OKX Enforces Stricter Anti-Money Laundering Measures Amid Regulatory Pressure

OKX, a cryptocurrency exchange, has implemented stricter measures to combat money laundering and illicit activities. According to CEO Star Xu, deposits from high-risk addresses can now trigger anti-money laundering (AML) reviews lasting up to 15 days or longer.

During this review period, account functions and funds may be restricted, and users who engage in confirmed illicit activity will have their accounts terminated.

The move follows a CertiK finding that AML enforcement is now the top regulatory risk for crypto. OKX itself paid over $500 million in AML-related penalties in the US last year.

Xu acknowledged that some legitimate users may be flagged by the platform's fraud checks, which occurred in July 2025 when users reported accounts frozen due to false flags.