EU Could Ban Anonymous Crypto and Privacy Coins Under New AML Rules by 2027

The European Union is moving forward with plans to ban anonymous crypto accounts and privacy coins by 2027 as part of broader anti-money laundering (AML) measures.

Financial institutions and crypto asset service providers (CASPs) will not be able to offer services tied to privacy-focused tokens such as Monero (XMR) and Zcash (ZEC), nor will they be able to maintain any anonymous accounts, according to the finalized Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (AMLR).

Outlined in Article 79 of the AMLR, the rules target various forms of anonymized financial services including passbooks, safe-deposit boxes, and any crypto accounts that enable transaction anonymization. The European Crypto Initiative (EUCI) clarified in its AML Handbook that these prohibitions will apply across all EU member states.

Direct Supervision and Materiality Thresholds

Starting July 1, 2027, the newly established Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) will directly supervise selected CASPs operating across at least six EU member states. The selection will prioritize entities with significant operational footprints, such as those handling over €50 million in transactions or serving 20,000+ customers in a single jurisdiction.

Selected CASPs will undergo heightened supervision, with AMLA engaging in at least one on-site inspection annually and having the power to impose administrative sanctions for AML breaches.

The AMLR also introduces materiality thresholds for reporting obligations. Financial institutions will be required to report suspicious transactions if the total value exceeds €10,000 ($1,100) or if the transactions are deemed to pose a material risk of money laundering, whichever occurs first.

Mandatory KYC and Broader Enforcement

In line with the AMLR, all crypto transactions exceeding €1,000 will require mandatory customer due diligence (CDD) procedures. CASPs regulated under MiCA will need to review and possibly overhaul their internal compliance systems well ahead of the rollout, as implementation guidelines and delegated acts will follow through the European Banking Authority.

This regulatory crackdown marks a significant escalation in the EU’s oversight of digital assets, expanding on previous frameworks like MiCA, and is likely to have a far-reaching impact on privacy-oriented crypto projects and decentralized platforms across the bloc.