What is the OFAC list update process?
OFAC updates the SDN List on a rolling basis, typically daily, and SanctionsAI syncs its screening data hourly to follow.
TL;DR
TL;DR: OFAC maintains the SDN List and updates it on a rolling basis, often daily. SanctionsAI syncs hourly, so newly designated names and wallets enter the screening data within roughly an hour.
How OFAC updates the list
OFAC, the Office of Foreign Assets Control inside the US Treasury, publishes the SDN List, the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, from the Treasury sdn.csv file. Additions and removals happen on a rolling basis, typically daily, rather than on a fixed schedule. A counterparty can become blocked at any time, which is why screening against a stale list is a real compliance risk.
Why sync frequency matters
For agent payments, the gap between an OFAC update and a screen result is the window where a violation can occur. SanctionsAI syncs hourly and screens against 19,218 SDN names and 947 OFAC-listed crypto wallets across 16 jurisdictions. The check itself is one HTTP call in under 100 ms, so freshness comes from the data sync, not the lookup speed.
What this means in practice
- Screen at payment time, not once at onboarding, so new designations are caught.
- Re-check wallet portfolios after each SDN update cycle.
- Treat a BLOCK result as final until a compliance owner reviews it.