Unitedย States Senators Support Elizabeth Warrenโs Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act
Unitedย States Senator Elizabeth Warren has gained the backing of nine other senators for her Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act, which intendsย to address the perceived dangers associated with digitalย currencies. The coalition supporting the bill includes Democratic Senators Gary Peters, Dick Durbin, Tina Smith, Jeanne Shaheen, Bob Casey, Richard Blumenthal, Michael Bennet, and Catherine Cortez Masto, as well as independent Senator Angus King.
In a statement, Senator Warren expressed concern about how digitalย currencies enable illicit activities such as money laundering, sanctions evasion, and cyberattacks. She stated the Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act as the most stringent proposition to crack down on cryptoโs illicit use and provide regulators with more tools.
The bill was atย theย beginning introduced in December aย yearย ago and was resubmitted in August 2023. It intendsย to close regulatory loopholes and bring digitalย currency corporations into greater compliance by subjecting them to Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements outlined in the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA).
Cracking Down on Non-Custodial Wallets
The legislation inย particularย targets noncustodial or โunhostedโ cryptocurrency wallets that allow users to have total independent control over their digital assets. Banks and money service enterprises would be required to verify customer identities, keep records, and file reports for certain digital asset transactions involving unhosted wallets or wallets hosted in non-compliant jurisdictions.
The bill likewise mandates that Unitedย States residents with more than $10,000 in cryptocurrency held in accounts outside of the country must submit reports. Senator Lindsey Graham emphasized the need for transparency and oversight in an industry that can facilitate criminal activity.
Warrenโs Criticism of Cryptocurrencies
Senator Warren has been a vocal critic of digitalย currencies. In a previous opinion piece, she suggested that cryptocurrency investors played a role in the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. She has likewise arguedย that digitalย currencies are the preferred illicit finance tool for ransomware gangs, fentanyl traffickers, and countries like North Korea.
Hot Take: Elizabeth Warren Gains Support for Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act
Unitedย States Senator Elizabeth Warren has received support from nine other senators for her Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act. The bill intendsย to address the perceived dangers associated with digitalย currencies and bring greater compliance to the industry. It targets noncustodial wallets and requires banks and money service enterprises to verify identities and report certain digital asset transactions. Warrenโs criticism of digitalย currencies stems from their alleged engagementย in illicit activities. With the expanded coalition supporting her bill, Warren believes Congress is ready to take action against cryptoโs illicit use.
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