Crypto OTC Trading Desk Secured Annual $2 Billion+ with Real-Time AML Screening

February 15, 2026

AnChain.AI strengthened our AML and compliance infrastructure, securing over $2 billion in annual OTC cryptocurrency trading volume and giving us confidence to scale responsibly.”
— Partner, Crypto OTC Trading Desk

Executive Summary

A leading crypto OTC trading desk with more than $2 billion in annual trading volume partnered with AnChain.AI to implement real-time API-based Anti Money Laundering (AML) screening and on-chain transaction monitoring.
The result:

Real-time screening of all inbound and outbound crypto transactions
100% wallet monitoring coverage across counterparties
85% reduction in manual investigation time
Operational cost savings equivalent to 3+ compliance professionals
Increased confidence to onboard new institutional clients

The Challenge: Scaling Compliance for Billion-Dollar OTC Crypto Volume

Founded in 2015, the OTC desk operates across globally, executing high-volume block trades and proprietary strategies across major digital assets.

While the firm maintained strong fiat AML/KYC controls, on-chain transaction monitoring presented new challenges:

Manual wallet screening processes
Limited visibility into DeFi, cross-chain flows, and mixer exposure
Growing regulatory scrutiny from U.S. and global authorities
Rising compliance costs tied to expanding customer onboarding

The OTC desk recognized the need for real-time, automated blockchain risk monitoring.

Example: High Risk Tracer that help OTC desk AML team quickly review source of funding for a new onboarded OTC trader.

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Do You Know?

As regulators increased enforcement around crypto AML obligations under the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and Travel Rule requirements (FinCEN)https://www.fincen.gov

OFAC sanctions compliance requirementshttps://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions

And NYDFS virtual currency guidance for VASPshttps://www.dfs.ny.gov NYDFS latest guidance on Sept 17, 2025‍

https://www.dfs.ny.gov/reports_and_publications/press_releases/pr20250917

The Regulatory Environment: Heightened Enforcement and On-Chain Scrutiny

The rapid growth of digital assets has led to increased regulatory enforcement:

FinCEN guidance clarifying AML obligations for VASPs under the BSA
OFAC enforcement actions against crypto platforms processing sanctioned transactions
NYDFS cybersecurity and AML expectations for regulated entities
Global FATF Travel Rule implementation for digital assets

Regulators now expect:

Continuous transaction monitoring
Risk-based wallet screening
Sanctions screening across blockchain addresses
Auditability and explainability of AML decisions

For a multi-billion-dollar OTC desk, manual processes were no longer sustainable.

The Solution: Real-Time AML Screening via AnChain.AI API

The OTC desk integrated AnChain.AI’s real-time AML screening API and CISO™ platform into its trading workflow.

Key Capabilities Implemented

Real-time wallet risk scoring before trade execution
Continuous monitoring of customer and counterparty wallets
Cross-chain intelligence and entity clustering
Know Your VASP (KYV) intelligence
Automated alerts for sanctioned or high-risk exposure
Portfolio-level address management

Instead of manually checking blockchain flows, the firm now screens every transaction programmatically through API calls before settlement.

Measurable Results

$2 Billion+ Annual Volume Screened in Real Time

All OTC transactions are screened against sanctions, illicit typologies, and high-risk clusters before execution.

‍85% Reduction in Investigation Time

Auto-Trace AI maps complex fund flows across wallets and chains in seconds.

‍Operational Efficiency Gains

More than three full-time compliance personnel were redeployed to higher-value analytical work.

‍Scalable Client Onboarding

With automated screening in place, the desk confidently expanded its customer base without proportionally increasing compliance headcount.

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Example: Auto-Report generates SAR, CTR, and CARF-compatible crypto filings in seconds—eliminating hours of manual data collection required by traditional AML systems.

Business Impact

Before implementing AnChain.AI, the OTC desk was cautious about expanding trading volume due to rising AML monitoring complexity.

After deployment:

On-chain AML became automated and continuous
Regulatory audit readiness improved
Institutional counterparties gained confidence
The firm achieved annual trading targets while strengthening compliance posture

Conclusion

By integrating real-time AML API screening and AI-driven blockchain intelligence, the OTC trading desk transformed compliance from a cost center into a scalable infrastructure advantage.

As regulatory expectations from FinCEN, OFAC, and NYDFS continue to evolve, real-time blockchain risk intelligence is no longer optional—it is foundational.

AnChain.AI enables crypto trading firms to operate at billion-dollar scale with transparency, auditability, and regulatory confidence.

Get your Real Time Crypto AML screening API : anchain.ai/data‍
Schedule a call today: anchain.ai/demo

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