As cryptocurrency companies like Blockchain.com and Evernorth Holdings announce public listings, anti-money-laundering (AML) compliance is gaining urgency. French regulators have launched a review of Binance, potentially impacting its EU licensing, while U.S. firms integrate with federal frameworks. Innovations in AI, blockchain analytics, and digital identities are reshaping traditional compliance methods.
The cryptocurrency sector is undergoing a compliance transformation as firms seek legitimacy through public markets. On October 20, 2025, exchange and wallet provider Blockchain.com, along with newly formed digital assets company Evernorth Holdings, announced plans to go public in the U.S., highlighting the need for robust AML and financial crime (FinCrime) frameworks.
In Europe, French regulators initiated a review of Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, on October 17, 2025. This action could jeopardize certain services under the EU's MiCA licensing regime, underscoring regulatory scrutiny on crypto operations.
U.S.-based crypto entities are aligning with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to ensure compliance with AML, know-your-customer (KYC), and sanctions protocols. Industry stakeholders, including Coinbase, responded to a U.S. Treasury request for comments (RFC) on cryptocurrency risks for regulated institutions under the proposed GENIUS Act. They advocate for an AML architecture leveraging blockchain analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), application programming interfaces (APIs), and decentralized identity solutions.
Coinbase, for instance, proposed decentralized identifiers (DIDs) and zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) to streamline KYC processes, reducing repetitive checks and privacy risks while maintaining compliance. This approach enables real-time detection of suspicious patterns across chains, wallets, and exchanges, shifting toward a 'network intelligence' model.
AI is pivotal, with machine learning mapping behavioral patterns and predicting risks. A PYMNTS Intelligence report found that 85% of surveyed product leaders expect AI to improve regulatory compliance. APIs facilitate shared intelligence among exchanges, custodians, and regulators, fostering an ecosystem-wide approach.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) reported that most on-chain illicit activity now involves stablecoins, intensifying the push for interoperable, privacy-preserving compliance tools like those under FATF's Travel Rule. These developments signal a future of self-enforcing systems in decentralized finance.