With the proliferation of cryptocurrencies, new opportunities have emerged for committing financial crimes, including money laundering, terrorist financing, and other illegal activities. The unique features of these currencies—such as anonymity, decentralization, and transnationality—have posed significant challenges to traditional legal and regulatory systems. This article provides a comprehensive review of legal frameworks and international efforts to address these crimes, emphasizing the pivotal role of international documents such as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Merida Convention), Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards, and Group of 20 (G20) recommendations in regulating and mitigating the risks associated with digital currencies.
The present research employs a descriptive-analytical method to evaluate these frameworks and demonstrates that the Merida Convention, by establishing legal foundations to combat organized crimes and criminalizing money laundering, alongside the FATF, by developing specific standards and guidelines for preventing money laundering and terrorist financing, and the G20, by promoting regulatory recommendations and risk management related to digital currencies, have collectively contributed to fostering international coordination and cooperation in combating these crimes.
The findings of this research indicate that, in order to effectively address emerging crimes related to digital currencies, it is essential to utilize existing frameworks while also fostering transnational cooperation and continuously updating laws and regulations. This article underscores the necessity of developing regulatory and legal frameworks at the global level, strengthening international cooperation, and enhancing supervisory capabilities through the application of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and data analysis to combat digital currency crimes.