Ireland targets crypto transfers in first national AML strategy

The crypto firms face tighter transfer requirements as the government strengthens anti-money laundering controls through 2030.

Ireland has published its first national strategy for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing, setting out the government’s priorities for the 2026–2030 period.

The strategy identifies stronger oversight of crypto-assets and crypto transfers as part of a wider programme covering national coordination, regulation, enforcement capacity and international cooperation. Ireland also plans to complete the national implementation of the EU Transfer of Funds Regulation, which extends the bloc’s ‘travel rule’ to crypto-asset transfers.

Under the EU regulation, crypto-asset service providers must ensure that information about the originator and beneficiary accompanies transfers handled by regulated intermediaries. For transfers exceeding €1,000 that involve a self-hosted address, the provider must assess whether its customer owns or controls the address.

Providers must also maintain risk-based procedures for identifying missing or incomplete information. Depending on the circumstances, they may request further details or suspend, return or reject a transfer. People do not become regulated service providers merely by holding or transferring crypto through self-hosted wallets.