# AML Related Articles

HTX News Center provides the latest articles and in-depth analysis on "AML", covering market trends, project updates, tech developments, and regulatory policies in the crypto industry.

Senator Cynthia Lummis Defends Clarity Act Against Elizabeth Warren’s Criticism

Senator Cynthia Lummis defended the Clarity Act against Senator Elizabeth Warren's criticism that it contains loopholes for illicit cryptocurrency activities like money laundering. Warren cited concerns over an alleged $3.84 billion laundering case involving an Iranian company and a crypto exchange, arguing the bill weakens anti-money laundering rules and consumer protections. Lummis countered that the bill includes over sixteen provisions to combat illicit finance, such as applying Bank Secrecy Act rules to crypto (Section 201), sanctioning foreign jurisdictions like Iran (Section 303), and allowing temporary transaction freezes during investigations (Section 305). She called Warren's claims unfounded. The bill, which aims to clarify regulatory roles for the SEC and CFTC, faces ongoing debate in Congress with a 39% predicted chance of passage. Warren also urged stricter ethics rules following reports of a $1.4 billion crypto gain by former President Trump.

TheNewsCrypto07/02 09:54

Senator Cynthia Lummis Defends Clarity Act Against Elizabeth Warren’s Criticism

TheNewsCrypto07/02 09:54

Canada MSB, Why is it More Suitable for Teams Focused on Long-Term Payment Solutions?

**Canada MSB: Why Is It More Suitable for Teams Focused on Long-Term Payments?** Many crypto payment projects initially obtain a U.S. MSB registration for its cost-effectiveness and market recognition. However, as they scale operations, they often find it insufficient for sustainable, real-world payment business. This is where the Canadian MSB, regulated by FINTRAC, gains serious consideration. Unlike the U.S. framework, the Canadian MSB is not a "lightweight alternative" but a choice for projects committed to long-term, compliant operations, especially in B2B payments, cross-border settlements, and stablecoin transactions. **Key Distinctions:** The Canadian MSB emphasizes substantive, ongoing regulation. It requires establishing a full-fledged AML/CTF framework *before* launching operations, with continuous obligations for KYC, transaction monitoring, and reporting. This positions the holder as a regulated financial service provider from day one. **Operational Scope:** A properly structured Canadian MSB can support businesses like stablecoin/crypto payments and transfers, fiat-crypto exchange, B2B batch settlements, payment APIs for merchants, and underlying structures for services like crypto cards. **Strategic Advantages:** 1. **Bank & Partner Relations:** Its clear regulatory framework and operational requirements make it easier to explain compliance to banks and institutional partners, which is crucial for securing stable banking relationships. 2. **Centralized Path:** It offers a nationally unified system, avoiding the complexity and cost of navigating multiple U.S. state-level Money Transmitter Licenses (MTLs). 3. **Business Model Clarity:** It fosters long-term stability by requiring clear business structures, transparent fund flows, and real risk management from the outset, reducing future uncertainties. **Ideal Candidates:** The Canadian MSB is particularly suitable for B2B crypto payment platforms, cross-border stablecoin services, enterprise payment solutions, Web3 financial infrastructure projects, and teams building a "compliance benchmark" for sustainable growth. **Choosing Between U.S. and Canadian MSB:** The choice depends on the project's stage and goals. The **U.S. MSB** is better for **speed, initial validation, and early launch**. The **Canadian MSB** is better for **stability, substantive compliance, and long-term operation**, especially when serving B2B/enterprise clients and requiring reliable banking channels. In essence, while the Canadian MSB involves higher initial compliance rigor, it provides a more solid foundation for building a payment business that banks, partners, and regulators can accept over the long term.

marsbit06/25 23:59

Canada MSB, Why is it More Suitable for Teams Focused on Long-Term Payment Solutions?

marsbit06/25 23:59

South Korea Targets 40 Unregistered Crypto Operators in Regulatory Crackdown

South Korea's Financial Intelligence Unit has referred around 40 unregistered virtual asset service providers to the police as part of a regulatory crackdown. Under local law, all crypto exchanges must obtain ISMS certification and FIU registration before operating, yet only 28 entities are currently registered. The FIU identified methods used by offshore platforms to attract Korean users, including advertising on local messaging apps and using private money changers to convert stablecoins. Officials stressed that unregistered platforms are not protected by Korean law. This action aligns with South Korea's push for stricter global crypto compliance through FATF measures. FIU Director Lee Hyung-joo recently urged FATF members to remove transaction thresholds for the "Travel Rule," as South Korea plans to mandate identity checks for all crypto transactions starting in August, expanding from the current 1 million won (≈$730) minimum. Regulatory enforcement has intensified in 2026, with authorities pursuing criminal cases against market manipulation schemes and enhancing cooperation with financial institutions to curb cross-border illegal transactions.

