Take Heed!

Written by: Guy Jeffress

Virtual currency exchange Bitzlato was identified as a “primary money laundering concern” in connection with Russian illicit finance.

Today (Jan 18, 2023) the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) issued an order that identifies the virtual currency exchange Bitzlato Limited (Bitzlato) as a “primary money laundering concern” in connection with Russian illicit finance and “advances the political and economic destabilization efforts of the Government of Russia.” The order is the first order issued pursuant to section 9714(a) of the Combating Russian Money Laundering Act and highlights the serious threat that businesses that facilitate and support Russian illicit finance pose to U.S. national security and the integrity of the U.S. financial sector. The order prohibits certain transmittals of funds involving Bitzlato by any covered financial institution.

News Release: https://www.fincen.gov/news/news-releases/fincen-identifies-virtual-currency-exchange-bitzlato-primary-money-laundering

Order: https://www.fincen.gov/sites/default/files/shared/Order_Bitzlato_FINAL%20508.pdf

FAQs: https://www.fincen.gov/sites/default/files/shared/FAQs_Bitzlato%20FINAL%20508.pdf

Call one of the attorneys at Vanderpool, Frostick & Nishanian, P.C., or email and let us see if we can assist you.