Background
On 25–26 June 2026 the Accounting and Auditing Regulator (ACAR) and the Cambodia Financial Intelligence Unit hosted a technical workshop at the Institute of Banking and Technical Studies to review Mongolia’s experience implementing FATF Recommendation 15 for virtual assets and virtual asset service providers (VA/VASP). The session was held with the authorization of H.E. Bou Tharin, Director General of ACAR, chaired by H.E. Heng Bomakara (Head of the FIU), and attended by Mr. Lim Chanrathanak (Deputy Head, Inspection1 Bureau) and members of the working group preparing Cambodia’s national AML/CFT strategy and the 2028–2029 mutual evaluation.
FATF Recommendation 15 requires jurisdictions to ensure that virtual asset service providers are subject to anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) measures. Mutual evaluations compare a country’s AML/CFT framework to international standards and provide a structured basis for identifying legal and supervisory gaps. The workshop objectives included sharing Mongolia’s VA/VASP regulatory steps, discussing national risk assessment and inter-agency coordination, and identifying practical measures Cambodia may consider while preparing for the mutual evaluation.
Scope of Application
The workshop focused on legal, regulatory, and supervisory approaches to VA/VASP oversight as addressed by FATF Recommendation 15 and related AML/CFT standards. Participants examined implementation steps and supervisory arrangements used in Mongolia to inform Cambodia’s national strategy and compliance preparations for the 2028–2029 mutual evaluation.
Key Provisions or Decisions
Presentations and discussions covered four main topics: (1) regulatory frameworks for VA/VASP and associated licensing or registration requirements, (2) mechanisms for conducting a national AML/CFT risk assessment for virtual assets, (3) inter-agency coordination and information-sharing models used in Mongolia, and (4) practical compliance and supervisory measures applied to VA/VASP. The session was structured as a knowledge‑sharing workshop rather than an enactment of new domestic rules.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
Businesses and compliance officers operating in or targeting Cambodia’s virtual asset sector should expect regulatory alignment efforts to emphasize licensing/registration, customer due diligence, and supervisory reporting consistent with FATF standards. The working group’s preparatory work for the mutual evaluation signals that regulators will prioritize gap analysis and capacity-building measures ahead of formal assessments.
Official Source
Source: Accounting and Auditing Regulator (ACAR) social media post, 25–26 June 2026 — https://www.facebook.com/acarcambodia/posts/pfbid0BVsdhvKs93EHsJBRqWCYrUqFmDseTrToAGirnU6GTtmUmTz45yRP76Z8ZuLeycjUl
