Bitcoin dealer in Finland plays cat and mouse with banks closing accounts

One of the Nordic region’s biggest Bitcoin dealers, Prasos Oy, has one lifeline left.
The company exchanges cryptocurrencies into euros, and relies on banks to help it with those transactions. But banks are increasingly saying no to Prasos and firms like it, for fear of getting into trouble with anti-money laundering rules. Prasos says it’s now waiting and hoping regulators will set clear guidelines that allow it to continue doing business.

Four banks in Finland, where Prasos is based, have already blocked its transactions, Chief Executive Officer Henry Brade said. The company can still access one bank account and now uses that for all its client money flows.
There’s no law telling banks in the Nordic nation how to treat cryptocurrency dealers. But there are anti-money laundering rules that stipulate lenders must know their customers and the origins of the funds they handle.

One of the selling points of cryptocurrencies has long been the anonymity they offer, which is a red flag for banks.