SEARCH TERM - Blockchain, Crypto-assets and the 5th AML Directive

This course is in English.

We stand on the brink of the 4th Industrial Revolution that is completely changing the world of business and transforms the way transactions are conducted.  At the same time, the anti-money laundering & terrorist financing (AML & TF) regime demands compliance from businesses, integrating such compliance to their everyday business operations, and their long-term and strategic planning, while the criminal world is taking advantage of the technological advancements to carry out their operations more efficiently and anonymously.  As a result, government and regulatory agencies keep introducing stricter directive for businesses to prevent criminal activities.   

The introduction of the 5th Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD5) that was published on June 19th, 2018, amends the 4th Anti-Money Laundering Directive, and intends to make the legal situation on the cryptocurrency market more transparent.  Thus, the AMLD5 is enriched with regulations related to cryptocurrency businesses, aiming to strengthen the barriers to fight against money laundering and restrain terrorist financing.  Among other, its scope extends to new sectors including cryptocurrency and custodian wallet providers, estate agents and rental intermediaries and art dealers, increases transparency around beneficial ownership information and trusts and ensures access to trusted data in order to streamline risk mitigation processes.

While the growth of the cryptocurrency market has been exponential, it still lacks a consistent legal and regulatory framework.  In the light of this, the 5th Directive is of significant importance since it constitutes a key development and a uniform framework for regulators across the EU to adopt.  Along with this, emerging technologies, like Blockchain, are revolutionizing the compliance framework by creating new innovative and effective ways ranging from transaction monitoring and regulatory reporting to identity management and compliance improvement.

Jun 18 - Jun 19, 2024 7 hr