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ARTICLE · 22 JANUARY 2026

Update – AML & CFT Guidelines For Reporting Entities Providing Services Related To Virtual Digital Assets, 2026

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The Financial Intelligence Unit, Ministry of Finance, Government of India ("FIU-IND") has issued the updated "AML & CFT Guidelines for Reporting Entities Providing Services Related...

IndiaFinance and Banking
Rohan Bagai
Rohan Bagai
Subham Das
Subham Das
Adishree Singh
Adishree Singh
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The Financial Intelligence Unit, Ministry of Finance, Government of India ("FIU-IND") has issued the updated "AML & CFT Guidelines for Reporting Entities Providing Services Related to Virtual Digital Assets" on January 08, 2026 ("2026 Guidelines") effectively replacing the erstwhile AML & CFT Guidelines issued on March 10, 2023 ("2023 Guidelines").

While the 2026 Guidelines for the most part, retain the broad AML/CFT architecture set out under the 2023 Guidelines, they consolidate the operational requirements earlier prescribed through multiple circulars and guidance documents issued by the FIU-IND from time to time, most notably the 'Circular for Registration of Virtual Digital Asset Service Providers (VDA SPs) in FIU India as Reporting Entity (RE)' dated September 15, 2025 ("2025 Registration Circular"), and the 'Guidance for Principal Officer (PO) – Minimum Requirements and Qualifications' dated February 25, 2025 ("PO Guidance"), which was not available in the

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