Bank of Italy: Every cryptocurrency transaction must undergo sanctions screening, with no minimum amount exemption

According to Crypto Briefing, the Bank of Italy has warned cryptocurrency service providers that every cryptocurrency transfer, regardless of the transaction amount, must undergo sanctions screening, and no minimum transaction threshold may be set to evade automatic screening. This requirement stems from guidelines applicable in Italy from December 30, 2025, issued by the European Banking Authority, and is not a new sanction obligation.

The Bank of Italy specifically pointed out that certain instant payment exemptions for payment service providers do not apply to cryptocurrency transfers. Cryptocurrency companies need to review their screening systems, update their sanctions lists, and alert procedures to ensure coverage of all applicable transactions. The MiCA authorization does not replace these independent obligations under the EU restrictive measures rules. This move will increase compliance costs for Italian cryptocurrency companies, requiring more complex systems to handle transaction alerts and potential sanctions matches.