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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is reportedly scrutinizing Anchorage Digital Bank’s operations and transactions within the cryptocurrency sector. According to Barron’s, this investigation is being conducted under the El Dorado Task Force, aimed at combating money laundering and other financial crimes.
Investigation of Anchorage
News sources indicate that Homeland Security officials have been interviewing Anchorage Digital Bank employees to review the bank’s practices. While the exact reason for the investigation has not been disclosed, information has been gathered from anonymous sources. Bank officials have chosen to refrain from commenting, and no official statement has been released by Homeland Security authorities.
Previous Regulatory Interventions
In 2022, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) imposed regulations on Anchorage due to deficiencies in anti-money-laundering controls, such as customer reviews and tracking suspicious transactions. The OCC’s process revealed violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, prompting a warning to the bank. Anchorage stated it has made improvements in these areas and has begun implementing new standards for cryptocurrency assets.
In parallel, Anchorage Digital Bank CEO Nathan McCauley noted that a U.S. bank, with which they had a long-standing partnership, inexplicably terminated their banking services. Below is a statement made by McCauley:
“Our story is quite ridiculous… We had a growing relationship with a bank for several years, and suddenly they decided to close our account.” – Nathan McCauley
According to CEO McCauley, this abrupt service interruption has created uncertainties in the company’s financial operations. This development coincides with increasing allegations of coordinated interventions targeting the cryptocurrency sector, referred to as “Choke Point 2.0.”
The investigation reportedly aims to evaluate the company’s practices as well as its compliance with regulatory frameworks. While authorities have not shared further details, ongoing efforts related to oversight and financial regulations have been noted based on current information.
Disagreements and the evolving situation are of keen interest to stakeholders in the financial sector. As potential disruptions in banking practices and cryptocurrency management are anticipated, relevant institutions are expected to take more cautious steps, with the implications of the ongoing investigation potentially becoming clearer in the future.
Available data indicates that regulatory bodies are closely monitoring practices within the digital asset sector. This situation is important for strengthening oversight mechanisms and addressing demands for financial transparency in the sector’s development process.
