AML / KYC policy

The purpose of KYC is to confirm that each client is who they claim to be, using genuine documents and truthful information. The purpose of AML, and the related counter-terrorist-financing (CTF) obligations, is to prevent the platform being used to launder criminal proceeds or fund prohibited activity. Together they form the checks UK financial-services rules expect of firms connected with digital assets.

Verification is not a hurdle we tolerate reluctantly; it is a service feature. A platform where every account is identity-checked is one where stolen cards, takeovers and impersonation are harder to pull off. The procedures below are aligned with applicable UK requirements for client onboarding, ongoing monitoring and suspicious-activity reporting.

AML covers the wider programme around KYC: assessing the risk each client and transaction pattern presents, monitoring activity over the life of the account, and reporting genuinely suspicious activity to the relevant UK authorities. Risk assessment considers the origin of funds, the countries involved and whether activity matches what the client told us to expect. Monitoring is ongoing rather than a one-off gate: a profile that was ordinary at onboarding can become concerning later, and the programme is designed to notice.

To confirm identity, we accept current government-issued photographic documents: a valid passport, a UK driving licence or a national identity card where issued. To confirm address, we accept a bank statement or utility bill issued within the last three months, or a council tax bill for the current year, in your name at the address you gave us.

Where a check cannot be completed from documents alone, we may ask for a selfie or liveness capture that proves a living person is present, matched against your document photo. Biometric checks are requested only when needed and kept only as long as required. Documents can be photographed on a phone; clarity is what matters, all four corners visible, nothing obscured. Blurred or cropped uploads are the most common reason a check is delayed.

Some situations call for enhanced due diligence (EDD): larger deposits, complex source-of-funds situations, ties to higher-risk jurisdictions, or activity that does not match the expected profile. EDD may involve documents evidencing the source of funds, such as a salary statement or sale contract, more detailed questionnaires, or senior approval of the account.

EDD is applied on risk, not on nationality, and being selected for it is not an accusation: it means the file needs more evidence, and we will tell you exactly which.

Verification can be declined or suspended for specific reasons: documents that are invalid, expired or unreadable; details that do not match across documents; suspicion of tampering; failure to provide requested information within a reasonable period; a connection to a sanctioned individual or entity; or refusal to complete a requested liveness check. A suspension is often curable: we state what is missing, and you can supply it. Where verification is finally declined, the account is closed and verified funds are returned to their source.

You are responsible for providing accurate, current and genuine data and documents, and for updating your details when they change, a new address, a new surname, a new phone. Knowingly providing false information, using another person's identity, or allowing a third party to operate your account breaches this policy and the Terms of Use. Consequences range from re-verification to account closure and, where the law requires, reporting to the authorities. Funds in a closed account are returned only to a verified source in your own name.

To run verification and monitoring, data is shared only with the categories of recipients the task requires: KYC providers that check documents, IT providers that host and secure the systems, affiliated companies involved in delivering the service, and regulators or public authorities where disclosure is required by law. Sharing is limited to the minimum necessary, under contracts that protect the data. We do not sell verification data or share it for marketing.

Questions about verification, documents or any point of this policy are answered by the Client Support and Compliance Team at [email protected], Monday to Friday, 08:00–18:00 (GMT/BST, excluding public holidays). If your enquiry concerns an open case, include the email address you registered with so we can find the file quickly.