Crypto firms are set to be regulated by the United Kingdom’s key financial watchdog from late 2027, but the rules around how it will do so are still being ironed out.
Cryptocurrency and Digital Assets
Posted inSanctions
EU’s 20th Russian Sanctions Package extends compliance to third parties and anti-circumvention measures
The EU has intensified its focus on sanctions circumvention and the supply of Russian oil in a clear signal that the energy crisis caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz will not weaken its efforts to sever Russian cashflows.
Posted inCryptocurrency and Digital Assets
FCA joins police, HMRC to carry out first crackdown on illegal crypto trading
The U.K.’s financial services regulator has raided eight addresses in London as part of an operation working with police and tax authorities to disrupt illicit crypto activity and prevent possible financial crime risks.
Posted inCryptocurrency and Digital Assets
Crypto rules may diverge across jurisdictions, but EU’s MiCA likely to prove most attractive
One of the most common ways for a jurisdiction to attract the attention—and investment—of a particular industry is to offer them a regulatory regime that is different and provides enough scope for players in the sector to leverage opportunities for growth.
Posted inRisk Management
Experts warn of increased global AML risks as criminals seek to launder Venezuelan money
The U.S. action to remove President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela and reopen access to the country’s oil reserves will have a significant impact on geopolitics and organized crime activities – creating new challenges for global compliance teams.
Posted inTechnology
Compliance must prepare for post-quantum cryptography requirements in contracts
While companies focus on the risks, opportunities, and regulations emerging around AI, the next tech challenge is already on the horizon. Quantum computers are here – and so are the associated crime risks, plus some encryption protections.
Posted inCryptocurrency and Digital Assets
FCA indicates path for future crypto regulation
The U.K.’s financial regulator has proposed a set of rules to regulate the growing crypto industry after recognising that consumers are interested in exploring the market despite persistent warnings about price volatility, the high-risk of losses, and investment scams.
Posted inAML
Crypto network Paxful will plead guilty to BSA violations stemming from long-running compliance lapses
Paxful, a crypto peer-to-peer network, will plead guilty to multiple federal criminal charges related to violations of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), among others. The plea agreement follows years of scrutiny from regulators over anit-money laundering (AML) compliance failures.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
SEC exam priorities for 2026 signal heightened focus on firmwide compliance
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Division of Examinations released its 2026 examination priorities, which give companies a roadmap of areas of heightened risk and regulatory focus for next year.
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.”
