AML/KYC Policy

AML/KYC of 1BitPay

LAST REVISED: June 07th, 2023

Introduction

1BitPay Anti-Money Laundering and Know Your Customer Policy (the “AML/KYC Policy”) is designated to prevent and mitigate possible risks of 1BitPay being involved in any kind of illegal activity.

Both international and local regulations require 1BitPay to implement effective internal procedures and mechanisms to prevent money laundering, terrorist financing, drug and human trafficking, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, corruption and bribery and to take action in case of any form of suspicious activity from its Users.

For Law Enforcement requests please direct your official document to our compliance team here.

AML/KYC Policy covers the following matters:

1. Verification procedures

2. Compliance Officer

3. Monitoring transactions

4. Risk assessment

1. Verification procedures

One of the international standards for preventing illegal activity is customer due diligence (“CDD”). According to CDD, 1BitPay establishes its own verification procedures within the standards of anti-money laundering ("AML") and Know Your Customer ("KYC") frameworks, including enhanced due diligence for customers presenting a higher risk, such as Politically Exposed Persons ("PEPs").

1BitPay’s identity verification procedure requires the User to provide 1BitPay with reliable, independent source documents, data or information (e.g., national ID, international passport, bank statement, utility bill). For such purposes 1BitPay reserves the right to collect User’s identification information for AML/KYC Policy purposes.

1BitPay will take steps to confirm the authenticity of documents and information provided by the Users. All legal methods for double-checking identification information will be used and 1BitPay reserves the right to investigate certain Users who have been determined to be risky or suspicious.

1BitPay reserves the right to verify the User’s identity on an ongoing basis, especially when their identification information has been changed or their activity seemed to be suspicious (unusual for the particular User). In addition, 1BitPayy reserves the right to request up-to-date documents from the Users, even though they have passed identity verification in the past.

User identification information will be collected, stored, shared and protected strictly in accordance with 1BitPay’s Privacy Policy and related regulations.

Once the User’s identity has been verified, 1BitPay is able to remove itself from potential legal liability in a situation where its Services are used to conduct illegal activity.

1BitPay is prohibited from transacting with individuals, companies and countries that are on prescribed sanctions lists. 1BitPay will therefore screen against the United Nations, European Union, UK Treasury and US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions lists in all jurisdictions in which we operate.

2. Compliance Department

The Compliance Department is duly authorized by 1BitPay, whose duty is to ensure the effective implementation and enforcement of the AML/KYC Policy. It is the Compliance Department’s responsibility to supervise all aspects of 1BitPay’s AML and counter-terrorist financing, including but not limited to:

1. Collecting Users’ identification information;

2. Establishing and updating internal policies and procedures for the completion, review, submission and retention of all reports and records required under the applicable laws and regulations;

3. Monitoring transactions and investigating any significant deviations from normal activity;

4. Implementing a records management system for appropriate storage and retrieval of documents, files, forms and logs;

5. Updating risk assessment regularly;

6. Providing law enforcement with information as required under the applicable laws and regulations.

The Compliance Department is entitled to interact with law enforcement, which is involved in the prevention of money laundering, terrorist financing and other illegal activity.

3. Monitoring transactions

The Users are known not only by verifying their identity (who they are) but, more importantly, by analyzing their transactional patterns (what they do). Therefore, 1BitPay relies on data analysis as a risk assessment and suspicion detection tool. 1BitPay performs a variety of compliance-related tasks, including capturing data, filtering, record-keeping, investigation management, and reporting. System functionalities include:

1. Daily check of Users against recognized “black lists” (e.g. OFAC), aggregating transfers by multiple data points, placing Users on watch and service denial lists, opening cases for investigation where needed, sending internal communications and filling out statutory reports, if applicable;

2. Case and document management.

With regard to the AML/KYC Policy, 1BitPay will monitor all transactions and it reserves the right to:

• Ensure that transactions of suspicious nature are reported to the proper law enforcement through the Compliance department;

• Request the User to provide any additional information and documents in case of suspicious transactions;

• suspend or terminate User’s Account when 1BitPay has reasonable suspicion that such User engaged in illegal activity.

The above list is not exhaustive and the Compliance Department will monitor Users’ transactions on a day-to-day basis in order to define whether such transactions are to be reported and treated as suspicious or are to be treated as bona fide.

4. Risk assessment

1BitPay, in line with international requirements, has adopted a risk-based approach to combating money laundering and terrorist financing. By adopting a risk-based approach, 1BitPay is able to ensure that measures to prevent or mitigate money laundering and terrorist financing are commensurate to the identified risks. This will allow resources to be allocated in the most efficient ways. The principle is that resources should be directed in accordance with priorities so that the greatest risks receive the highest attention.