Regulatory Blog

At present, Cyprus-based crypto exchanges that wish to provide services both in relation to spot crypto products and financial instruments such as crypto derivatives are subject to dual-licensing under the local AML legislation and the traditional investment services regime implementing EU Directive 2014/65/EU. The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission administers both regimes.

On 4 April 2024, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) published Circular C628 informing all entities under its supervision of the following:

With the rules in EU Regulation 1114/2023 on markets in crypto-assets (MiCA) becoming applicable by the end of 2024, staying compliant is crucial for businesses operating within the European Union/the European Economic Area (EEA). To assist crypto-industry participants in understanding their regulatory obligations under MiCA, Harneys proudly presents its new MiCA Assessment Tool.

On 28 November 2023, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission published circular 605 informing regulated entities about the European Banking Authority's public consultation on new money laundering and terrorist financing guidelines for preventing the abuse of funds and certain crypto-assets transfers.

On 3 November 2023, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) issued Directive R.A.D 343/2023 (the CASP Amending Directive) which was published in the Cyprus Official Gazette. Through the CASP Amending Directive, CySEC amends its existing Directive on the Prevention and Combating of Money Laundering from Illegal Activities (Registry of Service Providers of Crypto Asset Service Providers) 2021 in a number of important respects.

On 13 October 2023, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) published Circular 604 directing Cyprus Investment Firms (CIFs) to familiarise themselves with the European Banking Authority's guidelines on outsourcing, published on 2 February 2019 (Guidelines).

On 11 September 2023, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) issued Circular 596 regarding Russian Federation Federal Laws No. 319-FZ (Law 319-FZ) and No. 519-FZ (Law 519-FZ), which concern certain transfers of Russian securities, known as forced transfers, further defined below.

On 20 July 2023, negotiators from the European Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on new regulations aimed at improving European capital markets and strengthening investor protection in the EU. The agreement focuses on revising the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD), broadly referred to as AIFMD II, which governs managers of various investment funds including hedge funds, private equity funds, and real estate funds in the EU. Additionally, it modernises the framework for “plain-vanilla” EU-harmonised retail investment funds known as undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS).

On 23 June 2023, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission announced the release of the Annual Report for 2022 by the Unit for Combating Money Laundering (MOKAS). The report provides a comprehensive analysis of Suspicious Activity Reports, Suspicious Transaction Reports, and the Additional Information File AIF-S or AIF-T.