OKX Cracks Down on High-Risk Deposits Amid Escalating AML Enforcement

OKX has implemented stricter measures to combat money laundering and illicit activity on its platform. The exchange's founder and CEO, Star Xu, announced that deposits from high-risk addresses can trigger anti-money laundering (AML) reviews lasting up to 15 days or longer.

During this review period, account functions and funds may be restricted. If the activity is confirmed to be illicit, OKX will cut off users entirely, according to Xu.

The AML review targets gambling-linked channels, specifically transactions tied to 'guaranteed' escrow services run through Telegram groups, including Huiwang (the pinyin name for Huione Guarantee). The platform has already flagged wallets tied to the Huione Guarantee marketplace for compliance checks last year.

Xu emphasized that funds obtained through these channels may carry higher source-of-funds risks. This move follows a CertiK finding that AML enforcement now outranks securities cases as crypto's top regulatory risk, and OKX itself paid over $500 million in AML-related penalties in the United States last year.