Report on the State of the Crypto Industry by 2026, Featuring Sumsub Vice President for North America, Danielle LaBarbera
The cryptocurrency industry is entering an era of regulated maturity, driven by frameworks like the CLARITY Act and the $GENIUS Act in the US. These provide clearer rules but also raise operational standards, requiring platforms to effectively demonstrate compliance. Simultaneously, fraud is evolving into sophisticated, AI-powered, lifecycle-based attacks, moving beyond simple onboarding scams.
According to Daniel LaBarbera, VP of Sumsub for North America, companies must shift from one-time KYC checks to continuous, risk-based verification. This involves integrating identity, behavioral, device, and transaction data into a unified risk view. The 2026 State of Crypto Industry report highlights that while 55% of crypto firms faced fraud last year, effective strategies now combine AI-driven detection, continuous monitoring, and behavioral analytics.
Key compliance challenges persist, particularly with the Travel Rule. Only 23% of companies are fully compliant, with high implementation costs, data security concerns, and regulatory fragmentation being major hurdles. Meanwhile, stablecoins are gaining traction, accounting for 36% of all crypto transactions in 2025, and evolving from trading tools into financial infrastructure for payments and settlements.
The path forward lies in risk-based approaches that balance security, speed, and user experience. This includes adopting documentless verification, reusable KYC, and breaking down silos between compliance functions to create a holistic, lifecycle view of customer risk and trust.
cryptonews.ru08/17 12:11