Crypto.com Stamps Its AI Systems With the World's First AI Governance Standard
Crypto.com announced on February 16, 2026 that it has achieved ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification, the international standard for Artificial Intelligence Management Systems. The company claims to be the first digital asset platform to earn the certification, which covers AI risk management, ethical considerations, transparency, and accountability across its services.
"Security and privacy continue to be a core focus for us, particularly as we scale our AI-driven infrastructure and services," said Jason Lau, Crypto.com's CISO, in the official announcement. CEO Kris Marszalek added that the company is "proud to continue to lead and be recognized for our commitment to safety and security standards."
The certification, as of February 16, 2026, adds to Crypto.com's existing compliance stack that already includes ISO 27001 (information security), ISO 27701 (privacy), ISO 22301 (business continuity), PCI DSS, and SOC 2 Type II.
Two of the Three Largest Exchanges Are Now Certified, and the Third Is on the Clock
Crypto.com's "first" claim comes with an asterisk. Binance earned the same ISO/IEC 42001 certification in December 2025, certified by A-LIGN under ANAB accreditation. Binance's Chief Security Officer Jimmy Su said at the time that the certification "validates the structure we have built around responsible AI, ensuring our AI behaves as intended even as it grows more complex."
The distinction may come down to how each company defines itself. Binance positioned its certification under the "exchange" label. Crypto.com, which operates an exchange, a DeFi wallet, an NFT marketplace, and a card program with six tiers, may be drawing the "platform" line more broadly.
Regardless of who technically crossed the finish line first, the pattern matters more than the podium: two of the three largest crypto companies by user base have now independently decided that AI governance certification is worth the investment. That leaves a conspicuous gap for every exchange, card issuer, and wallet provider that has not started the process.
What ISO 42001 Actually Requires
ISO/IEC 42001, published in December 2023, is the first international standard specifically built for organizations that develop, provide, or use AI systems. Unlike general security standards such as ISO 27001, it forces organizations to address AI-specific risks: bias in automated decisions, opacity of model outputs, data quality issues, and the societal impact of deployed systems.
The certification process requires an independent third-party audit of the organization's AI management framework. Auditors evaluate how AI systems are designed, deployed, monitored, and retired. They check whether the organization has documented its AI risk appetite, whether it tests for bias and fairness, and whether it has escalation procedures when AI produces unexpected outcomes.
For a crypto exchange running AI across fraud detection, KYC screening, trading surveillance, risk scoring, and customer service chatbots, the scope is broad. Every model that touches a user decision or a compliance obligation falls under the certification umbrella.
The process is not trivial. Early estimates put ISO 42001 certification costs at $50,000 to $200,000 for mid-size organizations, with larger companies spending more on gap analysis, remediation, and ongoing surveillance audits.
Why the EU AI Act Makes This Urgent, Not Optional
The timing of these certifications is not coincidental. The EU AI Act, which entered into force on August 1, 2024, has been rolling out obligations in phases. Prohibited AI practices became enforceable on February 2, 2025, with penalties reaching 35 million euros or 7% of global revenue.
The next major wave hits on August 2, 2026, when requirements for "high-risk AI systems" take full effect. These cover AI used in critical infrastructure, employment decisions, financial services, and law enforcement. Crypto exchanges that operate in the EU and use AI for KYC decisions, credit risk assessment, or fraud flagging could fall under the high-risk classification.
ISO 42001 is not the same as EU AI Act compliance, but the overlap is substantial. Organizations that have already built an AI management system aligned with ISO 42001 will have a significant head start when regulators begin requesting documentation of their AI governance practices. Gartner has forecast that over 70% of enterprises will adopt an AI governance standard like ISO 42001 by 2026.
For Crypto.com's card users across Europe, this is directly relevant. The platform's AI systems influence which transactions get flagged for review, how quickly KYC verification completes, and whether a card payment gets approved or declined in real time. An independently audited AI framework means those decisions are subject to documented bias checks and transparency requirements.
