UK Starts Consultation on Applying 'Travel Rule' to Crypto

The rule should be applied consistently “regardless of the technology being used to facilitate transfers,” the Treasury said.

AccessTimeIconJul 23, 2021 at 4:25 p.m. UTC
Updated Sep 14, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. UTC
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The U.K. government is starting the process of implementing the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) “travel rule” for cryptoassets.

  • Under FATF standards to prevent money laundering and terror funding, the originator and recipient of funds being transferred need to be identified.
  • The rule should be applied consistently across the financial services industry, “regardless of the technology being used to facilitate transfers” the Treasury said in a consultation document published Thursday.
  • Existing regulations don’t transfer smoothly to crypto because of peculiarities of the sector and need to be adapted, it said.
  • “Cryptoasset firms will need to put in place systems for ensuring that personal information of the originator and beneficiary of a cryptoasset transfer is transmitted and received alongside the transfer, in an appropriate format,” according to the document.
  • The document includes several proposals from FATF's proposals, among them the suggestion that beneficiaries should be prevented from withdrawing amounts above £1,000 if required information is missing.
  • Responses to the consultation must be received by Oct. 14.

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