AML Compliance

Definition ∞ AML compliance refers to adherence to regulations designed to prevent money laundering activities. These rules mandate financial institutions, including those dealing with digital assets, to implement procedures for identifying and reporting suspicious transactions. The objective is to thwart the illicit use of financial systems for criminal purposes.
Context ∞ The current discourse around AML compliance in the crypto space focuses on the application of existing financial regulations to decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols and novel digital asset instruments. Regulatory bodies are actively scrutinizing exchanges and custodians for their Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) program effectiveness. Future developments will likely involve greater harmonization of global AML standards and potential enforcement actions against non-compliant entities.