The path to regulating cryptocurrencies in the European Union and in the Republic of Lithuania

Abstract

Money laundering is regarded as being among the most serious types of financial crime, harming economy and affecting society. Along with constantly developing technological advancements, the scale of money laundering offences has also been pushed to new heights. The existing legal framework's works towards reducing the loopholes posed by current financial instruments, however those with a desire to engage in illicit activities continue to devise new strategies, creating new, possibly unforeseen threats to financial integrity. The focus of this thesis is to comprehend and analyze the European Union's Anti-Money laundering regulatory framework towards mitigating the risks of money laundering though cryptocurrencies and reduce the regulatory scope by looking at the regulatory framework of one of the European Union's member states - the Republic of Lithuania.