Compliance Radar
Who was sanctioned, and for what?
Fines, court rulings and incidents from Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Middle East: 1,929 cases from 40 jurisdictions, each with an official source and checked against that source before publication. Filter by country, area of law and sector. Click a chart to drill down one level.
Click a bar to drill down one level.
Where?
by authority- Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) €52.4m 99 % · 6 cases
- Financial Services Regulatory Authority (ADGM) €509,890 1 % · 2 cases
- Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), Dubai – 0 % · 4 cases
What for?
by topicWho?
by company- Wechselstube (anonymisiert) €48.4m 92 % · 1 case
- Sundus Exchange €2.35m 4 % · 1 case
- Wechselstube (anonymisiert, Sanktion vom 19.02.2025) €913,388 2 % · 1 case
- Bank (anonymisiert) €697,653 1 % · 1 case
- Aarna Capital Limited €479,179 1 % · 1 case
- Payward MENA Holdings Limited €30,711 0 % · 1 case
- Al Nahdi Exchange – 0 % · 1 case
- CoinMENA FZE – 0 % · 1 case
- Gomti Exchange – 0 % · 1 case
- Morpheus Software Technology FZE (Fuze) – 0 % · 1 case
- 2 more€0
When?
per quarter, by date of decision| Period | Cases | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Q4 2023 | 0 | – |
| Q1 2024 | 0 | – |
| Q2 2024 | 0 | – |
| Q3 2024 | 0 | – |
| Q4 2024 | 1 | €479,179 |
| Q1 2025 | 1 | €913,388 |
| Q2 2025 | 2 | €50.8m |
| Q3 2025 | 4 | €697,653 |
| Q4 2025 | 1 | €30,711 |
| Q1 2026 | 0 | – |
| Q2 2026 | 2 | – |
| Q3 2026 | 1 | – |
| Q4 2026 | 0 | – |
12 cases
24 Jul 2026 Shelbit General Trading L.L.CVARA sanctions Shelbit again for unlicensed crypto services, missing KYC and promotion Fine
Despite a cease-and-desist notice and enforcement action of 2 January 2025, the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA, Dubai's virtual assets regulator) found that Shelbit General Trading L.L.C (Shelbit Exchange) continued to provide virtual asset services in and from Dubai without a licence, onboarded users without the mandatory KYC checks and promoted its services without authorisation. VARA again imposed fines of an undisclosed amount and ordered it to cease immediately; according to the regulator, the risk identified also concerned cross-border transactions with possible consequences for the integrity of the UAE financial system.
Disregarding a cease-and-desist order leads to further sanctions – the regulator keeps monitoring the market after the first action.
Compliance with cease-and-desist orders and KYC obligations
- Authority / court
- Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), Dubai
- Area of law
- Money laundering and terrorist financing · Customer due diligence
- Legal basis
- Federal Decree-Law No. (10) of 2025 (AML/CFT/PF); Cabinet Resolution No. (111) of 2022; Dubai Law No. (4) of 2022 Regulating Virtual Assets in the Emirate of Dubai; VARA Regulations and Rulebooks
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Financial services and insurance
- Repeat case
- yes
- Published
- 24 Jul 2026
- VARA: Notice of Fines – Shelbit General Trading L.L.C (24.07.2026) Press release of an authority
- VARA: Enforcement – Enforcement Actions (Einträge Shelbit General Trading L.L.C, 2026/07/24 und 2025/01/02) Enforcement database of an authority
- VARA Notice of Fines – Shelbit General Trading L.L.C (PDF, von vara.ae verlinkt) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link
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17 Jun 2026 MX Global Ltd (MEXC)VARA fines MX Global (MEXC) for unlicensed crypto services and missing KYC Fine
According to investigations by the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA, Dubai's virtual assets regulator), MX Global Ltd, which trades under the MEXC brand, provided broker-dealer and/or exchange services to customers in Dubai without a licence from 2022 to April 2026 and onboarded users without the KYC checks required by law. VARA imposed fines of an undisclosed amount and ordered the immediate cessation of all unlicensed activities in or from Dubai; other group companies were expressly not affected.
Serving customers in a market requires a licence there – and local KYC obligations must be met regardless.
