Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an order that identifies the virtual currency exchange Bitzlato Limited (Bitzlato) as a “primary money laundering concern” in connection with Russian illicit finance. This is the first order issued pursuant to section 9714(a) of the Combating Russian Money Laundering Act, as amended, and highlights the serious threat that business operations that facilitate and support Russian illicit finance pose to U.S. national security and the integrity of the U.S. financial sector. The order prohibits certain transmittals of funds ... (full story)