EU Travel Rule: What It Means for Crypto Users in Europe

When you send crypto across borders in the European Union, the EU Travel Rule, a regulation requiring crypto service providers to share sender and receiver information for transactions above €1,000. Also known as FATF Recommendation 16, it’s not about travel—it’s about tracking money. This rule forces exchanges, wallets, and other crypto businesses to collect and pass along names, account numbers, and addresses for every transfer over €1,000. It’s the same logic banks use for wire transfers, but now applied to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins.

The EU Travel Rule, a regulation requiring crypto service providers to share sender and receiver information for transactions above €1,000. Also known as FATF Recommendation 16, it’s not about travel—it’s about tracking money. is part of the larger MiCA, the Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation that brings crypto firms under formal EU oversight. Also known as Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, it’s the EU’s main framework for crypto compliance. MiCA doesn’t just cover the Travel Rule—it also bans unregistered stablecoins like USDT, requires KYC for all exchanges, and sets security standards for custody services. The result? Exchanges operating in Europe now have to prove they’re not just platforms—they’re financial institutions.

What does this mean for you? If you’re using a non-EU exchange like Bittime or DEx.top to send crypto to someone in Germany, the transaction might get blocked unless the platform complies. Even if you’re just holding crypto, your exchange might ask for more ID than before. This isn’t just about big players—small wallets and DeFi users are affected too. The EU Travel Rule, a regulation requiring crypto service providers to share sender and receiver information for transactions above €1,000. Also known as FATF Recommendation 16, it’s not about travel—it’s about tracking money. ties directly into enforcement actions seen in countries like Myanmar and Colombia, where unregulated transfers trigger penalties. It’s also why Tether got banned under MiCA: they didn’t meet the transparency bar.

Some users think this is just government overreach. But look at the data: crypto is being used to bypass sanctions in Iran and Myanmar, and evade taxes in places without clear rules. The EU isn’t trying to stop crypto—it’s trying to stop criminals from hiding behind it. That’s why the Travel Rule isn’t optional. It’s built into every exchange’s legal checklist now.

Below, you’ll find real-world examples of how this rule plays out—from the USDT ban in Europe to how exchanges like Bitwired failed because they ignored compliance. You’ll see how traders in Indonesia and El Salvador are adapting, and why some crypto projects vanished overnight when they couldn’t meet the new standards. This isn’t theory. It’s happening now, and it’s changing who can use crypto, where, and how.