ACAMS Boston Chapter March 2026 Event: Crypto’s Second Act: What AML Professionals Need to Know in 2026

Overview

As digital assets shift from niche innovation to embedded financial infrastructure, AML and financial crime professionals are increasingly expected to understand not only the underlying technology but also the business models, risks, and regulatory signals shaping today’s crypto ecosystem. This session is designed for compliance officers, investigators, examiners, law enforcement, and consultants—especially those in traditional banking and credit union environments—who want a practical, policy‑aware framework for engaging with crypto in 2026 and beyond.

The presentation opens with a streamlined Bitcoin and blockchain “101,” grounding attendees in the essentials of decentralized networks, public ledgers, wallets, keys, and how transactions move across a blockchain. The goal is not deep technical mastery but establishing a shared vocabulary. With this baseline, participants will understand how crypto differs from traditional payment rails, where those differences create investigative advantages, and where they introduce new AML considerations.

The discussion then moves to crypto business models, with a focused look at crypto kiosks, exchanges, OTC desks, payment processors, and lending platforms. Attendees will learn how these businesses operate day‑to‑day, the inherent financial crime risks within each model, and how those risks can be mitigated—or worsened—by design and controls. Perspectives from crypto companies, their banking partners, and law enforcement will highlight real‑world fraud typologies, transaction monitoring challenges, consumer protection issues, and investigative opportunities unique to blockchain‑based activity.

Next, the session explores stablecoins, now central to crypto markets and increasingly relevant to payments. We will examine how stablecoins work, why they are viewed as emerging financial infrastructure, and how the GENIUS Act seeks to address reserve management, redemption rights, and issuer supervision. Emphasis will be placed on why stablecoins matter to banks and compliance teams even if institutions are not directly issuing or custodying them.

The presentation will then address current U.S. legislative and market‑structure developments, including the CLARITY Act and ongoing federal efforts to define agency authority. This naturally leads to a deeper focus on state‑level activity, where much of the meaningful policy movement continues to occur. We will recap why last year was uniquely active for states and why 2026 may see even more momentum—highlighting how state initiatives often move faster, experiment with new regulatory approaches, and directly impact day‑to‑day compliance obligations.

An emerging area of interest—prediction markets—will also be examined. Attendees will learn how these platforms function, how they intersect with crypto markets, and why they are gaining traction. The discussion will outline where prediction markets touch payments, custody, and on‑/off‑ramp activity, as well as the regulatory and enforcement questions they raise for financial crime professionals.

The session concludes with a forward‑looking discussion tying together technology, business models, and policy trends, followed by Q&A. Throughout, real‑world examples, enforcement themes, and practical takeaways will equip attendees with the context and confidence needed to engage thoughtfully with crypto‑related risks, opportunities, and regulatory expectations in the years ahead.

Agenda

Registration Opens: 4:30 pm
Presentations Start: 5:00 pm
Presentation Ends: 6:00 pm
Close of event: 6:15 pm
Networking Hour: 6:15 – 7:30 pm 

Venue

Cambridge Saving Bank
81 Wyman Street
Waltham, MA 02451