The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement
Cooperation, Europol, has cautioned against escalating criminal activities in
the Decentralized Finance (DeFi) sector.
In a report dubbed
European Financial and Economic Crime Threat Assessment 2023, Europol
acknowledged the remarkable independence and security offered by blockchain
technology; it sternly criticizes the DeFi sector.
Blockchain technology,
as the backbone of cryptocurrencies and DeFi platforms, has emerged as a symbol of
independence and security. However, Europol has cautioned against the absence
of regulatory oversight in the DeFi space, which creates a breeding ground for
economic crimes.
Catherine De Bolle, the
Executive Director at Europol, said: In our globalized world, trade,
technology, and transport bring us closer together and create economic
opportunities and prosperity. However, there is another side to the coin; our
interconnected world is misused and abused by criminal actors involved in
economic and financial crimes.
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which are renowned for their instant trading
capabilities and digital ownership representation, have also caught the
attention of fraudsters. According to Europol, the cross-border nature of NFT
trading has made them a potential vehicle for money laundering.
In addition, the
emergence of the metaverse, a digital universe hosting various activities, has
introduced new dimensions to the financial sector. However, this virtual
environment has already witnessed cases of fraud and theft, hinting at a
possible trend of organized crime.
Europol substantiates
its concerns with a real-world example from January 2023. Law enforcement
authorities dismantled a crypto platform called Bitzlato, suspected of
laundering illicit funds associated with Russian entities under EU sanctions.
This platform facilitated the swift conversion of various cryptocurrencies into
Russian rubles, involving an estimated EUR 2.1 billion in assets, a substantial
portion of which was linked to criminal activities.
However, Europol
acknowledges that decentralized finance has the potential to bring about
significant positive changes in the financial ecosystem. DeFi can enhance
financial inclusion, reduce costs, and increase transparency by eliminating
intermediaries and enabling peer-to-peer transactions.
CFTC Extends Its
Jurisdiction to DeFi
Europol’s report is
complemented by the steps taken by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission
(CFTC). This governing…
