Building Trust in Digital Assets: The Role of KYC in Crypto Exchanges

Anthony Lynch
3 min readSep 1, 2023

In recent years, the cryptocurrency market has experienced an explosion in popularity like never before. Digital currencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and countless others have captured the imaginations of investors, entrepreneurs, and even the general public. While this newfound enthusiasm is undoubtedly exciting, it’s essential to remember that the crypto world is not without its share of risks.

That’s why many of us are careful when picking where to trade. We often choose a crypto exchange that’s been around for a while, ranks in the top 10, and has millions of users. But one thing we often forget to check is if that platform mandates its users to complete KYC.

What is the importance of Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures?

By conducting thorough KYC checks on their users, crypto exchanges can help ensure the integrity of their platforms and maintain a level of trustworthiness that is crucial in the rapidly evolving world of digital assets. You see, without these procedures, the risk of shady stuff happening, security leaks, and running into legal troubles goes way up. KYC isn’t just about looking out for users and the exchange; it’s also helping the bigger picture of making cryptocurrencies a solid and safe way to handle money in the world of tech and finance.

Personally, KuCoin stands out to me as one of the few crypto exchanges that meets all the criteria every user should look for in a cryptocurrency exchange.

Image from KuCoin

KuCoin finally checked all the boxes for protecting user funds when they announced mandatory KYC procedures on the 28th of June.

For some people (including myself), this initiative is an achievement because it goes to show that KuCoin is willing to do everything to comply with regulations, prevent illegal activities, enhance security, build trust, protect user funds, manage risks, stay competitive, and facilitate fiat transactions. Unfortunately, most of my fellow KuCoin users didn’t seem very excited about this announcement.

After learning about the mandatory KYC requirement for all new and existing users, many expressed their frustration and dismay on various social media platforms. The sudden implementation of KYC led to concerns about privacy, data security, and the overall user experience.

Although I totally get that users value their privacy and might be apprehensive about sharing personal information as I used to feel that way too before completing KYC. It’s only natural for them to feel uneasy about having to share their personal information. Also, some found the process to be cumbersome and time-consuming, causing disruptions in their trading activities.

But at the end of the day, we have to accept that the crypto space will not be entirely free from risks. Therefore, to safeguard yourself from potential crypto scams or similar pitfalls, selecting a reliable crypto exchange becomes paramount. If KuCoin is your trusted exchange, then you have to trust in its commitment to securing everyone’s data. After all, KuCoin’s overarching goal is to ensure trust and satisfaction within its user community.

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