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AML Conversations: Daily Summaries Delivered
by AML RightSource
AML Conversations is dedicated to inform professionals and those interested in anti-money laundering about conversations happening in the government, private sector, and internationally. Throughout the series John Byrne, AML RightSource Vice Chairman, will interview industry experts or participate in live programming or panel discussions related to the industry.
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- Yesterday17 min
FinCEN's Fraud Focus, Corruption Questions, and Crypto Compliance Challenges
In this episode of This Week in AML, John Byrne and Elliot Berman unpack several significant developments across the AML, sanctions, fraud, and compliance landscape. They begin with the U.S. Senate's overwhelming bipartisan vote to advance new Russia and Iran sanctions legislation, then turn to FinCEN Director Andrea Gacki's recent congressional testimony, including her emphasis on fraud prevention, BSA modernization, SAR guidance, and the industry's ongoing uncertainty about AML priorities and effectiveness standards. The conversation also explores Transparency International's 2025 achievements in advancing anti-corruption reforms worldwide and raises important questions about whether corruption will remain a formal U.S. AML priority. John and Elliot review FinCEN's new alert on financial student aid fraud, discuss the continued role of shell companies in fraud schemes, and examine a House Financial Services Committee report on scams and fraud. Additional topics include Treasury's review of the SDN List, the growing industry around sanctions delisting petitions, the closure of crypto exchange BitMEX despite presidential pardons for its founders, the OCC's denial of Wise US's national trust charter application due to AML compliance concerns, and new reporting linking crypto-to-cash storefronts to money laundering activity.
- 3 days ago31 min
Art, Antiquities, and Financial Crime - Protecting Cultural Heritage in a Global Threat Landscape with Tess Davis
In this episode of AML Conversations, host John Byrne welcomes Tess Davis, Executive Director of the Antiquities Coalition, for a timely discussion on the intersection of cultural heritage crime and financial crime. From the looting of museums and archaeological sites in conflict zones such as Ukraine and Sudan to the exploitation of the global art market for money laundering and sanctions evasion, Tess explains why antiquities trafficking is far more than a cultural issue—it is a financial crime issue. The conversation explores the Rome Statement on Art Market Integrity, the growing role of law enforcement agencies like the Manhattan District Attorney's Antiquities Trafficking Unit, and bipartisan efforts in the United States to bring the art market under the AML regulatory framework. Tess also shares real-world examples of how stolen artifacts are laundered into legitimate collections and outlines key red flags financial institutions should understand when assessing risks tied to art and antiquities transactions. This episode offers valuable insights into a rapidly evolving threat landscape and the collaborative efforts underway to combat it.
- 1 weeks ago24 min
Southeast Asia’s Criminal Economy, Crypto Crime Risks, and AMLA’s Compliance Wake-Up Call
This week on This Week in AML, Elliot Berman and Joe McNamara examine a series of reports and regulatory updates highlighting the growing sophistication of global financial crime. The discussion begins with a new United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) threat assessment that details how Southeast Asia has become a hub for interconnected criminal ecosystems, with organized crime groups increasingly offering “fraud as a service” at enterprise scale. Elliot and Joe explore how criminal organizations are evolving from trafficking goods to operating highly sophisticated criminal services businesses. They also discuss FATF’s latest targeted update on virtual assets and VASPs, including concerns about stablecoins, regulatory gaps, and ongoing challenges in implementing the Travel Rule across jurisdictions. The conversation highlights how organized crime networks are leveraging crypto assets to move illicit funds globally. The episode then turns to new guidance from the Wolfsberg Group on managing risks associated with non-bank payment service providers, AMLA’s growing focus on vulnerabilities in the non-financial sector, and ongoing concerns about real estate as a money-laundering vehicle.
- 2 weeks ago18 min
Russia Sanctions Resurface, New Lending Guidance, and Europol’s EU Terrorism Report
In this week's episode of This Week in AML, John Byrne and Elliot Berman discuss the renewed push for a bipartisan U.S. sanctions bill targeting Russia and compare its approach to the European Union's existing sanctions framework. They also examine new guidance from federal banking agencies on lending to non-work authorized. The conversation explores a notable difference in the Federal Reserve's proposed AML program rule, highlights key findings from Europol’s latest EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report, and reviews a Transparency International report examining the illicit finance risks associated with cryptocurrency and stablecoins. John and Elliot also discuss developments involving a high-profile IRS lawsuit and Florida's proposed designation of certain organizations as terrorist entities.
