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CoinGeek Delves Into What FinCEN’s New Guidelines Mean for DApps, Lightning Network and Privacy Coins

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If there is one thing that the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has highlighted with the issuance of its new virtual currency interpretive guidance, it’s that the move has reinforced what responsible thought leaders and experts in the industry have been saying for a while—that it’s time for Bitcoin and the rest of the cryptocurrency ecosystem to grow up and respect laws.

On Thursday, the U.S. regulatory agency issued a new guidance that addresses whether certain cryptocurrency-related businesses need to be regulated as money services businesses (MSB) and comply with the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and other relevant laws in the country. The new “interpretive guidance” is a consolidation of FinCEN’s current regulations as well as related administrative guidance issued since 2011 involving “convertible virtual currencies.”

The guidance specifically outlines how decentralized applications (DApps), defined by FinCEN as “software programs that operate on a P2P network of computers running on a blockchain platform,” may qualify as a money transmitter especially if they “accept and transmit value, regardless of whether they operate for profit”—like a virtual currency ATM, vending machine, or a physical kiosk.

“Accordingly, when DApps perform money transmission, the definition of money transmitter will apply to the DApp, the owners/operators of the DApp, or both,” according to FinCEN. This means these types of DApp services will have to secure a license in the state or states they are currently operating in, as well as federal anti-money laundering and Know-Your-Customer procedures.

FinCEN guidance likely to halt Lightning Network

Like in the case of DApps, FinCEN’s new guidance will also make it even more challenging for the Lightning Network on Bitcoin Core (BTC) to grow. As Founding President of the Bitcoin Association, Jimmy Nguyen, explains, Lightning Network nodes are likely to fall within FinCEN’s broad interpretation of money transmitters, which means they would be required to register as MSBs and comply with AML regulations. According to Nguyen, a former 21+year lawyer in the United States focused on technology:

“FinCEN reinforces the definition of ‘money transmission services’ is very broad, and means the transmission of virtual currency from one person to another triggers MSB requirements. FinCEN also confirms that virtual currency payment processors (intermediaries between traditional merchants and customers who want to pay for goods and services with virtual currency) fall within the definition of money transmitters. Given how broad these definitions are, I expect FinCEN’s guidance will further inhibit growth of the Lightning Network beyond traditional payment processors who already hold MSB licenses.”

Not surprisingly, even privacy-centric coins like Zcash, Verge and Monero cannot escape MSB and AML laws. Creators and sellers of anonymity-enhanced coins, along with providers of anonymizing services like coin mixers or tumblers are considered money transmitters in the U.S..

“A money transmitter that operates in anonymity-enhanced CVCs for its own account or for the accounts of others (regardless of the frequency) is subject to the same regulatory obligations as when operating in currency, funds, or nonanonymized CVCs [convertible virtual currencies]. In other words, a money transmitter cannot avoid its regulatory obligations because it chooses to provide money transmission services using anonymity-enhanced CVC,” according to FinCEN.

This isn’t surprising, according to Nguyen, given that FinCEN is a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department that focuses on combating money laundering and terrorism financing, along with other financial crimes. As such, Nguyen says the agency “will not let privacy coin advocates avoid compliance with laws designed to stop financial crimes.”

Not everyone is an MSB

FinCEN recognizes that non-custodial wallets are not money transmitters; however, custodial wallets can trigger MSB requirements for the host. All crypto exchanges are custodial, which means they are always MSBs, even if operators like Binance focus only on crypto.

Fundraising via ICOs is also likely not engaging in money transmittal, but token offerings can still be regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) if they offer securities.

The U.S. agency has yet to provide an answer for every situation that takes place in the crypto market, but the new guidance it issued is a step in the right direction towards providing clarity on whether common virtual currency business models will trigger MSB and AML laws in the country. As Nguyen summarizes:

“FinCEN’s new guidance on virtual currencies reinforces what we’ve been saying for a while:  it’s time for Bitcoin and the cryptocurrency world to grow up. This means businesses operating in the space need to live in the real world and comply with real world laws, including those governing money services businesses, money transmitters and anti-money laundering, and other Bank Secrecy Act requirements. Unlike other crypto-anarchist camps in the Bitcoin world, Bitcoin SV is building a regulation-friendly ecosystem and we are advising on responsible legislation around the world. While there remains room for more improvement and clarifications, FinCEN’s guidance is a good step to actually help Bitcoin grow by inhibiting its usage for illegal activity, and thus making financial institutions and consumers more comfortable using Bitcoin.”

