COREDO – EU Legal & Compliance Services Expert legal consulting, financial licensing (EMI, PSP, CASP under MiCA), and AML/CFT compliance across the European Union. Headquartered in Prague, we provide seamless regulatory solutions in Germany, Poland, Lithuania, and all 27 EU member states.
Gregory Lutsenko
24.07.2025 | 6 min read
Updated: 24.10.2026
Delays in opening bank accounts abroad and transaction blocks due to sanction restrictions and new compliance procedures are a reality that entrepreneurs, executives, and financial directors in Europe, Asia, and the CIS work with daily. Fragmentation of the world economy, trade protectionism, new international sanctions, and tightened AML and KYC requirements are already dictating the rules of the game for businesses seeking scalability and sustainability.
Why is geopolitics becoming a key factor for international business? Because today political decisions and sanction risks directly affect the availability of banking services, licensing opportunities, jurisdiction choice, and even corporate governance structure. In a situation where every new regulatory requirement can lead to account blocks or license denial, strategic planning becomes not a luxury, but a necessity.
Presented here is an analytical guide, where I, as the founder of COREDO, share not only an in-depth analysis of global changes but also practical solutions tested in practice. If you want to understand how to minimize account blocking risks, choose a sustainable jurisdiction, or integrate modern AML technologies, I recommend reading the article to the end. Here you’ll find not theory but practical tools for adapting and growing your business in new geopolitical realities.
Geopolitical fragmentation and its consequences for international business
Fragmentation of the world economy and trade protectionism: new challenges
Since 2022, the world has been moving towards increasing geoeconomic fragmentation. Shifts in US tariff policy, countermeasures by the EU and Asia, and the rise of trade protectionism are radically changing the structure of global supply chains. In practice, the COREDO team observes that even large European and Asian companies are forced to restructure logistics, seek new channels for international settlements, and diversify banking relationships.
Inflation risks and shifts in central bank interest rates further complicate financial planning. The European Central Bank cut its deposit facility rate from 4% to 2% between June 2024 and June 2025, then raised it in June and September 2026. Since 16 September 2026, it has stood at 2.5%. The Bank of England lowered Bank Rate from 5.25% to 3.75% between August 2024 and December 2025 and kept it at that level through October 2026. For businesses, this means the cost of financing can change direction within a single year.
Sanction pressure and political risks for business
International sanctions have become not only a tool of political pressure but also a factor determining the availability of banking services and licensing. The sanction pressure on banks has led many European and Asian banks to enhance internal compliance procedures, and some have even stopped working with companies from certain jurisdictions.
COREDO practice confirms: the long-term consequences of geopolitical conflicts are not just an increase in due diligence costs but also the need for constant monitoring of political risks for investors. Today, even a minor change in shareholder structure or the emergence of a new politically exposed person (PEP) could lead to a revision of service conditions or the blocking of a corporate account.
Bank accounts abroad: new realities and risks
Opening bank accounts in Europe, Asia, and Africa: challenges and requirements
Opening bank accounts in Europe has become a complex task, requiring not only a transparent corporate structure but also a deep understanding of new compliance procedures. For example, in the Czech Republic and Estonia, banks require disclosure of all ultimate beneficiaries, detailed descriptions of the source of funds, and business model.
In Asia, especially in Singapore, there remains flexibility for foreign companies, but the requirements for AML business support and verification of corporate structures have noticeably tightened. In Africa, according to COREDO's experience, compliance procedures when opening accounts are often less formalized, but banks are increasingly implementing international KYC and AML standards, especially for companies with foreign capital.
Account blocking risks have increased significantly: even minor non-compliance with new requirements can lead to fund freezes. Therefore, the solution developed at COREDO includes a preliminary audit of the corporate structure and preparation of a complete package of documents, considering the specifics of each jurisdiction.
KYC, beneficiary verification, and new compliance procedures
The requirements for KYC and beneficiary verification have become a key barrier to opening corporate accounts. Banks in the EU and Asia require not only standard documents but also confirmation of the legality of funds' origin, detailed biographies of directors and shareholders, and disclosure of information about PEPs.
Our experience at COREDO shows that preparation for due diligence should begin long before applying to the bank. This is especially relevant for companies operating in sectors with increased sanction risks or using complex corporate structures. It’s essential to consider new licensing requirements, which include automatic beneficiary verification through international databases and integration with state registers.
Diversification strategies and alternative international payment tools
In the context of increasing account blocking risks and currency control, an effective strategy is to diversify banking partners and use alternative international payment tools. The COREDO team has implemented projects where clients opened corporate accounts in multiple jurisdictions (for example, Czechia + Singapore + Cyprus), allowing them to minimize the impact of local sanctions and political decisions.
