Anti-Money Laundering (AML)

China’s highest court has signaled a tougher stance against cryptocurrency-related crime, warning that individuals and organizations using digital assets to launder money or move funds illegally across borders could face harsher penalties.

US prosecutors are seeking a retrial for Roman Storm after a federal jury failed to reach a unanimous decision on two charges tied to the crypto mixing protocol Tornado Cash.

South Korea’s financial regulators have issued a six-month ban to Korean's biggest crypto exchange Bithumb, charging the exchange for violating anti-money laundering (AML) obligations and deficiencies in compliance procedures.

South Korean authorities has uncovered one of the largest underground money pipelines in years, exposing how crypto are often misused by bad actors to launder illicit funds while staying under the radar.

Financial Times has alleged that Binance had continued to allow suspicious crypto transactions to flow through its platform even after agreeing to tighten controls under its landmark $4.3 billion US criminal settlement.

Turkey is preparing a law that would let its financial crime agency, Masak, freeze cryptocurrency and bank accounts linked to illegal activity. The rules also aim to strengthen oversight of crypto exchanges and curb the use of rented accounts and suspicious wallets.

Canada’s regulator FINTRAC has fined crypto exchange KuCoin \$14 million for failing to register properly and not reporting nearly 3,000 large transactions between 2021 and 2024. KuCoin disputes the fine and has appealed, while continuing to expand internationally, including a new partnership in Thailand for a blockchain-based bond program.

The Philippines has warned ten major offshore crypto exchanges, including OKX and Kraken, for operating without a licence under new rules. The regulator says these platforms pose risks to investors and may face legal action or website blocks.

New Zealand has banned all crypto ATMs and set a $5,000 limit on international cash transfers to fight money laundering and organised crime. Over 220 machines were shut down, with the government saying they were being used to quickly move criminal funds overseas.

Thailand has approved a five-year income tax exemption on crypto trading profits from 2025 to 2029, applying to sales through licensed platforms. The move aims to spur blockchain innovation while maintaining investor protection through regulatory oversight.