![]() ![]() Bittrex failed to file any SARs between February 2014 and May 2017, a period of over three years. Further, Bittrex’s AML program failed to appropriately address the risks associated with the products and services it offered, including anonymity-enhanced cryptocurrencies. This included deploying inadequate and ineffective transaction monitoring on its platform resulting in significant exposure to illicit finance. FinCEN’s investigation found that, from February 2014 through December 2018, Bittrex failed to maintain an effective AML program. FinCEN will credit the payment of $24,280,829.20 as part of Bittrex’s agreement to settle its potential liability with OFAC. Overview of FinCEN Settlement with Bittrexīittrex has agreed to remit $29,280,829.20 for its willful violations of the BSA’s AML program and SAR requirements. This information was not voluntarily self-disclosed.Ī full description of OFAC’s settlement can be found here. At the time of the transactions, however, Bittrex was not screening this customer information for terms associated with sanctioned jurisdictions. Based on internet protocol (“IP”) address information and physical address information collected about each customer at onboarding, Bittrex had reason to know that these users were located in jurisdictions subject to sanctions. persons from engaging in transactions with these jurisdictions. The applicable sanctions programs generally prohibited U.S. As a result of deficiencies related to Bittrex’s sanctions compliance procedures, Bittrex failed to prevent persons apparently located in the Crimea region of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, Sudan, and Syria from using its platform to engage in approximately $263,451,600.13 worth of virtual currency-related transactions between March 2014 and December 2017. ![]() FinCEN will not hesitate to act when it identifies willful violations of the BSA.” Overview of OFAC Settlement with Bittrexīittrex has agreed to remit $24,280,829.20 to OFAC to settle its potential civil liability for 116,421 apparent violations of multiple sanctions programs. Virtual asset service providers are on notice that they must implement robust risk-based compliance programs and meet their BSA reporting requirements. “Bittrex’s failures created exposure to high-risk counterparties including sanctioned jurisdictions, darknet markets, and ransomware attackers. ![]() financial system to threat actors,” said FinCEN Acting Director Himamauli Das. “For years, Bittrex’s AML program and SAR reporting failures unnecessarily exposed the U.S. OFAC will continue to hold accountable firms, in the virtual currency industry and elsewhere, whose failure to implement appropriate controls leads to sanctions violations.” “Virtual currency exchanges operating worldwide should understand both who-and where-their customers are. “When virtual currency firms fail to implement effective sanctions compliance controls, including screening customers located in sanctioned jurisdictions, they can become a vehicle for illicit actors that threaten U.S national security,” said OFAC Director Andrea Gacki. The failure to take action can result in violations of OFAC and FinCEN regulations and expose exchanges and others in the virtual currency industry to potential abuse by illicit actors. These enforcement actions emphasize to the virtual currency industry the importance of implementing appropriate risk-based sanctions compliance controls and meeting obligations under the BSA. Investigations by OFAC and FinCEN found apparent violations of multiple sanctions programs and willful violations of the Bank Secrecy Act’s (BSA’s) anti-money laundering (AML) and suspicious activity report (SAR) reporting requirements. It also represents the first parallel enforcement actions by FinCEN and OFAC in this space. This is OFAC’s largest virtual currency enforcement action to date. (Bittrex), a virtual currency exchange based in Bellevue, Washington. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced settlements for over $24 million and $29 million, respectively, with Bittrex, Inc. Enforcement Actions by OFAC and FinCEN for Apparent Violations of Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Obligations ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |