Australia Cracks Down On High-Risk Crypto ATM Amid Massive Fraud

• The Australian government is preparing new regulations to tighten control over cryptocurrency ATMs.
• The upcoming bill will allow AUSTRAC to restrict or ban high-risk crypto ATMs.

Australia is getting ready to place tougher rules on crypto ATM providers after regulators found out that many of them are making use of the services for scams and money laundering. This decision is one of the strongest actions the government has taken so far against fighting financial crimes involving cryptocurrency.

How the Government Intends to Restrict Crypto ATM Use

A few hours ago, the Home Affairs Minister in Australia, Tony Burke, shared that there will be new rules introduced to guard crypto ATMs; according to him, he regarded them as “high-risk products.” His statement came after the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) shared a shocking report about the rise in crimes linked to crypto ATMs.

According to the report, about 85% of large transactions made through these crypto ATMs were linked to either fraud or money laundering.This outrageous percent has raised serious concerns about how criminals are taking advantage of these machines to move illegal money without any trace.

Within the last six years, the number of crypto ATMs in Australia has grown significantly from about only 23 ATM providers to over 2,000. This huge increase has shown how crypto has grown, but regulators also warn that the growth has also opened new ways for criminals to hide their tracks.

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Burke mentioned that the new law that is about to be introduced would give AUSTRAC the power to control, restrict, and even completely ban products considered risky. He also said these ATMs have turned into a common tool for organized crime groups and online scammers, and so, they are working towards not just reducing financial crimes but also protecting ordinary citizens from falling preyto them. scammers and ensuring Australia’s financial system remains trustworthy.

The government is expected to present the new bill to Parliament within the next few months. Although Burke did not clearly say if there would be a total on crypto ATMs, he hinted that the government might choose a more balanced solution.

So far, it is believed that future rules may include stronger Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks for ATM operators, and there could also be stricter monitoring of transactions in order to detect suspicious activities quickly.If this is provably implemented, it would make it harder for criminals to misuse the machines while still allowing legitimate businesses to operate.

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