diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bfbbe86..d82ed5b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ npm run lint-fix # format source files
 | [#229][#229]   | [SHOULD consider to design `POST` and `PATCH` idempotent][#229]                                      | :grey_exclamation: | :grey_exclamation: | - |
 | [#230][#230]   | [MAY consider to support `Idempotency-Key` header][#230]                                             | :grey_exclamation: | :grey_exclamation: | - |
 | [#231][#231]   | [Should use secondary key for idempotent `POST` design][#231]                                        | :grey_exclamation: | :grey_exclamation: | - |
-| [#233a][#233a] | [MUST request must use b3 tracing headers][#233a]                                                    | - | :heavy_check_mark: | - |
+| [#233a][#233a] | [MUST request must use tracing headers][#233a]                                                    | - | :heavy_check_mark: | - |
 | [#234][#234]   | [MUST only use durable and immutable remote references][#234]                                        | :grey_exclamation: | :grey_exclamation: | - |
 | [#235][#235]   | [SHOULD name date/time properties with `_at` suffix][#235]                                           | - | - | - |
 | [#236][#236]   | [SHOULD design simple query languages using query parameters][#236]                                  | :grey_exclamation: | :grey_exclamation: | - |
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ npm run lint-fix # format source files
 [#230]: https://opensource.zalando.com/restful-api-guidelines/#230
 [#231]: https://opensource.zalando.com/restful-api-guidelines/#231
 [#233]: https://opensource.zalando.com/restful-api-guidelines/#233
-[#233a]: ./doc/rules/requests-must-use-b3-tracing.md
+[#233a]: ./doc/rules/requests-must-use-tracing.md
 [#234]: https://opensource.zalando.com/restful-api-guidelines/#234
 [#235]: https://opensource.zalando.com/restful-api-guidelines/#235
 [#236]: https://opensource.zalando.com/restful-api-guidelines/#236
diff --git a/baloise.yml b/baloise.yml
index 78a6d8f..f7d7136 100644
--- a/baloise.yml
+++ b/baloise.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 extends: [./zalando.yml] # We're extending the zalando ruleset by replacing or adding baloise specific rules.
 
 functions:
-  - validate-b3-tracing
+  - validate-tracing
   - assert-http-codes-for-operation
 
 rules:
@@ -149,21 +149,21 @@ rules:
           'default': [ ALL ]
 
 
-  # MUST request must provide b3 tracing [233a]
+  # MUST request must provide tracing [233a]
   # => Alternative to https://opensource.zalando.com/restful-api-guidelines/#233
 
-  must-use-b3-tracing:
-    message: B3 header X-B3-Traceid or X-B3-Spanid missing
-    description: MUST use b3 tracing [233a]
-    documentationUrl: https://github.com/baloise-incubator/spectral-ruleset/blob/main/doc/rules/requests-must-use-b3-tracing.md
+  must-use-tracing:
+    message: Header X-B3-Traceid, X-B3-Spanid or traceparent (w3c) missing
+    description: MUST use b3 or w3c tracing [233a]
+    documentationUrl: https://github.com/baloise-incubator/spectral-ruleset/blob/main/doc/rules/requests-must-use-tracing.md
     severity: error
     given: $.paths.*
     then:
-      function: validate-b3-tracing
+      function: validate-tracing
 
 
-    # MUST provide API audience [219]
-    # => https://opensource.zalando.com/restful-api-guidelines/#219
+  # MUST provide API audience [219]
+  # => https://opensource.zalando.com/restful-api-guidelines/#219
 
   must-provide-api-audience: off
 
diff --git a/doc/rules/requests-must-use-b3-tracing.md b/doc/rules/requests-must-use-tracing.md
similarity index 66%
rename from doc/rules/requests-must-use-b3-tracing.md
rename to doc/rules/requests-must-use-tracing.md
index f545f52..138b1ce 100644
--- a/doc/rules/requests-must-use-b3-tracing.md
+++ b/doc/rules/requests-must-use-tracing.md
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
-# MUST request must provide b3 tracing headers
+# MUST request must provide tracing headers
 The following header parameter must be provided for any request:
 
 - `X-B3-Traceid`
 - `X-B3-Spanid`
+or
+- `traceparent`
 
-Specification: You can find the specification for b3 [here](https://github.com/openzipkin/b3-propagation)  
+Specification: You can find the specification for b3 [here](https://github.com/openzipkin/b3-propagation) and w3c [here](https://www.w3.org/TR/trace-context/) 
 Rationale: We have an internal survey with all developers and the decision was b3 [Internal link](https://confluence.baloisenet.com/atlassian/x/LxWJj).
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/functions/validate-b3-tracing.js b/functions/validate-tracing.js
similarity index 58%
rename from functions/validate-b3-tracing.js
rename to functions/validate-tracing.js
index 1ebff30..8e8d19e 100644
--- a/functions/validate-b3-tracing.js
+++ b/functions/validate-tracing.js
@@ -17,8 +17,22 @@ function isB3Valid(targetValue) {
   return !(b3Params.length !== 2 || !b3Params.every((param) => param.in === 'header'));
 }
 
