A new proposed rulemaking (the “NPRM”) would lower the current $3,000 threshold for the applicability of the Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) Recordkeeping Rule and Travel Rule to $250 for covered funds transfers that begin or end outside the United States. This proposed change would—among other things—require nonbank financial institutions, such as money transmitters, to obtain information, including Social Security number, from all consumers that initiate covered transfers in an amount of $250 or more. If finalized as proposed, the change would have a significant impact on financial services providers that offer cross-border funds transfer services. In addition, the NPRM would modify the definition of “money”—as the term is used in connection with the Recordkeeping and Travel Rules—to include convertible virtual currency (“CVC”) and to clarify that funds transfers involving CVC are also covered. This change would be the first recognition of virtual currency in the regulations implementing the BSA.
Comments on the NPRM are due on November 27, 2020.
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