all the rules and regulations set forth in the Bank Secrecy Act.

The FinCEN advisory FIN-2019-A003 highlights the risks posed by virtual currencies and identifies platforms used by criminals in their illicit activities:

  • Darknet marketplaces
  • Unregistered or illicitly operating P2P exchangers
  • Unregistered foreign-located money service businesses (MSBs)
  • Unregistered or illicitly operating CVC kiosks
  • Illicit activity leveraging CVC kiosks
  • Other potentially illicit activity

Broader Application

Across those categories, a total of 30 red flags were identified; however, they weren't specific to virtual currencies. These red flags would apply to other types of businesses and transactions.

Ted Sausen Headshot
FinCEN's "red flags" are not unique to virtual currencies, writes Ted Sausen of NICE Actimize.

For example, there are five flags identified in darknet marketplaces. The five should raise concern for any type of transactions, not uniquely CVC transactions. Even more broadly, any connection to darknet marketplaces should draw concern. The same would apply to unregistered foreign-located MSBs.

Overall, the guidance and advisory served as a good refresher course. More importantly, it showed clearly that providers of services for CVCs need to comply with these regulations as any other money transmitter or money services business would do.

Regulations around cryptocurrencies have been around for quite some time. Most enforcement actions thus far have been more from the Securities and Exchange Commission's side of the house; however, that is starting to shift. Compliance to FinCEN regulations, specifically those outlined in the Bank Secrecy Act, are starting to take shape.

We will begin seeing more enforcement actions in this area, which will quickly escalate the need for solid AML programs and solutions. The need will encompass not just client due diligence, but also a solid transaction monitoring platform and screening for bad actors.

Ted Sausen is a subject matter expert within NICE Actimize's AML line of business. His role focuses on ensuring that technology solutions align with regulator expectations and customer needs. A Certified Anti-Money-Laundering Specialist (CAMS), he previously led the global compliance analytics and technology group of a large financial institution. Hs earlier contribution to GARP Risk Intelligence was Regulators Signal Readiness for AI in AML.




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