By ยท ยท last updated 2026-08-06

What Is a VASP?

A Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) is any business that exchanges, transfers, or custodies virtual assets. The FATF definition and its compliance meaning.

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VASP - Virtual Asset Service Provider - is the FATF term for businesses that exchange, transfer, or custody virtual assets. The label decides which compliance obligations apply.

The definition

FATF defines VASPs as entities providing: exchange between virtual and fiat, exchange between virtual assets, transfers, and safekeeping/administration of virtual assets.

Why it matters

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VASPs carry AML/CFT obligations: KYC, travel rule (VASP-to-VASP data sharing), sanctions screening, and reporting. Exchanges, custodians, and some brokerages are VASPs; pure software providers are not.

VASP vs screening

Screening is the per-transaction prohibition check - it applies to VASPs and to any payment path. The travel rule applies to VASP-to-VASP transfers. The travel rule post covers the boundary.

The agent angle

An agent that moves virtual assets may itself be a VASP activity - the obligations follow the activity, not the label.

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