Crypto-assets and the risk of money laundering
摘要
This paper examines the crypto-asset (CA) sector by analyzing its technological, regulatory, and market dimensions from an anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) perspective. The interdisciplinary approach adopted addresses the complexity of the phenomenon while making the analysis accessible to a broad audience. The CA sector is highly heterogeneous, posing significant challenges for authorities, which must develop adequate expertise to oversee its evolution and associated risks. Focusing on the market dimension, the paper introduces a series of indicators to assess the development and integration of CA markets, including their progressive convergence with traditional financial assets. The analysis concludes by outlining possible policy actions, such as enhancing tools for analyzing CA transactions, strengthening data collection, and fostering closer information-sharing between AML/CFT authorities and crypto-asset service providers operating across EU Member States.