There's all sorts of legitimate ways for instance there are traders who are watching companies doing mergers and acquisitions and you want to make it not so obvious. There's family offices that do not want to advertise but still need to manage their wealth. Holding companies with investment portfolios in non-liquid assets, isolate and manage risks etc.
People in the comments are conflating layering with simply legit use cases like using foreign jurisdiction and shell companies for corporate/investment strategies.
I understand why rich people want to keep secrets from the general public. I just don't think "rich people want it" is a justification for much of anything.
I'm fine with people having money. Commerce is pretty great. I just don't think having money should equate to political power. There's a reason the US fought a war to get rid of the English "nobility".
People in the comments are conflating layering with simply legit use cases like using foreign jurisdiction and shell companies for corporate/investment strategies.