What Card Users and Crypto Holders Should Watch
The practical impact of AI certification on day-to-day crypto card usage is subtle but real. Here is what to monitor:
Faster KYC and fewer false declines. Certified AI systems must demonstrate accuracy and fairness metrics. If Crypto.com's fraud models are audited against bias standards, the rate of legitimate transactions being falsely flagged should decrease over time. For card users who have experienced blocked payments while traveling, this matters.
Transparency on automated decisions. ISO 42001 requires organizations to document how AI-driven decisions are made and provide escalation paths when users disagree with an outcome. If your card payment gets declined by an algorithm, a certified platform must have a process for human review.
Competitive pressure on other card issuers. With both Binance and Crypto.com now certified, card-issuing competitors face a positioning problem. OKX, which just secured its EU Payments Institution license in Malta, Bybit, and Kraken will likely face questions from users and regulators about their AI governance posture.
The Broader Signal: AI Governance Becomes a Competitive Moat in Crypto
This is part of a larger pattern. Crypto companies are no longer competing purely on fees, token listings, or cashback rates. The competitive frontier has shifted toward trust infrastructure: regulatory licenses, security certifications, and now AI governance.
Crypto.com has assembled a certification collection (ISO 27001, 27017, 27018, 27701, 22301, PCI DSS, SOC 2 Type II, and now 42001) that reads like a compliance checklist for institutional adoption. Binance's recent full regulatory authorization from Abu Dhabi's FSRA, combined with its own ISO 42001 certification, follows the same playbook.
The companies building this compliance moat are the same ones expanding their card programs with zero FX fees and stablecoin spending options. The logic is straightforward: banks and payment networks are more willing to partner with crypto firms that can produce independent audit reports. Every certification reduces the friction of the next banking partnership, the next card issuer onboarding, and the next regulatory approval.
For the broader ecosystem, the race to ISO 42001 signals that AI governance is moving from "nice to have" to table stakes. As AI agents become more integrated into DeFi, trading, and payments, expect this standard to become as common in vendor evaluation as SOC 2 is today.
FAQ
What is ISO/IEC 42001:2023? It is the world's first international standard for Artificial Intelligence Management Systems, published in December 2023 by ISO. It establishes requirements for how organizations develop, deploy, monitor, and retire AI systems, with specific focus on risk management, bias prevention, transparency, and ethical use.
Did Crypto.com or Binance get the certification first? Binance announced its ISO 42001 certification in December 2025. Crypto.com announced on February 16, 2026, claiming to be the "first digital asset platform" to achieve it. The distinction may depend on how each company categorizes itself, as Binance positioned its announcement under the exchange label while Crypto.com operates a broader platform including cards, DeFi, and NFTs.
Does this certification affect Crypto.com card users? Indirectly, yes. The certification covers AI systems used across the platform, including fraud detection, risk scoring, and KYC processing. Card transactions that pass through AI-powered monitoring systems are now subject to independently audited governance standards.
Is ISO 42001 required by law? Not directly. However, the EU AI Act, which is phasing in through 2026, requires organizations using high-risk AI systems to demonstrate governance frameworks. ISO 42001 provides a recognized structure that aligns closely with EU AI Act requirements, giving certified organizations a compliance advantage.
Overview
Crypto.com has achieved ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification for its AI management systems, claiming to be the first digital asset platform to earn the designation. The move comes roughly two months after Binance achieved the same certification in December 2025. With the EU AI Act ramping up enforcement through 2026, including high-risk AI system requirements taking effect in August, AI governance is rapidly shifting from a marketing badge to a regulatory requirement. For card users, the certification means AI-driven decisions on fraud detection, KYC, and transaction approvals are now subject to independent audit standards covering bias, transparency, and accountability.
Recommended Reading
- OKX Secures EU Payments Institution License in Malta, Clearing the Path for Stablecoin Card Expansion Across 28 Countries
- CZ Says Privacy Is the Missing Link for Crypto Payments Adoption, and the Payroll Example Proves It
- Gate CEO Lin Han Says Banks Have Lost the Existential War Against Stablecoins at Consensus Hong Kong
