Poloniex LLC, a cryptocurrency exchange once associated with Justin Sun’s crypto enterprise, has agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury for over $7 million concerning alleged violations of international sanctions. The platform is accused of facilitating transactions worth more than $15 million for customers in sanctioned regions over approximately six years.
Poloniex Acknowledges Sanctions Violations
On Monday, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that Poloniex consented to pay $7,591,630 to resolve allegations of sanctions violations involving Crimea, Cuba, Iran, Sudan, and Syria between January 2014 and November 2019.
The exchange reportedly permitted customers in these regions to participate in digital asset transactions, including trading, deposits, and withdrawals, amounting to $15,335,349.
Despite having sufficient knowledge of the customers’ locations through Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols and IP addresses, Poloniex still allowed these transactions. The Treasury Department stated:
“Poloniex conveyed economic benefit to 232 persons in several jurisdictions subject to OFAC sanctions and thereby harmed the integrity of multiple OFAC sanctions programs.”
Recognizing Poloniex’s Mitigating Factors
The Department acknowledged that Poloniex had tried to limit access to accounts linked to these jurisdictions as part of its compliance program.
However, users in the sanctioned regions could still utilize the platform. Several mitigating factors were also considered, such as Poloniex’s status as a small startup during the violations and the fact that the infractions represented a minuscule portion of the exchange’s overall volume.
Last month, the Treasury Department reported identifying decentralized finance (DeFi) as a potential national security threat. That is due to its susceptibility to money laundering and sanctions violations.
Poloniex’s History with Regulatory Fines
It is not the first time Poloniex has faced regulatory fines. In August 2021, the exchange agreed to pay a $10 million penalty to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for operating an unregistered cryptocurrency exchange.
The Poloniex settlement highlights the critical need for cryptocurrency exchanges to adhere to stringent compliance measures, particularly concerning international sanctions.
Furthermore, as the industry evolves, it becomes increasingly essential for exchanges and platforms to prioritize regulatory compliance and adopt best practices to maintain their integrity and protect users’ interests.
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