Mexico’s anti-money laundering law changed. Here’s what you need to know
Every time you open an account, send money or buy digital dollars, there are rules working in the background to keep the system from being used with money of illegal origin. In Mexico, the law in charge of this is the Federal Law for the Prevention and Identification of Operations with Resources of Illicit Origin, better known as the Anti-Money Laundering Law or LFPIORPI.
For years that law barely changed. But on July 16, 2025, a decree amending it was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation, and it took effect the next day. The idea behind it is simple. Mexico wants to play by the same rules as the rest of the world, so the reform seeks to follow the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the body that sets the global standard in the fight against money laundering.
Knowing the real person behind every transaction
One of the biggest changes is that it’s no longer enough to know whose name an account is in. Now you have to know who truly benefits. The law calls this person the “controlling beneficiary”, and the reform makes clear it’s the same as the “ultimate beneficiary” or “beneficial owner”. Even companies will have to identify and register their beneficial owner, so no one can hide behind a corporation.
The reform also pays closer attention to people who hold or have held important public positions, known as Politically Exposed Persons. There is now an obligation to identify them and monitor their transactions.
What changes for virtual assets
If you use digital dollars or other virtual assets, there are three changes worth knowing about.
The first is that the law no longer stops at the border. Transactions with Mexicans carried out from another country now count too. A foreign platform serving Mexicans also falls within the scope of the law.
The second is that the amount that triggers a report to the authorities dropped significantly. The law measures these amounts in UMA, a unit that is updated every year. The threshold went from 645 to 210 UMA per transaction, and with the 2026 UMA at 117.31 pesos per day, that means going from about 75,700 pesos to roughly 24,600 pesos.
The third is that information travels with the money. Platforms will have to keep the details of who sends, who receives and, where applicable, who is really behind each virtual asset transaction, something international bank transfers have done for years.
More care on the companies’ side
The reform also asks more of companies working in activities with a higher risk of money laundering. They must now keep their customers’ information for ten years, twice as long as before, use automated systems to monitor transactions continuously, train their teams every year and undergo audits. If something looks suspicious, they have to notify the authorities within 24 hours, even if the transaction never went through.
When all of this starts
A law like this doesn’t apply overnight. First came the changes to its regulations, which took effect on March 28, 2026. Then, on August 7, 2026, the rules explaining how the new obligations must be met were published, and they take effect on November 30, 2026. Many of those obligations will kick in gradually throughout 2027 and 2028.
What it means for you
You’ll probably notice more questions when using virtual asset platforms. More thorough identity checks, questions about where your money comes from or details about the person you’re sending to. It may feel like an extra step, but it’s part of what makes a market safer and more trustworthy.
The reform sends a clear message. Virtual assets are now part of the formal financial system, with the same safeguards as everything else. And that’s good news for everyone who uses them.
