The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a public service announcement warning Americans against using unregistered cryptocurrency money transmitting services that fail to comply with Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations.
The announcement urges users to only engage with registered Money Services Businesses (MSBs) to avoid potential financial disruptions and legal consequences.
TLDR
The FBI has warned Americans against using unregistered cryptocurrency money transmitting services that do not comply with Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations.
Cryptocurrency money transmitting services must be registered as Money Services Businesses (MSBs) under U.S. federal law and adhere to AML requirements.
The FBI’s warning appears to be aimed at crypto mixing services, but its broad nature misses some nuances in how decentralized systems operate, according to a crypto lawyer.
Users of unlicensed cryptocurrency services may face financial disruptions during law enforcement actions, especially if their funds are intermingled with illegally obtained money.
The warning comes amid increased legal tensions between crypto firms and regulators in the U.S., with the recent arrest of Samourai Wallet’s co-founders and Consensys’ lawsuit against the SEC.
Under U.S. federal law, cryptocurrency money transmitting services are required to register as MSBs and adhere to AML requirements. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in law enforcement actions, which could lead to users losing access to their funds, particularly if they are intermingled with illegally obtained money.
The FBI Warning
While the FBI’s warning appears to be aimed at crypto mixing services, some experts believe that the broad nature of the announcement fails to capture the nuances of how decentralized systems operate.
Michael Bacina, a Digital Asset Partner at Piper Alderman lawyers, noted that the warning misses “a great deal of nuance in how decentralized systems operate” and called for “fit-for-purpose regulation and clear guidance for cryptocurrency” to replace “regulation by enforcement.”
The FBI’s announcement comes amidst heightened legal tensions between crypto firms and regulators in the United States.
On April 25, the co-founders of Bitcoin wallet and crypto mixing service Samourai Wallet were arrested on charges of money laundering and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. Keonne Rodriguez, the CEO, and William Hill, the CTO, face a maximum sentence of up to 25 years in prison.
In another development, Ethereum development firm Consensys filed a lawsuit against the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on the same day, alleging that the regulator had orchestrated a campaign to “seize control over the future of cryptocurrency” by deeming Ether (ETH) as a security.
Consensys argues that the SEC’s actions contradict previous regulatory consensus and threaten the future of the Ethereum network.
As the crypto industry grapples with increasing regulatory pressure, the FBI’s warning serves as a reminder for users to exercise caution when engaging with cryptocurrency services.
The announcement includes a tool from the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) that allows users to verify whether a company is registered as an MSB, providing an additional layer of security for those looking to comply with federal regulations.
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