Understanding KYC and its role in crypto

Various online services require a know-your-customer (KYC) protocol. Among its most prominent practitioners are finance solution providers partnered with all kinds of banks. However, there is a divide on whether they are necessary for the future of cryptocurrency. It has its uses and it’s believed to be the key to global adoption for digital assets. 

The argument surrounding KYC and its role in crypto centres around centralised vs decentralised finance of money. How this point came to be is inspired by the very nature of the protocol itself. What is KYC in crypto? Find out in this guide and how it affects traders alike. 

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What is KYC?

KYC is a step in regulating transactions. It means that users are required to provide personal information to identify themselves to their wallet, credit card, remittance service, and bank transfer provider. Such pieces of information typically include the following:

• Your legal name
• Current and permanent address
• Contact information like cell phone number and email address
   

When this is asked for depends on the service you are using. For example, crypto casinos like Gamdom will not ask for it if you’re making deposits using peer-to-peer (P2P) payment. Using the ‘buy crypto’ feature, however, will require you to use fiat which is regulated by local governments. Therefore, you will be asked to provide your identity for this transaction. 

This is often a mandatory action but it can be requested during sign up or only once you request using services that will use fiat. KYC crypto falls into the latter so you won’t need to provide any details about yourself as a trader or customer of websites like Gamdom. 

What services require KYC?

The KYC requirements aren’t mandated by the service provider but by government agencies. How it’s required depends heavily on the type of business so you should have varying expectations for each one. Here are a few examples of services that need KYC but the general rule of thumb is that they are all involved in making transactions:

• Online casinos 
  Online casinos need a licence to operate per country and the local government is interested in knowing whom among its citizens are using these services. This mostly due to how strict regulations are for gambling in general. However, KYC requirements for cryptocurrency only appear when you plan on buying them at Gamdom. Other methods can be done through P2P. 
• Centralised exchanges
  A centralised exchange means that the trading platform is owned and managed by a company. Decentralised exchanges are operated by smart contracts in blockchains like Ethereum (ETH) and Cardano (ADA). Private exchanges need KYC because they are mandated to abide by international anti-money laundering laws (AML).
• Payment solution providers
  You can retain your privacy through pseudonymity in the blockchain because the network only needs to know you by your wallet address. However, you will still need to use a private payment method if you wish to convert your digital assets into fiat. 
  Remittance centres and wallets only need your name and contact information but bank transfer and credit cards will need more details. It’s generally standard for banks and card providers to verify your identity using legal documents like passports and birth certificates. This step can be simplified through decentralised KYC on the blockchain if you need to unify all of your accounts. 
   

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Why KYC is required

User safety and public security are the main concerns of all laws. Complete anonymity has enabled theft and untraced whaling in Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and other assets. Governments fear that terrorist funding and money laundering are among possible occurrences. Therefore, they are responsible for regulating transactions worldwide if it means public security. 

KYC AML cryptocurrency is currently still under development. The best case example of this is the Travel Rule which states all private institutions overseeing a $1000-worth of exchange in crypto must disclose the recipient and sender. However, many members of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) have yet to comply as of 2023, urging a recall for their guidelines. 

Crypto users can find discomfort in complying with KYC as well because it eliminates the prospect of decentralisation and anonymity. However, this decision is also for the best of the digital asset economy as a whole. Regulations incite confidence in new investors and traders, thereby expanding the crypto industry while also pleasing government regulators. 

How KYC changes the crypto landscape

The KYC requirement is simply meant to regulate the flow of cryptocurrencies. It can scare people away who are looking forward to the digital asset’s anonymity feature. Transparency is vital for finance and Bitcoin is now being seen as one of the world’s most valuable assets. So much so that governments are trying to regulate it. 

Regulators’ mandate on KYC crypto exchange is not applicable to all cryptocurrencies. Most of the world’s attention is glued to the top assets like BTC and ETH while minor digital assets can be left under the radar. However, a whale transaction will raise alarms and KYC process crypto must be observed. 

These won’t be issues for crypto gambling. Gamdom observes proper KYC through its exchange partners for crypto buying but you may otherwise play with your privacy protected. This is true unless regulations change in the future and there’s a limit to how much you can deposit without KYC. This is why you stay tuned for news for all crypto services worldwide. 

FAQ

KYC in crypto is a complex matter and here are the most commonly asked questions about it:

How does KYC work?

KYC works like a form you have to fill up. It asks for your personal information either during sign up or when you use a regulated payment method. The service and payment provider will cross reference their records to verify your identity and validate the transaction. 

What is needed to comply with KYC protocol?

KYC asks for your name, home address, and contact information like phone number or email address. This information needs to be valid but what steps the service provider uses to verify them will vary. Most only verify your email address or phone number by sending a one-time password or a confirmation message. 

Does KYC have a negative impact on crypto trading?

The introduction of KYC can shy away traders from certain assets because it takes away anonymity. Likewise, the KYC process crypto users have to deal with could be time consuming which ultimately makes payment troublesome enough to discourage frequent use. Therefore lowering potential liquidity at exchanges. 

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Words: Clarence Clarke