CRYPTO CRIMES: MONEY LAUNDERING AND COUNTERING MEASURES IN THE EU

Since the first appearance of the cryptocurrencies, criminals found ways to exploit their great capabilities to commit illicit actions. One of the most common crimes related with cryptocurrencies is money laundering. Law makers have, since then, tried to address the Money laundering issue. This thesis will firstly provide an insight on the working mechanisms of cryptos and the European Directive known as AMLD5. Later on, the focus will shift on the main crypto money laundering methods used by criminals, describing them and giving examples. In the last part, then, the methods used to prevent Money Laundering and issues concerning the existing European regulation will be addressed.