Luxembourg is creating a new dedicated unit in its tax office to combat money laundering following international criticism that the state was not doing enough to clamp down on illicit finance.
Politicians approved the creation of the organisation in a vote in parliament yesterday.
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29 arrested and 26 tonnes of illegal plant protection products seized in France and Spain
Europol
Law enforcement from France and Spain, supported by Europol, have arrested 29 members of a criminal organisation for selling illegal plant protection products. The investigation revealed that the gang had sold 25 tonnes of these products, mainly in France. Investigators estimate that the suspects earned more than EUR 5 million from their illicit activities.
SFC sets out staking guidance for licensed virtual asset trading platforms and authorised virtual asset funds
Securities and Futures Commission
The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) today provided regulatory guidance respectively to licensed virtual asset trading platforms (VATPs) on their provision of staking services, and to SFC-authorised funds with exposure to virtual assets (VA Funds) on their engagement in staking .
In setting out its regulatory approach, the SFC recognises the potential benefits of staking in enhancing the security of blockchain networks and allowing investors to earn yields on virtual assets within a regulated market environment. The latest guidance allows VATPs to expand product and service offerings, one of the five pillars set out in the SFC’s “ASPIRe” roadmap to develop Hong Kong’s virtual asset ecosystem