According to one news report:
The change in regulations came as part of an anti-money laundering directive that the European Council adopted earlier this month.
“These new rules respond to the need for increased security in Europe by further removing the means available to terrorists,” said Vladislav Goranov, minister for finance of Bulgaria, which holds the Council presidency currently, in a prepared statement. “They will enable us to disrupt criminal networks without compromising fundamental rights and economic freedoms.”
Cryptocurrency’s anonymity has helped launder between $4.2 billion and $5.6 billion annually, or 3% to 4% of the continent’s criminal takings, according to the European police agency Europol.
As part of the directive, EU members will have 18 months to translate the document’s requirements into national financial regulations.