#certik report

➤ CertiK's 2026 report highlights a global shift towards stricter digital asset regulations, focusing on AML, security audits, and licensing. ➤ Key trends include intensified AML enforcement, smart contract audits becoming a formal requirement, stablecoin standard convergence, and new prudential rules for institutional participation. ➤ The report emphasizes that compliance is no longer optional, urging firms to build robust infrastructure to meet rising regulatory demands across jurisdictions.

➤ Global crypto regulation is shifting from policy drafting to active enforcement, with significant increases in fines, particularly in EMEA. ➤ The EU's MiCA framework provides legal certainty, attracting exchanges, while the U.S. relies on enforcement, with stablecoin legislation anticipated as a turning point. ➤ Asia presents a mixed landscape with Hong Kong as a hub and China's ban, while stablecoin reserves and AML compliance (including the Travel Rule) are key global regulatory focuses.

➤ Anti-money-laundering (AML) enforcement has become the primary regulatory threat for crypto firms, surpassing securities violations in the first half of 2025, with over $1 billion in AML-related fines imposed in the U.S. ➤ This shift reflects a regulatory pivot towards operational controls, licensing, and transaction monitoring, evidenced by significant fines against exchanges like OKX and KuCoin, and increased global enforcement, particularly in Europe and Asia-Pacific. ➤ The evolving regulatory landscape emphasizes mandatory security audits, robust KYC/AML programs, and prudential standards for custodians and exchanges, aligning crypto supervision more closely with traditional financial crime controls.