Among alternative international payment tools, the role of central bank digital currencies (CBDC) and new international payment systems not dependent on SWIFT is growing. Such solutions streamline international settlements and reduce costs for currency conversions and compliance.
Business licensing in the EU, Asia, and Africa: new rules and opportunities
Licensing businesses and fintech companies under sanctions
Today, business licensing in the EU and Asia requires not only compliance with standard regulatory requirements but also consideration of political decisions by the US and EU, which directly affect the availability of licenses for fintech companies and financial intermediaries. For example, US tariff decisions and cross-border operation restrictions force companies to seek alternative jurisdictions for licensing and business scaling.
The solutions developed at COREDO include comprehensive licensing preparation considering sanction pressure and requirements for corporate structure transparency. In some cases, we assisted clients in obtaining licenses for crypto and payment services in Singapore and Estonia, where regulators maintain flexibility but require strict adherence to AML and KYC.
Company registration in Asia and Africa: optimizing tax burdens and choosing a jurisdiction
Choosing a jurisdiction for business registration involves balancing sanction pressure resistance, tax optimization, and beneficiary disclosure requirements. For example, Singapore remains one of the most stable and attractive jurisdictions for international business, thanks to low taxation, flexible corporate structure requirements, and modern compliance procedures.
In Africa, company registration is often accompanied by minimal capital and transparency requirements, but there is rising demand for implementing international AML and KYC standards. COREDO's practice confirms that optimizing tax burdens is possible only with a thorough analysis of all risks associated with currency control and sanctions.
Comparing jurisdictions for business registration
| Jurisdiction | Sanction resistance | AML requirements | Beneficiary transparency | Tax burden | Licensing features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU | Medium | High | High | Medium | Strict |
| Asia (Singapore) | High | Medium | Medium | Low | Flexible |
| Africa | Low | Low | Low | Low | Simple procedure |
AML business support: new requirements and technologies
New AML requirements and process automation
Today, AML business support is reaching a new level: regulators require not only formal compliance with procedures but also the integration of modern technologies to automate AML processes. In Asia, especially Singapore, the regulator (MAS) requires licensed payment service providers to identify beneficial owners and monitor transactions on an ongoing basis, with monitoring systems matched to the size and complexity of the business.
The COREDO team implements solutions that allow integrating AML technologies into client business processes, significantly speeding up due diligence and lowering account blocking risks. The role of the compliance officer becomes strategic: responsible not only for compliance but also for building an effective risk management system.
Transparency of corporate structures and beneficiary disclosure
In recent years, requirements for transparency of corporate structures and beneficiary disclosure have tightened in all key jurisdictions. Banks and regulators demand full disclosure of information about ultimate owners, sources of fund origin, and governance structure.
Our experience shows that a transparent corporate structure is not only a legal requirement but also a reputation risk management tool for banks. A solution implemented by COREDO for a client in the EU allowed not only successful completion of all compliance checks but also to access international settlements without restrictions.
Practical steps and recommendations for businesses in the current geopolitical environment
- Minimize risks of account blocking and sanction pressure: Diversify banking relationships, regularly update KYC files, and monitor political risks for investors.
- Prepare for new compliance procedures in the EU: Implement automated AML systems, train personnel, and appoint an experienced compliance officer.
- Integrate ESG and sustainable development into business strategy: This is not only a trend but also a requirement of many European regulators during licensing and account opening.
- Evaluate ROI in licensing and banking support: Analyze not just the license cost, but also long-term compliance and corporate structure maintenance costs.
- Follow the COREDO checklist:
- Prepare a complete package of documents for due diligence.
- Choose a jurisdiction considering sanction resistance and transparency requirements.
- Conduct an audit of the corporate structure and sources of funds.
- Implement automated AML and KYC procedures.
- Regularly update internal risk management policies.
Key conclusions and answers to frequent questions
Geopolitics sets new rules for international business: from opening bank accounts to licensing and cross-border operation support. World economy fragmentation, sanction pressure, and tightened compliance procedures require a strategic approach, risk diversification, and modern technology implementation.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Which jurisdictions are most resilient to sanction pressure? - Singapore, Cyprus, Estonia, and several Asian countries where regulators react flexibly to changes but require strict AML and KYC compliance.
- How to reduce the risks of corporate account blocking? - Diversify banking relations, implement automated compliance procedures, maintain transparent corporate structure.
- Which technologies are most effective for AML?: Use automated transaction monitoring systems, integration with international databases, and machine learning algorithms to detect suspicious operations.
Outlook: further tightening of transparency requirements, growing role of central bank digital currencies, and expansion of tools for alternative international payments. COREDO solutions allow not only adapting to these changes but using them as a competitive advantage for business scaling in new markets.