EU Cracks Down on Crypto to Thwart Money Laundering
A spokesperson from the European Parliament announced that the directive was ratified by a majority within the EU Parliament’s leadership committee this past Thursday. This move marks a pivotal change in the approach towards cryptocurrency regulation within the EU.
The directive places a stringent limitation on cash transactions, outlawing all anonymous cryptocurrency transactions. Notably, it renders any cash transaction exceeding €10,000 and any anonymous cash transaction over €3,000 as unlawful.
EU Legislation Targets Anonymous Transactions
The core of this legislation focuses on transactions from private, unregistered crypto wallets to regulated service providers. By targeting the inherently anonymous nature of cryptocurrency networks, the EU aims to mitigate the risk of money laundering activities facilitated through these channels.
The regulation enforces a comprehensive monitoring of cryptocurrency asset transfers and mandates that crypto businesses incorporate rigorous due diligence practices. The directive’s reach extends across the cryptocurrency industry, demanding extensive customer background checks.
Enhanced Due Diligence and Record-Keeping
A significant aspect of the legislation is the requirement for entities to maintain detailed records of actual beneficiaries, thereby ensuring transparency regarding the real owners or controllers of legal entities. This measure is expected to significantly affect a wide range of sectors, including banking, real estate, and the cryptocurrency industry, by enhancing customer verification processes.
Implications for the Crypto Industry
The implications of the new EU regulations are profound, reshaping the landscape of cryptocurrency offerings, management, and trading within the region. Following these regulations, major exchanges, such as OKX, have already begun to adjust their operations, including the delisting of USDT trading pairs in compliance with the upcoming MiCA regulations.
This legislative move by the EU signifies a critical step towards establishing a more regulated and transparent cryptocurrency environment, aimed at curbing the potential for money laundering and enhancing the security of financial transactions in the digital age.
