The fight against financial crime has reached a pivotal moment. This was the clear and resounding message from the 2025 Annual Summit of the Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime (GCFFC), held on September 10th and 11th in Abu Dhabi. For the first time, virtual assets and their role in financial crime dominated the agenda, accounting for over half of the discussions — a significant increase from the one panel held the previous year.
For Cointegrity, being a key organizing partner and Silver Sponsor of this event was not just an honor; it was a confirmation of our core mission. The summit drew immense interest, with over 320 delegates registered to attend, signaling a global urgency to unite against the rising tide of illicit finance in a region rapidly maturing its regulatory landscape.
Hosted at the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the event brought together a formidable alliance of public, private, and non-profit sector leaders — at a time when the ADGM's Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) is actively refining its virtual asset framework, having just released a new consultation paper on fiat-referenced tokens.
Virtual Assets at the Centre of the Global Agenda
This year's summit was truly groundbreaking. The historic focus on virtual assets reflects a critical shift in the global landscape, particularly given the UAE's dynamic regulatory activity in Q3 2025, with all five major regulators making significant strides — from VARA formalizing rules for stablecoins and RWAs to the SCA adopting a new Security Token regime.
Cointegrity was proud to be at the heart of shaping this vital conversation. Our team — including Co-founders Ruben J. and Torstein Thinn, alongside Co-founder and Digital Asset Task Force Chair Michal Gromek — were deeply involved in curating and leading sessions that tackled the industry's most pressing challenges.
Cointegrity Leading the Charge on Key Issues
FATF Recommendation 15: Turning Guidance into Action
A highlight of the summit was the Fireside session led by Michal Gromek on implementing FATF Recommendation 15 on Virtual Assets. This panel featured a crucial dialogue with Rory Corcoran, Directorate Coordinator at INTERPOL's IFCACC Support Office — providing a rare bridge between high-level FATF guidance and the on-the-ground realities of international law enforcement. It underscored the necessity of operationalising policy and fostering direct collaboration between the crypto industry and agencies like Interpol, a message that resonates strongly with VARA's recent enforcement actions, which prove that holding a license is an ongoing obligation, not a one-time trophy.
Shadow Finance: OTC Crypto Brokers and Criminal Economies
Ruben Junger led the critical session on "Shadow Finance: How OTC Crypto Brokers Fuel Conflict and Criminal Economies," bringing together a diverse group of experts including Yevhenii Panchenko (First Deputy Head of Interpol NCB Kyiv), Richard Sanders (Vice Chair Illicit VASP Activities of DATF), Piotr Bobołowicz (Secretary General for the workstream of Financial Crime in Gaming in DATF), and Meera Judge (Head of Policy at Binance). The panel shed light on complex networks that exploit gaps in the financial system, emphasising the need for greater transparency and cross-sector intelligence sharing.
Torstein's Keynote: The World's First Public Taskforce for Virtual Assets
Cointegrity's Chairman, Torstein Thinn, delivered a keynote on "Building the World's First Public Taskforce for Virtual Assets." Drawing from Norway's pioneering experience in tackling money laundering in virtual asset taxation, Torstein provided a tangible blueprint for how nations can establish effective public-private partnerships. His insights on creating institutional-grade guardrails offer a clear path for turning collaborative theory into impactful practice — mirroring the pro-innovation yet robust approach taken by UAE regulators.
Michal Gromek: 73 Crossroads of Crime
Michal Gromek, in his capacity as Chair of the GCFFC's Digital Asset Task Force, delivered the keynote "73 Crossroads of Crime: When Virtual Assets, Gaming, Extremism & 3D-Printed Weapons Collide." This session pushed the audience to look beyond conventional financial crime, exploring complex intersections where emerging technologies converge to create new threats. By mapping these "crossroads," Michal highlighted the necessity for a multi-disciplinary and forward-thinking approach to security.
A Coalition of the Committed
The success of this summit was made possible by a powerful coalition of sponsors and partners. Platinum Sponsors included ADGM, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), the UAE's National Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism Committee, and the MENA Financial Crime Compliance Group (MENA FCCG). Gold Sponsors included Emirates NBD, LSEG, Mashreq, and Binance. Silver & Bronze sponsors included Kroll, VAF, and Mozn.ai.
The collective presence of these institutions — from global banks to crypto giants — highlights a shared understanding: the fight against financial crime requires a united front.
Looking Ahead: The Road from Abu Dhabi
The 2025 GCFFC Summit was more than just a conference; it was a catalyst. The conversations initiated in Abu Dhabi have set a new global agenda — one where the crypto industry is no longer on the periphery but is a central and responsible partner in building a safer financial world. The timing, coinciding with the Central Bank of the UAE's move to a "comply now" phase for its Payment Token Services Regulation, could not have been more perfect.
Cointegrity is energised and more committed than ever to carrying this momentum forward. We will continue to drive innovation, foster the public-private collaborations sparked at this event, and champion the development of a secure, transparent, and trusted digital economy. The road ahead is complex, but the path forged in Abu Dhabi — and the partnerships strengthened there — make it a promising one.