Anti Money Laundering News (29 Sep – 06 Oct 2025)
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Global AML News Weekly Digest. Here are the top stories making headlines around the world:
CIMA Imposes US$270,000 in Fines for AML Breaches
On 29 September 2025, the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) announced administrative fines totalling CI$230,038.72 (approx. US$270,000) for AML regulation breaches by certain covered entities. The fine results from compliance reviews revealing deficiencies such as weak customer due diligence, incomplete risk assessments, and poor documentation of AML controls. Though modest relative to large global fines, the action signals that even smaller monetary penalties will be enforced when baseline compliance gaps are found.
AMF Fines Asset Manager & Executives €1.3M
France’s AMF Enforcement Committee penalised an asset management company and its two managers a combined €1.3 million for breaches of professional and control obligations. Deficiencies cited include weak governance, lack of transparency, and lapses in internal controls—issues that exacerbate AML risk, especially in real estate and fund management contexts.
India’s FIU Issues Notices to 25 Offshore Crypto Exchanges Under PMLA
On 3 October 2025, FIU-IND (Financial Intelligence Unit, India) issued notices to 25 offshore virtual digital asset (VDA) service providers under Section 13 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), citing violations of India’s AML laws. The notices require the firms to permit investigations into their records, customer data and suspicious-transaction reports. Offenders may face fines of up to INR 1 lakh per breach. Among the exchanges flagged are CoinW, BTCC, Changelly, Paxful, Huione, CEX.IO, LBank, PrimeXBT, Coinex, Remitano, Poloniex, BitMex, and LCX. The Ministry also invoked the Information Technology Act to order removal of apps/websites operating in India without registration under PMLA.
CIMA Launches On-site AML Inspections, Publishes Findings
Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) has initiated on-site AML/CFT inspections of covered entities, revealing recurring deficiencies such as undocumented risk assessments, incomplete customer profiling, and gaps in transaction monitoring systems. While not penalties, these supervisory inspections represent heightened enforcement posture and may lead to formal sanctions or remedial orders.
Philippines’ Discaya Companies Face ₱300 Billion In Potential Penalties
A Manila Times report (4 October 2025) states that “Discaya companies” may be liable for ₱300 billion (Philippine pesos) in potential penalties tied to alleged violations of securities, tax, and AML rules linked to large-scale offshore financial schemes. The companies are under investigation for facilitating fund flows that may have bypassed regulatory scrutiny and for misrepresentation of investor accounts. The legal outcomes could include heavy fines, restitution payments, and possible criminal charges, pending the findings of financial and forensic audits.
Poland Approves Strict Crypto Licensing Bill with 10M Zloty Fines
Poland’s parliament has passed a sweeping Crypto-Asset Market Act, imposing licensing requirements for all crypto-asset service providers and introducing penalties up to 10 million Polish zlotys (~US$2.8M) for noncompliance, including criminal sanctions and prison terms of up to two years. The bill grants the KNF (Poland’s financial authority) oversight authority over exchanges, issuers and custodians, domestic or foreign, with a six-month compliance window post-enactment. The act is triggering sharp pushback from industry, which argues the rules are overly burdensome and may stifle innovation.
Stay informed with our weekly digest, bringing you the most impactful news from around the globe. Thank you for reading!
Subscribe to our weekly Newsletter – Click Here
Empower your organization with ZIGRAM’s integrated RegTech solutions – Book a Demo
- #CIMA
- #AMLFines
- #FIU-IND
- #OffshoreCrypto
- #Discaya
- #PolandCrypto
- #CryptoRegulations
