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Austria- The Growing Hub of Cryptocurrency Approves 18 Operating License

Financial Supervisory Authority like FMA of Austria received requests from forty digital asset providers for the license for regulatory registration to operate their crypto wallets. Out of which, 18 firms have been approved for the regulatory registration. 

Under the country’s new AML (Anti-Money Laundering) regulations, every crypto firm must acquire a license to operate. However, the derivatives regarding crypto-assets do not come under these regulations, but they must comply with ESMA’s restriction.

Until last year, the crypto service providers were only operating in the transitory regulations laid out by the AML Act. This act provides a set of rules for crypto-related business. Those hoping to provide crypto-related services must acquire authorization from the FMA.

This rule does not only apply to exchanges regarding crypto-to-crypto and fiat-to-fiat but also applies to digital wallet providers. The law states, “exchange one or more virtual currencies against one another, transfer virtual currencies or provide financial services for the issuance and selling of virtual currencies.”

The applicants of the license must prove to Austrian Financial regulators that they have the capability to run the business. Those firms that fail to comply with the financial regulations set out by the FMA will be given legal notice and a warning of penalties. FMA can impose a fine of €200,000 on businesses related to crypto that have not registered with the country’s regulators. The regulators said, “The FMA pursues a zero-tolerance policy in relation to money laundering and terrorist financing. In relation to the risks associated with virtual currencies, another loophole was closed last year with the introduction of the requirement for companies active in this area to register.”

FMA has also made it clear that most of the digital asset providers that applied for the license operate electronic exchange platforms and wallets.