White House Designates Muslim Brotherhood Branches as Terrorism Groups
The Trump administration designated three Middle Eastern branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations, claiming the groups contribute to regional instability and violence.
California Fines Crypto-Lending Platform without State License
California’s Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) fined crypto lending platform Nexo Capital Inc. $500,000, alleging the company made crypto-backed consumer and commercial loans to Californians without the required state license.
Spain’s AML Watchdog Fines CaixaBank €30mn over Real-Estate Deal
CaixaBank has been hit with several fines totaling more than €30 million by Spain’s anti-money laundering watchdog, Sepblac, over a legacy real-estate transaction.
Dubai Authority Tightens Oversight of Crypto, Bans Privacy Coins
The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has banned the use of crypto privacy tokens in the special economic zone the body oversees, citing anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance risks, CoinDesk reported.
EU’s Kallas Threatens New Iran Sanctions over Protestor Crackdown
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas is preparing to push for new sanctions on Iran following a security crackdown that has “reportedly claimed hundreds of lives” since protests began nearly two weeks ago, Euronews reported Monday.
Ex-Panama Leader Faces Charges in Odebrecht ‘Car Wash’ Case
Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli is on trial over allegations he laundered millions of dollars tied to bribes paid by Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, a case that plugs Panama into the regionwide “Car Wash” corruption scandal that has toppled political figures across Latin America, according to AFP.
India Tightens KYC and AML Rules for Crypto Exchanges
India’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has rolled out stricter identity verification requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges, aiming to curb money laundering and terrorist financing, CoinDesk reported, citing Press Trust of India.
U.S. Launches New GTO, Probes Aimed at Minnesota Benefits Fraud Scandal
The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday launched a set of initiatives to investigate what it called “rampant government benefits fraud” in Minnesota, including the imposition of new reporting requirements for financial institutions.
How Two UK Crypto Exchanges Moved $1bn in Stablecoins Tied to Iran’s IRGC
Two UK-registered cryptocurrency exchanges, Zedcex and Zedxion, operated as front companies for an infrastructure that processed approximately $1 billion in funds linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to new analysis from TRM Labs.
Spain Targets Nigeria’s ‘Black Axe’ Network in Criminal Crackdown
Spanish National Police, working with Germany’s Bavarian State Criminal Police Office and supported by Europol, arrested 34 people in Spain during an operation against the international criminal organization known as “Black Axe,” Europol announced.