Crypto AML Rules: What You Need to Know About Compliance, FATF, and Global Enforcement

When it comes to crypto AML rules, anti-money laundering regulations designed to stop criminals from using digital currencies to hide illegal funds. Also known as cryptocurrency compliance standards, these rules force exchanges, wallets, and even individual users to prove who they are and where their money came from. This isn’t about stopping innovation—it’s about cutting off the flow of stolen, hacked, or drug-related cash through blockchain networks.

These rules aren’t optional. The FATF Travel Rule, a global standard requiring crypto platforms to share sender and receiver info on transactions over $1,000 is now active in over 100 countries, including Australia, the EU, and the U.S. If you’re using a regulated exchange, you’ve already been asked for ID—this is why. Platforms that don’t follow it risk being cut off from traditional banking systems. That’s not a threat—it’s happening right now. In 2025, even small DeFi apps and peer-to-peer services are being pressured to comply, whether they like it or not.

Then there’s the VASP requirements, the legal label for any business that handles crypto transfers, from exchanges to custodial wallets. If you run a service that moves crypto for others, you’re a VASP. That means you need licenses, audit trails, transaction monitoring, and staff trained in spotting suspicious activity. No more anonymous wallets on platforms that claim to be "decentralized"—if they’re processing real money, regulators are watching. Countries like Japan and Singapore have clear rules. Others, like Nigeria and Cambodia, are tightening controls fast. Even places with strict bans, like Algeria, are now tracking crypto flows to enforce fines and jail time.

What does this mean for you? If you’re just holding Bitcoin or trading on a big exchange, you’ve probably already jumped through the hoops. But if you’re using P2P platforms, mixing services, or non-compliant DeFi tools, you’re walking a legal tightrope. The FATF doesn’t care if you think the system is unfair—it cares if money laundering happens. And when it does, regulators come after the platforms first. That’s why the biggest exchanges now block users from high-risk countries, and why some wallets refuse to connect to certain chains.

This collection of articles dives into how these rules are playing out in real life. You’ll find breakdowns of the FATF Travel Rule’s global rollout, how countries like Sweden and Norway are using energy policy to shape crypto compliance, and what happens when platforms like ChainX or Banx.gg ignore the rules. We’ll show you how airdrops like ONUS and CrossWallet had to build KYC into their systems just to survive. You’ll also see how scams like Zippie and XREATORS thrive in the gray zones—where AML rules haven’t caught up yet.

There’s no magic fix. Crypto AML rules are here to stay, and they’re getting stricter. But understanding them isn’t about fear—it’s about staying in control. Know what’s required. Know what’s risky. And know which platforms are actually following the law. The next few pages give you the facts, not the hype.