The U.K.’s financial services regulator will take a more central role as part of the government’s plans to simplify—and improve—efforts to clamp down on money laundering and terrorist financing.
AML
Posted inRisk Management
Who is leading the fight against confidence scams, and who should?
Internet-enabled scams are drawing national attention, with authorities treating them as organized transnational crimes. The FBI says confidence schemes now make up a significant share of online fraud, prompting questions about how the private sector is responding.
Posted inAML
FINTRAC hits British Columbia crypto firm with record $125M penalty for AML failures
Canada’s financial intelligence agency has issued its largest-ever penalties against a cryptocurrency exchange, a fine of $126 million (CA$176.9 million). The agency said the exchange’s compliance failures represented a “severe breach of Canada’s anti–money laundering framework.”
Posted inAML
Binance’s Changpeng Zhao receives presidential pardon from Trump
The founder of crypto exchange Binance, Changpeng Zhao, received a pardon from President Donald Trump. This pardon comes almost two years after Zhao signed a plea agreement and was sentenced to a four-month prison sentence.
Posted inAML
Canada to launch new federal office targeting financial crime and fraud
Canada is creating a new federal office to lead efforts against financial crime. The initiative marks the government’s most significant move yet to modernize its approach to fraud and money laundering.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
Tracing Illicit Crypto: How to leverage blockchain analytics for effective AML compliance
Cryptocurrency’s transparency can be exploited for laundering, ransomware, and darknet activity. Blockchain analytics helps trace funds and flag suspicious behavior.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
Australian banks’ record fines for compliance failures highlight role of culture in compliance
Two of the biggest banks in Australia are under fire for major compliance and cultural failings. ANZ and National Australia Bank are facing intense scrutiny over misconduct ranging from mistreating customers to underpaying staff.
Posted inAML
McDevitt discusses her Compliance Week Epstein case study on WBAI FM in NYC
Jeffrey Epstein’s finances are back in the spotlight with new reports this month, but Compliance Week published an in-depth investigation into the anti-money laundering compliance angle of the story 18 months ago. Compliance Week’s Aly McDevitt went on WBAI Monday to discuss her investigation
Posted inEurope
EU targets crypto, fintech firms in push to tackle money laundering
Europe’s banking regulator warns that weak compliance at fintech, regtech, and crypto firms may let money laundering and terrorist financing risks slip through. The EBA also found EU regulators’ approaches are often inconsistent and unclear.
Posted inAML
The Banks behind Jeffrey Epstein: Why the story matters now more than ever
The Epstein case remains a defining moment for financial institutions. As new investigations bring renewed attention to his enablers, Compliance Week’s 2024 case study offers not only a timeline of failures but a path forward. Here’s what banks, regulators, and compliance teams must learn from it.
