Crypto exchange Coinbase has been issued an order by German regulator Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) to improve its management, monitoring and control of risks, increase staffing, and make employee remuneration systems clearer.
BaFin had ordered Coinbase Germany to “ensure proper business organization”, according to several requirements in the German Banking Act (KWG) back in September 27, 2022.
The proper business organization failings cited were within Section 25a paragraph 1 and Section 25b paragraph 1 sentence 2 from the KWG.
The failings were revealed after an audit of the company’s annual financial statements, and the order has been final since October 27, 2022.
One of the audit’s focus points was also the requirement of setting up arrangements that allow external bodies to determine the company’s financial position.
Section 25a paragraph 1 of the KWG concerns managing risks by developing sustainable risk strategies, as well as their implementation. Internal control mechanisms and an internal audit function are also covered in this section.
However, what’s interesting is that Section 25b paragraph 1, sentence 2, covers the professional qualifications required of management board members, which states that they must “have adequate theoretical and practical knowledge of the business concerned, as well as managerial experience”.
Among the multiple requirements for proper business organization is also the development of a transparent system for employee remuneration.
Coinbase received its German license last year, so some growing pains are to be expected.
The exchange received its Italian license this year, meaning it’s now operational in 41 European countries. This number grows to more than 100 when we talk about Coinbase’s global footprint.
Further European expansion is still high in the company’s to-do list.
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