When it comes to global crypto rules, the unified set of laws and enforcement standards that govern how cryptocurrencies are traded, taxed, and monitored across countries. Also known as international cryptocurrency regulations, these rules now dictate whether an exchange stays open or gets shut down—no matter where it’s based. This isn’t about theory. It’s about real money, real fines, and real jail time.
Take KYC crypto, the requirement for exchanges to verify users’ real-world identities before allowing trades. Also known as Know Your Customer, it’s no longer optional in over 120 countries. South Korea’s Upbit got slapped with a $34 billion potential fine for skipping it. Canada seized $40 million from TradeOgre because it didn’t check IDs. Even small exchanges like Bitsonic are locked to Korean speakers only because they can’t meet global standards. If you’re trading without KYC, you’re not being clever—you’re being targeted.
Then there’s AML crypto, anti-money laundering systems that track suspicious transactions and flag crypto moving through dark pools or mixers. Also known as anti-money laundering compliance, it’s the reason why privacy coins like Monero are now under heavy scrutiny. The FATF Travel Rule, a global standard requiring exchanges to share sender and receiver info for transfers over $1,000. Also known as VASP rule, it’s forcing platforms to change their entire architecture. You can’t just send crypto anonymously anymore. Platforms that tried—like LongBit and AnimeSwap—turned out to be fake. The real ones? They’re building compliance in from day one.
These rules aren’t slowing crypto down—they’re cleaning it up. The scams you see? The fake airdrops, the ghost exchanges, the meme coins with zero code? They don’t survive under global crypto rules. They get exposed. The projects that stick around? They follow the law. They audit. They verify. They report.
What you’ll find below isn’t a list of opinions. It’s a record of what happened when global crypto rules hit real platforms. From Vietnam’s Bvnex vanishing to Canada shutting down TradeOgre, from Upbit’s billion-dollar penalty to the quiet death of fake tokens like CovidToken and HyperGraph—these are the stories of compliance in action. You won’t find fluff here. Just facts. And what they mean for your next move.
Crypto regulations are changing fast in 2025. The U.S. is easing enforcement, the EU is enforcing MiCAR, Asia is attracting business with clear rules, and global bodies are pushing for cross-border compliance. Here’s what you need to know to stay legal.