Monaco has become one of the first eight countries to sign a new Council of Europe treaty designed to strengthen international efforts to recover assets obtained through criminal activity, including cryptocurrencies…
The agreement represents another step in the Principality’s efforts to combat money laundering and financial crime. As reported by Monaco-Matin, Monaco joined Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Luxembourg, Montenegro, San Marino and the United Kingdom in signing the protocol during the Octopus 2026 Conference on cybercrime. The move comes as Monaco continues its presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers until November.
The agreement introduces stronger mechanisms for identifying, freezing and confiscating criminal assets, including provisions allowing confiscation without a criminal conviction in certain circumstances. Authorities will also be able to act urgently to prevent suspected criminal proceeds from being transferred or concealed.
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International cooperation is central to the initiative, with participating countries expected to strengthen information sharing and establish dedicated structures for tracing and managing seized assets. The protocol also prioritises returning confiscated property to victims or rightful owners, whilst establishing arrangements for sharing recovered funds between countries.
For Monaco, the agreement reinforces its commitment to financial transparency and international cooperation as the Principality continues working to strengthen its anti-money laundering framework.