- 3 weeks ago17 min
Sanctions, Crypto Workarounds, AI Oversight, and the Future of Financial Crime Compliance
In this week's episode of This Week in AML, John Byrne and Elliot Berman unpack a wide-ranging set of developments shaping the financial crime compliance landscape. They discuss the evolving geopolitical environment, including sanctions activity involving Iran, Russia, and North Korea, and examine new reports highlighting how cryptocurrencies are being used to evade international sanctions. The conversation also explores the rise and risks of meme coins, recent SEC efforts to combat retail investor fraud, FINRA's independent review of its enforcement program, and the Federal Reserve's proposed AML program rule. John and Elliot further discuss policymakers' growing interest in AI governance, including questions surrounding financial crime prevention, customer identification, and responsible adoption of emerging technologies. Whether you're focused on AML, sanctions, fraud prevention, regulatory policy, or AI in compliance, this episode delivers timely insights on the trends reshaping financial crime risk management.
- 3 weeks ago46 min
Anti-Corruption at a Crossroads: Enforcement, Risk, and the Future of Financial Integrity with Jonathan Rusch
In this episode of AML Conversations, host John Byrne sits down with longtime DOJ prosecutor and anti-corruption expert Jonathan Rusch to unpack a rapidly shifting enforcement landscape. From the scaling back of DOJ anti-corruption resources to the growing use of presidential pardon power in bribery cases, Rusch offers a candid assessment of what these changes signal for accountability in the U.S. and globally. He also breaks down why anti-corruption still matters—highlighting its economic, political, social, and legal impacts—and what happens when those guardrails weaken. Drawing on his experience at the Justice Department and in the private sector at a major global bank, Rusch shares practical insights for financial institutions navigating today’s environment: balancing deregulation pressures, evolving expectations around “de-banking,” and the enduring realities of laws such as the FCPA. The conversation closes on a note of cautious optimism—exploring what resilience looks like for compliance professionals, regulators, and institutions committed to maintaining integrity in uncertain times.
- 4 weeks ago16 min
FATF Priorities, Crypto Regulation Shifts, and Emerging Financial Crime Risks
In this week's episode of This Week in AML, John Byrne and Elliot Berman examine major developments shaping the financial crime compliance landscape. They discuss newly released presidential financial disclosures, FATF's priorities under new President Giles Thomson, and a new FATF report on terrorist financing risks tied to social media, messaging apps, and streaming platforms. The conversation also covers the Rome Statement on Art Market Integrity, Binance's licensing challenges under the EU's MiCA framework, FinCEN and FBI actions targeting cartel-linked fuel theft and human smuggling networks, and the UK's evolving crypto asset regulatory regime. Additional topics include Europol's latest assessment of organized crime networks, the SEC's enforcement action against Merrill Lynch for SAR reporting failures, and the potential business and regulatory implications of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision affecting independent federal agencies. The episode concludes with a preview of upcoming AML RightSource content, including a discussion on AI and financial compliance.
- Jun 26, 202621 min
FATF’s Fraud Focus, Stablecoin Scrutiny, and the Push for Real AML Effectiveness
In this episode of This Week in AML, Elliot Berman and John Byrne break down key developments from the latest FATF plenary—highlighting a growing global emphasis on fraud, stronger public-private collaboration, and updated guidance on payment transparency and targeted sanctions. They also explore the Wolfsberg Group’s refreshed framework for a truly effective risk-based approach, centered on proportionality, prioritization, and outcomes—not just compliance for compliance’s sake. Back in the U.S., the conversation turns to the evolving regulatory landscape around stablecoins, including new proposed rules extending KYC and CIP requirements—and concerns about whether they go far enough to address illicit finance risks. It’s a wide-ranging discussion that reinforces a central theme: effectiveness—not just effort—is becoming the defining standard in AML.
About AML Conversations
AML Conversations is dedicated to inform professionals and those interested in anti-money laundering about conversations happening in the government, private sector, and internationally. Throughout the series John Byrne, AML RightSource Vice Chairman, will interview industry experts or participate in live programming or panel discussions related to the industry.
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