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🛡️AML Policy

Holdstation Anti-Money Laundering (AML) & Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) Guideline

1. Policy Statement

Holdstation is committed to preventing money laundering (ML), terrorist financing (TF), proliferation financing, sanctions evasion, and all forms of illicit financial activity through its crypto-fiat services, wallet infrastructure, OTC desk, and payment rails.

Holdstation adheres to and supports international regulatory standards, including:

  • Vietnam Anti-Money Laundering Law (2022)

  • Decree 19/2023/NĐ-CP

  • FATF Recommendation 16 (Travel Rule)

Holdstation operates a risk-based AML framework, requiring systematic due diligence, continuous monitoring, and regulatory reporting.


2. Scope of Application

This policy applies to:

  • All Holdstation entities, affiliates, and business lines

  • Crypto-fiat services and OTC desk

  • Liquidity operations

  • Payment Gateway

  • On-ramp / Off-ramp services

  • Employees

  • Contractors

  • Compliance vendors


3. Governance & Responsibilities

3.1 Board of Directors

Responsibilities include:

  • Approving the AML/CTF Program

  • Reviewing the annual AML Compliance Report

  • Ensuring sufficient compliance resources and system effectiveness


3.2 Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)

The Chief Compliance Officer is responsible for implementing and maintaining the AML Program.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Managing ongoing AML operations

  • Approving onboarding escalations

  • Filing Suspicious Transaction Reports (STR/SAR)

  • Maintaining communication with regulators

  • Leading AML risk assessments

  • Managing AML audit cycles


3.3 Compliance Team

The Compliance Team is responsible for:

  • Performing Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD)

  • Conducting on-chain forensic screening

  • Maintaining sanctions screening

  • Monitoring transactions

  • Performing AML investigations


3.4 Employees

All employees are required to:

  • Complete mandatory AML training

  • Report any suspicious activity to the Compliance Team


4. Risk Assessment Framework

4.1 Risk Categorization

Risk Category
Examples

Customer

High-net-worth (HNW) traders, offshore entities, unverified wallet clusters

Transaction

High-volume OTC flows, bridging activities, mixing routes

Product

Stablecoins with fiat settlement, P2P services, large withdrawals

Geographic

Sanctioned jurisdictions

Delivery Channel

OTC desk, API merchants


4.2 Prohibited Risk

Holdstation strictly prohibits conducting business with:

  • Sanctioned entities or jurisdictions

  • Politically sanctioned regimes

  • Anonymous or shell entities without transparent ownership

  • Crypto mixers, tumblers, or malicious privacy-enhancing tools

  • Known dark-web marketplaces

  • Fraud-related entities

  • Human trafficking networks

  • Terrorism-related organizations


5. Customer Due Diligence (CDD)

5.1 KYC Integration Framework

Holdstation Pay integrates directly with the Government Identification System of Vietnam to verify the identity of domestic users through a secure API connection.

This integration enables:

  • Automated identity verification

  • Real-time validation

  • Secure data retrieval

  • Fraud prevention

  • Record retention

Required Information for Vietnam Users

Field
Vietnamese Label
Description

Document Type

Loại giấy tờ

Type of official identification (e.g. CCCD, Passport)

Document Number

Số giấy tờ

Unique identification number

Expiration Date

Ngày hết hạn

Date the document becomes invalid

Date of Issue

Ngày cấp

Date the document was issued

The integration validates the authenticity of identification documents against the Government database in real time and prevents duplicate or fraudulent identity usage.

5.2 International Clients (Not Applied Yet)

For users outside Vietnam, Holdstation Pay enforces KYC through Sumsub, an industry-grade global identity verification provider.

Sumsub ensures adherence to FATF-compliant KYC standards, enabling verification of users across multiple jurisdictions with consistent risk scoring.

