Earlier today I was disappointed to discover I'm now required to provide unclear information about my transactions under the new Travel Rule.

I found out the hard way, but fortunately on a transaction worth $0.68.

Here's what happened.

Ordinarily, I withdraw Publish0x funds to a hot wallet and then, when it's enough for a couple of beers, I withdraw to one of the CEXs I use and spend it with a card.

Today, my transaction was blocked because I have to provide information regarding the payor.

Who's the payor? Me? considering I sent from my hot wallet? Or is it Publish0x? Considering that's where the funds originally come from?

I'm required to provide things like legal name, email, number.

Of whom?

If it comes from a hot wallet, there's no legal name or email or number attached to it.

And if it's about Publish0x, okay, what email? Whose number?

It's confusing.

Hopefully this transaction will eventually be reverted back to my wallet. Or maybe credited either way. I don't know.

What I do know is I won't be trying that again.

I'll find an alternative solution. This reminds me of the bad old days in 2017 and 2018, back when exchanging crypto into actually spendable money was tough.

On one occasion, I had to sign up for an obscure Russia-based payment platform and pay obscene fees to withdraw funds into the platform, and then sell crypto for USD, and then withdraw USD to my PayPal, and then withdraw PayPal to my bank card.

On a different occasion, I literally flew to Girona, Spain, because, back then, that was the nearest Bitcoin ATM to my place.

$20 for a Ryanair return flight, $20 for a bed in a hostel, and once again obscene fees for a $500 withdrawal.

This feels a lot like that.

For now, I'm trying to withdraw funds to the only non-custodial wallet I found where you can also link a card.

I'll keep you posted.