韓國監管機構正在尋求與北京和東京方面的合作， 以解決加密貨幣投機的問題。 首爾當局對六家商業銀行的加密交易進行了檢查。 韓國的經驗有助於可能的三邊管理方法。
“試錯法”塑造三邊合作
韓國金融服務委員（FSC）將深化與中日兩國機構的合作， 以遏制投機交易。 FSC主席崔重卿在新聞發佈會上透露， 亞洲國家的財政部長們已在上個月交換了意見。 韓國聯合通訊社引用崔重卿的原話， 首爾將“建立一個詳細的與北京和東京合作的體系”。 韓國最高金融監管機構向媒體介紹了將於週四進行的銀行檢查，
在崔重卿看來， 加密貨幣不能起到支付方式的作用。 他教育記者說：“虛擬貨幣只會引發不良反應”。 欺詐、非法集資、駭客攻擊、炒作和操縱市場價格都是其中之一。 根據《韓國先驅報》報導， 該政府官員有可能會關閉所有跟加密貨幣相關的業務， 以儘量減少上述的影響。 崔重卿說， 世界正面臨著“政策挑戰的大瘟疫”， 他補充說， 韓國的“試錯法”經驗能幫助形成三邊合作的實施條例。
信任， 但要檢查“守門人”
韓國金融監管機構目前正在六家商業銀行進行檢查， 包括友利、國民和新韓銀行。 加密貨幣交易者的帳戶已經被鎖定為目標。 上個月， 當局下令銀行停止發行所謂的“虛擬帳戶”， 加密貨幣交易所常使用這些帳戶來管理客戶資金。 計畫在1月底應用一個新的終止匿名交易的系統， 並強制交易員進行實名認證。
FSC負責人發出了另一個這方面的警告：因為其匿名性，
這位韓國官員抱怨說， 在現有的法律框架內， 監管機構所能做的只有提出檢查。 崔重卿還指出， 填補監管空白還需要時間。 韓國當局正計畫對交易所提出更嚴格的要求。 某個擁有某些最大加密交換服務提供者的國家也在制定對加密貨幣相關犯罪更嚴厲的制裁。 KBS電臺報導， 這位元監管人還曾發誓， 即使法規還未修改， 也會強制採取有力的措施打擊非法行為。
目前尚不清楚可能會對銀行和交易所實施的具體制裁措施。
英文原文
The Financial Services Commission of South Korea will be deepening cooperation with agencies from China and Japan in curbing speculative transactions. Deputy finance ministers from the Asian countries have already exchanged ideas last month, FSC’s chairman Choi Jong-ku revealed during a press conference. Seoul aims to “set up a detailed system of cooperation” with Beijing and Tokyo, Choi said, quoted by Yonhap News Agency. The nation’s top financial regulator briefed media about the bank inspection that will run through Thursday with the participation of the Korean Financial Intelligence Unit. He warned against what he called an “irrational trend” of investing in cryptocurrencies, noting the “ongoing fever of speculative investment”.
In Choi’s words cryptocurrencies are unable to play a role as a means of payment. “A virtual currency only triggers side effects”, the regulator educated reporters. Fraud, illegal fundraising, hacking, speculation and manipulation of market prices were mentioned in a long list. The government official left the door open to shutting down all cryptocurrency-linked businesses to minimize the aforementioned effects, according to the Korean Herald. Choi Jong-ku said the world was facing a “policy challenge pandemic” and added that Korea’s “trial-and-error” experience can help shape trilateral efforts to implement regulations.
South Korea’s financial regulator is currently conducting inspections in six commercial banks, including Woori, Kookmin and Shinhan. Accounts of cryptocurrency traders have been targeted. Last month authorities ordered banks to stop issuing the so called “virtual accounts” used by cryptocurrency exchanges to manage their clients’ money. A new system to end anonymous trading and enforce real name identity verification on traders is to be implemented by the end of January.
The head of the FSC issued another warning in that respect: “Virtual currency transactions are highly susceptible to money laundering”, because of their anonymity, he said. Choi Jong-ku appealed to banks to act as “gatekeepers” when monitoring crypto-related transactions. He shared his concerns that they had remained silent about money flows for illegal uses. The ongoing investigation is supposed to determine if the banks have detected money laundering and non-real-name transactions, as they are required by law.
The Korean official complained that all regulators could do within the present legal framework was to order inspections. Choi also noted that filling the regulatory vacuum would take time. Korean authorities are planning to impose stricter requirements for exchanges. Tougher sanctions for cryptocurrency related crimes are also on the way in a country that hosts some of the biggest providers of crypto exchange service. But strong measures against illicit acts will be enforced even before the legislation is revised, the regulator vowed, quoted by KBS Radio.
The exact sanctions that might be imposed on banks and exchanges remain unclear. Suspending virtual account services seems to be the only step authorities can take now and the FSC’s chairman confirmed that. Such accounts will be closed if inspectors uncover any illegal activities. Choi declined to comment on the new plans to tax cryptocurrency transactions and sanctions for tax evasion.