Purpose This study aims to explain how cryptocurrency is leveraged for illicit purposes across the global financial system. Specifically, it establishes how cryptocurrency has been changing the nature of transnational and domestic money laundering (ML). It then assesses the effectiveness of conventional anti-money laundering (AML) policy and legislation against the proliferation of crypto laundering, using Canada as a critical case study. Design/methodology/approach Data was collected from court cases and secondary sources to build cross-case trends of cryptocurrency use in ML. Illicit International Political Economy forms the theoretical foundation for this study, whose contribution is situated in the current literature on crypto-ML. Findings This study finds that Bitcoin is common among crypto-money launderers, though most also use some form of alt-coin, and that the use of third-party currency exchanges is a prevalent method to create illicit funds and conceal proceeds of crime. The findings validate two hypotheses that illicit use of crypto is prevalent in the first two stages of ML, and that crypto is most often used in conjunction with other fiat currencies. Although law enforcement is improving on monitoring and understanding popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, alt-coins pose a significant challenge for criminal intelligence. New regulations for third-party currency exchanges are having a positive impact on curtailing crypto-laundering but are shown to be insufficient per se to contain the use of crypto in criminal activity. Originality/value This study contributes to a more robust understanding of the use of virtual currency in transnational and domestic ML. It contributes to an emerging body of literature on the role of technological change in enabling the global flow of illicit funds. It also informs public policy on virtual currency in general, and on AML regulation in Canada in particular.
This presentation explores the application of political pragmatism to prevent the negative impacts of partisanship in Canadian political culture. Polarization and partisan sorting have become a seemingly inescapable facet of the liberal-conservative divide, but could there be an alternative to this classic Left-Right debate? This thought experience seeks to discuss the merit of pragmatism as a school of thought, explore how pragmatism can fit within current partisan lines, and apply its principles to decrease political polarization and prioritize evidence-based decision-making in the Canadian context.
Following an introduction reflecting on undergraduate student publishing by Mark Swartz, Scholarly Publishing Librarian at Queen’s University, the panelists introduced the scope of their respective journals, Qapsule, Queen's Law Journal, and Politicus, and what motivates each journal representative to contribute to publishing initiatives at Queen’s University. Questions posed by the moderator to the panelists facilitated discussion and addressed the various aspects of the journal publishing process including the article review process, journal awareness and marking strategies, and undergraduate student publishing opportunities. The audience participated by asking questions of the panelists throughout the session.
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