By Shelly Melancon (Switzerland)
Although the crypto sector is focusing on the MiCA and Transfer of Funds regulation, there is a part of the comprehensive package of the EU AML that will have significant effects on financial institutions. Currently, there are chances that the EU will create a separate AML watchdog for the crypto sector.
The European Council, Commission, And Parliament To Deliberate On AMLD6
The European Council issued its proposal for the 6th Directive AMLD6 in July, the same as the European Commission. The European Parliament (EP) will discuss both proposals after the ongoing vacation.
After the EP has released its own version, all three agencies will come together to carry out negotiations known as trilogues. One major part of the legislation is the formation of a regulator in the EU for AML (Anti-Money Laundering).
Although the three bodies would negotiate, it is doubtful if there would be a disagreement on creating such a watchdog. Also, it would oversee the activities of the crypto sector in the EU.
Before now, the EP is the more aggressive in crypto regulation. As a result, the agency might not oppose handing a decision to give the upcoming agency regulatory oversight over cryptocurrency.
The upcoming watchdog would be called the AMLA (Anti-Money Laundering Authority) and will oversee high-risk cryptocurrency platforms. This is according to the version of the legislation for the European Council and European Commission.
Also read:According to a parliamentary meeting posted by The Block, the description of the new body is:
“The supervision would have a spoke model and a hub at a continental level. It would have power to directly supervise most financial institutions. It would also have indirect powr over other financial institutions and the non-financial sector.”
The EU Working On A Unified Crypto Regulatory Framework
This agency would be a great move for the EU. The AML directives in 2015 and 2018, particularly four and five, set the standards for member countries to collect and publish certain information. One of them is the beneficial ownership of organizations.
These registers provide an excellent illustration of how the guidelines have been applied differently. The information accessible in the area varies greatly, even among the states that grant open access to business information.
AMLD5 requires member nations to handle cryptocurrency exchanges like financial firms. However, it was up to the countries to carry it out. Although the EU organizations have legal options, the general disclosure requirements don’t result in forming a unified body.
According to an attorney who joined negotiations for the AMLD4, Tomasz Krawczyk, any member nation that does not enforce the law properly would be brought to the EU’s Court of Justice. Hence, they are trying a create a unified regulation in the EU to hold nations accountable.
The adoption timeline will depend on discussions between the EP and the trilogues that would follow. It might take years to implement the regulation. It would also take time to recruit staff for the AMLA.
At Tokenhell, we help over 5,000 crypto companies amplify their content reach—and you can join them! For inquiries, reach out to us at info@tokenhell.com. Please remember, cryptocurrencies are highly volatile assets. Always conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. Some content on this website, including posts under Crypto Cable, Sponsored Articles, and Press Releases, is provided by guest contributors or paid sponsors. The views expressed in these posts do not necessarily represent the opinions of Tokenhell. We are not responsible for the accuracy, quality, or reliability of any third-party content, advertisements, products, or banners featured on this site. For more details, please review our full terms and conditions / disclaimer.