In a candid conversation, Deepthi Machavaram, Head of Financial Crimes Digital at Morgan Stanley, outlined how the once-niche crypto landscape has become a focal point for financial crime. The pseudonymous, borderless nature of blockchain enables both innovation and exploitation.

Techniques like sanctions evasion, DeFi-based laundering, and complex fraud schemes—including phishing attacks targeting even compliance professionals—highlight the challenges faced by financial institutions. Recovery is often impossible, as decentralized systems offer no central authority to reverse fraudulent transactions.

To combat this, Machavaram emphasizes the growing role of AI in enhancing blockchain analytics, enabling institutions to better identify high-risk wallet addresses and suspicious transaction patterns.

However, technology alone is not enough. Institutions must also invest in dynamic control infrastructures and continuous training. Regulatory arbitrage across jurisdictions and the lack of oversight over decentralized platforms make it essential for professionals to stay informed, collaborate across the industry, and maintain a strong grasp of evolving threats.

Events like Financial Crime USA provide valuable, real-world case studies that reinforce vigilance and prepare practitioners for the fast-changing compliance landscape.