+function isW3cValid(targetValue) {
+  if (!Array.isArray(targetValue)) {
+    return [
+      {
+        message: `No array given, provide $.paths.*.*.parameters`,
+      },
+    ];
+  }
+
+  const w3cParams = targetValue.filter((param) => param.name && param.name.toLowerCase() === 'traceparent');
+
+  return !(w3cParams.length !== 1 || !w3cParams.every((param) => param.in === 'header'));
+}
+
 export default (targetValue) => {
-  if (targetValue.parameters && isB3Valid(targetValue.parameters)) {
+  if (targetValue.parameters && (isB3Valid(targetValue.parameters) || isW3cValid(targetValue.parameters))) {
     return [];
   }
 
@@ -27,12 +41,12 @@ export default (targetValue) => {
       ['get', 'put', 'post', 'delete', 'options', 'head', 'patch', 'trace'].includes(verb.toLowerCase()),
     )
     .map((verb) => targetValue[verb])
-    .some((operation) => operation.parameters && !isB3Valid(operation.parameters));
+    .some((operation) => operation.parameters && !isB3Valid(operation.parameters) && !isW3cValid(operation.parameters));
 
   if (hasInvalidEntry) {
     return [
       {
-        message: `B3 header X-B3-Traceid or X-B3-Spanid missing`,
+        message: `Header X-B3-Traceid, X-B3-Spanid or traceparent (w3c) missing`,
       },
     ];
   }
diff --git a/tests/233a-MUST-request-must-provide-b3-tracing.test.ts b/tests/233a-MUST-request-must-provide-b3-tracing.test.ts
index aba4479..0aaf45c 100644
--- a/tests/233a-MUST-request-must-provide-b3-tracing.test.ts
+++ b/tests/233a-MUST-request-must-provide-b3-tracing.test.ts
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ describe('MUST request must provide b3 tracing [233a]', () => {
     const result = await lint(openApi, 'baloise');
     expect(result).toEqual([
       expect.objectContaining({
-        code: 'must-use-b3-tracing',
-        message: 'B3 header X-B3-Traceid or X-B3-Spanid missing',
+        code: 'must-use-tracing',
+        message: 'Header X-B3-Traceid, X-B3-Spanid or traceparent (w3c) missing',
         severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Error,
       }),
     ]);
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ describe('MUST request must provide b3 tracing [233a]', () => {
     const result = await lint(openApi, 'baloise');
     expect(result).toEqual([
       expect.objectContaining({
-        code: 'must-use-b3-tracing',
-        message: 'B3 header X-B3-Traceid or X-B3-Spanid missing',
+        code: 'must-use-tracing',
+        message: 'Header X-B3-Traceid, X-B3-Spanid or traceparent (w3c) missing',
         severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Error,
       }),
     ]);
@@ -59,4 +59,30 @@ describe('MUST request must provide b3 tracing [233a]', () => {
     const result = await lint(openApi, 'baloise');
     expect(result).toEqual([]);
   });
+
+  test('Assert w3c tracing headers valid', async () => {
+    const openApi = await loadOpenApiSpec('base-openapi.yml');
+    openApi.paths['/example'].get.parameters = openApi.paths['/example'].get.parameters.filter(
+      (param: { $ref: string }) =>
+        !param['$ref'] &&
+        param['$ref'] !== '#/components/parameters/HeaderB3TraceId' &&
+        param['$ref'] !== '#/components/parameters/HeaderB3SpanId',
+    );
+    openApi.paths['/example'].get.parameters.push({
+      $ref: '#/components/parameters/HeaderW3cTraceparent',
+    });
+
+    const result = await lint(openApi, 'baloise');
+    expect(result).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  test('Assert w3c and b3 tracing headers valid', async () => {
+    const openApi = await loadOpenApiSpec('base-openapi.yml');
+    openApi.paths['/example'].get.parameters.push({
+      $ref: '#/components/parameters/HeaderW3cTraceparent',
+    });
+
+    const result = await lint(openApi, 'baloise');
+    expect(result).toEqual([]);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/base-openapi.yml b/tests/fixtures/base-openapi.yml
index 18133f6..8410b7f 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/base-openapi.yml
+++ b/tests/fixtures/base-openapi.yml
@@ -120,6 +120,12 @@ components:
       required: false
       schema:
         type: string
+    HeaderW3cTraceparent:
+      in: header
+      name: traceparent
+      required: true
+      schema:
+        type: string
   schemas:
     Example:
       type: object