Kanadska obveščevalna služba označuje storitve kriptovalute za gotovino kot "zavestno olajšanje pranja denarja", kaže dokument.

Canadian intelligence authorities have raised serious concerns about the role of crypto-to-cash services in enabling money laundering and transnational organized crime, according to a classified internal memo obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. The document, dated March 2026, was issued by the Strategic Intelligence, Research and Analytics Unit within FINTRAC, Canada's financial intelligence agency tasked with combating money laundering and terrorist financing. The memo highlights how these services, offering discreet conversions between cryptocurrency and physical cash, are being “heavily exploited for illicit purposes” and “knowingly facilitating money laundering, sanctions evasion” and other criminal activities. The memo underscores a growing alarm among Canadian officials that the rise of crypto-to-cash platforms has created a major loophole in the global fight against illicit finance. These services enable users to convert large quantities of cryptocurrency into cash without engaging traditional banking systems, thereby bypassing standard anti-money laundering checks. According to the report, many of these operations operate in unregulated environments, often embedded within ordinary commercial spaces such as shipping hubs, co-working spaces, and shopping malls. This makes them difficult to detect and regulate. The issue gained heightened attention following a global investigative project known as Coin Laundry, led by the ICIJ in collaboration with 37 international news organizations. The investigation revealed the extent of illegal financial activity involving cryptocurrency, particularly in Canada, where crypto-to-cash services have flourished. As part of the reporting, journalists conducted undercover transactions with these services in multiple countries, including Canada. One such operation involved a reporter for The Toronto Star exchanging 2,000 cryptocurrency tokens for cash in Toronto using a service named 001k. The process required the reporter to photograph a five-dollar bill’s serial number and later present the same note during the cash pickup, a method that likely circumvented proper identification procedures and violated Canadian anti-money laundering regulations. According to data from crypto-tracing firm Chainalysis, 001k has facilitated over $14.8 billion in cryptocurrency transactions since 2022. The company operates globally, with branches in several countries, and appears to be a key player in the illicit crypto-to-cash sector. The ICIJ’s findings were corroborated by reports from local law enforcement and financial regulators, who noted that these services are frequently used by criminals engaged in drug trafficking, human smuggling, cybercrime, and other forms of organized crime. In response to the Toronto Star's investigative reporting, which exposed numerous unlawful crypto-to-cash operations in the Greater Toronto Area, the Canadian government took swift regulatory action. Within weeks of the publication, authorities revoked the licenses of dozens of cryptocurrency firms, including several that had been flagged as operating outside legal boundaries. The move followed a broader crackdown on unregistered financial services, aimed at tightening controls over the rapidly expanding crypto industry. Despite these measures, the memo from FINTRAC indicates that gaps remain in the government’s ability to monitor and regulate these services effectively. The document contains heavily redacted sections, one of which is labeled “Intelligence Gaps,” suggesting that officials acknowledge limitations in their capacity to track all illicit financial flows related to cryptocurrency. The report also points to the increasing sophistication of criminal networks leveraging digital assets, making it harder for authorities to keep pace with evolving threats. Experts familiar with the issue, such as former head of Canada’s proceeds of crime program Garry Clement, have warned that these services serve a critical function for professional money launderers. They provide a means to channel funds from illicit sources into the real economy, often with minimal oversight. Clement described the situation as a growing crisis, emphasizing that the lack of regulation creates a dangerous environment for both law enforcement and the general public.