Crypto travel rule thresholds: EU vs FATF, US, and UK
Teams used to the US 3,000 dollar travel-rule threshold are often surprised that the EU has none for transfers between crypto firms. A side-by-side of the information-sharing thresholds across the main regimes, and what they actually mean.
Why this trips people up
The travel rule requires identifying information to travel with a transfer. The threshold below which lighter requirements apply differs sharply by regime, and a team used to the US 3,000 dollar figure is often caught out by the EU, which has no de minimis at all for transfers between crypto firms. These are anti-money-laundering information thresholds, not tax thresholds.
As of 2026; thresholds and proposals change. Confirm against the applicable regulation before relying on it. Not legal advice.
Thresholds side by side
| Regime | Between crypto firms | Self-hosted wallet | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | No threshold; full information on every transfer | Extra measures above €1,000 | Regulation (EU) 2023/1113 |
| FATF | Reduced info below ~USD/EUR 1,000 | Risk-based | FATF Recommendation 16 |
| United States | Applies at USD 3,000 (a proposal to lower it has been pending) | Risk-based | Bank Secrecy Act / FinCEN |
| United Kingdom | Full info between cryptoasset businesses | Extra measures around £1,000 | UK Money Laundering Regulations |
The headline contrast: the EU requires originator and beneficiary information on transfers between CASPs regardless of amount, while FATF suggests a 1,000 cut-off and the US has historically used 3,000 dollars. If you are extending US-built compliance to the EU, the EU’s zero threshold is the gap to close first.
What the threshold does and does not change
- It sets when full identifying information must accompany a transfer, not whether the transfer is allowed.
- Below the threshold, lighter information or risk-based measures may apply, but monitoring and record-keeping still do.
- It is separate from tax reporting (DAC8 / CARF) and from MiCA licensing; those have their own triggers.
- Self-hosted (unhosted) wallet transfers carry extra verification once they pass the wallet threshold.
Useful next pages
Travel rule and AML
How the EU travel rule, AML rules, and MiCA stack for a CASP.
MiCA vs UK and US
How the licensing regimes themselves compare, not just the travel rule.