The Council of Europe in close collaboration with the Kosovo* Banking Association and Central Bank (CBK) organised a two-day workshop to address the implications of emerging technologies in the banking sector for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT). 

This initiative responds directly to the increasing use of crypto assets and associated risks and regulatory challenges in the context of AML/CFT.

The workshop brought together 50 representatives of the banking sector, CBK and Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) who benefitted from comprehensive presentations on international trends and standards and comparative regulatory practices.

Moreover, through expert-led sessions and practical case studies, participants engaged in thematic sessions exploring key topics such as the blockchain ecosystem, crypto assets, stablecoins, Non-Fungible Tokens and VASPs with special focus on ML/FT risks and compliance requirements.

The workshop also served as a platform for identifying and discussing Kosovo’s domestic challenges related to AML/CFT supervisory requirements regarding the crypto asset eco-system and needed regulatory expectations. It was also a good opportunity for AML/CFT supervisors to explore targeted supervisory responses and capacity-building strategies to address the growing complexity of financial technologies.

The activity was organised within the framework of the “Project against Economic Crime in Kosovo” (PECK III), jointly funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the latter.