Money laundering has been a major concern for governments and
financial institutions around the world for decades. Various
methods are used to launder illegally acquired funds, including
buying real estate properties, investing in businesses, and moving
money through shell companies. However, in recent years,
cryptocurrencies have emerged as a new and innovative way to
launder money, owing to their anonymity and decentralized nature.
In India, several measures have been introduced to regulate
cryptocurrencies, including significant amendments to the
Prevention of Money Laundering Act
("PMLA").
The Ministry of Finance, via a notification dated March 07, 2023
("Notification")1 brought
virtual digital assets ("VDA"), which
involve cryptocurrency, under the ambit of the PMLA. The
Notification brings the exchange of VDAs for fiat money, the
exchange of one or more types of VDAs, the transfer of VDAs, the
storage or management of VDAs or tools that allow control