Friday, 19 April 2024
Moroccan regulatory authority may issue penalties for cryptocurrency
On November 21, 2017, it was reported that the Moroccan regulatory authority, Office des Change, issued a statement on possible penalties relating to the use of cryptocurrency.
A translation of the document released by the Office des Changes reads, "The Office des Changes wishes to inform the general public that transactions via virtual currencies constitute an infringement of the exchange regulations, liable to penalties and fines."
Authorities also strongly encouraged compliance with stipulations that say, "financial transactions with foreign countries must be made via authorized intermediaries and with foreign currencies listed by Bank Al-Maghrib," which is Morocco’s central bank.
The Office des Changes went on to say, "This is a hidden payment system that is not backed by an organization and the use of virtual currencies entails significant risks for their users." This may have been intended to provide investors a layer of protection against the high volatility of cryptocurrency markets.
In conclusion, the Office des Changes said it has taken an interest in the evolution of cryptocurrencies, in conjunction with Bank Al-Maghrib and the Professional Group of Banks of Morocco; such being the case, this sentiment may set the stage for more progressive regulatory efforts in the future.
Re-disseminated by The Asian Banker from ETH News.com
