2022 Through the Lens of Illicit Finance

Transparency will be key to managing Ukraine's reconstruction, both ensuring the efficient use of resources, and in maintaining the trust of the international community. CFCS Director Tom Keatinge joins Oleksii Dorohan, CEO of the Better Regulation Delivery Office–a Ukrainian think tank–to discuss why Ukraine must establish a strong anti-money laundering architecture, and to outline the goals of our joint project, which empowers Ukrainian civil society and journalists in this effort.

What stood out in 2022 for the team at the Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies ? Tune in to the annual festive podcast episode with Tom Keatinge, Kinga Redlowska, Stephen Reimer, Kathryn Westmore and host Alanna Putze to hear their thoughts on the illicit finance stories and surprises from the year, as well as the team’s predictions for 2023.

Counterterrorist financing (CTF) efforts are a key part of tackling the emerging challenges at the nexus of finance and security. CFCS’s Project CRAAFT team take you behind the scenes of their three-year journey to build stronger, more coordinated CTF capacity across the EU and its neighbourhood. Kinga Redlowska is joined by Tom Keatinge and Stephen Reimer to discuss what they’ve learnt about the past, present and future of CTF.

The cryptocurrency industry in South Korea is a uniquely widespread phenomenon with incredibly high demand. The country’s strict capital controls and structural impediments create an arbitrage-type situation known as the ‘Kimchi Premium’. CFCS’s Allison Owen speaks with Dr John Park, director of the Korea Project at the Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center, about his forthcoming paper, which examines the risks related to South Korea’s distinct cryptocurrency ecosystem.

Cryptocurrencies offer ‘bad actors’ a new opportunity to manage and launder their gains. Policymakers, supervisors and law-enforcement agencies around the globe are gradually responding, and the private sector is developing solutions to help. But are the current efforts sufficient to tackle this growing challenge? Scott Chipolina of the Financial Times moderates a discussion with Aidan Larkin of the fintech start-up Asset Reality; David Carlisle of Elliptic, a blockchain analysis provider; and RUSI’s Allison Owen.

North Korea uses an array of techniques to evade sanctions. The international focus is often on the country’s exploitation of technology, yet its embassies and missions also provide a valuable support network for sanctions-busting attempts. RUSI Associate Fellow Daniel Salisbury joins host Aaron Arnold to discuss his forthcoming paper on North Korean diplomats, which explores the various ways in which they facilitate sanctions evasion and procurement efforts.

Putting a stop to illicit finance matters for global security. The US and UK are well-positioned to lead this fight, but time is of the essence as dirty money continues to unravel democracy worldwide. CFCS’s Tom Keatinge and Maria Nizzero join host Alanna Putze to discuss RUSI’s latest policy brief, which was inspired by the Taskforce on a Transatlantic Response to Illicit Finance. Together they explore realistic ways that the two countries can strengthen global defences against this rising threat.

Fighting economic crime should not be a divisive political matter, but a unifying foe. As the UK prepares to embark on its second economic crime plan, this episode features a cross-party discussion showcasing economic crime as a consensus objective on which politicians of whatever stripe should align to drive change. CFCS’s Maria Nizzero is joined by Baroness Kramer of the Liberal Democrats, Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake, Scottish National Party MP Alison Thewliss and Labour MP Pat McFadden.

Russia’s war in Ukraine illustrates the dangers that unchecked kleptocracy poses to democracy. Kleptocrats and corrupt actors strategically use their vast resources to advance their interests both at home and abroad. CFCS’s Isabella Chase, Adam Smith of Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher LLP, and journalist Oliver Bullough discuss this growing transnational threat, its severe repercussions for international security and human rights, and what democratic alliances can do to stop it. This discussion was held in partnership with the National Endowment for Democracy.

How can the UK Financial Conduct Authority be more data-driven and innovative and apply risk-based supervision as it works with its regulated populations? RUSI Associate Fellow Dr Noémi També joins CFCS’s Kathryn Westmore to discuss her recent paper on Revolutionising Financial Supervision. Together, they identify the challenges that more technologically advanced institutions – such as FinTechs and challenger banks – face regarding supervision.