Required Information for International Clients

Field
Description

Issuing State

Country or authority that issued the document

First Name

User's first name

Last Name

User's last name

Date of Birth

User's date of birth

Gender

Gender as stated on the identification document

Nationality

Country of citizenship

Residential Address

Full residential address

Phone Number (Optional)

Contact number if provided

Email (Optional)

Contact email for verification notices


5.3 Corporate Verification (KYB)

Holdstation Pay applies Know Your Business (KYB) due diligence for legal entities, merchants, and institutional partners that access the Holdstation Pay API or operate on/off-ramp liquidity.

5.3.1 KYB Requirements

All businesses must provide verified incorporation details and ownership structure to ensure transparency and prevent shell company abuse.

Required Documentation

Category
Required Information
Description

Legal Entity Registration

Certificate of Incorporation / Business License

Valid proof of business existence

Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO)

UBO Declaration Form

Identification of individuals owning ≥25% or exercising control over the entity

Directors / Key Executives

KYC of authorized representatives

Verification of individuals controlling or signing on behalf of the company

Business Operations

Nature of business, source of revenue

Must align with declared business activities

Registered Address

Proof of address

Utility bill, bank statement, or government-issued document

Bank Account Proof

Business account statement

Confirms operational account in the entity's name

Sanctions / Watchlist

Automated screening

Continuous monitoring against global sanctions lists


5.3.2 KYB Process Flow

All KYB onboarding follows the process below:

  1. Document Collection

    • Businesses submit all required documentation through Holdstation Pay's secure onboarding portal.

  2. Verification

    • The Compliance Team reviews all submitted documents for validity, authenticity, and completeness.

  3. Approval or Rejection

    • Applications are assessed based on Holdstation's internal risk scoring framework.

  4. Ongoing Monitoring

    • Approved businesses are subject to periodic reviews every 12–24 months, or immediately upon any material change in ownership, business activities, or risk profile.


5.4 Ongoing Monitoring

Holdstation performs continuous monitoring throughout the customer relationship.

Behavioral Analysis

Continuous observation of user and merchant transaction behavior to identify abnormal or suspicious patterns.

Periodic Review

Re-KYC or Re-KYB is required when:

  • Identification documents expire

  • Material customer information changes

  • Internal risk triggers are activated

High-Risk Cases

High-risk customers are escalated to the Compliance Committee for Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) before services continue.


5.5 Record Retention

All KYC and KYB documents are securely retained for a minimum of five (5) years after termination of the business relationship.

Access to these records is restricted to authorized Compliance personnel only.


6. Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD)

6.1 Overview

Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) applies when a customer, transaction, or wallet activity presents a higher-than-normal risk of:

  • Money laundering

  • Terrorist financing

  • Sanctions evasion

EDD requires Holdstation Pay to perform additional verification and risk assessment before initiating or continuing a business relationship.

EDD supplements the standard KYC/KYB process and must be documented in every applicable case.


6.2 EDD Triggers

Category
Description
Typical Examples

High-Value Flows

Transactions exceeding internal or regulatory thresholds defined by the Compliance Committee

Cumulative on/off-ramp value exceeding VND 500 million per day (or equivalent)

Flagged Crypto Addresses

Wallets or smart contracts linked to illicit activities, hacks, or sanctions lists

Addresses reported by Chainalysis, TRM, or SBV blacklists

Suspicious Flow Patterns

Activity inconsistent with the user's profile or financial capacity

Rapid fiat-to-crypto conversions, circular transfers between connected accounts

Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs)

Customers identified as PEPs or closely associated individuals

Government officials, executives of state-owned enterprises, or immediate family members

Sudden Volume Spikes

Significant increase in transaction volume or frequency without reasonable explanation

Newly created accounts conducting large-volume trading immediately after onboarding

7. Transaction Monitoring Framework

Holdstation Pay operates a centralized transaction management system that monitors every on/off-ramp transaction in real time.

The system integrates fiat settlement data, blockchain activity, and user risk profiles to provide a comprehensive view of transactional behavior.


7.1 System Overview

All transaction flows pass through Holdstation's internal transaction management system, where they are:

  • Logged in real time

  • Automatically scored by the risk engine

  • Cross-checked against KYC information and historical user activity

  • Synchronized with blockchain analytics for counterparty verification

This centralized monitoring framework enables early detection of suspicious activities while maintaining operational efficiency.


