ACAMS and Chainalysis Partner on Crypto Anti Financial Crime Training as Scams and Fraud Hit $17 Billion in Crypto
ACAMS’ redesigned Certified Cryptoasset AFC Specialist (CCAS) Certification and training program helps professionals bridge AFC and crypto expertise to better identify, assess and manage crypto-related financial crime risks
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 8, 2026) — As crypto-enabled financial crime grows in scale and sophistication, ACAMS, the global leader in certification and intelligence for anti-financial crime (AFC) professionals, has launched an enhanced Certified Cryptoasset AFC Specialist (CCAS) program to help practitioners manage these risks. The CCAS program is the first major ACAMS certification to feature content from a global partner, blockchain data and analytics platform Chainalysis, and arms participants with the skills to investigate, monitor and manage complex crypto-related financial crime risk using real-world blockchain expertise.
The new certification program comes as digital assets move from pilot stage to mainstream financial services. In 2025, stablecoins processed $28 trillion in real economic volume. At the same time, regulatory clarity is increasing across major markets. In the U.S., the passage of the GENIUS Act provided the federal framework for banks and financial institutions to launch products related to stablecoins, tokenized deposits, custody and treasury services. Globally, regulators are continuing to advance cryptoasset frameworks, including MiCA in Europe, VARA's regime in the UAE, and regulatory initiatives from MAS in Singapore and HKMA in Hong Kong. As regulations take shape, these products are no longer operating at the edge of the financial system. They now sit within the risk environment AFC teams are expected to understand and manage.
As crypto adoption has grown, so has its use in financial crime. Digital assets are now being used across sophisticated scams, global laundering networks and state-sponsored sanctions evasion at a scale that is reshaping the financial crime landscape. In 2025 alone, Chainalysis estimates that illicit crypto addresses received at least $154 billion, $17 billion of which was stolen through crypto scams and fraud that same year.
That growth will expand the remit of AFC professionals beyond traditional financial crime controls. Practitioners across AML, sanctions and fraud will increasingly need to interpret on-chain activity, trace illicit funds and assess exposure as part of their day-to-day work, and they will need AI-powered tools to do it at the speed the threat demands. Yet the industry is not prepared for this shift: at ACAMS’ The Assembly Las Vegas 2026, 79% of surveyed AFC professionals cited "crypto and digital assets” as their biggest training or knowledge gap.
“Staying ahead of financial crime requires practitioners to continually build new skills as threats and technologies evolve,” said Neil Sternthal, CEO of ACAMS. “Together with Chainalysis, we’re setting a new benchmark for training practitioners with crypto anti-financial crime expertise to confront today’s blockchain threats and anticipate what’s coming next.”
The enhanced program includes a fully updated Cryptoassets and Blockchain course, featuring content from Chainalysis, along with three new courses: Financial Crime Risks and Regulatory Frameworks for Cryptoassets, AFC Compliance Programs for Cryptoassets and Crypto AFC Case Studies.
Updated content reflects the latest regulatory developments, emerging typologies and industry trends. New case studies and exercises, including blockchain investigations, bring concepts to life through real-world scenarios, while practice-focused e-learning and an enhanced 300-question practice exam help reinforce learning and support certification readiness.
“The advantage the transparency of blockchains provides only matters if practitioners have the data, skills and tools to use it," said Jonathan Levin, Co-Founder and CEO of Chainalysis. "Criminals are using AI to automate scams, generate synthetic identities and move funds across chains in seconds. Compliance teams need equally powerful tools to identify and disrupt that activity at the same machine scale and pace. That is exactly what this partnership with ACAMS – the gold standard for AFC certification – delivers.”
The certification complements ACAMS’ suite of trainings, intelligence, and global community that help AFC professionals stay ahead of financial crime and the new technologies fueling it.
CCAS is available for pre-sale now. The new certification program will go live on November 19, 2026. More information is available here.
About ACAMS®
ACAMS is the global leader in certification, training, and intelligence for anti-financial crime (AFC) professionals. ACAMS sets the standard for how organizations prevent, detect, and respond to money laundering, fraud, and sanctions evasion. Trusted by 70% of the world's leading banks, as well as governmental and law enforcement agencies, and FinTechs, the organization has 120,000+ members across 200+ countries and territories. Its 65+ chapters and annual conferences connect AFC professionals across every major financial center. Learn more at acams.org.
About Chainalysis
Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform, making it easy to connect the movement of digital assets to real-world services. Powered by deep blockchain data and AI, organizations can investigate illicit activity, manage risk exposure, and develop innovative market solutions built on the industry's most trusted blockchain intelligence. Our mission is to build trust in blockchains, blending safety and security with an unwavering commitment to growth and innovation. For more information, visit chainalysis.com.
