The Challenge
In June 2019, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)’s updated its Recommendation 16 – the so-called ‘Travel Rule’ – to include Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) such as exchanges, payment processors and custodians.
Since then, the international regulatory body has kept up the pressure, compelling crypto industry players to recognize, record, report and store information that ‘Travels’ from one VASP to another.
The message from the FATF is clear: VASPs that fail to adhere to the rule will soon be unable to escape the regulatory axe. However, despite the dangers of failing to adhere to the rule(s), compliance remains patchy and elusive for many actors in the crypto industry, for a variety of different reasons.
Common challenges to compliance for VASPs include:
- The high costs of expanding compliance teams.
- A legacy of anonymity in both the technical architecture and corporate attitudes of VASPs.
- A lack of clarity from regulatory authorities on how they plan to enforce the FATF’s updated recommendations.
These are precisely some of the problems that SelfKey’s Compliance Hub Solution has been designed to address and overcome.
SelfKey’s Compliance Hub Solution
SelfKey’s Compliance Hub provides a technical and legal solution to the FATF Travel Rule. Compliance is achieved through secure exchange-to-exchange messaging using decentralized identity claims on the SelfKey network to whitelist compliant VASPs and minimize data sharing, and by extension vulnerability to data breaches.
Some of the key benefits of the SelfKey Compliance Hub for VASPs are:
- Provides Travel Rule compliance by leveraging multiple existing technologies
- Can associate multiple wallet addresses to an individual or company
- Uses decentralized identity claims to improve privacy and minimize data sharing
- Allows multiple VASPs/exchanges to be interoperable, even with different internal data structures
- Users can build a reputation and identity history across multiple platforms/exchanges, which can lead to re-usable KYC
- User data is not stored on a centralized database so it’s not controlled by any single entity
- Allows VASPs to quickly exchange information in compliance with the Travel Rule
There are a number of interesting projects that have emerged over the last few years, which are attempting to provide solutions to the challenge of regulatory compliance for VASPs, in particular in relation to the FATF Travel Rule.
The best out there each offer certain benefits in specific, unique ways that are suited to different situations and objectives. All of them are contributing to the creation of safer, more effective and efficient systems for crypto-based activity, and KYCC is proud to be a part of this global, decentralized movement to improve the ways individuals and companies transact with one another.
So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at how the KYCC Travel Hub compares to other solutions found on the market.
OpenVASP
OpenVASP is a non-profit organization that has created a decentralized, open-source network for VASPs to exchange information in compliance with the Travel Rule.
As a non-profit, OpenVASP offers the clear benefit of being open to any VASP that seeks to use it. The organization also promotes innovation in the VASP/Compliance space by funding the implementation of open-source technology that can help VASPs comply with FATF regulations. It currently does not have membership fees, but OpenVASP network users are required to implement its protocols through the use of one of its private implementation partners.
Netki
Netki is one of the veterans in the Travel Rule compliance space: its TransactID solution has been around since 2016, and works across all private and public blockchains with both custodial and non-custodial wallets, so it’s primed for interoperability. TransactID also supports privacy coins, and is an open standards-based solution, though certificates are fee-based.
Like the SelfKey Compliance Hub, Netki’s TransactID offers a complete end-to-end compliance solution for VASPs.
TRISA
TRISA is a non-profit, open-source Travel Rule compliance project that implements the InterVASP Message Standard 101 (IVMS) “to standardize Travel Rule message data fields” using the TRISA VASP Directory, which includes location data and contact information for over 800 VASPs. TRISA works by providing VASPs with a way to assess whether data transmission requests are compliant with the Travel Rule through the use of a proven Certificate Authority (CA) model.
While TRISA is open source and free to join, it does have certain limitations. Being a fully open source project with no initial signup costs, VASPs that do choose to use the network for data transmissions will need to take responsibility for maintenance and integration themselves.
Sygna Bridge
Sygna Bridge allows VASPs to share Personally Identifiable Information (PII) with each other through an encrypted ‘privacy-secure tunnel’ using a centralized API. Sygna Bridge is geared towards custodial wallet users, and VASPs using the system need to pay a signup fee as well as an annual fee.
Shyft Network
Shyft has created a system for VASPs to transmit data in compliance with the Travel Rule that is called the Veriscope Network. Shyft’s Travel Rule Solution is directed primarily at VASPs seeking to comply with the data transmission requirements set by the Travel Rule in their interactions with other crypto exchanges, OTC desks and custodial wallets.
VASPs that carry out identity verification claims using SelfKey’s Compliance Hub enjoy a complete end-to-end solution that works across a wide range of public and private blockchains.
There are no costs exacted per transaction, and no membership fees. The SelfKey network is W3C/DIF Standards Compliant, provides DIDs and Verifiable Credentials, and enables Ethereum Smart Contracts, among others.
The SelfKey Compliance Hub can identify wallet custodians, and also supports non-custodial wallets – a feature that isn’t offered by many other competitors. It is also a fully open source technology that is transparent and constantly evolving to adapt to the changing compliance landscape.
Conclusion
While it’s clear that there is now a healthy variety of different TR compliance solutions for VASPS, the strength of each is highly dependent on cooperation and connectivity between the various stakeholders.
If innovative compliance projects are able to continue expanding and enhancing their interoperability, a large network of solution providers can emerge, ensuring all transactions are compliant, and paving the way for a more stable and accepted crypto industry. That’s the important next step, and SelfKey is proud to be a part of the process.
Want to find out more? Get in touch and we’ll be happy to explain the simple ways to integrate the SelfKey Compliance Hub Solution API with your company’s platforms. Or if you want to see it in action, book a demo now.
