Ireland To Draft Urgent Crypto Laws Ahead Of EU’s Crackdown On Money Laundering

Ireland appears to be taking swift action to implement new crypto regulations in anticipation of the European Union’s upcoming Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) standards.

Finance Minister Jack Chambers announced to the cabinet that urgent legislation will be drafted to update the country’s crypto regulations before the EU’s new laws take effect on December 30.

What The Law Entails

So far, the specific details of the proposed legislation have not been disclosed; however, assessing the move, it seems to align with the broader objectives of the EU’s AML and CTF initiatives.

These new regulations are designed to “enhance” the capabilities of financial intelligence units, allowing them to suspend suspicious transactions more effectively.

The EU legislation will also introduce stricter reporting requirements for digital currency exchanges and impose a €10,000 ($10,850) limit on cash payments.

These measures aim to ” tighten the monitoring of large transactions and enforcing new reporting protocols for high-value transactions,” thereby reducing the risk of financial systems being exploited for illicit activities.

Notably, the EU’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act represents a significant overhaul of existing financial regulations, particularly concerning digital assets and crowdfunding platforms.

According to the report, by expanding the powers of financial intelligence units, the Act seeks to create a “more secure and transparent” financial environment.

The legislation complements other regulatory frameworks, such as the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), which the European Commission has highlighted as essential for the stability and integrity of the market.

Ireland’s decision to draft its urgent crypto regulations ahead of the EU mandate reflects the country’s move to comply with the impending laws and curb illicit activities concerning cryptocurrencies.

What This Means For The Crypto Industry In Ireland

The forthcoming legislation is expected to have significant implications for cryptocurrency businesses operating in Ireland. Stricter reporting requirements will necessitate enhanced compliance measures for crypto exchanges and other digital asset service providers.

Companies must implement more rigorous Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) protocols to meet the new standards set forth by Irish and EU regulations.

Additionally, the €10,000 cash payment limit will likely impact how crypto transactions are conducted in Ireland, encouraging the use of “more transparent and traceable” payment methods.

This shift could reduce the anonymity that often attracts illicit activities within the crypto space. Aside from that, the increased oversight and reporting obligations, although they might be quite overwhelming for regional companies, could also help deter fraudulent schemes.

The Central Bank of Ireland noted:

It is important that Ireland, as a small, open economy with a thriving financial services industry, is an active participant in preventing its financial system from being used for money laundering and terrorist financing purposes.