New AML And CFT Policies Supported By Senator Elizabeth Warren

United States Senator Elizabeth Warren responded to the recent testimony by Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo before the Senate Banking Committee. In a letter addressed to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, she expressed support for Adeyemo and his stance on policies concerning anti-money laundering (AML) and countering terrorism financing (CFT).

Endorsing Regulatory Measures For Stablecoins

Senator Warren voiced her full backing for a legislative proposal aimed at implementing additional AML and CFT measures for stablecoins. During the hearing, the Deputy Treasury Secretary discussed various Treasury proposals, including extending its authority to sanction blockchain node operators and other regulatory measures. In a document labeled Letter to Congress by Senator Warren, the Treasury outlined steps it could take to achieve its enforcement objectives and address regulatory gaps.

In her correspondence, Senator Warren emphasized that the proposals outlined in the letter should be carefully considered and incorporated into any forthcoming legislation. She argued that doing so would help establish a regulatory framework for the $157 billion stablecoin market. Notably, Senator Warren was not referring to the stablecoin bill introduced by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Cynthia Lummis, which was unveiled after the date of her letter and does not tackle AML/CFT issues.

Legislative Initiatives And Regulatory Framework

According to the letter, the bill which Senator Warren referenced is anticipated to originate via the House of Representatives. It is expected to be crafted by Finance Committee Chairman Patrick McHenry and ranking member Maxine Waters. Senator Warren communicated similar concerns to them in a letter, echoing the issues raised in her recent correspondence to Janet Yellen. She stressed the importance of incorporating all the tools requested by the Treasury in its letter to Congress into stablecoin regulations.

Senator Warren underscored the critical necessity of these tools in combating the threats of financial terrorism. Taylor Barr, Senior Policy Associate at the Digital Chamber, expressed interest in what Senator Warren had to say regarding the new Gillibrand and Lummis bill. He observed that her points of discussion did not encompass proposals such as consumer protection language, the Office of the Comptroller regarding currency enforcement authority, and additional receivership provisions in the bill.