Services related to token offerings (FATF)
Participating in and providing financial services related to an issuer's offer or sale of a virtual asset requires a virtual asset service provider (VASP) licence under the FATF Glossary (v). Regulated launchpad services, token syndications and distribution platforms must enforce anti-money-laundering screenings, investor verifications and source-of-funds investigations on behalf of token issuers.
Definition
Participating in and providing financial services related to an issuer's offer or sale of a virtual asset.
- FATF, Glossary: virtual asset service provider (v): official text
Which licence you need
Licence families that typically permit this activity:
Where it can be licensed
| EU/EEA passport | Domestic | |
|---|---|---|
| British Virgin Islands: Virtual Assets Service Provider Registration | ✓ | |
| Mauritius: Virtual Asset Advisory Services (Class I) | ✓ |
Frequently asked questions
Does acting as an initial coin offering (ICO) adviser require a VASP licence?
Pure technical advisory or marketing consulting usually does not trigger licensing. However, if the adviser collects investor funds, manages token distributions or brokers allocations between issuers and buyers, full VASP registration or securities licensing becomes mandatory.
How do regulators treat token launchpad platforms?
Regulators classify launchpads as intermediaries facilitating token distributions. Platforms must verify project promoters, conduct sanctions screening on participants, implement anti-fraud safeguards and maintain detailed transaction audit trails to satisfy statutory compliance standards.
Sources
- FATF Glossary: virtual asset service provider (v) · retrieved 2026-09-24
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