KYC
Know Your Customer
Regulatory process requiring identity verification of customers
Definition
Know Your Customer (KYC) is a regulatory process requiring businesses to verify the identity of their clients. In crypto, some centralized platforms require KYC, while DeFi protocols typically operate without it.
Example
Centralized exchanges like Coinbase require KYC verification before you can trade, but DEXs like Uniswap allow trading without identity verification.
What to check
Treat it as infrastructure: understand what it automates, what trust assumptions remain, and how failures propagate. The main checks are: Privacy loss; Data breaches; Regulatory compliance.
Risks to Consider
- Privacy loss
- Data breaches
- Regulatory compliance
Common Questions
What does KYC mean in DeFi?
KYC means Regulatory process requiring identity verification of customers. The useful question is not only the definition, but how the mechanism changes risk, return, liquidity, or governance for the user.
How is KYC used in practice?
A practical example: Centralized exchanges like Coinbase require KYC verification before you can trade, but DEXs like Uniswap allow trading without identity verification.
What should I check before relying on KYC?
Check privacy loss, data breaches, regulatory compliance. Also verify liquidity, oracle assumptions, admin controls, and whether the protocol has been tested during stressed markets.