AML regulation evolution in Belgium and Europe: what changes by 2030
Forward-looking landscape of AML regulation: AMLA entry into force, 6th directive, 2024-2027 AML package, European harmonization. New obligations to expect, timeline, and how to prepare from 2026.
In brief
Between 2026 and 2030, Europe is rolling out the most ambitious AML package since the 2005 directive: AMLA operational in Frankfurt, a directly applicable single regulation, the interconnected BORIS UBO register and the EUDI digital wallet. Belgian regulated entities must adapt their framework from 2026 to absorb these changes without an annual redesign project.
Why anticipate
AML obligations evolve fast. Between 2024 and 2030, Europe is rolling out the most ambitious AML package in its history: new European agency (AMLA), single regulation, register harmonization, crypto traceability, broader scope of regulated entities. Companies that anticipate will capitalize; those that wait will pay the catch-up cost.
This article maps what is happening now, what is coming 2026-2027, and what is taking shape 2028-2030.
State of the law in May 2026
The applicable Belgian framework rests on:
- Act of 18 September 2017 (main framework, see our full guide)
- 6th European directive (EU 2018/1673) transposed
- RD of 22 April 2024 on company service providers (see 2024 domiciliation obligations)
- UBO register post-CJEU 2022 (tiered access)
- Crypto-asset directives (MiCA) in force
What changes in 2026-2027
AMLA — the European anti-money laundering authority
AMLA (Anti-Money Laundering Authority) is the European agency established by Regulation (EU) 2024/1620. Seat in Frankfurt, operational mid-2026.
Direct competences:
- Supervision of financial institutions with cross-border risk (investment banks, insurers, large payment service providers)
- Coordination of national authorities (CTIF/CFI in Belgium, NBB, FSMA, SPF Economie)
- Issuance of harmonized technical standards
Effect for Belgian regulated entities: NBB and FSMA standards will align on AMLA's. Expect stricter and more uniform rules in 2027-2028.
Single AML Regulation (AML-R)
Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 is directly applicable in all Member States (no transposition needed). It harmonizes:
- Cash payment threshold: EU cap of €10,000
- UBO identification: threshold maintained at 25 % but tightening on complex structures (trusts, stacked holdings)
- Sanctions screening: harmonized and mandatory EU lists
- Reporting deadline: reinforcement of the "without delay" obligation
For Belgium, this means convergence toward the European standard. Some stricter Belgian rules remain, but the common base rises.
6th directive (update)
2024 update of 6AMLD with:
- Broadening of predicate offenses: addition of aggravated tax evasion, environmental crimes, organ trafficking
- Legal-person liability reinforced
- Harmonized minimum sanctions across States
See our dedicated 6AMLD article.
Broader scope of regulated entities
New sectors added:
- Crowdfunding platforms
- Car dealerships (high-end, > €50,000 per unit)
- Short-term rental platforms
- Financial influencers (to be clarified in 2027)
Enhanced crypto-assets
Full application of MiCA + AML extension:
- Travel rule extended to all crypto transactions > €1,000
- Enhanced identification of non-hosted wallets
- Information exchange between Crypto Asset Service Providers
What is taking shape 2028-2030
Interconnected European UBO register
National UBO registers will be interconnected via the European BORIS platform (Beneficial Ownership Registers Interconnection System). A query on the UBO of a German company held by a Luxembourg holding will return an answer in seconds.
Effect: cross-border UBO cascade becomes automatable. An opportunity for RegTech tools that integrate BORIS from day one.
European digital identity (eIDAS 2.0)
The European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet) will be mandatory in all Member States. For AML regulated entities, this offers high-level identification cross-border, equivalent to face-to-face across Europe.
See the KYC tutorial for current methods.
Real-time risk-based supervision
Supervisors are equipping with SupTech (Supervisory Technology) to analyze CTIF reports in real time and cross with banking flows. Anomalies surface automatically.
