AML Cost Calculator
Estimate anti-money laundering compliance costs
Business Profile
% of transactions generating alerts
% of alerts that are false positives
Cost Components
Software platform fees
Wallet screening, tracing
PEP, sanctions, watchlists
Analyst time per alert
Suspicious activity reports
AML officers, analysts
Cost Summary
Total Monthly AML Cost
$0
Annual Cost
$0
Cost/Transaction
$0.00
Key Metrics
Cost Breakdown
AML Provider Comparison
| Provider | Best For | Monthly Range | Blockchain Coverage | Your Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chainalysis | Enterprise, Regulators | $15K-$100K+ | 100+ Chains | $0 |
| Elliptic | Compliance-focused | $10K-$50K | 40+ Chains | $0 |
| TRM Labs | Fast-growing exchanges | $8K-$40K | 25+ Chains | $0 |
| Scorechain | Mid-size companies | $5K-$25K | 20+ Chains | $0 |
| Merkle Science | Startups, APAC | $2K-$15K | 15+ Chains | $0 |
* Estimates based on your transaction volume. Actual quotes vary by features and negotiation.
When to Use AML Cost Calculator
Exchange Launch Budget
Launching a crypto exchange? AML is non-negotiable and expensive. At 100K transactions/month, expect $15K-$50K monthly for proper monitoring. Know these numbers before your seed round closes.
Alert Tuning ROI
Drowning in false positives? Each unnecessary alert costs $25-$50 to investigate. Reducing your false positive rate from 95% to 90% on 1,000 monthly alerts saves $1,250/month. This calculator shows the math.
Provider Comparison
Chainalysis vs Elliptic vs TRM? They all price differently. Use this calculator to normalize costs and understand what you're really paying per transaction across providers.
Staffing Decisions
How many AML analysts do you need? At 500 alerts/month with 30 minutes each, that's 250 hours—more than one FTE. This calculator helps you plan headcount based on actual workload.
Risk Assessment
Regulators ask about your AML spend. If you're processing $100M monthly but spending $5K on AML, that's a red flag. Use this to benchmark against industry standards and justify your budget.
Growth Planning
Scaling from 50K to 500K transactions? AML costs don't scale linearly—volume discounts kick in, but alert volume grows. Model different scenarios to forecast cash needs accurately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does AML cost for crypto?
Startups: $50K-$200K/year. Mid-size: $200K-$1M. Large exchanges: $5M-$50M+. Includes monitoring software ($2K-$50K/month), staff ($80K-$200K per FTE), and investigation costs.
Cost per transaction for AML?
$0.01-$0.50 depending on volume and complexity. High-volume simple products: $0.01-$0.05. Cross-border/complex: $0.10-$0.50. Blockchain analytics adds $0.001-$0.01 per screening.
Transaction monitoring software cost?
$2K-$50K+/month. Entry-level: $2K-$5K. Mid-tier: $5K-$15K. Enterprise (Chainalysis, Elliptic): $15K-$50K+. Pricing based on volume, features, and blockchain coverage.
Cost per alert investigation?
$15-$100+ per alert. Simple false positives: $15-$25 (10-15 min). Standard: $30-$50 (30-60 min). Complex SAR cases: $100-$300+ (2-4 hours). Reducing false positives is key.
Best AML providers for crypto?
Chainalysis (leader, $15K-$100K+), Elliptic ($10K-$50K), TRM Labs ($8K-$40K), Scorechain ($5K-$25K), Merkle Science ($2K-$15K). Choice depends on volume and chain coverage needs.
What % should go to AML?
AML is typically 10-20% of compliance costs and 2-5% of operating expenses. Healthy AML headcount is 10-15% of total staff. If AML exceeds 25% of compliance budget, review your alert tuning.
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