What is the Travel Rule?
The Travel Rule is a global anti-money-laundering (AML) requirement from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) (Recommendation 16). It requires regulated crypto businesses (Virtual Asset Service Providers / VASPs) to collect, keep, and sometimes share information about the sender and recipient of a crypto transfer.
In the European Economic Area (EEA), these requirements are implemented through the EU Transfer of Funds Regulation (EUTFR) and apply to crypto transfers processed by regulated VASPs.
It exists to help:
- Increase transparency of crypto transfers
- Reduce money laundering and terrorist financing
- Support sanctions and other financial-crime compliance
When is the Travel Rule applied?
It depends on the rules where the involved VASPs are regulated (rules can differ by jurisdiction).
Why might Topper ask for sender/recipient details?
If required by regulation (including EUTFR in the EEA), Topper (and/or its regulated partners) must
- Collect and retain sender/recipient information, and
- Share it when a transfer is between two VASPs (for example, Topper/partner ↔ an exchange)
For transfers involving self-hosted wallets (a wallet you control), Topper may need to:
- Collect details directly from you, and/or
- Verify you control the wallet in certain cases
What information might I be asked to provide?
Depending on the transfer type and location, you may be asked for:
- Sender or recipient full name
- Whether the destination/source is an exchange/VASP or a self-hosted wallet
- The name of the exchange/VASP (if applicable)
- Any additional details required by regulation or requested by the receiving VASP
How could this affect a buy (Topper → your wallet/exchange)?
Buying and sending to an exchange (Topper/partner → external VASP)
- You may be asked for the recipient’s details (for example, recipient name).
- Travel Rule info may be shared with the receiving VASP.
- If the receiving VASP can’t accept or validate the required information, the transfer may fail.
Buying and sending to a self-hosted wallet (Topper/partner → your wallet)
- You may be asked to confirm details and, in some cases, verify you control the wallet.
- The transfer may be pending while verification is completed.
How could this affect a sell (your wallet/exchange → Topper)?
Selling from an exchange (external VASP → Topper)
- The sending exchange should include the required Travel Rule info. If required information is missing or incomplete, the transfer may:
- Stay pending until corrected, or
- Be rejected if compliance requirements can’t be met
Selling from a self-hosted wallet (your wallet → Topper)
- You may be asked to confirm sender details and/or verify wallet control.
- The transfer may be pending while checks are completed.
What does “pending” or “rejected” mean?
- Pending: We’re waiting for required information and/or verification before the transfer can complete.
- Rejected: The required Travel Rule information could not be collected, verified, or accepted (for example, the other VASP doesn’t support compliant transfers).
If a transfer is rejected, you can typically:
- Try again using a different exchange/VASP that supports Travel Rule compliance, or
- Use a self-hosted wallet (wallet verification may be required)
How is my information handled?
Topper (and/or its regulated partners) collects and shares Travel Rule information only when required for compliance. Data is handled securely and in line with applicable privacy and data-protection laws, and retained only as long as required.