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The web of regulation around crypto transactions is gradually tightening, as this innovative area of finance starts to get more structure. A big part of this is ensuring that cryptocurrency doesn't leave loopholes that could be exploited for money laundering purposes. A new EU proposal sets out the requirements for banks to collect data on both senders and recipients in a transaction to help achieve this. Called the 'travel rule,' it will require that cryptocurrency firms start collecting this data for every transaction, even those that are just a couple of euros. It will also require that every transaction that comes in at above EUR1,000 be reported to the financial authorities. This will essentially remove the threshold for reporting and could be a big win in anti-money laundering terms.

Combating money laundering across the EU has been a key priority for the European Union for many years. And in July last year it received a major boost with plans presented by the European Commission to create a central EU authority to help fight money laundering across the region. The Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) won't take over responsibility for the fight against money laundering - that will remain with individual member states. However, AMLA will fulfill the function of coordinating and supporting the application of EU regulations across Europe. It will also be given a number of significant powers that are going to have an impact when it comes to compliance risk, among them these two critical functions:

Money laundering is a global issue, one that the International Monetary Fund estimates could account for as much as 5% of global GDP. It is the kind of crime that perpetuates other crimes and which can undermine the entire fabric of society - as well as future growth and profitability for organisations. This is why anti-money laundering measures, such as AML software, are so important for businesses today. Embedding anti-money laundering mindset in business culture is one of the most effective ways to protect an enterprise from the damaging effects of these tainted profits. Siloed risk operations are no longer effective enough in the light of the global nature of money laundering, which is why it's so important to embed holistic strategies business-wide.

The challenger bank market in the UK has grown significantly in recent years. On a global level, the value of neo and challenger banks is forecast to reach $471 billion by 2027. Not only is this a fast-growing sector but it's also one that has the potential to shape the future in terms of how we approach financial transactions going forward. Within that, there is an opportunity to better address AML compliance risk too. There is also a challenge - if compliance risk isn't properly addressed in this emerging market then it could provide the fuel for money laundering and other financial crimes to balloon in future.

AML compliance is increasingly becoming a priority for North American companies, from well-established institutions to some of the most innovative start-ups. In fact, while there are concerns in other parts of the world that the newest businesses are those with the least protection in place, that's not the case in the US and Canada. A new report from Sumsub has identified that more than half of crypto currency firms are planning to increase their identity verification budgets this year, with AML compliance software at the top of the must-purchase list. 200 companies took part in the survey, which also found that 80% of crypto businesses currently use automated AML solutions.

Global supply chains have become a complex place over the past year with an ever-expanding web of export bans and restrictions on a number of individuals and entities making things even more complicated. Navigating this landscape better, in order to mitigate risk and generate paths to growth, means tapping into all available tools. AML transaction monitoring is most traditionally tied to the way that financial institutions ensure their resources are free from laundered profits. However, it is now becoming an increasingly vital tool with respect to sanctions compliance too, which makes AML transaction monitoring critical for global businesses focused on risk mitigation in international supply chains. Why has this become so essential? Well, AML transaction monitoring has such a big role to play when it comes to sanctions against Russia, for example, because it can be difficult to identify who actually has an interest in a financial transaction. This is due to the use of extended payment chains, anonymous legal entities, and shell companies with less than transparent ownership. Where AML transaction monitoring is in place, any changes in customer behaviour will trigger a closer inspection - and it can also be used to look for specific Russian typologies. In both cases, AML transaction monitoring will help to reveal both sanctioned activities, as well as sanctioned actors, better mitigating risk right along the supply chain.

The Cullen Commission report - the final report of the Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia - has been released and promptly welcomed by the Canadian government. Canada's federal government released a statement saying that it takes the issues of money laundering and financial terrorist financing very seriously and will continue to review Canada's Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing (AML/ATF) Regime in the light of the Cullen Commission report. The government also responded to many of the recommendations in the report, including with respect to strengthening the existing regime. More than $48.8 million has been invested in the federal regime since 2019, including with respect to information sharing and data resources. AML software is highly likely to play a key role in creating a more robust structure going forward. The additional review to be undertaken by the government in response to the report from the Cullen Commission will look for places where the current regime, and previous investments, fall short. In particular, this will investigate how the authorities detect, deter, and investigate financial crimes. A new legislative review has also been announced, which will focus on the digitisation of money, including cryptocurrencies and stablecoins.

The sanctions that the US has put in place against Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine have been well publicized. However, it seems that many companies and institutions have failed to comply with them and, as usual, those who are looking to avoid the sanctions have managed to find ways around. As a result, the US Treasury is now looking at whether AML obligations should be imposed on investment advisors, increasing the penalties for a less comprehensive approach to compliance risk. The reasoning behind this is the use of certain advisors by Russian elites to try and hide assets.

Iceland Innovation Week took place in June this year, highlighting some of the most exciting Nordic startups in the region today. Lucinity AML compliance software was included as one of the Top 10 unicorns contributing to the local economy, job creation and driving towards global expansion. Iceland's technology sector is alive with innovation in 2022 and the 10 companies that made it into the list are a great illustration of just how forward-focused and creative industry is here. As well as Lucinity, some of the others to make the list included Oculis, which is focused on breakthrough therapies for addressing important unmet medical needs in the eye, improving eye care and saving sight and Controlant, which has developed an innovative and industry-trusted system, to help facilitate visibility on cold chain temperatures throughout supply chains.

In June 2020, a pilot project was launched in Sweden designed to make it easier to fight financial crime, such as money laundering. This collaboration between Nordic banks and the Swedish police - known as Swedish Anti Money Laundering Initiative (SAMLIT) now looks likely to move from being a pilot project to a regular collaboration, according to most of the banks involved. SAMLIT has many different aspects to it, including the ability for the banks to share with the police information on suspicious transaction patterns etc. This kind of AML transaction monitoring has a key role to play in helping to improve the response to money laundering and strengthen AML regimes. It's vital that schemes like this have the support of the banking sector. So far, SAMLIT has been backed by major Nordic banks including Danske Bank A/S, Nordea Bank Abp, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, Svenska Handelsbanken AB and Swedbank AB.