AMLR Applies: CASP Ban on Privacy Coins
European Union · Real World Events · July 10, 2027
EU AMLR applies from July 10, 2027: crypto-asset service providers may no longer hold anonymous accounts or anonymity-enhancing coins like XMR, ZEC.
The EU Anti-Money Laundering Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 (AMLR), applies from July 10, 2027 under Article 90. Article 79(1) prohibits credit institutions, financial institutions and crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) from keeping anonymous crypto-asset accounts or any account that allows anonymisation or increased obfuscation of transactions, including through anonymity-enhancing coins. The AMLR defines anonymity-enhancing coins as crypto-assets with built-in features that make transfer information anonymous, systematically or optionally, which in practice covers privacy coins such as Monero (XMR) and shielded Zcash (ZEC) transfers. Recital 160 clarifies that the ban does not cover self-hosted wallet, hardware or software providers without control over user assets. The rule is a key regulatory deadline for EU crypto exchanges, MiCA-licensed CASPs and privacy coin liquidity in Europe; expect delistings of privacy coins by EU-regulated platforms ahead of the date.