The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has appointed a former executive of cryptocurrency analytics firm Chainalysis as its new Acting Director.

Michael Mosier, former FinCEN Deputy Director and current Counselor to the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, will return to FinCEN this month as Acting Director, the agency has announced.

Mosier previously served as Chief Technology Officer at Chainalysis and his appointment is likely to be seen as part of FinCEN’s recent drive to tighten regulation of cryptocurrency providers. For instance, in December, FinCEN published a notice seeking feedback on rules requiring cryptocurrency exchanges to store the names and addresses of customers transferring over US$3,000 to private wallets. For customers transferring US$10,000 or more in a single day, exchanges would be required to file currency transaction reports to FinCEN.

Mosier replaces Kenneth Blanco, who will depart FinCEN on 9 April after serving as Director since December 2017.

FinCEN has also appointed AnnaLou Tirol as its new Deputy Director.

Tirol has worked at FinCEN since September 2019, serving as Associate Director of the Strategic Operations Division, where she worked to promote FinCEN’s strategic partnerships with government and private industry stakeholders, both domestically and internationally.

Before then, she oversaw the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section prosecuting public corruption.

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