News & insights

FATF Highlights Illicit Finance Risks in Stablecoins and Wallets

Written by Insight & Partnership Team | Mar 6, 2026 4:29:26 PM

 

Key points include:

➡️ Criminal Misuse of Stablecoins: Stablecoins are increasingly used by cybercriminals, money launderers and terrorist financiers due to their liquidity, price stability and interoperability;

➡️ Unhosted Wallet Risks: Peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions conducted through unhosted wallets can bypass regulated intermediaries such as Virtual Asset Service Providers #VASPs or financial institutions;

➡️ Regulatory Gaps: Only a limited number of jurisdictions have implemented regulatory frameworks addressing the risks posed by stablecoin arrangements;

➡️ Strengthening Controls: FATF calls for full implementation of Recommendation 15, ensuring stablecoin issuers, VASPs and financial institutions are subject to appropriate (AML/CFT) obligations; and

➡️ Risk Mitigation Measures: Recommended controls include blockchain analytics capabilities, smart-contract safeguards, and stronger public-private cooperation.

✅ VASPs should assess exposure to stablecoin-related risks, identify the relevant good practices set out in the report, and implement robust risk-based controls to mitigate emerging stablecoin risks.