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Archive » March 2025 » The phenomenon of crypto-assets: use cases, money laundering risk and regulatory outlook

The phenomenon of crypto-assets: use cases, money laundering risk and regulatory outlook

Gianfranco Torriero
March 2025 - n. 3
Keywords: Cripto-attività, riciclaggio, banche, normativa
Jel codes: E40, E42, E26, K42, K20

Digital technologies and crypto-assets are significant innovations in the financial sector that operators and authorities have to deal with. However, crypto-assets with their decentralization and pseudo-anonymity are vulnerable to illicit uses, such as money laundering and terrorist financing. The blockchain, while guaranteeing traceability, can be exploited to conceal the identity of counterparties. Eu regulation, with the MiCar regulation and the Aml package, aims to counter these risks by introducing obligations for crypto-asset operators and prohibiting anonymisation tools. However, the cross-border nature of crypto-assets requires a coordinated comprehensive approach to ensure the effectiveness of enforcement measures. Banks, through advanced monitoring and reporting tools, can help mitigate risks, but the evolution of regulations remains essential to face the new challenges.

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