VASP Obligations

Definition ∞ VASP obligations refer to the regulatory duties imposed on Virtual Asset Service Providers, such as cryptocurrency exchanges and custodians. These obligations typically include Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance, transaction monitoring, and reporting suspicious activities. Adherence to these requirements aims to mitigate financial crime risks within the digital asset sector. Non-compliance can result in significant penalties.
Context ∞ The landscape of VASP obligations is continually evolving as global regulatory bodies work to establish comprehensive frameworks for digital assets. A key debate involves the scope of these obligations and their applicability to various decentralized protocols and emerging virtual asset services. Critical future developments include the international harmonization of VASP regulations and the development of technological solutions to aid compliance in a decentralized environment.