AML Fines and How to Avoid Them
The crypto industry has witnessed a significant increase in AML fines as regulators tighten their grip on the sector. To understand the magnitude of these fines, let’s take a look at some of the largest penalties imposed on cryptocurrency firms and the solution to avoid them.
Major Fine Incidents in 2023
Let's explore some of the most notable cases that made headlines in 2023:
Company
Penalty Amount
Issuer
Reasoning
Coinbase, Inc. (Crypto Exchange)
$ 50 M fine + $ 50 M to be spent on improved compliance programs
New York State Department of Financial Services (NYSDFS)
Coinbase's compliance issues were discovered during a routine examination in 2020, revealing problems with its anti-money-laundering controls dating back to 2018. As indicated in the NYDFS press release, Coinbase failed to properly examine suspicious customer transactions and perform thorough KYC checks before allowing accounts to be created.
Poloniex, LLC (Crypto Exchange)
$7,6 M
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
According to OFAC, between Jan 2014 and Nov 2019, Poloniex allowed customers in sanctioned areas to conduct digital asset transactions exceeding $15 M despite having information on their locations.
BitPay Inc. (Crypto payment provider)
$1 M
New York State Department of Financial Services (NYSDFS)
The NYDFS found BitPay didn't have proper controls for preventing money-related crimes and didn't meet cybersecurity rules.The settlement involves problems found in 2018 and 2021.
Binance (Crypto Exchange)
TBA
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
The CFTC has filed a civil enforcement action against Changpeng Zhao and three entities associated with Binance. The complaint claims that Binance allowed U.S. customers to trade commodity derivatives without proper identity verification and failed to implement AML measures.
Bitzlato Ltd. (Crypto Exchange)
TBA
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
Anatoly Legkodymov, a senior executive of Bitzlato Ltd, has been accused of allowing Bitzlato to become a platform for criminal proceeds and activities. According to DOJ, Bitzlato had insufficient KYC procedures, leading to its use for criminal transactions, including ties to Hydra Market, an illicit online marketplace.
Lessons Learned from Past AML Fines
The crypto industry can learn a valuable lesson from past AML fine incidents.
Firstly, compliance with AML regulations is not optional but essential for the long-term viability of cryptocurrency businesses. Ignoring them can lead to significant financial penalties, reputational damage, and even criminal investigations. To avoid this, companies must prioritize customer due diligence, suspicious activity monitoring, and reporting to regulatory authorities.
Moreover, money laundering schemes are always changing, so we need to keep improving our systems to stop them. Tools which monitor risks in real-time, can help in timely detecting and preventing illicit activities.
By prioritizing compliance, companies can build trust, attract investors, and contribute to the long-term sustainability of the crypto industry.
Firstly, compliance with AML regulations is not optional but essential for the long-term viability of cryptocurrency businesses. Ignoring them can lead to significant financial penalties, reputational damage, and even criminal investigations. To avoid this, companies must prioritize customer due diligence, suspicious activity monitoring, and reporting to regulatory authorities.
Moreover, money laundering schemes are always changing, so we need to keep improving our systems to stop them. Tools which monitor risks in real-time, can help in timely detecting and preventing illicit activities.
By prioritizing compliance, companies can build trust, attract investors, and contribute to the long-term sustainability of the crypto industry.
The Future of AML Regulations
One key trend on the horizon is increased international cooperation. Cryptocurrencies, by their very nature, transcend borders, making coordinated efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing crucial. Global watchdogs like FATF are already pushing for standardized AML rules across countries.
Innovations in technology will also shape the future of AML regulations. As bad actors become more sophisticated in their methods, regulators will leverage advanced tools like blockchain analytics and AI to detect and prevent illicit activities.
Moreover, regulations will likely become more robust. Governments will demand stricter AML compliance from cryptocurrency businesses, including exchanges and wallet providers. This will mean enhanced Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, real-time transaction monitoring, and reporting of suspicious activities.
Decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) will also face greater scrutiny. Regulators will work to ensure that these rapidly evolving sectors don't become havens for money launderers.
While increased oversight may introduce new challenges, it will likely lead to greater trust among investors, fostering long-term growth and mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies.
Innovations in technology will also shape the future of AML regulations. As bad actors become more sophisticated in their methods, regulators will leverage advanced tools like blockchain analytics and AI to detect and prevent illicit activities.
Moreover, regulations will likely become more robust. Governments will demand stricter AML compliance from cryptocurrency businesses, including exchanges and wallet providers. This will mean enhanced Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, real-time transaction monitoring, and reporting of suspicious activities.
Decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) will also face greater scrutiny. Regulators will work to ensure that these rapidly evolving sectors don't become havens for money launderers.
While increased oversight may introduce new challenges, it will likely lead to greater trust among investors, fostering long-term growth and mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies.
How to Avoid Fines
Criminals constantly evolve their money laundering tactics. That is why AML/KYT (Know Your Transaction) software, like BitOK, is crucial for businesses to avoid fines with. Here's how it works:
- Transaction Monitoring:BitOK keeps an eye on transactions in real-time. It looks for unusual or suspicious activities, like large cash deposits or rapid transfers, which could be signs of money laundering, and immediately alerts.
- Sanctions Screening:BitOK checks transactions against government lists of banned individuals and organizations. If a match is found, the software alerts the company to take action.
- Risk Assessment:BitOK assesses the risk level of transactions. Higher-risk activities receive more scrutiny, reducing the chances of illegal transactions slipping through.
- Reporting:BitOK generates reports for regulatory authorities. It ensures that businesses are transparent and compliant with AML regulations.
