AML Compliance in Crypto: What You Need to Know About Regulations, Risks, and Real-World Cases

When you trade crypto, AML compliance, Anti-Money Laundering rules that require crypto platforms to verify users and track suspicious activity. Also known as know your customer (KYC), it's not just bureaucracy—it’s what keeps exchanges from being shut down and your funds from being frozen. Without AML compliance, platforms like Binance and Bitget get banned, as happened in the Philippines in 2024 under the SEC’s CASP framework. This isn’t random—it’s the result of regulators demanding proof that crypto isn’t being used to hide illegal cash.

AML compliance isn’t just about exchanges. It affects anyone who accepts crypto payments. In Russia, businesses can’t legally take crypto for local sales, even if they’re legit. Only a handful of elite firms with millions in capital can operate under the ELR framework. Meanwhile, Vietnam introduced a 0.1% tax on every crypto trade in 2026—not because they hate crypto, but because they need to track every transaction to prevent money laundering. These aren’t isolated cases. They’re part of a global pattern: regulators want visibility. If you can’t prove who sent the money, you’re a target.

And it’s not just big exchanges that get caught. Scams thrive where AML rules are weak. Fake airdrops like SUKU NFTs or NFTP claim to give free tokens—but they don’t exist because no one verified the team behind them. Legitimate platforms like Saber DEX or Ardor DEX stay alive because they follow the rules, even if they’re quiet. Even charity platforms using blockchain for transparent donations rely on AML to prove funds aren’t being stolen. If you’re using crypto for anything beyond casual trading, you’re already in the AML system—whether you like it or not.

So what does this mean for you? If you’re using a platform that doesn’t ask for ID, it’s not a feature—it’s a red flag. If you’re trying to bypass restrictions with a VPN, you’re not avoiding regulation—you’re making yourself a target. And if you’re holding a token with no team, no audit, and no clear purpose—like Babu Pepe or Banx.gg—you’re not just risking your money, you’re risking being pulled into a laundering scheme by accident.

The posts below show you exactly how AML compliance plays out in real life: from exchange bans and tax laws to scam alerts and legal gray zones. You’ll see how the Philippines cracked down, how Russia forces businesses into impossible choices, and why even a meme coin like Baby Shark Token had to follow KYC rules to run its airdrop. This isn’t theory. It’s what’s happening right now. And if you want to stay safe, you need to understand it.