TheNewsCrypto06/24 14:33

South Korea Targets 40 Unregistered Crypto Operators in Regulatory Crackdown

TheNewsCrypto06/24 14:33

When Doing Cryptocurrency Payment, the First Thing is Licenses, What is the Second?

When launching a crypto payment business, obtaining the necessary licenses is the crucial first step. However, the second, and arguably more critical, step is designing a comprehensive operational framework that forms a coherent business loop. This loop must be clearly understood and executable by all stakeholders: banks, payment partners, exchanges, on-chain analytics providers, regulators, and your internal team. Many projects mistakenly believe a single license permits all operations. Licenses merely grant entry; they don't define how the specific business functions. The real challenge lies in detailing every aspect of the workflow. This involves clarifying the customer base, the flow of fiat and crypto assets, the settlement process, and establishing clear lines of responsibility for risks like AML compliance, sanctions screening, chargebacks, and regulatory inquiries. A robust framework must answer seven core questions: Who are the clients and merchants? Who collects fiat and crypto? Who handles conversion and custody? And who is ultimately accountable for compliance and risk management? Projects often fail not from a lack of licensing, but during due diligence when they cannot convincingly explain these operational details. Therefore, beyond securing licenses, the priority must be constructing a closed-loop system. This system ensures the business model is transparent, risks are managed, responsibilities are delineated, contracts are aligned, and the entire process is comprehensible to partners and regulators. The true competitive edge in crypto payments lies not in acquiring a license quickly, but in integrating licensing, banking, compliance, and operations into a sustainable and executable whole.

marsbit06/09 06:31

When Doing Cryptocurrency Payment, the First Thing is Licenses, What is the Second?

marsbit06/09 06:31

WLFI Raises Alert: Sanctioned Wallets Could Trigger Crypto Transfer Blocks

World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a crypto venture linked to Donald Trump, has issued a compliance warning stating that transactions involving sanctioned individuals, entities, or wallet addresses may be blocked or restricted to meet regulatory obligations. This follows prior scrutiny from US senators over its presale screenings and coincides with new US Treasury sanctions against Iranian crypto exchanges. WLFI asserts it employs strict AML checks, but its admission that its smart contracts hold hard-coded powers to freeze or burn funds challenges its DeFi branding. The warning underscores the tension between operating on public blockchains and complying with federal prohibitions on transactions.

bitcoinist06/03 17:12

WLFI Raises Alert: Sanctioned Wallets Could Trigger Crypto Transfer Blocks

bitcoinist06/03 17:12

Glassnode spinout Cense raises €6.5 million seed round to transform crypto compliance for banks

Cense, a crypto compliance platform spun out from Glassnode in 2023, has raised a €6.5 million seed round co-led by G+D Ventures and Rabo Investments. The funding will support its European expansion. The company addresses a critical gap between crypto-native activity and traditional banking by automating compliance due diligence. It analyzes on-chain data to produce standardized, auditable documentation for financial institutions, helping them manage digital asset exposure and meet regulatory requirements where conventional systems fall short. The investment underscores the growing need for trusted infrastructure as institutional adoption of crypto accelerates.

insights.glassnode06/03 14:07

Glassnode spinout Cense raises €6.5 million seed round to transform crypto compliance for banks

insights.glassnode06/03 14:07

Global Card Issuance Enters a Compliance-Driven Era: WasabiCard is Building the Next-Generation Payment Infrastructure