Effect: a regulated entity that does not report an obvious suspicion will be flagged without physical inspection. Sanction probability rises without more inspectors.
Extension to emerging activities
By 2030:
- NFTs and digital artworks: likely AML framework
- Gaming and in-app tokens: monitoring of major flows
- Metaverse: extension of obligations to operators
Timeline summary
| Period | Main evolution |
|---|---|
| Mid-2026 | AMLA operational, AML package applicable |
| 2026-2027 | AMLA technical standards, rule harmonization |
| 2027 | Broader regulated sectors |
| 2027-2028 | Coordinated AMLA inspection across Member States |
| 2028 | Interconnected European UBO register (BORIS) |
| 2029 | EUDI Wallet generalized |
| 2029-2030 | Real-time SupTech, sector extensions |
How to prepare from 2026
Action 1 — Update your risk assessment
Take into account new 6AMLD predicate offenses, crypto broadening, cross-border scenarios.
See our methodology.
Action 2 — Strengthen the UBO cascade
Anticipate the interconnected register: structure UBO data so BORIS can be consumed when available.
Action 3 — Cap cash at €10,000
Even if your activity stays under the current Belgian threshold, align with the future European cap.
Action 4 — Invest in an evolutive RegTech tool
Choose a platform that follows regulatory evolutions without a redesign project at each reform. See our 2026 RegTech landscape.
Action 5 — Train the team continuously
The pace requires annual training at minimum, on concrete changes. See AML training.
How Company Belgium keeps pace
Company Belgium updates its regulatory base quarterly:
- AMLA and EU regulation watch
- Adaptation of KYC, risk assessment, CTIF report templates
- Integration of new sanctions and PEP lists
- BORIS preparation (cross-border UBO cascade) in anticipated mode
- Quarterly webinars on changes
- Seamless migration for existing clients
Goal: your compliance follows regulation without an annual redesign project.
Bottom line
The 2026-2030 period is the regulatory-densest since 2017. AMLA, AML-R, updated 6AMLD, BORIS, EUDI Wallet, real-time SupTech: six major workstreams opening. For Belgian regulated entities, this is the opportunity to align compliance with the most demanding European standard — and gain a competitive edge over laggards.
Worst scenario: wait for the first AMLA-coordinated inspection in 2028 to equip yourself. The right reflex: modernize your RegTech framework from 2026, embedding upcoming evolutions as configurable parameters, not redesigns.
Frequently asked questions
What is AMLA and when does it become operational in Belgium?
AMLA (Anti-Money Laundering Authority) is the new European AML supervisory agency, headquartered in Frankfurt. It becomes operational in mid-2026 under Regulation (EU) 2024/1620. For Belgian regulated entities, this means that NBB and FSMA standards will progressively align with AMLA's from 2027, resulting in more uniform and stricter rules.
What is the BORIS register and what impact will it have on cross-border UBO cascades?
BORIS (Beneficial Ownership Registers Interconnection System) is the European platform that interconnects national UBO registers. Scheduled for 2028, it will allow the structure of a foreign company to be traced back to its UBO without manual steps at each Member State. This will automate cross-border UBO cascades and strengthen RegTech tools that connect to it from day one.
Which new sectors become subject to AML obligations by 2027?
The 2024 European AML package extends obligations to new sectors: crowdfunding platforms, high-end car dealerships (above 50,000 euros per vehicle), short-term rental platforms, and potentially financial influencers whose exact status will be clarified in 2027. These entities will need to set up a KYC procedure and a transaction monitoring framework.
How can a Belgian regulated SME concretely prepare for AML changes by 2026?
Three priority actions are required from 2026: update the global risk assessment to include new 6AMLD predicate offences and crypto scenarios, cap cash payments at 10,000 euros to anticipate the future European threshold, and invest in an evolutionary RegTech tool that integrates harmonised sanctions lists and is BORIS-ready. Annual team training on these changes is also mandatory.
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