Virtual asset transfer (FATF)
Transferring virtual assets between addresses or accounts on a client's behalf, outside the EU, needs a virtual asset service provider (VASP) licence or a money transmitter registration under the FATF Glossary (iii). These national regimes enforce the FATF travel rule, which requires verifiable originator and beneficiary data on every qualifying blockchain transaction.
Definition
Conducting transactions that move virtual assets between addresses or accounts on behalf of another person.
- FATF, Glossary: virtual asset service provider (iii): official text
Which licence you need
Licence families that typically permit this activity:
- VASP · Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
VASP licence
Financial Services Permission with Virtual Asset Activities EndorsementFSRA · capital USD 250,000
- VASP · Australia
VASP licence
Registration as a virtual asset service provider (VASP) on the AUSTRAC Virtual Asset Service Provider Register (formerly the Digital Currency Exchange Register)AUSTRAC
- VASP · Bermuda
Digital Asset Business Class F (Full) Licence
BMA
- VASP · Bermuda
Digital Asset Business Class M (Modified) Licence
BMA
- VASP · Bermuda
Digital Asset Business Class T (Test) Licence
BMA
- VASP · British Virgin Islands
Virtual Assets Service Provider Registration
BVI FSC
- MSB · Canada
Money services business (MSB) registration
Money services business (MSB) registration (covers foreign exchange dealing, money transferring, virtual currency dealing, crowdfunding platforms and related services; a separate foreign-MSB registration applies to businesses without a place of business in Canada that direct services at Canadians)FINTRAC
- VASP · Cayman Islands
Virtual Asset Service Provider Registration
CIMA
- VASP · Dubai (VARA)
Virtual Asset Transfer and Settlement Services Licence
VARA · capital AED 500,000
- VASP · Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
Financial Services Permission with Crypto Token Activities Endorsement
DFSA · capital USD 1,000,000
- VASP · El Salvador
Proveedor de Servicios de Activos Digitales (PSAD) registration
CNAD · capital USD 2,000
- VASP · Ireland
Virtual Asset Service Provider AML/CFT Registration
CBI
- VASP · Mauritius
Virtual Asset Wallet Services (Class O)
FSC
- VASP · Seychelles
Virtual Asset Service Provider Licence / Registration
Virtual Asset Service Provider Licence / Registration (Wallet Provider, Exchange, Broking, Investment Provider) under the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act 2024FSA
- VASP · South Africa
Crypto Asset Service Provider licence
Crypto Asset Service Provider licence (an FSP authorisation category under FAIS, not a MiCA-equivalent regime)FSCA
- VASP · Switzerland
Financial intermediary / VASP SRO affiliation
FINMA · capital CHF 10,000,000
- VASP · United Kingdom
Cryptoasset Business Registration (MLRs 2017)
FCA
Where it can be licensed
Frequently asked questions
What threshold triggers the FATF travel rule for virtual asset transfers?
FATF's own standard recommends the travel rule above a de minimis threshold. Several countries have dropped that threshold entirely, though, and apply full information exchange to every transaction regardless of size.
How do non-EU jurisdictions regulate cross-border crypto remittances?
A cross-border crypto transfer usually falls under national money transmission law or a dedicated virtual asset regime. In the US, for example, the provider needs a state-level money transmitter licence as well as federal FinCEN registration.
Sources
- FATF Glossary: virtual asset service provider (iii) · retrieved 2026-09-24
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