Global card issuance is entering a compliance-driven era, with WasabiCard building next-generation payment infrastructure. The platform asserts that as stablecoins increasingly enter cross-border payments, corporate settlements, and global commerce, the industry is shifting focus from "availability" and "growth-driven" models to long-term, compliant operation under global frameworks. Competition will center on sustainable compliance and global infrastructure capabilities. Stablecoins are evolving from on-chain assets into key payment tools in global business, with card issuance acting as critical infrastructure connecting digital assets to traditional payment networks like Visa and Mastercard. This expansion has revealed structural issues, including cross-regional issuance, BIN resource management, and insufficient AML and risk controls. In response, the industry is moving away from reliance on "grey efficiency" towards prioritizing compliance, risk management, and long-term operational stability. WasabiCard outlines its strategy: collaborating with licensed principals and local partners for localized operations, building robust KYC/AML systems, strictly separating commercial and consumer BIN usage, and enhancing global issuance, payment, and cross-border fund flow infrastructure. The goal is to build stable, scalable payment infrastructure amid evolving global regulations, shifting industry competition from scale to infrastructure capability. As stablecoins integrate further with global commerce, payment infrastructure will become a fundamental, embedded component of internet business. WasabiCard will continue to develop capabilities in global card issuance, stablecoin payments, cross-border fund flows, and API-driven financial workflows.

marsbit06/02 02:16

Global Card Issuance Enters a Compliance-Driven Era: WasabiCard is Building the Next-Generation Payment Infrastructure

marsbit06/02 02:16

Stablecoin Regulation: FDIC Announces New Proposed AML Rules For Issuers

The FDIC has proposed new rules to extend Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and economic sanctions compliance standards to FDIC-supervised Permitted Payment Stablecoin Issuers (PPSIs). This would formally classify PPSIs as financial institutions, requiring them to implement full Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) programs, OFAC-aligned sanctions compliance structures, and related reporting obligations. The proposal follows earlier prudential standards for PPSIs. Supervision would involve FDIC coordination with FinCEN, with enforcement shielded for entities with effective programs unless significant failures occur. The public comment period lasts until June 9, 2026, with a final rule expected later that year. The FDIC estimates 5-30 PPSIs may seek approval initially, with compliance costs likely modest due to leveraging parent companies' existing infrastructure.

bitcoinist05/24 09:45

Stablecoin Regulation: FDIC Announces New Proposed AML Rules For Issuers

bitcoinist05/24 09:45

CLARITY Bill Still Unsettled, Caught Up in U.S. Bipartisan Political Game

The U.S. Senate Banking Committee voted 15-9 to advance the CLARITY Act for a full Senate vote, overcoming a key industry compromise on stablecoin rewards. However, the legislation faces significant political hurdles as it moves forward. The vote fell largely along party lines, with all 13 Republican committee members voting in favor and only two Democrats—Ruben Gallego and Angela Alsobrooks—joining them. Both Democrats indicated their support was conditional to keep debate alive and could be withdrawn later. The path to final passage in the full Senate remains difficult. The bill requires 60 votes to pass. With a current 53-47 Republican majority, this means at least 7 Democratic votes are needed, assuming no Republican defections. The narrow, partisan committee vote suggests securing that level of bipartisan support will be challenging. During the committee process, Democrats pushed for numerous amendments, including a key ethics provision to restrict top government officials' financial ties to the crypto industry. Republicans used their majority to block these amendments, leaving core Democratic concerns unaddressed. These issues, particularly around anti-money laundering and ethics, are expected to resurface as major points of contention during the full Senate debate. Republicans are pushing for a swift Senate vote, ideally before the July 4 recess and the upcoming election season, fearing that a shift in congressional power after the next election could jeopardize the bill's future. However, given the current political stalemate and Democratic demands for concessions, the act's prospects for becoming law in 2026 are uncertain.

Odaily星球日报05/15 10:48

CLARITY Bill Still Unsettled, Caught Up in U.S. Bipartisan Political Game

Odaily星球日报05/15 10:48

Stablecoin yield ban emerges as flashpoint in new U.S. crypto bill

A new U.S. crypto market structure bill draft has intensified conflict between banks and the crypto industry, with a proposed ban on interest or passive yield payments tied to payment stablecoins emerging as a central battleground. The provision aims to prevent stablecoins from functioning like blockchain-based savings accounts that could draw deposits away from traditional banks, though certain activity-based rewards would still be permitted. Crypto executives argue this eliminates a key retail advantage, while banking groups see it as necessary to protect the traditional system. Despite these restrictions, the bill offers broader protections for the crypto industry, including clearer legal categories for digital assets, registration pathways for firms, and safeguards for self-custody wallets. For retail users, the outcome is mixed: they may gain regulatory clarity and stronger consumer protections but likely lose easy access to passive yield from stablecoin holdings.

ambcrypto05/12 16:03