Heavy hitters of crypto call for users to comment on proposed FinCEN wallet rule

Published at: Dec. 30, 2020

A number of players are encouraging individuals to speak out against FinCEN’s new crypto rules before comments close next week.

Crypto exchange Coinbase and the foundation behind Monero are the latest firms to join in calling for crypto users to share their thoughts on the U.S. Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network’s new rules. In a blog post today, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said the proposal would represent “too big of an intrusion” on users’ privacy, stating that crypto exchanges would need to collect and share names and addresses for anyone sending or receiving more than $3,000 in crypto in a single transaction. The CEO called on users to submit their thoughts to FinCEN before Jan. 4 when comments would be closed.

Monero Outreach issued a similar plea on Monday with seemingly more assertive language, specially requesting crypto users "voice their opposition" to the "dangerous new rules." The group claimed that once FinCEN had the necessary customer information, regulators would be able to track all user transactions without a warrant, data that could be potentially compromised.

"This [rule] not been required before, and it will not only threaten the privacy of every cryptocurrency user today, but it will also impede creative future uses of cryptocurrency," said Monero Outreach. "This is in an area that can easily go very wrong."

FinCEN proposed the new rule on Dec. 18, giving individuals 15 days to comment with their thoughts. If implemented, the rule would require registered crypto exchanges to verify the identity of their customers under certain conditions, including using "an unhosted or otherwise covered wallet" and if the transaction exceeds $3,000.

Coinbase chief legal officer Paul Grewal later responded that the deadline to provide feedback was inadequate given the holidays and the ongoing pandemic. He requested the regulator provide a 60-day period for comments on the proposed rules. At the time of publication, the Jan. 4 deadline is still firm.

Meanwhile, non-profit crypto advocacy group Coin Center is encouraging "everyone in the cryptocurrency ecosystem" to file a comment on the FinCEN proposal. More than 920 parties have already submitted their thoughts to FinCEN, including Blockchain.com CEO Peter Smith and Compound General Counsel Jake Chervinsky. In a Twitter thread, Chervinsky claimed the rule would not "stop the flow of funds to bad actors or help law enforcement do its job." 

Smith, on the other hand, sent his comment directly to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. In a blog post last week, the Blockchain.com CEO said he believes the rule needs additional consultation and review before being considered, given the potential impact:

“Crypto is a nascent and growing industry. We have talented teams and entrepreneurs across the United States who are innovating yet would buckle under the weight of this regulation.”
Tags
Regulation
United States
Government
Coinbase
Monero
Fincen
Related Posts
Coinbase seeks extended feedback deadline to FinCEN’s new crypto rules
Coinbase, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the United States, is advocating extension for the industry’s feedback deadline to newly proposed crypto rules by the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN. In a Dec. 21 blog post, Coinbase’s chief legal officer Paul Grewal addressed FinCEN’s newly released rulemaking regarding self-hosted crypto wallets. The blog post represents an open letter to Kenneth Blanco, the director of FinCEN. In the letter, Grewal considered the new rules by the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, as an “unfortunate and disappointing departure” from the company’s long-running relationship with the regulator. Grewal elaborated that …
Regulation / Dec. 22, 2020
Law Decoded: Governments vs. blockchain privacy, Sept. 4-11
Every Friday, Law Decoded delivers analysis on the week’s critical stories in the realms of policy, regulation and law. Editor’s note One of the most persistent myths about Bitcoin is its supposed anonymity. More properly termed pseudonymity, BTC wallets are permanently tied to their public keys. Most of you know that. But it took government investigators years of trying to corral Bitcoin transactions on dark web marketplaces like the Silk Road to figure that out. Now, however, blockchain analysis is a growing industry, catering to a range of clients including many of the most shadowy of government agencies. This was …
Regulation / Sept. 11, 2020
FinCEN Director Blanco Concerned About Bad Actors Hijacking Crypto
In a May 27 interview sponsored by Chainalysis, Director of the United States Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Kenneth Blanco was adamant that the regulator is not the enemy. “This technology belongs to all of us” FinCEN is the governing body that enforces the Bank Secrecy Act in the U.S., requiring financial institutions to provide know-your-customer (KYC) information. It’s a contentious topic within crypto, so it is no surprise that Blanco was careful to portray FinCEN as a part of the environment. Blanco lamented “that we’re allowing a technology that could be so beneficial to be hijacked by people,” continuing …
Regulation / May 27, 2020
Crypto lobby defends self-hosted wallets and P2P from rumored gov't crackdown
Major players in U.S. crypto lobbying are coming out in defense of noncustodial wallets. On Tuesday, the Blockchain Association released a new report presenting policy options for self-hosted wallets to regulators. On Wednesday, Coin Center published an expert view by Jai Ramaswamy, also defending such wallets. The Blockchain Association is a trade organization for the crypto industry, while Coin Center is a nonprofit focused on defending decentralization before policymakers. Both are based in Washington, D.C. Ramaswamy currently works on compliance for Celo's parent company, C Labs, and was formerly the head of the Department of Justice’s Anti-Money Laundering division. His …
Regulation / Nov. 18, 2020
Coinbase forms a second PAC to support crypto-friendly candidates
Crypto exchange Coinbase has filed for a political action committee reportedly to support "crypto-forward lawmakers" ahead of the 2022 midterm elections in the United States. According to a Feb. 7 filing with the Federal Election Commission, Coinbase’s chief financial officer Alesia Haas and head of U.S. policy Kara Calvert registered the Coinbase Innovation PAC. The lobbyist/registrant political action committee will likely be required to make disclosures of funds to designated representatives in Congress. Political action committees, or PACs, are organizations often aimed at raising funds to elect candidates supporting similar causes, implying Coinbase is looking to get behind crypto-friendly candidates …
Regulation / Feb. 9, 2022