Anti-Money Laundering Controls

Definition ∞ Anti-Money Laundering Controls are regulatory measures and internal policies designed to prevent the use of financial systems for illicit financial activities. These controls include customer identification, transaction monitoring, and suspicious activity reporting. They aim to deter the flow of funds obtained from criminal enterprises through legitimate channels. Compliance with these controls is mandatory for financial institutions and digital asset service providers.
Context ∞ Anti-money laundering controls are a constant focus in cryptocurrency regulation, with news often reporting on new legislative mandates or enforcement actions against non-compliant entities. The implementation and effectiveness of these controls significantly impact the legitimacy and broader adoption of digital assets. Ongoing debates concern the balance between regulatory oversight and user privacy within the decentralized finance sector.