Taiwan has accelerated the introduction of its anti-money laundering (AML) regulatory framework for cryptocurrency companies. The new regulations, which are scheduled to begin about a month ago, require virtual asset service providers (VASPs) to comply with the registration mandate to prevent tougher penalties.
Taiwan is fast-tracking new anti-money laundering mandate
Taiwan Financial Supervision Commission (FSC) recently Announce It will move forward with the implementation of its crypto AML registration regulation from January 1, 2025 to November 30, 2024.
The AML reform, announced in October, will introduce stricter AML guidelines for virtual asset service providers, and require all cryptocurrency companies to complete AML registration with the Taiwanese government by September 2025.
Businesses that fail to register will not be allowed to provide services in the country and could face a two-year prison sentence or fines of up to NT$5 million, worth about $155,000.
According to the new regulations, the listing and delisting of digital assets will be closely monitored, and cryptocurrency companies are expected to take measures against illicit trading and report any suspicious activity related to trading volume and price movement.
Furthermore, the FSC requires registered crypto providers to prepare an annual report assessing risks and details of client assets. The regulatory body mandated digital asset custodians to hold customer assets in a trust or separate them from platform assets.
To register, companies must submit a form explaining the nature of their business. Any changes to the information provided on this form must be updated within five business days through our over-the-counter (OTC) securities trading center.
The new regulatory framework will replace Taiwan’s current system for VASPs. Companies that have completed previous AML regulations must comply with the new system and complete the registration process.
Following this announcement, FSC Fined Two local exchanges, MaiCoin and BitoPro, for violating anti-money laundering guidelines related to customer due diligence (CDD), transaction monitoring, record-keeping, and reporting of suspicious transactions.
More laws related to cryptocurrencies are coming
This year, Taiwan is updating its regulatory framework to implement laws related to cryptocurrencies, which expands on its seemingly cautious but friendly approach. The country’s Ministry of Finance recently announced that it will work on a framework that addresses tax evasion with cryptocurrencies.
As reported by Bitcoinist, Finance Minister Zhuang Cui-yun and Director-General of the Tax Administration Song Hsiu-ling pledged to review current regulations within the next three months to “enable the government to better tax cryptocurrency gains.”
The Finance Minister admitted that the country has not implemented a system that effectively collects taxes related to digital assets from individuals despite having policies in place to collect business and corporate income taxes from the 26 cryptocurrency exchanges that have completed anti-money laundering registration.
Legal experts noted that financial authorities may face challenges in addressing this issue through existing tax laws as investors can evade scrutiny “by disguising transactions as offshore activity conducted in US dollars.” As a result, regulators in Taiwan must amend these regulations to address cryptocurrency tax evasion.
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