7.2 Alerting Mechanism

The Compliance and Operations teams receive real-time alerts through multiple monitoring channels.

Internal Dashboard

The internal dashboard provides:

  • Live transaction analytics

  • User risk summaries

  • Automated compliance flags

  • Case management information

Telegram Bot Notifications

A dedicated Telegram notification system delivers instant alerts for:

  • High-value transactions

  • Abnormal transaction behavior

  • High-risk wallet interactions

  • Compliance escalation events

Notifications are sent directly to Compliance Committee members and AML analysts to ensure immediate awareness and rapid response.

The dual-channel alert system improves operational visibility and minimizes response time for critical compliance events.


7.3 Threshold Rules

Holdstation Pay maintains internal risk thresholds that are reviewed quarterly by the Compliance Committee.

Daily Transaction Value

Users whose cumulative transaction value exceeds VND 5 billion (approximately USDT 170,000) within a rolling 24-hour period are automatically subject to enhanced verification procedures, including:

  • Additional KYC verification

  • Supporting document review

  • Source of Funds (SoF) confirmation

High-Risk Behavior

Transactions are automatically flagged when they:

  • Are inconsistent with the user's historical behavior

  • Exceed expected financial capacity

  • Originate from high-risk or sanctioned jurisdictions

  • Match predefined AML risk indicators

Flagged transactions require manual review by the Compliance Team before further processing.


7.4 Escalation Process

When suspicious activity is detected, Holdstation follows the escalation workflow below.

Step 1 — System Alert

The transaction monitoring engine automatically generates a risk score based on predefined AML rules and behavioral analysis.

Step 2 — Telegram Notification

An instant notification is delivered to the Compliance Team for immediate review.

Step 3 — Compliance Review

AML analysts review:

  • Transaction details

  • User profile

  • Historical transaction activity

  • Blockchain analytics

  • Risk indicators

through the internal management dashboard.

Step 4 — Decision

Following the review, the Compliance Team may:

  • Approve the transaction

  • Continue monitoring the customer

  • Escalate the case for Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) filing

All findings, decisions, and supporting evidence are recorded within the internal case management system.


8. Blockchain Analytics Integration

Holdstation integrates Chainalysis and Chaintracer into its AML compliance framework to strengthen on-chain monitoring and risk management.

All cryptocurrency transactions processed through the Holdstation Pay on/off-ramp infrastructure are screened before settlement.

Blockchain analytics provide:

  • Automated wallet screening

  • Transaction tracing

  • Exposure scoring

  • Risk classification

If a wallet or transaction is identified as high risk, the system automatically:

  1. Generates an alert in the Compliance Dashboard.

  2. Notifies the Compliance Committee.

  3. Initiates a manual compliance review before settlement.

Holdstation Pay strictly prohibits transactions associated with known illicit sources, including:

  • Wallets listed under international sanctions

  • Addresses associated with criminal activity

  • Wallets linked to hacks or stolen funds

  • Scam-related addresses

  • Privacy mixers and anonymization services designed to conceal transaction origins


9. Reporting and Escalation

Holdstation maintains a structured process for identifying, investigating, and reporting suspicious activities in accordance with FATF recommendations and Vietnam's Anti-Money Laundering regulations.

When suspicious activity is detected through the transaction monitoring system or blockchain analytics, the following workflow is applied.

Detection → Review → Escalation

1. Detection

Potential suspicious activity is identified through:

  • Automated monitoring alerts

  • Blockchain analytics

  • Analyst observations

  • Internal investigations

2. Review

Compliance Analysts assess the case by:

  • Verifying transaction data

  • Reviewing customer information

  • Cross-checking internal records

  • Screening against sanctions and watchlists

  • Assessing blockchain exposure

3. Escalation

Confirmed high-risk cases are immediately escalated to the Compliance Committee for further action and regulatory decision-making.

Where required, a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) is prepared and submitted to the appropriate authority.

All investigations and reports are handled confidentially and independently from operational teams to preserve investigative integrity and protect customer privacy.

