Anti-Money Laundering
What you should know
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations are not just a compliance issue.
They are a strategic business risk — one with global reach, personal liability, and billion-dollar consequences.
Why It Matters
AML enforcement is intensifying worldwide. Failure to comply results in regulatory action, financial losses, and reputational damage — not just for your company, but for you personally.
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Recent penalties include:
A cryptocurrency exchange organization – $4.3B (2023), for facilitating illicit transactions.
A financial organization – $3.1B (2024), for systemic AML failures.
A financial organization – $2.2B (2022), for laundering €200B via its Estonian branch.
Core Requirements
Across jurisdictions, AML regulations converge around three pillars:
Customer Due Diligence (KYC):
Identify and risk-profile all clients.
Transaction Monitoring:
Detect and report anomalies.
Reporting Obligations:
File Suspicious Activity Reports.
Data Retention:
Preserve records for a minimum of five years.
Governance:
Appoint a qualified AML Officer and train staff regularly.
Strategic Implications
AML failures can lead to CEO-level accountability.
Global operations require multi-jurisdictional alignment.
Cryptocurrency, real estate, and private capital are under new regulatory scrutiny.
U.S. and EU laws apply extraterritorially, even if your company is not based there.
Want the full picture?
Download our executive guide with the complete legal framework, key enforcement trends, and 2024 updates across the U.S., EU, UK, and other major jurisdictions.
