FATF Crypto: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How It Shapes Global Crypto Rules

When you hear FATF crypto, the Financial Action Task Force’s global standards for fighting money laundering in digital assets. Also known as FATF guidelines, it’s the unseen force behind why exchanges ask for your ID, why some wallets freeze transfers, and why countries ban or restrict crypto altogether. This isn’t some obscure policy group—it’s the same body that sets rules for banks, and now it’s doing the same for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and every crypto project out there.

The FATF guidelines, a set of international standards created by the Financial Action Task Force to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. Also known as AML crypto rules, they’re enforced by over 200 countries through local regulators like the SEC, FCA, and Thailand’s SEC. If a country wants to stay in good standing with the global financial system, it must adopt these rules. That means if you’re using a crypto exchange in the UK, Brazil, or Thailand, you’re already under FATF’s shadow—even if you’ve never heard of it. The big push? Tracking crypto transactions like bank transfers. That’s why exchanges now collect your name, address, and ID. That’s why sending crypto to a non-custodial wallet can trigger alerts. And that’s why some platforms refuse to serve users from certain countries—they’re trying to avoid being labeled non-compliant.

It’s not just about stopping criminals. The crypto regulation, the legal frameworks governments use to oversee digital assets, often shaped by FATF’s recommendations. Also known as global crypto rules, these policies determine whether a crypto project can list on major exchanges, if a startup can raise funds, or if a user can legally trade in their country. Countries like Japan and South Korea built their entire crypto frameworks around FATF’s advice. Others, like Iraq and Algeria, banned crypto outright because they couldn’t or wouldn’t meet FATF’s transparency requirements. Meanwhile, the UK and Thailand are trying to strike a balance—allowing innovation while forcing exchanges to report suspicious activity. You don’t need to be a policymaker to feel this. Every time you’re asked to verify your identity, or your transaction gets delayed, it’s FATF’s fingerprints on the system.

What you’ll find below isn’t just theory. These posts break down how FATF’s rules play out in real markets: which exchanges got shut down for ignoring them, how wallet providers are adapting, and why some airdrops and DeFi platforms now avoid certain countries. You’ll see how Thailand’s SEC, Brazil’s Negocie Coins, and even obscure DEXs like OraiDEX are navigating these rules. No fluff. Just what’s happening on the ground—and what it means for your next trade.