The First Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Moldova, Petru Rotaru, participated today in the event dedicated to the presentation of the National Risk Assessment (NRA) Report on money laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF) risks related to virtual assets (VA) and virtual asset service providers (VASP).

In his speech, the First Deputy Governor of the NBM emphasized the need for a strategic approach to managing risks associated with virtual assets. "At a time of accelerated global transformations, where technology is constantly redefining the financial system, we face challenges that require a strategic approach based on transparency, innovation and the strengthening of supervisory and control mechanisms," stated Petru Rotaru.

At the same time, in the context of the Republic of Moldova’s European path, the First Deputy Governor Petru Rotaru highlighted the active role of the National Bank of Moldova in strengthening the regulatory framework. In this regard, the NBM has initiated the process of developing a prudential legal framework for virtual assets, with the aim of identifying the key components and adopting best practices in the field.

In conclusion, the NBM official reiterated the need for a joint effort to implement the recommendations outlined in the report. "I urge all financial institutions, regulatory authorities, and our international partners to work closely together to implement the recommendations of this report. Only through joint efforts can we align the European regulatory framework on crypto-assets and safeguard the integrity and stability of the Republic of Moldova’s financial system in the face of emerging challenges in this field", concluded Petru Rotaru.

The NRA report aims to develop an effective national system for preventing and combating money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF). It contributes to safeguarding the integrity of the national financial system, optimizing the allocation of resources for competent public authorities and reporting entities, ensuring the application of mitigating measures proportionate to the identified risks.

The event was organized by the Office for Prevention and Fight against Money Laundering (OPFML) in collaboration with the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) and brought together representatives from regulatory and supervisory authorities, the banking and non-banking financial sectors, as well as international experts.