Travel Rule
The Travel Rule requires financial institutions to send identifying information about the originator and beneficiary along with a funds transfer, so the data "travels" with the payment. It originates in US Bank Secrecy Act rules for transfers of $3,000 or more, and FATF Recommendation 16 extends the same obligation to virtual-asset transfers worldwide.
By Krisan Nichani, Chief Compliance OfficerLast updated July 2026
The required data is concrete: names, account numbers or wallet addresses, and physical address or equivalent identifiers for the originator, passed to the next institution in the chain. For virtual assets, that information cannot ride inside the blockchain transaction itself, so VASPs exchange it through separate messaging protocols — and thresholds vary by jurisdiction, with FATF recommending coverage at USD/EUR 1,000.
On Infinite, the rule’s inputs exist before the payment does: every counterparty is verified at onboarding and screened before funds move, so originator and beneficiary information is structured network data rather than something chased down per transfer — and the documentation lands in the case file automatically.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Travel Rule threshold?
In the US, Bank Secrecy Act rules apply the requirement to transfers of $3,000 or more. FATF recommends covering virtual-asset transfers at USD/EUR 1,000, and the EU applies its crypto Travel Rule with no minimum threshold — so coverage varies by jurisdiction. Bank Secrecy Act (BSA)
Who does the Travel Rule apply to?
Banks and other financial institutions on fiat transfers, and virtual asset service providers — exchanges, custodians, and transfer services — for virtual-asset transfers under FATF Recommendation 16. If a business transmits funds or virtual assets on behalf of customers, the rule reaches it.
How is Travel Rule data exchanged for stablecoin transfers?
Not on-chain. Originator and beneficiary information cannot ride inside the blockchain transaction itself, so virtual asset service providers exchange it through separate messaging protocols alongside the transfer. VASP
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