The Ukrainian Parliament has adopted the draft law “On Virtual Assets,” legally recognizing cryptocurrency in the country for the first time.
It has been reported that the legislation is based on the existing standards developed by the intergovernmental policy-making organization, Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF).
However, Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation will be tasked with overseeing the implementation of the new digital asset regulation and guiding the industry’s growth in adherence to international standards.
The report said that Anastasia Bratko of the Ministry of Digital Transformation said the law allows companies to launch digital asset markets in Ukraine and enables banks to “open accounts for crypto companies.”
She said:
“Ukrainians will also be able to declare their income in virtual assets. The law guarantees judicial protection of the rights to virtual asset owners.”
Likewise, the ministry emphasized that “the country will receive additional tax revenues to the budget, which will be paid by crypto companies.”
The ministry added:
“The adopted norms establish rules for service providers related to the circulation of virtual assets and contribute to the market’s de-shadowing.”
Moreover, virtual asset service providers (VASPs) “must have an impeccable business reputation” and will be required to disclose their ownership structure to identify their ultimate beneficial owners. Internal Anti-Money-Laundering measures must also be maintained by VASPs.
Oleksandr Bornyakov, the Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, highlighted provisions contained in the legislation to attract “foreign exchange to the Ukrainian market.
Thus, Bornyakov added:
“It will become a powerful incentive for the further development of the crypto-sphere in Ukraine. Banks will open accounts for them and conduct transactions with a new class of assets. I am sure that society, business and the state will benefit from the legalization of the new sector of the economy.”
Source: Cointelegraph