South Korean authorities fined Bithumb about $24 million and issued a six-month partial ban after finding roughly 6.65 million violations tied to KYC and transaction-restriction controls. The penalty highlights intensifying regulatory scrutiny of crypto platforms.
The U.S. Treasury sanctioned eight individuals and entities and moved to freeze a cryptocurrency network accused of channeling nearly $800 million to North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. The funds were raised through a global scheme that impersonated tech workers to bilk U.S. companies.
The FATF warns offshore crypto exchanges create AML blind spots that increase money-laundering and sanctions-evasion risks for the broader crypto sector.
Thai crypto platforms have frozen roughly 10,000 suspected “mule” accounts after new AML checks and transfer delays were introduced as part of a wider anti‑fraud crackdown. The measures have led to disrupted withdrawals and tighter compliance across the market.
Local media report South Korean authorities have proposed a six-month suspension of virtual asset transfers for newly registered Bithumb users over alleged AML violations, while existing customers would remain unaffected.
A Treasury report to Congress acknowledges legitimate privacy uses for crypto mixers while maintaining anti‑illicit finance concerns. The document was prepared under directives from the GENIUS stablecoin regulatory framework.
Pakistan has enacted the Virtual Assets Act 2026, designating PVARA as the national digital asset regulator and imposing mandatory licensing and penalties for noncompliant operators.
Austria’s financial regulator has ordered KuCoin EU to stop onboarding new EU users and to appoint both primary and deputy AML and sanctions compliance officers. The directive cites compliance lapses and requires strengthened governance for anti-money-laundering and sanctions controls.
Newly released DOJ emails suggest Jeffrey Epstein may have invested $3.2 million in Coinbase in 2014 and sold part of that stake for $15 million in 2018. The disclosures could renew scrutiny of investor vetting and fund provenance in crypto.
Uzbek authorities arrested a man for allegedly transferring more than $1 million via international crypto exchanges, reportedly including Binance. The case highlights enforcement of Uzbekistan’s rule that exchanges must be authorized to operate locally.