On October 15, 2021, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) released guidance on sanctions compliance for the digital currency industry, the agency’s most detailed statement to date on its expectations for participants in this rapidly growing industry. This guidance expands on the five pillars of OFAC’s 2019 Framework by specifying best practices for implementing a sanctions compliance program (SCP) program for participants in the digital currency industry. While the guidance provides helpful clarity for the digital currency industry on key sanctions compliance challenges, unaddressed issues nevertheless remain.

In the following update sent today, we briefly summarize OFAC’s guidance, highlighting practical implications for both digital currency companies and customers. Regarding the scope of OFAC’s guidance, it defines the digital currency industry to include not just exchangers and administrators, but also wallet providers and, notably, technology companies and miners.

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Photo of Richard Oehler Richard Oehler

Highly experienced in counselling and representing companies on U.S. regulatory matters, Richard Oehler concentrates his counsel in the areas of economic sanctions, national security and Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), federal procurement, export controls and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act…

Highly experienced in counselling and representing companies on U.S. regulatory matters, Richard Oehler concentrates his counsel in the areas of economic sanctions, national security and Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), federal procurement, export controls and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) issues.

Photo of Jamie Schafer Jamie Schafer

Jamie Schafer represents both corporations and individuals in complex U.S. and cross-border criminal and regulatory matters.