Bank of Spain has introduced new registration guidelines for local virtual currency service providers (VASPs) including banking institutions.
It has been reported that the bank has issued instructions on VASP registration for Anti-Money Laundering (AML) purposes, requiring institutions to submit their registration requests through an electronic registry.
However, issuing the guidelines on October 19, the Spanish central bank noted that the obligation to sign up in the registry applies to “all individuals and institutions providing virtual currency exchange services” like cryptocurrency trading and custody services. The regulator stressed that VASPs will have to register “regardless of whether they are also registered in other administrative records in the Bank of Spain or other related authorities.”
The report said that according to the official statement, institutions are required to proceed with the registration even if their end customers are not located in Spain. Individuals are also recommended to use the electronic registry form but may also proceed via other channels like mail.
Likewise, the instructions specifically require both legal entities and individuals to issue reports on their measures to prevent illicit activities like money laundering and terrorism financing and include certain information about their clients.
The statement stated that the Bank of Spain will analyze data and evaluate potential risks while taking into account VASPs’ types of clients, the countries in which they operate, products, business relationship purposes, operated volumes, and other factors.
Thus, the Bank of Spain initially announced plans to establish AML procedures for VASPs in June 2021. In August, Spanish lawmakers backed a legal initiative to legalize the use of cryptocurrency for mortgage and insurance purposes.
Source: Cointelegraph
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