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Crypto.com Halts South Korean Launch Amid Money Laundering Probe

By Mark Hunter

2 weeks agoWed Apr 24 2024 06:44:51

Checking out Time: 2 minutes

  • Crypto.com has actually delayed its South Korea launch due to an on-site evaluation triggered by cash laundering issues
  • South Korea’s Financial Services Commission started the immediate assessment over obvious disparities in Crypto.com’s anti-money laundering information
  • The exchange has actually chosen to postpone the launch up until the probe is finished, although there is presently no tip of any misbehavior.

Crypto.com has actually revealed a post ponement of its organized launch in South Korea following reports of an upcoming on-site evaluation over cash laundering issues. Regional news outlet Segye Ilbo highlighted the concern on Monday, specifying that the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) under South Korea’s Financial Services Commission had actually started an immediate assessment due to obvious disparities in anti-money laundering information offered by the exchange. There is no recommendation yet of any misbehavior, however the exchange has actually taken the choice to hold off the launch till the probe is finished.

29 April Launch Delayed

Crypto.com had actually at first prepared to release an app for retail users in the nation on April 29, having actually acquired approval from South Korean regulators in 2022. Regardless of previous rejections by the exchange of any challenges to its launch, the post ponement shows an obstacle in its growth strategies.

The business rejected simply recently that it had actually struck an obstruction in its South Korean strategies after regional news outlet Bizwatch reported that the FIU had actually postponed authorizing the entity’s management shift from Crypto.com Co-founder Rafael Melo to President and COO Eric Anziani. This might not have had an effect, however ideas of impropriety with regard to cash laundering are, obviously, even more severe.

Crypto.com Has “Highest AML Standards in the Industry”

In action to the news, Crypto.com stressed in a declaration that it “keeps the greatest Anti-money Laundering (AML) requirements in the market,” including, “We will delay our launch and take this chance to ensure Korean regulators comprehend our extensive policies, treatments, systems, and controls, which have actually been examined and authorized by significant jurisdictions around the globe.”

Crypto.com has actually not onboarded any brand-new consumers in South Korea considering that obtaining regional exchange OkBit in 2022, which had around 900 existing consumers at the time of acquisition and had actually never ever been pointed out for any AML offenses. Considering that the acquisition, gain access to for existing OkBit consumers has actually been restricted to withdrawals.

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