InfoSight Spotlight: FinCEN virtual currencies guidance and advisory

FinCEN has issued guidance document FIN-2019-G001, Application of FinCEN’s Regulation to Certain Business Models Involving Convertible Virtual Currencies (CVCs). The guidance is in response to questions raised by financial institutions, law enforcement, and regulators concerning the regulatory treatment of multiple variations of businesses dealing in CVCs.

FinCEN also issued an Advisory on Illicit Activity Involving Convertible Virtual Currency (FIN-2019-A003), to assist financial institutions in identifying and reporting suspicious activity related to criminal exploitation of CVCs for money laundering, sanctions evasion, and other illicit financing purposes. The advisory highlights prominent typologies, associated “red flags,” and identifies information that would be most valuable to law enforcement if contained in suspicious activity reports.

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