Money transmitter / money services business (MSB)
A money services business (MSB) or money transmitter authorisation covers transferring funds, exchanging currency and, in many regimes, dealing in virtual currency. In the United States and Canada, it is mostly an anti-money-laundering registration, with FinCEN or FINTRAC. In the US, that federal registration sits alongside separate state money transmitter licences wherever the business serves customers.
Where the MSB licence is available
Comparison by country
| Country | Regulator | Min. capital | Statutory time | Passport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | AUSTRAC | n/a | n/a | Domestic |
| British Virgin Islands | BVI FSC | n/a | n/a | Domestic |
| Canada | FINTRAC | n/a | n/a | Domestic |
| Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) | DFSA | n/a | n/a | Domestic |
| Netherlands | DNB | n/a | n/a | Domestic |
| United States | FinCEN | n/a | 5.9 mo | Domestic |
Values come from each country's page, where every figure has its source.
Activities this family typically covers
All licences in this family
- MSB · Australia
Registration as a remittance service provider
Registration as a remittance service provider (remittance network provider or independent remittance dealer)AUSTRAC
- MSB · British Virgin Islands
Money Services Business Licence, Class A or Class B
Money Services Business Licence, Class A (money/electronic/mobile money transmission) or Class B (money orders, traveller's cheques, cheque cashing, currency exchange)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
- MSB · Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
Money transmitter licence
Financial Services Permission for Providing Money Services restricted to Money Transmission only (Category 4)DFSA
- MSB · Netherlands
Exchange institution licence
Exchange institution licence (Vergunning wisselinstelling)DNB
- MSB · United States
Registration of Money Services Business (Form 107 / RMSB)
FinCEN
Sources
- FinCEN: MSB registration · retrieved 2026-09-24
- FINTRAC: MSB registration · retrieved 2026-09-24
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