- In May 2025, the European Union formally established the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA), marking a pivotal shift toward centralized AML/CFT supervision across the bloc. Created under Regulation (EU) 2024/1620, AMLA aims to harmonize enforcement, reduce fragmentation, and strengthen oversight of high-risk financial institutions operating in at least six Member States. While AMLA began operations in summer 2025, full implementation—including the replacement of previous AML directives—is scheduled for July 2029. Headquartered in Frankfurt, AMLA will directly supervise select entities from 2028, coordinate national authorities, and lead cross-border investigations, setting a new benchmark for EU-wide financial integrity
- In April 2025, FIS announced the acquisition of Global Payments’ Issuer Solutions business for an enterprise value of $13.5 billion, reinforcing its role as a globally scaled fintech leader. Issuer Solutions processes over 40 billion transactions annually across 75+ countries, offering advanced credit processing, fraud detection, and loyalty services. This strategic move complements FIS’s existing debit processing capabilities and expands its reach among large financial institutions, enhancing its ability to support AML compliance through integrated transaction monitoring and risk analytics. The acquisition also unlocks in EBITDA synergies and is expected to be accretive to adjusted EPS and free cash flow within the first year
- In February 2025, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, a subsidiary of RELX, completed its acquisition of IDVerse™, an AI-powered document authentication and fraud detection provider. IDVerse’s proprietary technology uses deep neural networks and biometric algorithms to verify over 16,000 types of identity documents globally, detect deepfakes, and perform liveness checks. The solution is being integrated into LexisNexis’s RiskNarrative®, IDU®, and Dynamic Decision Platform®, enhancing fraud prevention and identity verification capabilities across Europe and beyond. This strategic move underscores the growing reliance on AI-driven identity tools to support AML compliance, financial inclusion, and risk management in regulated industries
- In December 2024, the European Banking Authority (EBA) advanced its work on Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) under the new EU Anti-Money Laundering (AML) framework, supporting the transition to centralized supervision via AMLA. These RTS aim to clarify obligations for multinational financial groups, including parent entity identification, cross-border information sharing, and compliance protocols. The initiative is part of a broader effort to harmonize AML/CFT practices across Member States, reduce fragmentation, and ensure consistent enforcement. These standards will underpin the EU’s evolving AML regime and guide institutions ahead of AMLA’s full operational rollout
- In April 2024, the European Parliament adopted the new Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Package, concluding five years of legislative work to strengthen financial integrity across the EU. Key reforms include mandatory beneficial ownership registration for foreign companies and trusts owning EU real estate since 2014, a cap for commercial transactions, and enhanced due diligence for luxury goods purchases.The package also expands AML obligations to crypto service providers, football clubs, and crowdfunding platforms, and establishes the EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) for centralized supervision
