Nils Silinevics
Partner · AML & Crypto Compliance · Former FIU Investigator
Kraken's Anti-Money Laundering / Counter Financing of Terrorism program flagged your account for review. Kraken openly documents their AML-CFT framework — including the three stages of money laundering (placement, layering, integration) and their three-component review system (CIP, CDD, Ongoing Monitoring). Our lead partner spent 7+ years as a Senior AML/CFT Investigator at a European FIU — he understands Kraken's documented framework because he operated under the same EU AML directives that regulate Kraken through the Central Bank of Ireland.
Kraken's published AML framework: Kraken is uniquely transparent — their Compliance Hub describes CDD, EDD, Source of Wealth/Funds requirements, SAR filing obligations, and KYC components. They even explain the three stages of money laundering and how their system detects each. We use this transparency to our advantage: we reference Kraken's own published criteria to demonstrate why your account doesn't meet their flags.
Egmont Group and Moneyval: Kraken operates under the CBI, which participates in Egmont Group (global FIU cooperation network) and is assessed by Moneyval. Our lead partner worked with both organizations during his FIU career. This shared regulatory framework means we speak exactly the same compliance language as Kraken's regulatory supervisors.
SAR procedures: Kraken openly acknowledges filing SARs with regulators. If your AML review involves a SAR filing, the tipping-off prohibition applies. But because Kraken publishes their SAR triggers, we can assess the likelihood of a SAR and structure your responses accordingly.
If Kraken exceeds these timeframes, we escalate through the Central Bank of Ireland (for EU users) or FinCEN (for US users), referencing Kraken's own published AML-CFT program standards.
Kraken's AML-CFT Program has three components: Customer Identification Program (CIP) for identity verification, Customer Due Diligence (CDD) for ongoing risk assessment, and Ongoing Monitoring for transaction surveillance. Your account was flagged when the Ongoing Monitoring system detected patterns matching money laundering typologies — or when a CDD review identified risk factors that require enhanced scrutiny. Kraken documents these typologies publicly, which allows us to identify the likely trigger.
Yes — Kraken openly acknowledges their SAR filing obligations. They're required to file Suspicious Activity Reports with the relevant financial intelligence unit when their monitoring identifies potentially suspicious activity. They cannot tell you if a SAR has been filed. Our former FIU investigator understands SAR procedures from the receiving end — he evaluated thousands of SARs professionally. This experience shapes how we structure your compliance response.
Yes. Kraken operates through Payward Europe Solutions Limited and Payward Global Solutions Limited, both regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. EU users can file complaints with the CBI, which gives us regulatory leverage that doesn't exist with unregulated exchanges. We advise on whether regulatory complaint is appropriate for your specific case.
Yes — Kraken's support chatbot responds to the phrase "I can't withdraw" with information about any active holds on your account. This can tell you if you have a security-based hold (time-limited, with a specific expiry) or a compliance-triggered hold (requires action). Try this first — but if the chatbot confirms a compliance hold, you'll need professional help to resolve it.
Inherited crypto, accounts under another name, unprovable source of funds — situations other firms decline.
Often triggered alongside AML review. See how we handle source-of-funds documentation on Kraken.
In-depth guide on crypto AML laws across Europe — documentation, legal strategy, and timelines.
How anti-money-laundering rules differ across Germany, UK, Switzerland, France, and more.
Tell us what triggered the AML review and what documentation they requested. We respond within 6 hours.