How crypto compliance changed in 2025: a global overview

2025 was a turning point in how countries regulate cryptocurrencies. Instead of shaping the market through fines and penalties, countries around the world have begun to implement comprehensive and pre-defined rules. For teams responsible for compliance in different countries, understanding these changes has become critical. GetBlock AML Research publishes the main changes in cryptocurrency compliance over the past year.

How crypto was regulated in the past

For many years, the regulation of cryptocurrency assets was primarily based on coercive measures and strict licensing. This was particularly noticeable in the United States: regulators primarily punished violations and created high barriers to market entry, but rarely provided clear and understandable rules in advance.

As a result, many regulatory regimes around the world were perceived as hostile to crypto innovation.

What changed in 2025

In 2025, the situation changed. Many countries began to implement comprehensive regulatory frameworks for cryptocurrencies, backed by clearer guidelines and new mechanisms aimed at reducing barriers to innovation.

Each country followed its own path, depending on its priorities, economy, and political context. For compliance teams at crypto companies and financial institutions, this provided more clarity and confidence, but at the same time brought new challenges. The decisions made by regulators in 2025 will shape the work of companies for years to come.

The emergence of a comprehensive regulatory framework

The main difference between 2025 and previous years was not just the announcement of new rules. More importantly, these rules began to actually work. In addition, regulators deliberately emphasized that the new framework should support innovation rather than stifle it.

Major jurisdictions have moved from discussions to full-fledged working regimes with specific requirements, licensing, regulatory sandboxes, and control mechanisms:

United States

After years of stagnation, the US has made significant progress in legislation. In July, the GENIUS Act was passed, creating the first federal regulatory framework for stablecoins. Banking regulators have reversed previous policies that effectively prevented banks from providing crypto services. The shift from a “punishment first” approach to a “rules first” approach was dramatic and significant.

European Union

The MiCA regulation came into force in all 27 EU countries in 2025. Companies can now obtain a license in one country and operate throughout the European Union. This, in turn, sparked competition among EU countries: they began to compete for crypto companies by offering faster approvals and clearer rules.

Hong Kong

In August 2025, Hong Kong launched a stablecoin regulatory system that quickly became a benchmark for the entire region. Requirements for reserves, capital, and measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing were clearly spelled out. Before the full launch, the regulator tested the system in a special “sandbox,” refining it in practice.

UAE

The United Arab Emirates maintained its leadership in the Middle East. Regulators in Dubai and Abu Dhabi approved the use of major stablecoins and expanded licensing for crypto companies. Different regulators effectively coordinated their actions with each other and between market segments.

Banks given the green light

Traditional financial institutions have received official permission to provide full-scale crypto services. Banking regulators in the US have published detailed instructions on the storage and protection of crypto assets, and the international banking community has issued guidelines for banks issuing stablecoins.

This has given large financial institutions in different countries enough confidence to start seriously planning the launch of stablecoins and storage services, allocating significant resources to crypto for the first time.

Stablecoins have come to the fore

The regulation of stablecoins has developed particularly rapidly. South Korea began to create conditions for stablecoins pegged to the won as part of the new government’s policy to strengthen competitiveness in the crypto sphere. The UK published a draft law forming its own regulatory system.

A coordinated global focus highlighted the growing role of stablecoins in international payments. Regulators around the world emphasized the importance of reserves, clear redemption rules, and measures to combat financial crime.

International cooperation has intensified

The Financial Stability Board (FSB) has made the supervision of stablecoins one of its priorities under its new leadership. In its October review, it pointed to serious gaps in the implementation of regulations in different countries.

The FATF update showed that 99 countries have already implemented the Travel Rule requirements, but it was noted that stablecoins now account for the majority of illegal activity on the blockchain.

Law enforcement agencies have also begun to act in a more coordinated manner. The US, South Korea, and Japan jointly warned of cryptocurrency thefts linked to North Korea amounting to more than $600 million in 2024. The US, UK, and EU have agreed on sanctions against schemes to circumvent sanctions using cryptocurrencies.