Serbia’s Ministry of Finance has drawn the attention of compliance professionals across Europe as it moves forward with plans to develop a nationwide digital asset surveillance capability. The initiative centers on a central monitoring system designed to absorb public blockchain data, enrich it with intelligence on entities, and cross-reference it with reports from regulated institutions. This integrated approach could redefine how suspicious financial activity is detected an

The Cyprus Gaming and Casino Supervisory Authority (CGCS) has confirmed that it is actively examining the possibility of regulating and licensing online casinos in the country, a topic that has been under consideration for some time. In a statement issued today, the CGCS highlighted that it is reviewing international regulatory practices as well as assessing whether the exclusivity granted by existing legislation and the agreement for the operation of the Integrated Casino Re

A new study by international gaming consultancy Yield Sec has revealed that unlicensed gambling operators now control a majority share of Brazil’s online betting market, posing a growing threat to both revenue and sports integrity. According to the report, illegal platforms account for 51% of total market activity, generating an estimated BRL 18.1 billion ($3.17 billion), while licensed operators hold 49%, with around BRL 17.4 billion in revenue. The findings highlight a conc

The global anti-money laundering community has been shaken by one of the most consequential enforcement actions of 2025. The U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has officially named the Cambodia-based Huione Group a foreign financial institution of primary money laundering concern under Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act. The designation effectively severs the group’s ties with the U.S. financial system, setting a new precedent in tackling cryptocurrency-enable

A powerful bipartisan committee in the United States Congress has announced that it has opened an investigation into Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network over allegations that the service has been used to provide internet access to scam centres operating in Myanmar, which have been accused of swindling billions of dollars from victims around the world. The development follows revelations that a growing number of Starlink dishes began appearing on the rooftops of scam compou

The United States and the United Kingdom have jointly announced extensive sanctions targeting a powerful multinational crime network operating across Southeast Asia, accused of running a vast chain of “scam centres” in Cambodia, Myanmar, and neighbouring countries. The network allegedly trafficked workers and forced them to defraud victims worldwide through fake cryptocurrency investment schemes. In what officials described as the largest-ever enforcement action of its kind i

The United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, that two individuals who obtained citizenship through Cyprus’s former Investment Program have been added to the US sanctions list. Chen Zhi and Yang Jian were included in the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List under Executive Order 13581, meaning that any assets they hold under US jurisdiction are blocked and US persons or entities are prohibited from

In recent years, state-sponsored exporters under sanctions—most notably those from Iran, Russia, and North Korea—have constructed intricate maritime and logistics networks built to disguise and launder export revenues. These “shadow fleet” operations depend on a matrix of corporate layering, ship transfers, forged registries, falsified invoices, and laundering chains that stretch across jurisdictions. The outcome is staggering: billions in illicit revenue find their way into

Despite being blacklisted in 2022 and repeatedly pursued by regulators and investigators, Garantex and its network of spin-offs have continued to move vast sums across borders. Between 2019 and 2025, blockchain analytics trace approximately $96 billion in transactions to entities linked to Garantex, with at least $1.3 billion directly associated with criminal activity. These flows were not isolated occurrences but part of a sophisticated, parallel payment ecosystem engineered

The recent $650,000 sanction imposed on EFG Capital International underscores one of the most persistent vulnerabilities in cross-border brokerage operations: the gap between automated anti-money laundering (AML) systems and effective human oversight. The Miami-based broker-dealer, known for its extensive dealings with international clients and intricate wealth structures, came under intense regulatory scrutiny after FINRA concluded that its AML program had failed to detect s

A recent enforcement action has placed DMCL Chartered Professional Accountants squarely under the national spotlight, underscoring that...

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has published a report highlighting attempts within the crypto industry to circumvent newly...

Charlie Javice, the entrepreneur found guilty of defrauding JPMorgan Chase into acquiring her college financial aid startup Frank for...

The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has levied a $685,051 civil penalty against Luminultra Technologies,...

The unfolding prosecution of Halkbank has charted an extraordinary course through diplomacy, defiance, and allegations of money...

The saga of Wang Shuiming, a central figure in Singapore’s largest money laundering scandal, has become a flashpoint for debates at the...

Liberia’s Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) has imposed a fine of L$18.5 million on the Liberian Bank for Development and Investment...

Iran has approved the last of 40 recommendations issued by the global financial crime watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a...

Egypt and Jordan have emerged as focal points in the MENAFATF’s 2025 assessment cycle, a process that signals a new phase in the Middle...

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) has called on all regulated entities to carefully review the latest strategic...