10. Recordkeeping and Data Security

Holdstation ensures complete traceability of all AML/CTF activities while maintaining the integrity, confidentiality, and security of customer data across both fiat and blockchain environments.


10.1 Record Retention

Holdstation securely retains all compliance-related records for a minimum of five (5) years following either:

  • The termination of the business relationship; or

  • The date of the customer's most recent transaction,

whichever is later.

Records retained include, but are not limited to:

  • KYC and KYB documentation

  • Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) records

  • Transaction logs

  • Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs)

  • Internal investigation records

  • Compliance communications

  • Risk assessment documentation


10.2 Data Security

All compliance data is stored within encrypted environments protected by multiple layers of security controls.

Security measures include:

  • Encryption of sensitive data

  • Role-based access control

  • Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

  • Continuous audit logging

  • Secure backup and disaster recovery mechanisms

These controls help ensure confidentiality, integrity, availability, and recoverability of compliance information.


10.3 Audit Trail

Every compliance-related action is automatically recorded to establish a complete and immutable audit trail.

The audit trail includes:

  • Compliance decisions

  • Document submissions

  • File modifications

  • Internal communications

  • Investigation outcomes

This ensures transparency and provides reliable evidence for regulators, banking partners, and internal audits.


11. Continuous Improvement and Review

Holdstation Pay considers compliance to be a continuously evolving framework that adapts to changing regulations, emerging technologies, and evolving financial crime risks.

The Compliance Committee reviews the AML/CTF Program on a semi-annual basis to:

  • Enhance risk assessment methodologies

  • Improve transaction monitoring capabilities

  • Strengthen automation and operational efficiency

  • Incorporate new regulatory requirements

  • Address emerging financial crime typologies

Through continuous improvement, data transparency, and proactive governance, Holdstation Pay aims to maintain a robust compliance framework while supporting innovation in digital asset services.


Appendix A — Glossary of Terms

AML (Anti-Money Laundering)

Measures, regulations, and procedures designed to prevent the concealment or use of illegally obtained funds.


CTF (Counter-Terrorist Financing)

Policies and activities intended to prevent the financing of terrorist organizations and activities.


KYC (Know Your Customer)

The process of verifying a customer's identity before providing financial services.


KYB (Know Your Business)

Verification and risk assessment procedures applied to corporate entities, merchants, and institutional partners.


EDD (Enhanced Due Diligence)

Additional verification procedures applied to customers or transactions presenting elevated AML or sanctions risks.


PEP (Politically Exposed Person)

An individual entrusted with a prominent public function, including their immediate family members and close associates.


SoF / SoW (Source of Funds / Source of Wealth)

Evidence demonstrating:

  • Source of Funds (SoF): The origin of money used in a specific transaction.

  • Source of Wealth (SoW): How a customer accumulated their overall wealth.


STR (Suspicious Transaction Report)

A formal report submitted to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) when suspicious activity is identified.


FIU (Financial Intelligence Unit)

The authority responsible for receiving, analyzing, and investigating Suspicious Transaction Reports.

In Vietnam, this function is performed under the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV).


VASP (Virtual Asset Service Provider)

A regulated entity that provides services involving virtual assets, including exchange, transfer, custody, or related financial services.


Appendix D — KYC / EDD Checklist (Internal Use)

Vietnam Users (Government ID Integration)

The following information must be verified during onboarding:

  • Document Type (CCCD / CMND / Passport)

  • Document Number

  • Date of Issue

  • Expiration Date

  • Government API verification completed

  • Face match / Liveness check

  • Bank account name matches KYC information

  • Risk score assigned


International Users (Sumsub)

The following information must be verified:

  • Issuing State

  • Nationality

  • Full Name

  • Date of Birth

  • Residential Address

  • Identity document verification completed

  • Sanctions screening completed


Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD)

Additional verification is required for high-risk customers and transactions, including:

  • Source of Funds (e.g., bank statements or proof of income)

  • Source of Wealth verification

  • Blockchain exposure analysis using Chainalysis

  • Compliance Committee review and approval


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