47% of New Crypto Firms Meet Top AML Standards as MiCA Deadline Looms

• Nearly half of new crypto companies now reach 2020’s strictest compliance levels, Chainalysis finds
• MiCA mandates EU licensing by June 2026, fueling a global surge in monitoring standards

Forty-seven percent of newly launched crypto firms now implement the industry’s strongest anti-money laundering (AML) monitoring, a leap driven by intensifying regulatory demands and repeated scandals, according to a recent Chainalysis report cited by Kitco News on May 28, 2026. This rapid rise in compliance marks a shift as companies brace for sweeping global rules and the regulatory tide surges in Europe.

Europe leads the current transformation, propelled by the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). MiCA compels all crypto companies serving EU customers to secure operational licenses by June 30, 2026, or risk blacklisting and legal repercussions. France’s national markets regulator reaffirmed the strict enforcement deadline, with Reuters sources underscoring the region’s aggressive stance.

Chainalysis highlights widening differences in how firms approach compliance. Traditional banks entering the crypto space now enforce transaction monitoring thresholds as low as $150—far tighter than the $950 average at most crypto-native exchanges just a few years ago. There has also been notable improvement in flagging transfers involving sanctioned entities and high-risk wallets. Still, experts warn that many exchanges lag in monitoring “indirect exposure,” where illicit funds move through chains of related wallets, obscuring illicit origins.

Regional divides in compliance are clear. Europe, the Middle East, and Africa stand out for tighter controls on indirect risk, while Asia-Pacific markets trail due to inconsistent and less robust enforcement.

Overall, Chainalysis concludes that landmark regulation—especially the approaching MiCA deadline—is confirming new global benchmarks for crypto compliance. Yet key gaps persist, especially in monitoring indirect risks and harmonizing standards between fast-moving jurisdictions.