Licensing requirement and KYC for cross-border crypto services
- Authority / court
- Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), Dubai
- Area of law
- Money laundering and terrorist financing · Customer due diligence
- Legal basis
- Federal Decree-Law No. (10) of 2025 (AML/CFT/PF); Dubai Law No. (4) of 2022 Regulating Virtual Assets in the Emirate of Dubai; Cabinet Resolution No. 111/2022; VARA Regulations and Rulebooks
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Financial services and insurance
- Mitigating circumstances
- Full cooperation, compliance with the cease-and-desist orders and a stated intention to apply for a VARA licence.
- Published
- 22 Jun 2026
- VARA: Notice of Fines – MX Global LTD (MEXC) (22.06.2026) Press release of an authority
- VARA: Enforcement – Enforcement Actions (Eintrag MX Holdings Ltd (MEXC), 2026/06/17) Enforcement database of an authority
- VARA Notice of Fines – MX Global LTD (MEXC) (PDF, von vara.ae verlinkt) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link
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3 Jun 2026 CoinMENA FZEVARA fines CoinMENA over failings in its anti-money laundering programme Fine
The Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA, Dubai's virtual assets regulator) had licensed CoinMENA FZE to provide broker-dealer services on 30 November 2023. In ongoing supervisory inspections covering its entire market operations from the outset up to and including the 2025 financial year, VARA found administrative weaknesses in internal systems and controls that led to compliance failures in the company's anti-money laundering programme. VARA imposed a fine, the amount of which was not published.
Even a licensed provider must keep its anti-money laundering programme aligned with its actual operations – the regulator reviews the entire period of operation.
Internal controls in the AML programmes of crypto service providers
- Authority / court
- Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), Dubai
- Area of law
- Money laundering and terrorist financing · Internal controls
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Financial services and insurance
- Mitigating circumstances
- Full cooperation, acceptance of the findings and a coordinated remediation plan.
- Published
- 22 Jun 2026
- VARA: Notice of Fines – CoinMENA FZE (22.06.2026) Press release of an authority
- VARA: Enforcement – Enforcement Actions (Eintrag CoinMENA FZE, 2026/06/03) Enforcement database of an authority
- VARA Notice of Fines – CoinMENA FZE (PDF, von vara.ae verlinkt) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link
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17 Dec 2025 Payward MENA Holdings LimitedADGM: allegedly 36,000 USD fine for Payward MENA Holdings over five years of late AML returns €30,711
The FSRA (Financial Services Regulatory Authority, the financial regulator of Abu Dhabi Global Market, ADGM) fined the operator of a multilateral trading facility, which also held a custody permission, allegedly 36,000 USD because it did not file its annual AML returns for 2020 to 2024 until 16 December 2025 despite numerous reminders and did not pay the late filing fees of 2,000 USD in total. The regulator also found inadequate systems and controls; in correspondence the firm pointed to internal issues and to the departure of the user registered for the reporting portal. Without the 20% discount for early settlement the fine would have been 45,000 USD.
Regulatory returns need clear ownership and portal access that survives staff changes.
Timely regulatory returns to the supervisor
- Authority / court
- Financial Services Regulatory Authority (ADGM)
- Area of law
- Money laundering and terrorist financing · Internal controls
- Legal basis
- Section 232 Financial Services and Markets Regulations 2015 (FSMR); AML Rule 4.6.1; GEN Rule 2.2.3 (Principle 3); FEES Rule 1.2.7
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Financial services and insurance
- Repeat case
- no
- Mitigating circumstances
- Full cooperation, remediation, no previous non-compliance, limited scale of business with few clients and no customer loss identified (10% reduction); 20% discount for early settlement.
Original amount 36,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 17 Dec 2025.
- FSRA Final Notice an Payward MENA Holdings Limited vom 17. Dezember 2025 Decision of an authority
- ADGM FSRA Regulatory Actions and Sanctions (Durchsetzungsliste) Enforcement database of an authority
Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link
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18 Aug 2025 Morpheus Software Technology FZE (Fuze)VARA sanctions crypto provider Fuze over AML failings and activity outside its licence Fine
An investigation by the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA, Dubai's virtual assets regulator) that began on 15 April 2025 found failures in the anti-money laundering programme, governance, compliance and internal controls of Morpheus Software Technology FZE (Fuze), licensed since October 2023. The company had also intentionally carried out virtual asset activities in breach of its licence conditions and failed to disclose material facts to the regulator. VARA imposed a fine of an undisclosed amount, issued a cease-and-desist order according to its enforcement list, and ordered the appointment of a Skilled Person to oversee remediation.
