FATF Updates Its Lists

FATF Updates Its Lists

The fourth plenary meeting of the FATF — the Financial Action Task Force — has concluded in Paris. This time, it was chaired by Elisa de Anda Madrazo from Mexico, and the organization’s main message was clear: to deprive criminals of access to financial systems and make money laundering economically unprofitable in any jurisdiction in the world.

FATF has updated the standards for assessing countries in their fight against money laundering and terrorist financing. The first countries to undergo evaluation under the new rules were Belgium and Malaysia. This serves as a kind of “test drive” for the system, which will eventually become mandatory for all.

The organization also paid special attention to the issue of recovering assets obtained through criminal means. FATF’s new recommendations help governments return such funds more effectively, even if they have already been moved abroad and hidden in offshore accounts.

Technological challenges were also in the spotlight. In its Horizon Scan study, FATF examines new threats arising from the use of artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and automated financial systems. Analysts point to the growing risk of using AI for document forgery, transaction falsification, and circumventing monitoring systems.

However, the most anticipated part of the meeting was the update of the so-called “grey list” — the list of jurisdictions under enhanced monitoring by FATF. This time, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Nigeria, and South Africa were removed from the list, as these countries successfully fulfilled their Action Plans and demonstrated progress in combating financial crimes. This is a positive signal for the international community and potential investors.

At the same time, several countries remain on the FATF list as jurisdictions requiring additional attention and control. Their status creates risks for companies registered there, especially in the cryptocurrency sector, where regulatory transparency is key to building partnerships, opening accounts, and entering new markets.

🇩🇿 Algeria
🇦🇴 Angola
🇧🇴 Bolivia
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
🇨🇲 Cameroon
🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire
🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
🇭🇹 Haiti
🇰🇪 Kenya
🇱🇦 Lao PDR
🇱🇧 Lebanon
🇲🇨 Monaco
🇳🇦 Namibia
🇳🇵 Nepal
🇸🇸 South Sudan
🇸🇾 Syria
🇻🇪 Venezuela
🇻🇳 Vietnam
🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands
🇾🇪 Yemen

It should be noted that FATF reviews this list three times a year, and each change can affect banking operations, investor confidence, and even the legal liability of companies operating in these countries.

At a time when FATF is tightening the rules of the game, choosing the right jurisdiction becomes not just an advantage but a matter of business survival. The FINANCEIQ HUB LTD team supports every stage — from licensing to launching payment infrastructure.

📩 Contact our experts — we know how to prepare your business for any regulatory changes and take it to a global level.