This is the CBI’s first major public enforcement action against a crypto-services provider, underscoring the increasing regulatory scrutiny on digital asset firms operating in Europe.
The Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) announced a significant enforcement action on November 6, fining Coinbase Europe Limited a substantial €21.46 million for egregious breaches of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Terrorist Financing (CFT) obligations.
Failures and consequences
The penalty stems from faults in the configuration of Coinbase Europe’s transaction-monitoring system, which failed to properly monitor over 30 million transactions—amounting to more than €176 billion in value—over a 12-month period.
The failure severely delayed the exchange’s ability to identify and file Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs). The Central Bank stated that it took the firm nearly three years to fully complete the monitoring of the affected transactions, leading to the delayed reporting of 2,708 STRs related to serious criminal activities, including drug-trafficking and cyber-attacks.
Regulatory stance
The CBI emphasized that the failure to maintain robust monitoring systems creates an opportunity for criminals to evade detection. The fine, which was reduced by 30% under a settlement discount scheme (from an initial determination of €30.7 million), sends a clear message that compliance and security must be a core priority, especially given crypto’s cross-border nature and appeal to illicit actors.
This landmark fine confirms the zero-tolerance approach regulators are taking toward non-compliance, forcing crypto exchanges to adopt institutional-grade financial monitoring standards.