The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) – the internal audit profession’s leader in standards, certifications, education, research, and technical guidance worldwide – today shared a legislative proposal with Congress designed to promote stronger corporate governance, greater transparency and accountability, and enhanced investor protections at cryptocurrency exchanges operating in the United States.

The legislation was shared alongside a letter from Anthony Pugliese, CIA, CPA, CGMA, CITP, President and CEO of The IIA, to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; U.S. House Committee on Financial Services; and U.S. House Committee on Agriculture.

In the letter, Pugliese notes “the pivotal role of an internal audit function in bolstering objective assurance over corporate governance and internal control practices” and acknowledges that Congress is aware that “the existence of an independent and properly resourced internal audit function enhances the value of an organization and strengthens its credibility with stakeholders and consumers.”

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The proposed legislation comes on the heels of an IIA letter calling on Congress to strengthen corporate governance of cryptocurrency exchanges following the collapse of FTX and subsequent outreach by the organization to help shape their policy recommendations.

“The IIA conducted numerous meetings with congressional staff and external stakeholders to determine the appropriate role that internal audit could serve in potential policy solutions that Congress might consider regarding the lack of sufficient investor protections and corporate governance safeguards at cryptocurrency exchanges,” Pugliese writes.

The result of that outreach is a series of policy recommendations which The IIA urges Congress to include in any future measure governing the operations of cryptocurrency exchanges, including four key recommendations:

Insertion of a definition for a “Certified Internal Auditor;”

Insertion of a definition for an “internal audit function;”

Establishment of a new requirement that all cryptocurrency exchanges operating in the United States, as well as any legally affiliated organizations, must possess an independent internal audit function to provide objective assurance over their internal controls;

Creation of an annual Internal Control and Evaluation Report in which senior management officials at a cryptocurrency exchange must certify the appropriateness and efficacy of the exchange’s internal controls.

For consideration and inclusion in any future policy solutions, The IIA included specific legislative language for each of the four recommendations, as well as the rationale for the proposals.

Pugliese concludes by reenforcing The IIA’s strong belief that “…a robust internal audit function is an essential component of any effort to restore and enhance consumer confidence in the digital asset marketplace.”

Read the full letter and legislative proposals here.