{
 "jurisdiction_id": "US-VA",
 "jurisdiction": "United States – Virginia",
 "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/united-states-virginia/",
 "generator": "render_jid v13.3.0",
 "date_modified": "2026-08-11",
 "schema_version": "world-payments-v1",
 "counts": {
  "modules": 14,
  "sourced_findings": 59,
  "source_register": 125
 },
 "modules": [
  {
   "code": "W1a",
   "name": "Licensing, Authorisation & Market Access",
   "confidence": "Confirmed",
   "moved_this_cycle": false,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/united-states-virginia/#w1a-licensing-authorisation-market-access",
   "standing_position": "Virginia's money-transmitter framework has been comprehensively overhauled: former Chapter 19 of Title 6.2 is repealed effective July 1, 2026 and replaced by new Chapter 19.1, enacted via HB 1942 (2025 Acts of Assembly, c. 214), adopting the CSBS Money Transmission Modernization Act model law; the SCC has begun conforming 10VAC5-120 accordingly.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "statute",
     "source": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title6.2/chapter19/section6.2-1901/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "regulator_page",
     "source": "https://www.scc.virginia.gov/regulated-industries/bureau-of-financial-institutions/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "licence_guide",
     "source": "https://fraxtional.co/feeds/blog/va-money-transmitter-license",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "bond_requirement",
     "source": "https://www.bondexchange.com/virginia-money-transmitter-bond-a-comprehensive-guide/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "pending_amendment",
     "source": "https://fraxtional.co/feeds/blog/va-money-transmitter-license",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "exemption",
     "source": "https://fraxtional.co/feeds/blog/va-money-transmitter-license",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W1b",
   "name": "Conduct, Safeguarding & Financial Promotions",
   "confidence": "Confirmed",
   "moved_this_cycle": false,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/united-states-virginia/#w1b-conduct-safeguarding-financial-promotions",
   "standing_position": "Virginia has no dedicated e-money safeguarding regime; consumer protection runs through the surety bond mechanism plus VCPA enforcement. A mandatory-fee/surcharge disclosure statute (SB 1212) took effect July 1, 2025.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "safeguarding_mechanism",
     "source": "https://www.bondexchange.com/virginia-money-transmitter-bond-a-comprehensive-guide/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "statute",
     "source": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodeupdates/title59.1/section59.1-608/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "disclosure_rule",
     "source": "https://merchantcostconsulting.com/lower-credit-card-processing-fees/virginia-surcharge-laws/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "conduct_supervision",
     "source": "https://www.scc.virginia.gov/regulated-industries/bureau-of-financial-institutions/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "conduct_rule",
     "source": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodefull/title6.2/chapter21/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W2",
   "name": "Stablecoins & Digital Money",
   "confidence": "High",
   "moved_this_cycle": false,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/united-states-virginia/#w2-stablecoins-digital-money",
   "standing_position": "Virginia has no bespoke stablecoin-issuer licensing regime; digital-asset activity is governed by the federal GENIUS Act framework and Virginia's HB 798 unclaimed-property update covering digital assets, effective July 1, 2026.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "statute",
     "source": "https://www.theblock.co/post/397484/virginia-approves-bill-unclaimed-crypto-assets",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "statute",
     "source": "https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/virginia-enacts-law-state-crypto",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "statute",
     "source": "https://www.gibsondunn.com/digital-assets-recent-updates-april-2026/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "federal_statute",
     "source": "https://www.wiley.law/alert-Building-a-Digital-Asset-Regulatory-Framework-The-GENIUS-Act-and-Next-Steps",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "federal_rulemaking",
     "source": "https://occ.treas.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2026/bulletin-2026-3.html",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W3",
   "name": "Operational Resilience & Critical Infrastructure",
   "confidence": "Assessed",
   "moved_this_cycle": false,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/united-states-virginia/#w3-operational-resilience-critical-infrastructure",
   "standing_position": "Virginia has no payments-specific operational-resilience regime analogous to DORA; resilience oversight runs through the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security (as Chief Resilience Officer) and university-partnered cybersecurity research (Commonwealth Cyber Initiative). The state's acute exposure is physical/critical-infrastructure concentration risk from its globally significant data-center cluster in Loudoun County (\"Data Center Alley\"), which underpins much of the mid-Atlantic's digital and payments infrastructure and has already produced a near-blackout grid event.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "regulator_page",
     "source": "https://www.pshs.virginia.gov/homeland-security/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "market_context",
     "source": "https://broadbandbreakfast.com/data-center-boom-in-virginias-data-center-alley-raises-infrastructure-concerns/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "incident",
     "source": "https://www.globaldatacenterhub.com/p/when-15-gigawatts-vanished-what-the",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "regulatory_context",
     "source": "https://www.belfercenter.org/research-analysis/data-centers-texas-virginia-comparison",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "resilience_initiative",
     "source": "https://news.vt.edu/articles/2026/03/cci-cybersecurity-critical-infrastructure.html",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W4",
   "name": "Scheme & Network Compliance",
   "confidence": "High",
