AMLR (EU Anti-Money Laundering Regulation)

AMLR stands for Anti-Money Laundering Regulation: Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 against money laundering and terrorist financing. It applies directly in all EU member states from 10 July 2027. The same package includes the EU’s anti-money laundering authority AMLA, based in Frankfurt am Main.^[1],[3]

What it requires of providers

• Customer checks: like banks, crypto-asset service providersGlossaryCASP (crypto-asset service provider)A company that professionally provides crypto-asset services to customers – such as trading, exchange, custody or transfers. In the EU, every CASP needs an authorisation under MiCA.On the learning path: Stage 4 · Step 2 – Choosing a provider →In the glossary →× must identify their customers (KYCGlossaryKYC (Know Your Customer)The obligation of regulated providers to identify you before the business relationship starts and to ask, for example, about its purpose and, where necessary, the source of your money. In Germany, the legal basis is the Money Laundering Act (GwG).On the learning path: Stage 4 · Step 3 – Buying Bitcoin →In the glossary →×), monitor transactions and report suspicious activity.
• No anonymous accounts: banks and crypto service providers may not keep anonymous accounts or accounts that anonymise or heavily obscure transactions, including through ‘anonymity-enhancing coins’ (Art. 79). This does not affect providers of hardware, software or self-hosted wallets, as long as they have no access to or control over their users’ wallets (recital 160).^[1]
• Cash limit: traders and service providers may neither accept nor make cash payments above €10,000; payments between private individuals are exempt, and member states may set lower limits (Art. 80).^[1],[2]

What this means for you

The AMLR places obligations on companies, not on you. Buying, holding and self-custodying bitcoin remains permitted. And bitcoin is not an anonymity coin: all transactions are publicly recorded on the blockchain. You already have to identify yourself with authorised providers today.

What applies to transfers between a provider and your own wallet is governed by the Travel RuleGlossaryTravel Rule (Transfer of Funds Regulation)An EU rule requiring crypto providers to send details of the sender and recipient with transfers. Since 30 December 2024, for more than €1,000 from or to your own wallet, the provider also checks that the address is yours.On the learning path: Stage 5 · Step 4 – First withdrawal →In the glossary →×. How to protect your data is explained in Privacy with Bitcoin.

As of September 2026.