Direct answer
VASP means virtual asset service provider, a term used in public regulatory and policy materials. Mixer-related discussions sometimes reference VASP concepts, but whether any specific business or activity falls into a regulated category depends on facts and jurisdiction. Mixer Explained explains vocabulary only.
Why the term appears
VASP terminology appears when public sources discuss custody, transfer, exchange, administration, or other virtual asset service categories. This site keeps those terms at a high level.
Boundary table
| Question | Treatment |
|---|---|
| Term definition | Appropriate for this site |
| General source context | Appropriate when sourced and dated |
| Specific classification | Requires qualified review |
| Compliance program advice | Outside this site's scope |
What it does not decide
A page mentioning VASP terminology does not determine licensing, registration, reporting, sanctions, AML, or jurisdiction-specific duties for any person or entity.
Review checklist
- Is the source official?
- Is the page defining terms only?
- Are specific actors avoided?
- Is jurisdictional certainty avoided?
Source notes
These sources support public context and terminology. They do not turn this page into legal, financial, sanctions, or compliance advice.
- FATF Guidance for a Risk-Based Approach to Virtual Assets and VASPs - Context for VASP, AML/CFT, travel rule, and risk-based terminology.
- FinCEN guidance on certain business models involving convertible virtual currency - Used only to understand regulatory categories, not to give legal advice.
- FinCEN proposal on convertible virtual currency mixing - Current public policy context around CVC mixing.