Central Bank of Kuwait Keen on Combatting Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing

The Kuwait Central Bank towers over the traditional Dhow harbor in Kuwait City, Kuwait March 18, 2020. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee
The Kuwait Central Bank towers over the traditional Dhow harbor in Kuwait City, Kuwait March 18, 2020. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee
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Central Bank of Kuwait Keen on Combatting Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing

The Kuwait Central Bank towers over the traditional Dhow harbor in Kuwait City, Kuwait March 18, 2020. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee
The Kuwait Central Bank towers over the traditional Dhow harbor in Kuwait City, Kuwait March 18, 2020. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee

The Central Bank of Kuwait affirmed on Saturday its keenness to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.

It further stressed its strict follow-up of bodies subject to its control to verify the implementation of all requirements stipulated in the law.

The Bank also expressed willingness to impose severe sanctions in case of any violation, and that all measures to enhance the strength and integrity of the banking and financial sector would be taken.

Moreover, it confirmed commitment to its approach that stands on permanent and full cooperation with all concerned authorities and institutions, including the Kuwait Financial Investigation Unit and judicial authorities.

On media regarding money laundering, the Bank assured that necessary measures have been taken.

It expressed keenness to ensure all bodies subject to its supervision comply with legal requirements and those that fall under the Central Bank’s instructions, within the framework of Law No. (106) of 2013 regarding combating money laundering and terrorism financing.

When this law was passed, it took into consideration international standards and the roles of relevant parties, including the Central Bank and other monitoring agencies.

The Kuwait Financial Investigation Unit has been established according to Article (16) of Law 106 of 2013.

It is a unit with an independent legal personality – not affiliated with the Central Bank of Kuwait – and the law has designated it with responsibility for receiving communications on money laundering “and requesting information related to what is suspected of being the proceeds of the crime.”



Bitcoin Drops to 11-day Low amid Tech Selloff

FILE PHOTO: Sparks strike representation of cryptocurrency Bitcoin in this illustration taken November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Sparks strike representation of cryptocurrency Bitcoin in this illustration taken November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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Bitcoin Drops to 11-day Low amid Tech Selloff

FILE PHOTO: Sparks strike representation of cryptocurrency Bitcoin in this illustration taken November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Sparks strike representation of cryptocurrency Bitcoin in this illustration taken November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Bitcoin fell below $100,000 on Monday, hitting its lowest in 11 days, in a move analysts attributed to a wave of caution after the surging popularity of a Chinese artificial intelligence model sparked a selloff in Western AI-related stocks.

The world's biggest cryptocurrency struggled to make gains last week, as a rally that had seen it break above $100,000 after US President Donald Trump's election ran out of steam, Reuters reported.

At 1156 GMT, bitcoin was at $98,852.17, down around 6% on the day, having fallen sharply in early trading to hit its lowest since Jan. 16.

Technology stocks plunged, as traders worried that Chinese AI startup DeepSeek could threaten Western companies' dominance of the sector, in a move some called AI's "Sputnik moment", referring to the former Soviet Union's launch of a satellite that marked the start of the space race in the late 1950s.

Bitcoin's losses are "seemingly driven by some risk-off sentiment circulating the markets currently due to DeepSeek," wrote eToro analyst Simon Peters.

Geoffrey Kendrick, global head of digital asset research at Standard Chartered, said a decline in Nasdaq futures had hurt crypto markets, but that disappointment over the Trump administration's announcement about a cryptocurrency stockpile had put digital assets more at risk of a sharp selloff.

Crypto failed to feature in Trump's day-one announcements after taking office last week, leaving some investors disappointed. In an executive order on Thursday, Trump created a working group to draft new crypto rules and explore a crypto stockpile, while the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) spiked accounting guidance that the industry said had stymied crypto adoption.

The prospect of interest rates staying higher for longer also hurt riskier assets, said Thomas Puech, CEO of digital asset hedge fund Indigo.

US Federal Reserve policymakers meet this week and are expected to keep interest rates on hold.