India’s financial regulator hits crypto exchange Binance with $2.25m fine

As a crypto investor with experience in the Indian market, I find the recent fine imposed on Binance by India’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) both intriguing and concerning. Binance was a dominant player in the Indian crypto market before its ban earlier this year, and its failure to comply with local anti-money laundering rules has resulted in a hefty penalty.


The Indian authorities have imposed a penalty of approximately $2.25 million on Binance for carrying out transactions in the country while disregarding the local regulations against money laundering.

India’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) levied a significant penalty against Binance due to the cryptocurrency exchange’s non-compliance with its anti-money laundering (AML) regulations by failing to register with the FIU.

The regulatory body announced on June 19th that it had levied a fine of approximately $2.25 million (188.2 crore rupees) for Binance’s infringement of multiple Anti-Money Laundering rules and terrorism financing prevention guidelines. At the time of reporting, Binance had yet to make any public comments regarding this issue.

As a researcher studying the cryptocurrency market, I’ve come across some intriguing findings. According to a recent report by Chainalysis, India is among the fastest-growing crypto economies globally, with a remarkable adoption rate in 2023.

As a crypto investor, I’ve noticed that before the January ban, Binance held a significant dominance in the Indian crypto market, accounting for over 90% of the trading volume. The exchange gained immense popularity among traders due to its ability to help bypass tax implications imposed by the Indian government on cryptocurrency transactions.

Starting in March, the Indian Ministry of Finance made it necessary for all crypto businesses to register with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and adhere to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). By December 2023, a total of 28 cryptocurrency companies had already complied with this requirement as reported by crypto.news.

The topic of cryptocurrencies continues to spark debate in India, as regulators grapple with finding a suitable approach for this rapidly evolving sector. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman advocated for international cooperation to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework and emphasized the potential benefits of blockchain technology. In contrast, the Reserve Bank of India has maintained its opposition to digital currencies, pushing for an outright ban on crypt assets.

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2024-06-20 10:18