JOSEPH CICCOLO

Joseph Ciccolo, CAMS, AMLCA. Founder & President of BitAML. Executive Director & President, California Blockchain Advocacy Coalition.

Joe is the Founder & President of BitAML, a compliance and public policy advisory firm exclusively serving the Bitcoin and cryptocurrency market. Founded in 2015, BitAML has served hundreds of innovative clients including bitcoin ATM operators, cryptocurrency exchanges, OTC desks, trading platforms, DeFi projects, NFT marketplaces, cryptocurrency hedge funds, payment processors, and lenders.

He is a frequent guest speaker at compliance industry events, and conducts formal training for executives, compliance officers, investors, policymakers, and members of law enforcement. Joe is a member of the Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists (ACFCS) and the Principal Contributing Editor of its Crypto Compliance Specialization. He is also a co-host of ACFCS’ quarterly crypto compliance webcast series “Between Two Coins,” and serves as an instructor with the organization. Joe is a regular guest lecturer at Northeastern University and Suffolk University, and an editorial contributor to the Money Services Business Association (MSBA) “Best Practices for U.S. Money Services Businesses” manual.

In addition to his leadership role at BitAML, Joe is the Executive Director & President of the California Blockchain Advocacy Coalition (CBAC), a 501(c)(6) trade association representing the interests of the cryptocurrency, blockchain, and Web3 industry before the California Legislature, Governor’s Office, and state regulatory agencies. In this role, he has testified before both the California Assembly and California Senate, and regularly meets with members of both houses throughout the legislative session, advocating for regulation that balances innovation with consumer safeguards for the long-term betterment of the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

Prior to launching BitAML, Joe was a founding member and architect of the BSA/AML compliance program of a top 100 US-based online financial institution. He also served as a project manager for a top 20 global bank, where he led several regulatory and AML audit remediation projects. Before entering the field of AML, Joe held leadership positions across various risk management disciplines, including vendor due diligence, fraud prevention, and corporate investigations.

Joe is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and Anti-Money Laundering Certified Associate (AMLCA). He is a graduate of Northeastern University, College of Criminal Justice.