Since 2020, Lysis Group has been a trusted partner to firms operating in the digital assets and crypto sector, providing end-to-end support across governance, compliance, regulatory engagement, training, operations and managed services. We work with exchanges, custodians, trading platforms and service providers, helping them meet evolving regulatory expectations and build resilient compliance functions.
Lysis has supported numerous digital asset firms in obtaining regulatory permissions from key global regulators, including the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Central Bank of Ireland (CBoI), and authorities in Luxembourg, Lithuania, Malta and the UAE. This process is now crucial for crypto asset firms to operate legally and effectively within each regulated jurisdiction.
Our regulatory support services include:
• End-to-end guidance through registration or authorisation processes
• Drafting of compliance documentation and policies
• Readiness assessments and regulator engagement strategies
• Ongoing advisory post-approval
We have a strong track record in securing successful applications for digital asset exchanges, custodians, and crypto payment providers.
Lysis provides skilled interim compliance resources to support clients during growth, change, or authorisation phases. This includes:
• Interim Money Laundering Reporting Officers (MLROs)
• Deputy MLROs and compliance support staff
• Oversight for AML registration and onboarding governance
These roles are often deployed during critical transition periods or to meet regulatory expectations during authorisation or remediation.
We work with digital asset firms to develop a robust understanding of their inherent and residual risks across all business lines. This includes:
• Conducting EWRAs in line with FCA and FATF guidance
• Designing and implementing bespoke risk rating methodologies
• Linking risk frameworks to practical controls, monitoring, and reporting tools
These assessments are foundational to meeting regulatory requirements and establishing effective, risk-based compliance frameworks.
Lysis supports the development and enhancement of governance structures aligned with industry best practices. Our services include:
• Design and implementation of the Three Lines of Defence model
• Board and committee structuring for UK and EU entities
• Governance integration for marketing, product, and client onboarding processes
• Policy governance and escalation pathways
We ensure that compliance, risk, and internal audit functions are appropriately structured and resourced.
We build and refine the core compliance infrastructure required for digital asset firms to operate in regulated environments. Our services include:
• Authoring AML/CFT policies, financial crime frameworks, and procedures
• Advisory on travel rule implementation and crypto-specific KYC/EDD
• Ongoing compliance framework reviews and enhancements
• Control testing and remediation planning
We help firms embed policies that are practical, proportionate, and regulator-ready.
Lysis delivers customised training programmes for digital asset firms, focused on:
• AML/CFT risks specific to virtual assets and blockchain
• Financial crime typologies and red flags in crypto transactions
• Regulatory obligations in key jurisdictions
• Practical application of risk-based compliance frameworks
Training is available on-site, virtually, or through our Lysis Academy e-learning platform.
We help firms optimise their operational performance and maintain compliance with day-to-day obligations. This includes:
• End-to-end process reviews and optimisation
• KYC remediation and onboarding support
• Transaction monitoring backlog clearance
• Quality assurance reviews and team deployment
Our operational teams are available to provide hands-on delivery or advisory support, depending on client needs.
Beyond strategic projects, Lysis can act as an extension of your compliance or operations team, supporting:
• Managed KYC and onboarding services
• Quality control functions
• Case handling for transaction monitoring and alerts
• Short- or long-term staffing across compliance and financial crime operations
We offer scalable solutions tailored to the pace of your business growth.
If you’re a digital assets or crypto firm looking for trusted, experienced partners to help you navigate regulatory expectations, strengthen compliance and enhance your operations, Lysis Group is ready to support your journey.
A major European-domiciled Cryptoasset Exchange with global reach required a gap analysis to identify all deficiencies in their Customer Risk Rating Model and a roadmap for improving it.
A London based financial institution with global reach had Lysis preform an AML Health Check.
Lysis reviewed the exchange’s AML/CTF framework which resulted to a successful maturity assessment review.
A Norway-based crypto broker registered with the Norwegian Financial Authorities. The client had rapidly scaled its operations to meet growing demand in the crypto sector but faced increasing regulatory scrutiny from both national and European regulators.
A Norway-based crypto broker registered with the Norwegian Financial Authorities. The client had rapidly scaled its operations to meet growing demand in the crypto sector but faced increasing regulatory scrutiny from both national and European regulators.
A new to market crypto asset business domiciled in Ireland received a regulatory requirement from the Central Bank of Ireland to design and embed a financial crime, AML/CTF, governance framework.
A UK domiciled crypto exchange with global reach had a regulatory requirement for crypto Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) support.
A crypto asset business, a subsidiary of a US Nasdaq-listed company requested assistance with the process to obtain FCA registration. Lysis provided the client with a highly experienced MLRO and compliance team who worked with senior management to implement required controls and processes. The client was successful in obtaining FCA registration.
Lysis reviewed the exchange’s AML/CTF framework which resulted to a successful maturity assessment review.
A crypto asset custodian based in the U.K. with global reach approached Lysis with the request to assist them with the process to obtain registration from the FCA which would enable them to operate in the UK market as a crypto asset business. Due to the holding company’s strong global footprint, part of the FCA requirements for registration included the need for a UK based money laundering reporting officer (MLRO).
A UK domiciled crypto exchange with global reach had a regulatory requirement for crypto Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) support.
Although the client is based in the US, they have European subsidiaries which include the UK and therefore required Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) registration. In order to obtain registration as a crypto asset firm in the U.K. they had to comply with specific FCA requirements.
Jon has 35+ years’ wholesale financial markets experience in London, New York, Singapore and Frankfurt. He specialises in Regulatory Strategy, Governance, Regulatory Change Management and M&A/Integration. Jon founded Lysis in 2001. He was previously Head of the Investment Banking, eBusiness and Trading Floor practices at AIM-listed TCA Consulting. Notable clients include Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, RBS/ABN, ICAP, JCB cards and Uphold.
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Wendy has over 18 years of experience in regulatory operations and financial crime compliance. As the Head of Lysis Academy, she manages the Cape Town-based offshore center and has trained over 2000 KYC analysts globally. Wendy developed Lysis' Training Needs Assessment service and CPD program, regularly assessing clients' AML teams. She has expertise in AML regulations for crypto assets and has held various SME and advisory roles in firms like Bear Stearns, Deutsche Bank, and ING. Wendy specializes in AML frameworks, risk rating methodologies, and conducts AML Maturity Assessments and Reviews. She is a respected SME in regulatory operations with practical operational experience.
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Qadeem is the Head of Innovation at Lysis Group, driving regulatory strategy and transformation across banking, payments and digital assets. An accomplished entrepreneur with over 15 years of consulting experience in wholesale financial markets, having held various leadership roles across client lifecycle management. Qadeem has partnered with major institutions on their fintech portfolios, including HSBC Innovation Bank, Silicon Valley Bank, JP Morgan, RBS, Mizuho and Ebury, delivering both innovation and operational efficiency. Earlier in his career, Qadeem co-founded a mobile tech startup at the forefront of digital disruption. The venture raised significant investment, including $15M from BT for a 17% equity stake, and secured many strategic partnerships with global brands such as IBM, Microsoft, Nokia and Vodafone.
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