The Virtual Assets Service Providers Act, 2022 (the
"VASP Act") came into force on 1 February 2023. The VASP
Act regulates virtual asset service providers ("VASPs")
and requires that VASPs be registered with the BVI Financial
Services Commission (the "FSC").
1. The legislative regime
In conjunction with the VASP Act, the FSC also published
Guidance on the Application for Registration of a Virtual Assets
Service Provider (the "VASP Registration
Guidance"), and the Virtual Assets Service Providers
Guide to the Prevention of Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing
and Proliferation Financing (available to view here).
Also applicable to VASPs is the Anti-money Laundering
(Amendment) Regulations, 2022 and the Anti-money Laundering and
Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Code of Practice, 2022 which, from
1 December 2022, brought VASPs within scope of the BVI AML/CTF
regime for transactions involving virtual assets valued at $1,000
or more.