On September 8, 2025, FinCEN reiisued a modified Geographic Targeting Order (GTO) to combat illicit cartel and other criminal activity, including money laundering, along the southwest border of the United States. FinCEN previously issued a notice of a GTO requiring certain money services businesses along the southwest border to report and retain records of transactions in currency of more than $200 but not more than $10,000, and to verify the identity of persons presenting such transactions.

On September 5, 2025, FinCEN issued guidance to encourage and promote appropriate, voluntary cross-border sharing of information between and among financial institutions, including appropriate foreign financial institutions. According to FinCEN, the Guidance aims to help combat the threats posed by money laundering, terrorist financing, and other illicit finance activity, including from drug trafficking organizations, foreign terrorist organizations, and fraudsters.

On August 28, 2025, FinCEN issued an Advisory to urge financial institutions to be vigilant in detecting the use of Chinese money laundering networks (CMLNs) by Mexico-based drug cartels, including several designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. It also published a Financial Trend Analysis (FTA) highlighting the scope and breadth of CMLN activity in the United States.

On August 26, 2025, the OFAC issued a final rule that removes the Syrian Sanctions Regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations. This action is a result of the termination of the national emergency on which the regulations were based and further changes to the policy of the United States towards Syria.

On August 19, 2025, FinCEN extended the effective dates for orders issued on June 25, 2025, prohibiting certain transmittal of funds involving three Mexico-based financial institutions. Covered financial institutions will now have until October 20, 2025, to implement the orders prohibiting certain transmittal of funds involving CIBanco S.A., Institución de Banca Multiple (CIBanco), Intercam Banco S.A., Institución de Banca Multiple (Intercam), and Vector Casa de Bolsa, S.A. de C.V. (Vector).

On August 13, 2025, the OFAC sanctioned four Mexican individuals and 13 Mexican companies linked to timeshare fraud led by the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG). According to the Treasury, CJNG is considered one of the most powerful cartels in the world.

On August 6, 2025, FinCEN published a Readout regarding its latest FinCEN Exchange held on July 15 where it convened Treasury components, law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, regulatory technology companies, and trade groups to share insights on driving innovation in the digital assets ecosystem while protecting consumers from emerging fraud and scam threats. The FinCEN Exchange event, titled “Advancing Digital Assets Innovation While Safeguarding Consumers Against Fraud and Scam Risks,” focused on industry trends, fraud prevention, law enforcement's role in combating financial crimes related to digital assets, and compliance best practices.

On August 4, 2025, FinCEN issued a Notice urging financial institutions to be vigilant in identifying and reporting suspicious activity involving convertible virtual currency (CVC) kiosks. The Notice provides an overview of typologies associated with illicit activity involving CVC kiosks.

On July 21, 2025, FinCEN announced it intention to postpone the effective date of the final rule establishing Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism Program and Suspicious Activity Report Filing Requirements for Registered Investment Advisers and Exempt Reporting Advisers (IA AML Rule). The action, according to FinCEN, is to ensure efficient regulation that appropriately balances costs and benefits.