Licensed providers must stay within the scope of their licence and disclose material facts to the regulator – otherwise fines and external monitoring follow.
AML programme, licence boundaries and disclosure to the regulator
- Authority / court
- Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), Dubai
- Area of law
- Money laundering and terrorist financing · Internal controls
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Financial services and insurance
- Culpability
- intentional
- Mitigating circumstances
- The company accepted the findings and proposed a remediation plan.
- Published
- 18 Aug 2025
- VARA: Notice of Fines – Morpheus Software Technology FZE (18.08.2025) Press release of an authority
- VARA: Enforcement – Enforcement Actions (Eintrag MORPHEUS SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY FZE (FUZE), 2025/08/18) Enforcement database of an authority
- VARA Notice of Fines – Morpheus Software Technology FZE (PDF, von vara.ae verlinkt) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link
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31 Jul 2025 Gomti ExchangeCBUAE revokes Gomti Exchange's licence over AML and sanctions failings Other
The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) revoked the licence of the exchange house Gomti Exchange and struck it off the register (Article 137 of Decretal Federal Law No. 14 of 2018). Examinations had found significant failures by the company to comply with the framework for combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism and illegal organisations and with the sanctions framework.
For exchange houses, anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance are at the core of licence obligations – significant gaps can lead to the loss of authorisation.
AML and sanctions compliance at exchange houses
- Authority / court
- Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE)
- Area of law
- Money laundering and terrorist financing · Internal controls
- Legal basis
- Art. 137 Decretal Federal Law No. (14) of 2018 regarding the Central Bank and Organisation of Financial Institutions and Activities
- Action
- Other
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Financial services and insurance
- Published
- 31 Jul 2025
- CBUAE: CBUAE revokes licence of Gomti Exchange (Pressemitteilung, PDF, 31.07.2025) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link
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30 Jul 2025 Al Nahdi ExchangeCBUAE revokes Al Nahdi Exchange's licence over AML and sanctions failings Other
Central Bank examinations found significant failures by the exchange house to comply with the framework for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and illegal organisations and with sanctions requirements. The CBUAE revoked the licence and struck the exchange house off the register.
Where AML and sanctions compliance is seriously deficient, payment service providers face not just a fine but the end of their licence.
AML and sanctions compliance in exchange houses
- Authority / court
- Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE)
- Area of law
- Money laundering and terrorist financing · Internal controls
- Legal basis
- Art. 137 Decretal Federal Law No. (14) of 2018 regarding the Central Bank and Organisation of Financial Institutions and Activities
- Action
- Other
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Financial services and insurance
- Published
- 30 Jul 2025
- CBUAE: CBUAE revokes licence of Al Nahdi Exchange (Pressemitteilung, PDF, 30.07.2025) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link
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10 Jul 2025 Bank (anonymisiert)CBUAE: AED 3m on a bank for breaching AML requirements €697,653
Central Bank examinations found that an unnamed bank had not complied with the CBUAE's instructions implementing the anti-money laundering law. The CBUAE imposed a financial sanction of AED 3,000,000.
Supervisory instructions on AML are binding – examinations uncover implementation gaps and lead to financial sanctions.
Implementing supervisory AML instructions in banks
- Authority / court
- Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE)
- Area of law
- Money laundering and terrorist financing · Internal controls
- Legal basis
- Art. 14 Federal Decree Law No. (20) of 2018 on AML/CFT; Art. 137 Decretal Federal Law No. (14) of 2018 regarding the Central Bank
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Financial services and insurance
- Published
- 10 Jul 2025
Original amount 3,000,000 AED, converted at the ECB reference rate of 10 Jul 2025.
- CBUAE: CBUAE imposes a financial sanction of AED 3 million on a bank (Pressemitteilung, PDF, 10.07.2025) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link
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17 Jun 2025 Sundus ExchangeCBUAE revokes Sundus Exchange's licence and fines it AED 10m over AML breaches €2.35m
The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) revoked the licence of the exchange house Sundus Exchange, struck it off the register and fined it AED 10 million under Article 14 of the anti-money laundering law (Federal Decree Law No. 20 of 2018). The measures were based on examination findings of failures and breaches of the framework for combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism and illegal organisations.
