Archives

July 18, 2026 @ 4:21 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Criminal organizations continue to leverage virtual assets (VAs) for cross-border movement of illicit proceeds, capitalizing on inconsistencies in global oversight and incomplete adoption of international guidelines. In response, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has issued its latest assessment, underscoring both advancements and critical shortcomings… Read More

March 9, 2026 @ 9:00 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has released a sharply focused new analysis spotlighting how criminals are increasingly turning to stablecoins for illicit financial activities, especially through direct peer-to-peer transfers using unhosted digital wallets. Released in Paris on 3 March 2026, the report urges governments… Read More

January 3, 2026 @ 1:23 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

European digital assets platform Bitpanda has released an update that examines the facts around “illicit crypto use” while also challenging prevailing narratives about cryptocurrency’s role in money laundering, terrorist financing, and sanctions evasion. As authorities like the European Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) and the Financial… Read More

August 31, 2025 @ 3:26 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) unveiled a Money Laundering National Risk Assessment (NRA) resource, designed to enable countries to strengthen their risk-based strategies in combating financial crime. This resource marks a step forward in the global effort to safeguard financial systems from money laundering,… Read More

February 23, 2025 @ 5:18 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Philippines has been removed from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list after more than three years, following significant progress in strengthening its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) framework, the global financial watchdog said. The FATF, which monitors global efforts to combat… Read More

July 19, 2024 @ 9:28 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has recently shared New Zealand’s progress in its efforts focused on “strengthening measures to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing.” FATF noted in a blog post that since the 2021 assessment of New Zealand’s measures to tackle money laundering… Read More

July 5, 2024 @ 4:04 pm By JD Alois  |  

FATF [Financial Action Task Force ] met last month and provided a brief update on the global association’s attempt to reign in the cryptosphere. FATFA established the “Travel Rule” while the US held the chair of the group. This rule requires buyers and sellers of… Read More

May 17, 2024 @ 1:43 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Countries need to urgently step up their efforts to target the huge illicit profits generated by transnational organized crime that facilitate conflicts, fund terrorism, and negatively impact vulnerable populations, according to an update shared by FATF. This was the unprecedented call to action from the… Read More

November 26, 2023 @ 5:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The non-profit sector performs a vital role in our society, providing relief and support to groups of the population in need, “at times of urgent crisis and often in challenging circumstances and regions.” Unfortunately, charitable fundraising has also “been used to provide cover for the… Read More

November 22, 2023 @ 12:20 pm By JD Alois  |  

At the end of last month, FATF (Financial Action Task Force) published a report on crowdfunding and the funding of terrorism. While the two sides of the discussion may seem to be unrelated, bad actors are always looking for a path to cover their tracks,… Read More

June 25, 2023 @ 7:25 pm By JD Alois  |  

The FATF (Financial Action Task Force) has just concluded its third Plenary under the Presidency of T. Raja Kumar of Singapore and has posted an update on the gathering. Amongst other hot topics, the group has bemoaned the slow pace of adoption of the FATF… Read More

May 19, 2023 @ 5:46 pm By JD Alois  |  

T. Raja Kumar of Singapore is the current president of the FATF, and yesterday he issued a call to the G7 to end the “lawless crypto space.” The Financial Action Task Force is a global group that aims to halt money laundering, terrorist financing and… Read More

February 26, 2023 @ 9:34 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Action Task Force or FATF, the global AML/CFT group, has announced the outcomes of its most recent plenary. Included in the announcement are several items of note. Filed under “improving implementation of FATF requirements for virtual assets and virtual asset service providers,” the… Read More

November 30, 2022 @ 4:47 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has published a report on money laundering from fentanyl and synthetic opioids. The report was co-led by the US and Canada and offers recommendations for countering the illicit drug trade. FATF is a global organization that aims to encourage… Read More

July 4, 2022 @ 10:07 am By JD Alois  |  

FATF (Financial Action Task Force) has issued an update on virtual assets (VAs) and virtual asset service providers (VASPs) and approved standards and implementation. FATF is a global entity but does not have rule-making authority as regulations must be set by members. FATF has pursued… Read More

July 8, 2021 @ 8:02 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

On July 5, 2021, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) had completed its second 12-month review of the implementation of its updated Standards on virtual assets and virtual asset service providers or VASPs. A review from CipherTrace examines how different jurisdictions and the private sector… Read More

June 25, 2021 @ 10:51 am By JD Alois  |  

A plenary of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), under the German Presidency of Dr. Marcus Pleyer took place this past week. The meeting provided several updates on key regulatory items including standards set for “Virtual Asset Service Providers” or VASPs. According to a statement… Read More

November 18, 2020 @ 9:15 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Sygna Bridge, the “market-ready” solution developed for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) to fulfill the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendation 16’s “Travel Rule,” has reportedly become the very first FATF Travel Rule solution to go through an independent assessment by The Association of Cryptocurrency… Read More

October 21, 2020 @ 10:44 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last week, the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors welcomed the efforts of the FATF to identify the money laundering and terrorist financing risks that have arisen during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The G20 said that the COVID health crisis is being exploited by criminals… Read More

September 15, 2020 @ 8:22 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental organization that develops policies to combat money laundering and terrorism financing, has released an updated report, titled, Virtual Assets Red Flag Indicators of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing. Published on September 14, 2020, the report notes that… Read More