Ireland is preparing to implement new cryptocurrency regulations as part of an urgent legislative effort by Finance Minister Jack Chambers. The legislation follows new European Union measures to crack down on money laundering and terrorist financing.
The degree of uncertainty in the legislation is unclear. However, Ireland’s crypto laws are expected to align with the upcoming EU framework.
Ireland Strengthens Crypto Laws Amid EU Regulations
According to a post on the Chamber of Digital Commerce website, EU crypto regulations will be influenced by the coming into force on December 30, 2024, of the EU’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act.
This EU-wide initiative will give financial intelligence units (FIUs) in member states greater power to investigate and stop suspicious financial transactions. The EU’s AML/CFT Act will also include tighter reporting requirements for financial services and a €10,000 limit on cash transactions, including cryptocurrency platforms.
However, Ireland’s Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) has proactively tackled crypto-related money laundering cases. To help with this, Binance has recently partnered with firms like Binance to train officers on their investigative skills, including training workshops.
Despite these efforts to gain cryptocurrency, the CAB’s seizures have faced difficulty accessing seized cryptocurrency, with Bitcoin valued at €378 million stuck in a 2020 case.
MiCA Offers Legal Clarity for Crypto Firms
In December 2024, the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Act (MiCA) will also enter into force, in addition to the AML/CFT regulations. MiCA, however, is bringing cryptocurrency and stablecoins to the EU through a legal framework.
This legislation will clarify crypto space companies about the market, which some view as an opportunity for growth in the region. But not all crypto firms are hopeful.
Late in 2023, Binance, one of the largest global cryptocurrency exchanges by trading volume, abandoned Cyprus, saying it had been forced to do so because of the MiCA impact. Certain other companies, such as Kraken, are looking more favorably on MiCA to increase their European investment, create legal security, and spur further regional growth.
Ireland’s Crypto Regulations Aim to Align with EU Standards
Finance Minister Jack Chambers said an updated Irish regulatory framework was vital in line with EU standards but has yet to outline the new laws. However, as the government tightens controls, it is still being determined if that will hold for all crypto in Ireland.
As the filing deadline fast approaches in Malta and Ireland, companies now operating mainly within the country’s burgeoning crypto space could join a growing list of EU-based firms under more stringent compliance requirements.
This will mean tighter control of how crypto transactions happen in Ireland and increased transparency over the coalface involving them. The regulations coming in have to work to ensure Ireland stays in line with EU partners in the fight against financial crime.
They expect the legislation to fill those gaps, widening the regulators’ tools for monitoring and controlling the flow of cryptocurrency within the country.
The urgency is apparent, but the timeline for implementing Ireland’s updated crypto laws remains unclear. As December 2024 draws near, the era of national (and at the EU level) regulations is fast approaching, and the crypto sector is preparing for their impact on the industry.