To include Fiat is indeed a very interesting point. But how safe is it that it will happen?
Nothing is of course "safe". However our arrangements are further than anything I know of in the crypto sphere, except for maybe some of the XEM Japan hype that we haven't examined in detail. Haven't heard of any fiat licensing initiatives with WAVES or others. Your questions would fit perfectly on-target at their promo, and the answers would be interesting.
the author of that article even expresses his concern that the EU will nearly become a No-go-area for Crypto-startups.
It's just an article. I'd say such fears are not substantiated. Regulation will rather enhance the operations in part because it removes the business from the gray area and places it under the umbrella of legally accepted financial services.
The Commission proposes to bring virtual currency exchange platforms and custodian wallet providers under the scope of the Anti-Money Laundering Directive
These developments last week have scared many people I know. I'm not worried, as it's something to be expected sooner or later. The fast track that AML implementations within EU now seem to take doesn't affect HEAT, for two reasons:
a) Fiat operations are only one part of HEAT's many focus points. Not marginal as they have great potential, but not overly significant either.
b) More importantly, we're prepared for compliance. We have national money transmitter license application pending, coordinated through a JV partner Fintech company that can't be disclosed yet. This license, when obtained, will enable fiat payments on tech that uses HEAT or a white-label implementation of it. We expect it to be feasible, if not plain right simple, to extend the license to EU wide operations.
For me it looks as if this project needs to implement a "know-your-customer-system" to have chances in the EU?
KYC is not a problem. Our JV partner uses it all the time, and also FIMK is using government approved KYC in its basic income structure. We can deploy sufficient KYC procedures both technically and otherwise at any time to either our own operations, or the operations of a customer / partner.
That said, the HEAT token itself won't be needing KYC / identification any time soon. HEAT is a virtual currency, decentralized p2p ledger like any cryptocoin. The legislation concerning virtual currencies apply here. While I'm not a legal counsel I know that everyone is responsible for her own usage of a cryptocurrency - not the developer of the token.
I believe they will close all possible ways to go into or out of Crypto without them knowing pretty much about it - because but not just because they want their taxes.
I don't think that's the case. If it is however, then nothing will help. HEAT is as prepared as can be.
I need to think about the possibility that it will run into a lot of problems because of hard EU laws and will be illegal very soon - or already is illegal
I know the laws rather well. We've successfully pushed FIMK through two accounting periods, full reporting with the accountants whom I consulted to take the necessary measures to make it smooth. All without issues with the authorities for a
nonprofit official organization that received 250 000 EUR in cruptocurrency funding. Not for the faint of heart.
HEAT Ledger is fully transparent, official limited company with reporting requirements fulfilled, constantly being advised by qualified accountants & legal team that helps us steer through the ICO & IPO phase.
ICO and subsequent options release and IPO in a high bureaucracy EU country, the whole process sanctified by the government authorities. That's what we're doing.
If I believe that you guys maybe not really know how and if you can make this legal but already saying you will even implement Fiat and that there are pending agreements about that - how can that be possible?
The HEAT token itself is not fiat related. Fiat is done through a separate fintech company that will receive the license(s). I can only say we've gone to great lengths with our accountants and lawyers clarifying the required processes since starting this plan about 6 months ago. Legislation is a moving variable, however our team is staying on top of it. If you want to be invest in a crypto startup, the odds are you won't find a better setup anywhere in the Western world.
I hope this has eased your concerns. I'll attend to the token technicalities in the next message.