Germany plans to give customs a new power: starting next year, it could directly seize suspicious crypto assets through administrative action, without first opening a criminal case, when their value exceeds €100,000. The bill still needs approval from the Bundesrat.
Until now, seizures have usually had to wait for criminal proceedings to begin: first a case is opened, then assets are frozen. This puts the time and evidentiary burden on investigators. Making suspicion itself the trigger moves the point of intervention earlier.
The cases most directly affected are inaccurate cross-border declarations and situations where the source of on-chain funds cannot be explained. Declaration records, custody documents and explanations of wallet-address ownership will shift from supplementary materials to prerequisites for action.
Two things are worth watching next: the Bundesrat’s voting schedule, and how appeals and the return of assets will work after an administrative seizure. Without the latter, the broader the power, the higher the cost of correcting mistakes.
#监管 #合规 #cryptoassets
Until now, seizures have usually had to wait for criminal proceedings to begin: first a case is opened, then assets are frozen. This puts the time and evidentiary burden on investigators. Making suspicion itself the trigger moves the point of intervention earlier.
The cases most directly affected are inaccurate cross-border declarations and situations where the source of on-chain funds cannot be explained. Declaration records, custody documents and explanations of wallet-address ownership will shift from supplementary materials to prerequisites for action.
Two things are worth watching next: the Bundesrat’s voting schedule, and how appeals and the return of assets will work after an administrative seizure. Without the latter, the broader the power, the higher the cost of correcting mistakes.
#监管 #合规 #cryptoassets
