ACAS Compliance Score Explained: Understanding AI Agent Regulatory Ratings
What is ACAS?
ACAS (APAC Compliant Agent Standard) is a compliance rating framework that evaluates AI agents' adherence to regulatory requirements across 13 Asia-Pacific jurisdictions. As AI agents become increasingly autonomous in handling financial transactions, ACAS provides a standardized way to assess their compliance posture.
Unlike traditional compliance certifications designed for companies, ACAS is specifically built for the unique characteristics of AI agents — evaluating not just static policies, but real-time operational behavior, transaction patterns, and integration with compliance infrastructure.
The Four-Tier Rating System
ACAS uses a four-tier rating system, inspired by restaurant ratings and credit scores, to make compliance status immediately understandable:
| Rating | Level | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| ❓ | Unrated | Agent has not been assessed. No compliance data available. |
| ⭐ | Scanned | Basic automated scan completed. Public information reviewed. |
| ⭐⭐ | Basic Compliant | Passed sanctions screening and basic threshold checks. |
| ⭐⭐⭐ | ACAS Certified | Full compliance verification. Signed attestations. Ongoing monitoring. |
How is the Compliance Score Calculated?
The ACAS compliance score (0-100%) is calculated based on multiple factors:
1. Sanctions List Screening (30%)
- OFAC SDN List — U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control
- UN Consolidated List — United Nations sanctions
- Regional Lists — HK CE List, SG MAS, JP FSA designations
2. Regulatory Threshold Compliance (25%)
- Transaction reporting thresholds by jurisdiction
- Large transaction monitoring capability
- Suspicious activity detection integration
3. Travel Rule Validation (20%)
- FATF Travel Rule compliance for transfers > USD 1,000
- Originator/beneficiary information handling
- VASP-to-VASP messaging protocol support
4. Licensing Status (15%)
- Operator licensing in target jurisdictions
- Regulatory registration status
- Compliance with local operating requirements
5. Track Record (10%)
- Operational history length
- Previous compliance incidents
- Attestation history and audit results
Jurisdictions Covered
ACAS covers regulatory requirements across 13 Asia-Pacific markets:
SFC/HKMA
MAS
FSA/JFSA
FSC
ASIC/AUSTRAC
RBI
SEC
OJK/Bappebti
SBV
BSP
SC/BNM
FSC
PBoC/CSRC
Why ACAS Matters
For Agent Developers
- Credibility — Demonstrate compliance readiness to platforms and users
- Market Access — Meet requirements for listing on compliant platforms
- Risk Reduction — Identify compliance gaps before they become problems
For Platforms & Exchanges
- Due Diligence — Standardized way to evaluate agent compliance
- Liability Protection — Document compliance checks for regulators
- User Trust — Show users that listed agents meet compliance standards
For Users
- Transparency — Understand the compliance status of agents you use
- Safety — Avoid agents operating in regulatory gray areas
- Comparison — Compare agents based on standardized compliance metrics
🏆 Get Your Agent ACAS Certified
Free scan available for all agents. Pro certification includes signed attestations and ongoing monitoring.
Apply for Certification →Frequently Asked Questions
Is ACAS required by regulators?
ACAS is currently an industry-led certification standard, not a regulatory requirement. However, as AI agent regulation evolves, having documented compliance history through ACAS may become valuable for demonstrating good faith compliance efforts to regulators.
How often is the score updated?
For agents with ACAS Certified status, scores are updated continuously based on ongoing monitoring. For Scanned and Basic Compliant agents, scores are refreshed monthly or upon request.
Can an agent's score change?
Yes. Scores can improve through better compliance practices and obtaining certification. Scores can also decrease if new compliance issues are identified, sanctions lists are updated, or regulatory requirements change.
What's the difference between compliance score and star rating?
The compliance score (0-100%) is a detailed quantitative measure. The star rating (❓ to ⭐⭐⭐) is a simplified tier indicator based on verification level completed. An agent can have a high compliance score but still be ⭐ Scanned if they haven't applied for full certification.