Vital4 was proud to attend the 2025 ACAMS Hollywood Conference, where global experts, regulators, and innovators gathered to explore the rapidly transforming landscape of financial crime compliance. From geopolitical tensions to groundbreaking uses of AI, this year’s event confirmed one thing: the future of compliance is here—and it’s demanding more precision, resilience, and innovation than ever before. 

Sanctions as Strategy: National Security Meets Compliance 

The sanctions landscape has evolved from a regulatory concern to a frontline national security tool. Speakers emphasized that institutions can no longer treat sanctions compliance as a box-checking exercise. With ongoing pressure on Iran, Russia, China, and Venezuela, the U.S. is using financial tools to target everything from shadow fleets and energy exports to tech-enabled surveillance. 

Key Takeaways: 

  • Over 80 Iranian entities and 70 vessels newly designated. 
  • China and Hong Kong emerged as critical focus areas due to tech-related national security concerns. 
  • Institutions are urged to verify not just end users—but intermediaries and logistics paths like ship-to-ship transfers. 
  • Continuous monitoring and OFAC alert subscriptions are now table stakes. 

AI’s Transformational Role: From Buzzword to Backbone 

If one theme echoed across sessions, it was this: AI is no longer a future state—it’s compliance reality. From enhanced due diligence (EDD) to transaction monitoring, financial institutions are adopting AI models, including large language models (LLMs) and agentic AI, to slash inefficiencies and improve detection. 

Why It Matters: 

  • EDD reviews that once took hours are being reduced to seconds with LLMs. 
  • Agentic AI—capable of interpreting and acting on complex patterns—is being piloted for investigative workflows. 
  • “No SAR left behind” is the new mantra: AI is helping catch the risks traditional models miss. 

Human Stories Highlight the Stakes 

One of the most compelling moments came from Tegram, a former IRS agent and now a compliance leader, who was unlawfully detained in Nigeria after refusing a $150 million bribe. His story reminded everyone that compliance isn’t just policy—it’s personal. As the boundaries of compliance expand into geopolitics and international corruption, preparation, vigilance, and support systems are more critical than ever. 

Regulatory Momentum: A Push for Flexibility and Innovation 

Panels with the OCC, FDIC, and Federal Reserve called for a more dynamic regulatory framework. While supportive of AI adoption, regulators emphasized explainability, governance, and risk-based program design. Compliance programs must evolve—but they must do so transparently and defensibly. 

A Few Random Thoughts That Stuck with Us: 

  • “No one has 100% precision”—acceptance of model variability is crucial. 
  • “Crypto traceability is improving”—myths about anonymous transactions are fading. 
  • “Reputational risk may be deprioritized in exams, but it still matters to the industry.” 

Conclusion

As financial crime grows more complex and compliance responsibilities expand, the message from ACAMS Hollywood 2025 was clear: staying ahead requires collaboration, innovation, and agility. From leveraging AI to reduce false positives to navigating a rapidly shifting sanctions landscape, the industry is entering a new era of risk management.