TY  - GEN
AU  - Arias Alvarez, Jose Angel
AU  - Lagarda, Guillermo
AU  - Verastegui Lira, Paulina
AU  - Grajales, John
AU  - Dassen, Nicolás
AU  - Duque, Marcela
AU  - Anwar, Kamal
AU  - TRM Labs
TI  - Decrypting Crypto: Supervision, Intelligence, and Recovery in the Virtual Assets Era. A Reference for Latin America and the Caribbean Financial Intelligence Units and Regulators
PY  - 2026
Y1  - 2026/11/06
DO  - 10.18235/0014600
AB  - The rapid expansion of cryptoassets and blockchain technologies is reshaping global financial systems, presenting both opportunities and significant risks for financial integrity. This publication, aimed at Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) and regulatory authorities in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), provides a comprehensive technical, regulatory, and operational reference on virtual assets. It covers foundational blockchain technology, virtual asset categories, regional adoption trends, illicit finance typologies, beneficial ownership challenges, transaction reporting standards, and cryptoasset recovery frameworks. The document addresses the structural gap between fast-evolving technology and slower-adapting regulatory systems, compounded by institutional asymmetries across LAC jurisdictions. Drawing on FATF standards--particularly Immediate Outcomes 6, 7, and 8--and cross-country experiences, it debunks common myths about cryptocurrency anonymity and recovery complexity, while providing actionable guidance for investigations, seizures, and international cooperation. The publication advocates for risk-based, proportionate regulation grounded in technical understanding, public-private partnerships, and regional coordination, offering a roadmap to strengthen AML/CFT/CPF resilience across the region in the virtual assets era.
UR  - https://doi.org/10.18235/0014600
ER  -