FinCEN’s TechSprints and Events
Welcome to FinCEN's Innovation TechSprints and Events.
The FinCEN Innovation Initiative fosters a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges of Anti-Money Laundering (AML)/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT)-related innovation in the financial services sector that are relevant to enhancing our national and financial security.
FinCEN believes that “TechSprints” and other similar events can play a major role in that effort by providing a venue for open collaboration among experts from industry, academia, nonprofits, and the technology sector to develop working solutions to an identified AML/CFT challenge.
FinCEN will periodically co-host or support TechSprints or special events focusing on relevant AML/CFT challenges with its federal and state regulatory partners. The ongoing or recent TechSprints or other innovation-related special events that FinCEN has supported are listed below:
Current and Upcoming TechSprints and Events
U.S.-UK Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PET) Prize Challenges
July 2022-March 2023
Press Release (July 20, 2022)
FinCEN Acting Director’s Statement (June 13, 2022)
The U.S.-U.K. PETs Prize Challenges, first announced at the Summit for Democracy in December 2021, is a transatlantic TechSprint to spur innovation in the use of privacy-enhancing technologies. The Prize Challenges are led by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the U.S. National Science Foundation along with the U.K.’s Center for Data Ethics and Innovation and Innovate U.K.. As part of the Prize Challenge focused on illicit finance, innovators will be able to engage with regulators, including FinCEN and the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority and Information Commissioner’s Office. For more information about the U.S.-UK PET Prize Challenge focused on Financial Crime, see here.
Previous TechSprints and Events
Anti-Corruption Solutions through Emerging Technologies (ASET) Global Anti-Corruption TechSprint
June 21-24, 2022
The ASET Global Anti-corruption TechSprint was hosted by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), the U.S. Department of State, the Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes (TFFC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Alliance for Innovative Regulation (AIR). ASET advances the United States Strategy on Countering Corruption and is a Complementary Initiative in support of the recent Summit for Democracy. FinCEN Deputy Director AnnaLou Tirol addressed the “Sprinters” during their “Demonstration Day” on June 24, 2022.
FDIC-FinCEN Digital Identity TechSprint
January-April 2022
Key Takeaways and Solution Summaries (September 9, 2022)
Press Release (January 11, 2022)
Prepared Remarks of FinCEN Acting Director Himamauli Das (April 4, 2022)
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and FinCEN hosted a Tech Sprint January to measure confidence in digital identity proofing, the process used to collect, validate, and verify information about a person. Through this sprint, FDIC’s tech lab, FDITECH, and FinCEN seek to increase account security, reduce fraud, money laundering and terrorist financing, and foster customer confidence in the digital banking environment. Acting FinCEN Director Himamauli Das addressed the “Sprinters” during their “Demonstration Day” on April 4, 2022.
New York Department of Financial Services TechSprint on Digital Regulatory Reporting
March 1–12, 2021
The New York Department of Financial Services in partnership with the Conference of State Bank Supervisors and the Alliance for Innovative Regulation (AIR) sponsored a TechSprint that invited virtual currency professionals, regulators, and technologist to design a digital regulatory reporting mechanism for virtual asset service providers with the goal of identifying emerging risks related to virtual currency and envisioning a new technology-centric approach to effective regulatory supervision. FinCEN staff participated in and supported the TechSprint.
Alliance for Innovative Regulation TechSprint on Financial Crime: Using Traceability in Crypto to Combat CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material)
October 19–23, 2020
The Alliance for Innovative Regulation (AIR) invited experts from FinCEN, the FBI, the IRS, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the child protection group Thorn to explore how to leverage cryptocurrency technology to combat CSAM. Acting Associate Director Michael Dondarski addressed the “Sprinters” during their “Demonstration Day” on October 23, 2020.
As a federal agency, FinCEN may not recommend or endorse the products of any company. Participation in the Innovation Hours Program does not constitute a recommendation, endorsement or other imprimatur by FinCEN. It is a federal offense for anyone to misuse or otherwise misrepresent through the use of an official department or agency seal that FinCEN endorses its products (18 U.S.C. § 506 and 18 U.S.C. § 1017 ). Vendors may not use the Innovation Hours Program to sell products and services to FinCEN or otherwise solicit contract opportunities. Companies may obtain more information regarding contract opportunities with FinCEN at https://www.fincen.gov/contract-opportunities