What Is the Crypto Travel Rule? Exchange Requirements Explained
The Crypto Travel Rule explains why regulated cryptocurrency exchanges increasingly ask for sender, recipient, wallet ownership, and destination-provider information before processing certain crypto transfers. Based on FATF anti-money-laundering standards, the rule requires covered crypto service providers to collect, retain, and sometimes securely share originator and beneficiary information. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, exchange, transaction type, and whether the transfer involves another exchange or a self-custody wallet. This guide explains how the Travel Rule works, the difference between VASPs and CASPs, wallet ownership verification, privacy implications, KYC and AML distinctions, transfer delays, and self-hosted wallet requirements. It also shows what users should do when exchanges request Travel Rule information for incoming or outgoing crypto transactions.