On Feb. 21, 2026 the FATF adopted new digital-asset risk assessments, kept Iran on its blacklist and signalled tougher oversight of stablecoins and offshore crypto service providers. The move raises pressure on jurisdictions and businesses to tighten AML/CFT controls.
Tether has frozen more than $500 million in digital assets tied to a Turkish gambling ring, affecting addresses associated with the operation. The move highlights the stablecoin issuer's growing role in blocking suspected illicit flows tied to USDT.