On 12 December 2019, the FCA updated its webpage on the new anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) regime for crypto-assets. From 10 January 2020, the FCA will become the AML / CTF supervisor of UK crypto-asset businesses under the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017, … Continue Reading
On 12 December 2019, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) published a speech by its Executive Secretary, David Lewis, at the 7th International Anti-Money Laundering and Compliance Conference. Key messages in the speech include: evaluation and follow-up processes will continue to be at the centre of what the FATF does. This year the FATF started … Continue Reading
On 25 October 2019, the FCA published a new webpage concerning its future role as the anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing (AML / CTF) supervisor of UK cryptoasset businesses under the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017, as amended (MLRs). The new webpage describes the scope … Continue Reading
On 24 October 2019, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) published a paper setting out best practices on beneficial ownership for legal persons. The paper identifies the most common challenges that countries face in ensuring that the beneficial owner(s) of legal persons is identified, and suggests key features of an effective system. The paper also … Continue Reading
On 23 October 2019, the Financial Markets Law Committee (FMLC) published a paper on issues of legal uncertainty in respect of exchange tokens. In the paper, the FMLC provides an overview of the latest regulatory and non-legislative developments with regards to virtual currencies. The paper also explores the possible characterisation of exchange tokens as property, … Continue Reading
On 21 October 2019, HM Treasury updated its advisory notice regarding the risks posed by unsatisfactory money laundering and terrorist financing controls in certain overseas jurisdictions. The advisory notice provides that: the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea should be considered as high risk and firms should apply counter measures and enhanced due diligence measures in … Continue Reading
On 18 October 2019, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) issued a statement concerning: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The FATF reaffirms its 25 February 2011 call on its members and urges all jurisdictions to advise their financial institutions to give special attention to business relationships and transactions with the DPRK, including DPRK companies, … Continue Reading
On 18 October 2019, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) issued a statement confirming that as part of its mutual evaluations of its members anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing (AML / CFT) regimes it will assess the implementation of its standards to address the money laundering and terrorist financing of virtual assets. FATF members … Continue Reading
On 15 October 2019, the FCA published Consultation Paper 19/29: Recovery of costs of supervising cryptoasset businesses under the anti-money laundering regulations – fees proposals (CP19/29). From 10 January 2020, the FCA will become the anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing (AML/CTF) supervisor for cryptoassets businesses. In CP19/29 the FCA sets out its proposals for … Continue Reading
On 10 October 2019, the Joint Money Laundering Steering Group (JMLSG) announced that HM Treasury had approved the revised guidance on syndicated lending set out in Part II, Chapter 17 of the JMLSG guidance. The amendments to the JMLSG guidance clarify that market participants entering into a syndicated loan transaction, whether in the capacity of … Continue Reading
On 1 October 2019, the General Secretariat of the Council of the EU (the Council) published a European Commission (Commission) non-paper on key elements of a refined methodology for identifying high-risk third countries under Directive (EU) 2015/849 (the Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive). Following the rejection by the Council of the most recent Delegated Regulation identifying … Continue Reading
On 4 October 2019, the Joint Committee of the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) published its second opinion on the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing affecting the EU’s financial sector. In drafting the opinion, the ESAs took into account the views expressed by Member State competent authorities (NCAs) through a questionnaire related to money … Continue Reading
On 25 September 2019, the Joint Money Laundering Steering Group (JMLSG) published a notification confirming that it had received ministerial approval for its revised guidance material on credit unions (sector 4), asset finance (section 12) and brokerage services to funds (section 20) of Part II of its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing guidance for the … Continue Reading
On 19 September 2019, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) passed a resolution calling for anti-money laundering (AML) rules to be better coordinated and implemented in a timely manner. The resolution was adopted with 530 votes to 14 and 104 abstentions. The date of transposition of the Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive was June 2017, and … Continue Reading
On 5 September 2019, the PRA published a Dear CEO letter on money laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF) risks in prudential supervision. In particular, the PRA draws attention to the recently published European Banking Authority (EBA) opinion on this topic (see our previous blog post here). The PRA fully supports the EBA opinion and … Continue Reading
On 5 September 2019, the European Banking Authority (EBA) published a speech given by Jose Manuel Campa, EBA Chair, on the EBA’s current and future anti-money laundering (AML) and counter terrorist financing (CTF) powers. Mr Campa discusses the limitation of the EBA’s existing powers in relation to enforcing its standards and guidelines and to promote … Continue Reading
On 30 July 2019, the Financial Markets Law Committee (FMLC) published a letter it had sent to HM Treasury concerning the implementation of the Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (5MLD) and cryptoassets. The FMLC highlights discrepancies between the definition of ‘virtual currencies’ provided for in Article 1(2)(d) of 5MLD and the non-legislative definition adopted by UK … Continue Reading
On 24 July 2019, the European Commission adopted a Communication and four reports that are intended to support European and Member State competent authorities in better addressing money laundering and terrorist financing (ML / TF) risks. The Communication, Towards a better implementation of the EU’s anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism framework, provides … Continue Reading
On 24 July 2019, the European Banking Authority (EBA) published an opinion on the link between money laundering and terrorist financing (ML / TF) concerns and prudential objectives. The opinion is addressed to prudential supervisors of Member State competent authorities. In the opinion the EBA invites prudential supervisors to communicate to institutions’ management bodies and … Continue Reading
On 18 July 2019, the Joint Money Laundering Steering Group (JMLSG) announced its plans following the responses to the an earlier consultation on sectors 4 (Credit unions) and 20 (Brokerage services to funds) of Part II of its anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) guidance for the financial services sector. The JMLSG states that … Continue Reading
On 21 June 2019 the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) adopted its 2019 Guidance for a Risk-Based Approach to Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers (the Guidance). The Guidance updates the 2015 version of the guidance and accompanies the FATF’s June 2019 Interpretive Note to Recommendation 15 on New Technologies (INR 15) that clarifies … Continue Reading
On 8 July 2019, HM Treasury published its latest anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML / CTF) supervision report for 2017-2018. The report incorporates activity undertaken during this period which supervisors provided to HM Treasury in their annual returns and takes into account observations from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) mutual evaluation report of … Continue Reading
On 21 June 2019, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) updated its Recommendations by adding an interpretative note to Recommendation 15 which sets out in detail the application of the FATF Standards to virtual asset activities and service providers. The interpretative note establishes binding measures relevant for both countries and virtual asset service providers (as … Continue Reading
On 27 June 2019, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) published its report to the G20 leaders’ summit. The report provides an overview of the FATF’s recent and future work. The FATF’s future work includes: a review of countries’ and providers’ implementation of the requirements applicable to virtual assets and virtual asset service … Continue Reading
