EU moves to ban privacy coins and anonymous wallets by 2027

• Under new AML regulations, privacy coins like Monero (XMR) and Zcash (ZEC) will be banned in the EU by July 2027.

• The market reacts swiftly as XMR and ZEC prices drop, with traders shifting to jurisdictions like Dubai for regulatory relief. 

The European Union has finalized its decision to ban privacy coins and anonymous cryptocurrency wallets by July 1, 2027, marking a decisive turn in the bloc’s anti-money laundering (AML) strategy. 

Under the newly adopted Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (AMLR), crypto assets that enable anonymous transactions—such as Monero (XMR), Zcash (ZEC), and Dash—will be prohibited across the EU. The move represents a broader effort by regulators to align digital assets with traditional financial systems to reduce illicit economic activity.

EU TO BAN ANONYMOUS CRYPTO ACCOUNTS AND PRIVACY COINS IN 2027

— The Wolf Of All Streets (@scottmelker) May 2, 2025

The AMLR mandates that all crypto asset service providers (CASPs), financial institutions, and exchanges cease supporting privacy-preserving tokens or accounts that obscure customer identity.

The Article 79 of the EU new regulatory plan specifically prohibits the usage and maintenance of anonymous crypto assets , and it was further reaffirmed by the European Crypto Initiative’s newest AML Handbook. 

According to regulators, the rules are designed to remove loopholes in existing AML policies that have allowed crypto users to bypass the transparency standards required of conventional banking systems.

Direct Supervision and Market Impact Set to Reshape EU Crypto Landscape

The ban is accompanied by the formation of a centralized enforcement body—the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA)—which will oversee the implementation of the new framework. Starting in July 2027, AMLA will begin supervising at least 40 CASPs across six or more EU member states. 

The regulation also imposes tighter requirements on crypto transactions. Any single transfer that’s above 1,000 euro will now require the sender and receiver’s identity verification before to the transfer to be completed.

These new rules will aid EU’s evolving regulatory plans, following previous frameworks such as Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). While the full implementation details are still pending through delegated and implementing acts handled by the European Banking Authority, the core legislative direction is now irreversible.

The immediate market response has already begun. Monero (XMR) and Zcash (ZEC) saw significant price declines following the announcement. XMR dropped 7.2% from $128.45 to $119.20, while ZEC declined by 5.8% to $21.76 within two hours of the news on May 2, 2025.

Privacy Advocates Push Back While Market Shifts Toward Crypto-Friendly Jurisdictions

Critics argue the EU’s approach is overreaching. Privacy advocates, including journalists and activists, warn that blanket bans on anonymity-enhancing tools could erode civil liberties and financial privacy in an increasingly digital world. 

They maintain that such technologies serve legitimate users who require protection from surveillance or authoritarian regimes.

Meanwhile, regulators find these measures as important in its mission to fight against criminal misuse of crypto assets. The EU aims to establish standard AML procedures and prevent regulatory arbitrage between EU member states by enforcing transparency across all crypto firms.

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