   "moved_this_cycle": false,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/united-states-virginia/#w4-scheme-network-compliance",
   "standing_position": "Virginia does not regulate card-scheme rulebooks directly, but it does regulate merchant-facing scheme economics through its 2025 surcharge-disclosure statute and maintains a long-standing state credit-card crimes code governing acquirer/issuer/cardholder fraud. Card-network surcharge caps (Visa 3%, Mastercard 4%) and PCI DSS remain scheme-set rather than state-set standards applicable in Virginia as in all US states.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "statute",
     "source": "https://merchantcostconsulting.com/lower-credit-card-processing-fees/credit-card-surcharge-laws-by-state/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "scheme_rule",
     "source": "https://merchantcostconsulting.com/lower-credit-card-processing-fees/virginia-surcharge-laws/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "statute",
     "source": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodefull/title18.2/chapter6/article6/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "compliance_guidance",
     "source": "https://intellipay.com/surcharge-compliance-mistakes-fines/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W5",
   "name": "Payment Corridor Dynamics",
   "confidence": "Confirmed",
   "moved_this_cycle": false,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/united-states-virginia/#w5-payment-corridor-dynamics",
   "standing_position": "Virginia is not itself a distinct cross-border payments corridor jurisdiction, but it hosts the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, headquarters of the Fifth Federal Reserve District and a key national hub for FedNow instant payments, ACH and Treasury payment processing — making Virginia structurally central to US domestic payment-rail dynamics even absent its own corridor-specific regulation.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "infrastructure",
     "source": "https://www.richmondfed.org/payments_services/financial_services",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "regulator_page",
     "source": "https://www.federalreserve.gov/aboutthefed/federal-reserve-system-richmond.htm",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "infrastructure",
     "source": "https://www.richmondfed.org/payment_services/overview?from=/payments_services/overview",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "market_data",
     "source": "https://www.richmondfed.org/payment_services/overview?from=/payments_services/overview",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W6",
   "name": "Industry Structure & Commercial Dynamics",
   "confidence": "High",
   "moved_this_cycle": false,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/united-states-virginia/#w6-industry-structure-commercial-dynamics",
   "standing_position": "Virginia's payments industry structure is anchored by Capital One Financial (McLean), now the largest US credit-card issuer following its $35.3bn Discover acquisition, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "market_structure",
     "source": "https://virginiabusiness.com/35b-capital-one-discover-merger/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "market_structure",
     "source": "https://patch.com/illinois/deerfield/capital-one-laying-nearly-1-2k-workers-former-discover-hq-riverwoods",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "corporate_record",
     "source": "https://www.capitalone.com/about/corporate-information/corporate-offices/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "market_structure",
     "source": "https://leadiq.com/c/federal-reserve-bank-of-richmond/5a1d8a062400002400635eac",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W7",
   "name": "Legal & Litigation",
   "confidence": "High",
   "moved_this_cycle": false,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/united-states-virginia/#w7-legal-litigation",
   "standing_position": "Virginia's Attorney General maintains an active payments/fintech-adjacent enforcement posture through multistate consumer-protection settlements (notably the ACI Worldwide/Speedpay ACH-error settlement and its long-running Predatory Lending Unit actions) and the VCPA. State courts have also recently narrowed the reach of Virginia's wage-payment \"wage theft\" statute, a ruling with implications for payroll-adjacent payment disputes.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "enforcement_action",
     "source": "https://wjla.com/news/local/virginia-attorney-general-jason-miyares-part-of-multi-state-10-million-settlement-with-aci-worldwide-corp-over-unauthorized-mortgage-payments-error-automated-clearing-house-speedpay-platform-october-2023",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "enforcement_action",
     "source": "https://www.consumerfinancialserviceslawmonitor.com/2017/02/virginia-ag-reaches-settlement-agreement-with-cashcall/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "enforcement_action",
     "source": "https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/2619-october-5-2023-attorney-general-miyares-announces-49-5-million-multistate-settlement-with-blackbaud-for-data-breach-impacting-thousands-of-nonprofits-and-millions-of-consumers",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "court_ruling",
     "source": "https://www.gentrylocke.com/article/employers-win-round-one-virginias-wage-theft-statute-does-not-include-commissions-will-it-last/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "regulator_page",
     "source": "https://www.scc.virginia.gov/consumers/consumer-investments/regulatory-activity/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W8",
   "name": "Merchant Acquiring & Risk",
   "confidence": "Assessed",
   "moved_this_cycle": false,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/united-states-virginia/#w8-merchant-acquiring-risk",
   "standing_position": "Virginia has no bespoke merchant-acquiring licensing regime or high-risk-MCC statute; acquiring activity is governed by the state's general credit-card crimes code (acquirer/issuer definitions and fraud offences) and, since July 2025, by the SB 1212 total-price/surcharge disclosure requirement that directly affects acquirer-merchant fee pass-through practices.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "statute",
     "source": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter6/section18.2-191/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "statute",
     "source": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodefull/title18.2/chapter6/article6/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "disclosure_rule",
