US anti-money laundering fines reached $1.06 billion in the first half of 2025, according to a CertiK report — surpassing securities enforcement as the dominant regulatory threat facing the crypto industry. The shift marks a meaningful pivot in how regulators are choosing to engage with the sector.
Beyond raw fines, the report highlights two structural changes reshaping compliance requirements: incoming Basel capital rules that affect how banks treat crypto exposures, and a push toward mandatory third-party audits for digital asset firms. Together, these signal that compliance infrastructure is no longer optional for any serious market participant.
For exchanges, custodians, and DeFi protocols with fiat on-ramps, the message is clear — AML frameworks now carry more immediate enforcement weight than securities classification disputes.
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