 

SOURCE CoinGeek

Fintech PR

Invitation to presentation of EQT AB’s Q1 Announcement 2024

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STOCKHOLM, April 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — EQT AB’s Q1 Announcement 2024 will be published on Thursday 18 April 2024 at approximately 07:30 CEST. EQT will host a conference call at 08:30 CEST to present the report, followed by a Q&A session.

The presentation and a video link for the webcast will be available here from the time of the publication of the Q1 Announcement.

To participate by phone and ask questions during the Q&A, please register here in advance. Upon registration, you will receive your personal dial-in details.

The webcast can be followed live here and a recording will be available afterwards.

Information on EQT AB’s financial reporting

The EQT AB Group has a long-term business model founded on a promise to its fund investors to invest capital, drive value creation and create consistent attractive returns over a 5 to 10-year horizon. The Group’s financial model is primarily affected by the size of its fee-generating assets under management, the performance of the EQT funds and its ability to recruit and retain top talent.

The Group operates in a market driven by long-term trends and thus believes quarterly financial statements are less relevant for investors. However, in order to provide the market with relevant and suitable information about the Group’s development, EQT publishes quarterly announcements with key operating numbers that are relevant for the business performance (taking Nasdaq’s guidance note for preparing interim management statements into consideration). In addition, a half-year report and a year-end report including financial statements and further information relevant for investors is published. Finally, EQT also publishes an annual report including sustainability reporting.

Contact
Olof Svensson, Head of Shareholder Relations, +46 72 989 09 15
EQT Shareholder Relations, [email protected]

Rickard Buch, Head of Corporate Communications, +46 72 989 09 11
EQT Press Office, [email protected], +46 8 506 55 334

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/eqt/r/invitation-to-presentation-of-eqt-ab-s-q1-announcement-2024,c3956826

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https://mb.cision.com/Main/87/3956826/2712771.pdf

Invitation to presentation of EQT AB’s Q1 Announcement 2024

https://news.cision.com/eqt/i/eqt-ab-group,c3285895

EQT AB Group

 

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Kia presents roadmap to lead global electrification era through EVs, HEVs and PBVs

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  • Kia drives forward transformation into ‘Sustainable Mobility Solutions Provider’
  • Roadmap enables Kia to proactively respond to uncertainties in mobility industry landscape, including changes in EV market
  • Company to expand EV line-up with more models; enhance HEV line-up to manage fluctuation in EV demand
    • Goal to sell 1.6 million EVs annually in 2030, introducing 15 models
    • PBV to play a key role in Kia’s growth, targeting 250,000 PBV sales annually by 2030 with PV5 and PV7 models
  • Kia to invest KRW 38 trillion by 2028, including KRW 15 trillion for future business
  • 2024 business guidance : KRW 101 tln in revenue with KRW 12 tln in operating profit; operating profit margin of 11.9% on sales of 3.2 million units globally
  • CEO reaffirms Kia’s commitment to ESG management

SEOUL, South Korea, April 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Kia Corporation (Kia) today shared an update on its future strategies and financial targets at its CEO Investor Day in Seoul, Korea.

Based on its innovative achievements in the years since the announcement of mid-to-long-term business initiatives, Kia is focusing on updating its 2030 strategy announced last year and further strengthening its business strategy in response to uncertainties across the global mobility industry landscape.

During the event, Kia updated its mid-to-long-term business strategy with a focus on electrification, and its PBV business. Kia reiterated its 2030 annual sales target of 4.3 million units, including 1.6 million units of electric vehicles (EVs). The 2030 4.3 million annual sales target is 34.4 percent higher than the brand’s 2024 annual goal of 3.2 million units.

The company also plans to become a leading EV brand by selling a higher percentage of electrified models among its total sales, including hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and battery EVs, projecting electrified model sales of 2.48 million units annually or 58 percent of Kia’s total sales in 2030.