For payment and exchange businesses, anti-money laundering breaches can lead to a fine and loss of licence at the same time.
AML obligations of exchange houses
- Authority / court
- Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE)
- Area of law
- Money laundering and terrorist financing · Internal controls
- Legal basis
- Art. 14 Federal Decree Law No. (20) of 2018 on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organisations
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Financial services and insurance
- Published
- 17 Jun 2025
Original amount 10,000,000 AED, converted at the ECB reference rate of 17 Jun 2025.
Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link
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20 May 2025 Wechselstube (anonymisiert)CBUAE fines exchange house AED 200m over serious AML failings €48.4m
The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) fined an unnamed exchange house AED 200 million under Article 137 of the central bank law (Decretal Federal Law No. 14 of 2018). CBUAE examinations had found significant failures in the company's framework for combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism and illegal organisations.
Weaknesses in an anti-money laundering framework can trigger very large fines.
AML frameworks at exchange houses
- Authority / court
- Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE)
- Area of law
- Money laundering and terrorist financing · Internal controls
- Legal basis
- Art. 137 Decretal Federal Law No. (14) of 2018 Regarding the Central Bank and Organization of Financial Institutions and Activities
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Financial services and insurance
- Liability of senior managers
- Measures against individuals are not set out here.
- Published
- 20 May 2025
Original amount 200,000,000 AED, converted at the ECB reference rate of 20 May 2025.
- CBUAE: CBUAE Imposes a financial sanction of AED 200 million on an Exchange House (Pressemitteilung, PDF, 20.05.2025) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link
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19 Feb 2025 Wechselstube (anonymisiert, Sanktion vom 19.02.2025)CBUAE: AED 3.5m on an exchange house for AML breaches €913,388
Following an examination, the Central Bank found that an unnamed exchange house had not complied with its policies and procedures for combating money laundering and terrorist financing. The CBUAE imposed a financial sanction of AED 3.5 million.
Exchange houses are under close AML supervision – gaps between policy and practice are punished with sums in the millions.
AML prevention in exchange houses
- Authority / court
- Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE)
- Area of law
- Money laundering and terrorist financing · Internal controls
- Legal basis
- Art. 14 Federal Decree Law No. (20) of 2018 on AML/CFT
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Financial services and insurance
- Published
- 19 Feb 2025
Original amount 3,500,000 AED, converted at the ECB reference rate of 19 Feb 2025.
- CBUAE: CBUAE Imposes Financial Sanction on an Exchange House Operating in the UAE (Pressemitteilung, PDF, 19.02.2025) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link
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13 Dec 2024 Aarna Capital LimitedADGM: allegedly 504,000 USD fine for broker Aarna Capital over KYC and monitoring failures €479,179
The FSRA (Financial Services Regulatory Authority, the financial regulator of Abu Dhabi Global Market, ADGM) fined the broker for professional clients allegedly 504,000 USD for inadequate anti-money laundering controls between June 2017 and January 2023. In a review of 42 client relationships the regulator found that twelve clients should have been rated high risk because of relevant risk factors, so enhanced due diligence and annual reviews did not take place; documentation, risk-based updating of customer data, transaction monitoring and procedures to detect suspicious activity were also inadequate. The regulator identified no specific instances of money laundering; without the 20% discount for early settlement the fine would have been 630,000 USD.
A risk rating that is too lenient undermines every downstream control, from enhanced due diligence to periodic review.
Customer risk rating and ongoing transaction monitoring
- Authority / court
- Financial Services Regulatory Authority (ADGM)
- Area of law
- Money laundering and terrorist financing · Customer due diligence
- Legal basis
- Section 232 FSMR 2015; AML Rules 4.1.1(1), 4.1.1(2)(a) und (d), 4.5.1(b), 4.5.3, 7.1.1, 8.1.2(1), 8.6.1(a), 14.2.1
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Financial services and insurance
- Mitigating circumstances
- No previous breaches of the AML rules (though earlier action over CRS reporting duties), cooperation and remediation including an external gap analysis (10% reduction); 20% discount for early settlement.
Original amount 504,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 13 Dec 2024.
- FSRA Final Notice an Aarna Capital Limited vom 13. Dezember 2024 Decision of an authority
- ADGM FSRA Regulatory Actions and Sanctions (Durchsetzungsliste) Enforcement database of an authority
Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link