Glossary
Placement
Placement is the first stage of money laundering: introducing illicit funds into the financial system, for example by depositing cash, buying prepaid instruments or funding an account with cards or wallets that break the link to the source. It is usually where the funds are most exposed.
Why it matters for brokers and payment firms
For a broker or payment firm, placement looks like the first deposit: cards in other names, many small deposits, crypto on-ramps. Funding checks catch it before the money moves on.