“Following our successful brand relaunch in 2021, Kia is enhancing its global business strategy to further the establishment of an innovative EV line-up and accelerate the company’s transition to a sustainable mobility solutions provider,” said Ho Sung Song, President and CEO of Kia. “By responding effectively to changes in the mobility market and efficiently implementing mid-to-long-term strategies, Kia is strengthening its brand commitment to the wellbeing of customers, communities, the global society, and the environment.”

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BioVaxys Technology Corp. Provides Bi-Weekly MCTO Status Update

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VANCOUVER, BC, April 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — BioVaxys Technology Corp. (CSE: BIOV) (FRA: 5LB) (OTCQB: BVAXF) (the “Company“) is providing this bi-weekly update on the status of the management cease trade order granted on February 29, 2024 (the “MCTO“), by its principal regulator, the Ontario Securities Commission (the “OSC“), under National Policy 12-203 – Management Cease Trade Orders (“NP 12-203“), following the Company’s announcement on February 21, 2024 (the “Default Announcement“), that it was unable to file its audited annual financial statements for the year ended October 31, 2023, its management’s discussion and analysis of financial statements for the year ended October 31, 2023, its annual information form for the year ended October 31, 2023, and related filings (collectively, the “Required Annual Filings“). Under National Instrument 51-102, the Required Annual Filings were required to be made no later than February 28, 2024.

As a result of the delay in filing the Required Annual Filings, the Company was unable to file its interim financial statements for the three months ended January 31, 2024, its management’s discussion and analysis of financial statements for the three months ended January 31, 2024, and related filings (collectively, the “Required Interim Filings“). Under National Instrument 51-102, the Required Interim Filings were required to be made no later than April 1, 2024.

The Company anticipates filing the Required Annual Filings by April 30, 2024. The auditor of the Company requires additional time to complete its audit of the Company, including the Company’s recent acquisition of all intellectual property, immunotherapeutics platform technologies, and clinical stage assets of the former IMV Inc. that closed on February 16, 2024. In addition, the Company anticipates filing the Required Interim Filings immediately after the filing of the Required Annual Filings.

Except as herein disclosed, there are no material changes to the information contained in the Default Announcement. In addition, (i) the Company is satisfying and confirms that it intends to continue to satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines under NP 12-203 and issue bi-weekly default status reports for so long as the delay in filing the Required Annual Filings and/or Required Interim Filings is continuing, each of which will be issued in the form of a press release; (ii) the Company does not have any information at this time regarding any anticipated specified default subsequent to the default in filing the Required Annual Filings and Required Interim Filings; (iii) the Company is not subject to any insolvency proceedings; and (iv) there is no material information concerning the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed.

About BioVaxys Technology Corp.

BioVaxys Technology Corp. (www.biovaxys.com), a biopharmaceuticals company registered in British Columbia, Canada, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving patient lives with novel immunotherapies based on the DPX™ immune-educating technology platform and it’s HapTenix© ‘neoantigen’ tumor cell construct platform, for treating cancers, infectious disease, antigen desensitization, and other immunological fields. The Company’s clinical stage pipeline includes maveropepimut-S which is in Phase II clinical development for advanced Relapsed-Refractory Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) and platinum resistant ovarian cancer, and BVX-0918, a personalized immunotherapeutic vaccine using it proprietary HapTenix© ‘neoantigen’ tumor cell construct platform which is soon to enter Phase I in Spain for treating refractive late-stage ovarian cancer. The Company is also capitalizing on its tumor immunology know-how and creation of a unique library of T-lymphocytes & other datasets post-vaccination with its personalized immunotherapeutic vaccines to utilize predictive algorithms and other technologies to identify new targetable tumor antigens. BioVaxys common shares are listed on the CSE under the stock symbol “BIOV” and trade on the Frankfurt Bourse (FRA: 5LB) and in the US (OTCQB: BVAXF). For more information, visit www.biovaxys.com and connect with us on X and LinkedIn.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Signed “James Passin
James Passin, Chief Executive Officer
Phone: +1 646 452 7054

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