As cryptoassets and other blockchain-based tokens enter the mainstream, alarm bells are ringing about the risks of their misuse. The technology is neutral in itself, but like any mechanism to transfer value, it can and does facilitate a wide range of crimes.

And it’s not just scams, hacks and ransomware attacks. Cryptoassets are now seen in practically all crime types, from drug trafficking and terrorist financing to sanctions evasion, and increasingly as a tool for laundering the proceeds of those crimes.

A breakout session at the 9th Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptoassets focused on blockchain intelligence standards and interoperability – an issue that is becoming ever more critical for all who seek to prevent and combat the illicit use of virtual assets for financial crime.

The mining sector is a backbone of many national economies. Yet recent trends including the surge in gold prices and the global competition for minerals essential to the energy transition are making the sector more vulnerable than ever to corruption. In response, a new working group aims to confront these challenges through collective action.

We are pleased to announce the launch of a special crowdfunding campaign on the day of what would have been Gretta Fenner’s 50th birthday.

The campaign supports the Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund, which enables talented individuals from lower-income backgrounds to access our advanced anti-corruption programmes.

You can visit and share the campaign page here.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has published new Asset Recovery Guidance and Best Practices, offering a comprehensive roadmap to help countries get better at recovering illicit assets.

Through our International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR), the Basel Institute is proud to have contributed to this initiative, which will be instrumental in strengthening asset recovery across jurisdictions globally.