FATF requirements on regulation of cryptocurrencies: problems of implementation into national legislation

Abstract

The object of this research is the international standards AML/CFT (Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism) for the sphere of virtual assets (cryptocurrencies) developed by FATF (Financial Action Task Force), and possibilities of their effective implementation into the national legislation. The author examines new revision of the Recommendation 15 and Glossary (of October 2018), explanatory note to new revision of the Recommendation 15, and implementation guidance of the risk-oriented approach towards virtual assets and service providers in the sphere of virtual assets (of June 2019); considers provisions of the Federal Law of July 31, 2020 No.259-FZ “On Digital Financial Assets, Digital Currency, and Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” becoming effective in January 2021. Based on the analysis of most recent international and Russian acts on the questions of legal regulation of cryptocurrencies turnover, the need is underlined for introducing amendments to the Russian legislation with regards to exercising financial monitoring of transactions with cryptocurrencies in Russia. The author indicates certain fundamental aspects related to collection and validation of personally identifying information on the holders of cryptocurrency and tracing of their transactions.