     "source": "https://merchantcostconsulting.com/lower-credit-card-processing-fees/virginia-surcharge-laws/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "compliance_risk",
     "source": "https://intellipay.com/surcharge-compliance-mistakes-fines/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W9",
   "name": "Product Innovation & Market Development",
   "confidence": "Assessed",
   "moved_this_cycle": false,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/united-states-virginia/#w9-product-innovation-market-development",
   "standing_position": "Virginia's new Chapter 19.1 money-transmission regime interacts with the pending federal GENIUS Act stablecoin framework: Virginia excludes virtual currency from its 'money' definition while federal payment-stablecoin issuer standards remain in NPRM stage, creating a transitional dual-track landscape.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "statute",
     "source": "https://www.richmondsunlight.com/bill/2022/hb922/fulltext/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "pending_legislation",
     "source": "https://www.bankingdive.com/news/colorado-law-virginia-sb1252-legislation-would-impact-fintech-lending/741044/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "federal_guidance",
     "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/23/2025-23735/truth-in-lending-regulation-z-non-application-to-earned-wage-access-products",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "market_development",
     "source": "https://www.richmondfed.org/topics/payments",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W10",
   "name": "Consumer Protection & APP Fraud",
   "confidence": "High",
   "moved_this_cycle": false,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/united-states-virginia/#w10-consumer-protection-app-fraud",
   "standing_position": "Consumer protection for Virginia payments consumers runs primarily through the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA, effective January 1, 2023, with 2026 definitional amendments) and the Virginia Consumer Protection Act, both AG-enforced with no private right of action for the VCDPA. Virginia has no dedicated APP-fraud reimbursement scheme; unauthorized-transfer protection for consumers rests on federal Regulation E rather than state law.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "statute",
     "source": "https://www.oag.state.va.us/consumer-protection/files/tips-and-info/Virginia-Consumer-Data-Protection-Act-Summary-2-2-23.pdf",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "enforcement_mechanism",
     "source": "https://virginia-vcdpa.org/the-virginia-consumer-data-protection-act-summary/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "scope_threshold",
     "source": "https://www.egnyte.com/guides/governance/virginia-consumer-data-protection-act",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "statute",
     "source": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter3/section40.1-29/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "enforcement_authority",
     "source": "https://www.consumerfinancialserviceslawmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/501/2016/05/Consumer-Financial-Regulation-Virginia-w-002-2382.pdf",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W11",
   "name": "AML/CFT & Financial Crime",
   "confidence": "Possible",
   "moved_this_cycle": false,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/united-states-virginia/#w11-aml-cft-financial-crime",
   "standing_position": "W11 baseline content for US-VA is Sentinel.gi-fed per methodology; a dedicated Sentinel.gi payments-context feed entry specific to US-VA was not located in this collection pass. The applicable AML/CFT overlay for Virginia payments activity remains the federal Bank Secrecy Act regime: Virginia money transmitters must independently register as Money Services Businesses with FinCEN and maintain an independently reviewed AML/BSA programme as a state-licensing precondition.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "aml_requirement",
     "source": "https://fraxtional.co/feeds/blog/va-money-transmitter-license",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "aml_requirement",
     "source": "https://surety1.com/bond_info/virginia-money-transmitter-bond/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W12",
   "name": "Correspondent Banking, Settlement & Access",
   "confidence": "Confirmed",
   "moved_this_cycle": false,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/united-states-virginia/#w12-correspondent-banking-settlement-access",
   "standing_position": "Virginia is host to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, which provides master-account settlement, ACH operation, and Treasury/government payment services across the Fifth District — giving Virginia-domiciled institutions direct structural access to core U.S. settlement infrastructure rather than reliance on correspondent-banking intermediation for domestic settlement.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "settlement_infrastructure",
     "source": "https://www.richmondfed.org/payment_services/overview?from=/payments_services/overview",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "settlement_infrastructure",
     "source": "https://www.richmondfed.org/payment_services",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "access_mechanism",
     "source": "https://www.richmondfed.org/banking",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "settlement_infrastructure",
     "source": "https://www.richmondfed.org/payments_services/overview",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W13",
   "name": "Commercial Intelligence & Fintech",
   "confidence": "Assessed",
   "moved_this_cycle": false,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/united-states-virginia/#w13-commercial-intelligence-fintech",
   "standing_position": "The dominant trailing-12-month commercial event tied to Virginia is Capital One's $35.3bn acquisition of Discover Financial Services, closed 2025, with continuing 2026 post-merger layoffs.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "commercial_event",
     "source": "https://virginiabusiness.com/35b-capital-one-discover-merger/",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "commercial_event",
     "source": "https://finance.yahoo.com/news/editorial-discover-takeover-capital-one-110000922.html",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "4",
     "retrieved_at": null
    }
   ]
  }
 ]
}