Travel Rule crypto UK: What You Need to Know in 2025

When you send crypto in the UK, the Travel Rule, a global anti-money laundering requirement that forces crypto businesses to share sender and receiver info on transactions over £1,000. Also known as FATF Recommendation 16, it’s not optional—it’s enforced by the FCA, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates all crypto businesses operating in the country. If you run a crypto exchange, wallet provider, or even a business that accepts crypto payments, this rule applies to you.

The AML rules UK crypto, a set of legal requirements designed to prevent criminals from using digital assets to hide money. go beyond just the Travel Rule. They include mandatory registration with the FCA, keeping records for five years, and reporting suspicious activity. The 10% ownership threshold means even minor investors in a crypto business must be vetted. And starting in 2025, the FSMA changes are tightening the screws even more—non-compliant firms are getting shut down, not just fined.

This isn’t about slowing down innovation. It’s about making sure crypto doesn’t become a backdoor for fraud. The Travel Rule crypto UK isn’t just a technical checkbox. It forces exchanges to know who’s sending and receiving money—just like banks do with wire transfers. That’s why platforms like Binance, Kraken, and even smaller UK-based services now collect names, IDs, and wallet addresses for every transaction over £1,000. If you’re a trader, you might notice extra steps when withdrawing. If you’re a business owner, you’re paying for compliance software, legal advice, and staff training. There’s no way around it.

And it’s not just the UK. The Travel Rule is global. But here, the FCA is one of the strictest enforcers. That’s why so many crypto businesses are moving operations to places like Malta or Singapore—where rules are clearer or less aggressive. But if you’re staying in the UK, you play by their rules. The good news? Once you’re compliant, you’re protected. You can bank, you can scale, and you can build trust with customers who care about legitimacy.

Below, you’ll find real breakdowns of how UK crypto firms are handling this rule, what happens when they get it wrong, and how new laws like FSMA are reshaping the landscape. No fluff. No theory. Just what’s happening right now—and what you need to do next.