zkKYB - Know Your Business
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User Journey
A business ("Business Alpha") wants to access a regulated DeFi platform. The platform requests a business verification. Business Alpha chooses its preferred verification method, completes the process, and receives a reusable zkKYB credential, which it uses to access the platform without disclosing any underlying corporate data.
In the Agent Economy, this journey extends further: a corporate AI agent, acting on behalf of Business Alpha, can present the zkKYB credential autonomously to counterparties and protocols, enabling B2B transactions, automated treasury operations, and cross-border settlements without requiring manual re-verification at each step.
Why zkMe zkKYB
Anti-Money Laundering checks are a legal requirement for financial institutions and many virtual asset service providers. For businesses, this is known as Know Your Business. The goal is to prevent bad actors from using corporate structures to hide illicit activities like money laundering or terrorist financing.Traditional KYB processes are poorly suited for Agents. They require businesses to repeatedly submit sensitive corporate documents to various platforms, creating multiple points of failure for data breaches.
Privacy-Preserving Architecture: zkMe uses advanced ZKPs to ensure that even the verification service cannot determine why a business passed or failed a check, only that it meets the compliance criteria.
FATF-Compliant Decentralization: zkMe is positioned as the only fully decentralized KYC provider that also meets FATF compliance standards, a principle that extends to its KYB offerings.
Interoperable Credential System: The protocol is designed for a multi-chain world. The zkKYB credential can be used across different blockchain ecosystems, making it a versatile tool for global business.
See It in Action
How It Works
zkKYB supports two distinct verification paths to accommodate different types of corporate entities. Both paths produce the same cryptographically secure, privacy-preserving output: a zkKYB Credential issued as a Soul-Bound Token that verifiers can check without accessing the underlying corporate data.
Path 1: Document-Based eKYB
This path is designed for any business entity and follows a process similar to traditional eKYB, but with the added privacy and security layers of zero-knowledge proofs.
Document Verification & Data Extraction:
Authenticity Check: The system confirms that uploaded business documents (e.g., registry extracts, articles of incorporation) are valid and untampered.
OCR Extraction: Key details like company name, registration number, legal address, and director names are extracted.
AML Database Screening: The extracted information is checked against global sanctions lists, Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) registries, and adverse media sources in a privacy-preserving manner.
UBO Identification & Verification:
Ownership Structure Mapping: The system analyzes corporate documents to identify all natural persons who meet the Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) threshold (typically ≥25% ownership or effective control).
Individual Identity Verification: Each identified UBO is then verified against government-issued identity documents via zkMe's core zkKYC service.
For a detailed breakdown of this process, see UBO Check.
zkKYB Credential Issuance: Once all checks are complete, the system issues a zkKYB Credential containing ZKPs of the business's good standing and clean AML status.
Path 2: vLEI-Based Verification
This path is designed for businesses that already hold a verifiable Legal Entity Identifier (vLEI), leveraging the cryptographic trust chain established by the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF).
vLEI Credential Presentation: The business presents its vLEI credential, which was issued by a GLEIF-accredited Qualified vLEI Issuer (QVI).
Cryptographic Trust Chain Verification: zkMe verifies the full cryptographic chain of the vLEI credential, ensuring it is authentic, valid, and traces back to the GLEIF root of trust.
For a detailed explanation of this trust model, see vLEI Verification.
zkKYB Credential Issuance: Based on the successful verification of the vLEI, zkMe issues a zkKYB Credential. This attests to the entity's verified legal identity, leveraging the high-assurance foundation of the global LEI system.
Key Benefits of zkKYB
Uncompromising Corporate Privacy: Businesses can prove their eligibility and compliance without exposing sensitive corporate documents or the personal details of their directors, protecting them from data breaches and corporate espionage.
Streamlined Global Operations: A reusable zkKYB credential drastically reduces onboarding friction. A business verified once can access multiple services across different jurisdictions and chains seamlessly.
Regulatory Compliance by Design: The system is built to satisfy global AML/KYC and FATF regulations. It provides the necessary, cryptographically assured audit trail for regulators without forcing platforms to handle raw data.
On-Chain Identity for Enterprises: The zkKYB credential provides a foundational layer of trust for the entire ecosystem of decentralized applications, enabling everything from compliant DeFi to verifiable supply chain finance.
Agent-Ready: zkKYB credentials are designed to be consumed by AI agents acting on behalf of businesses. An agent holding a valid zkKYB credential can autonomously verify its principal's corporate identity to any counterparty, without human intervention at each step.
Use Cases to Benefit
DeFi and Institutional Finance: Permissioned DeFi pools and institutional lending platforms can use zkKYB to ensure that all participating entities are verified and compliant.
Supply Chain Finance: Companies can prove their legitimate business status to participate in decentralized supply chain financing networks without disclosing confidential supplier relationships.
Real-World Asset Tokenization: Platforms tokenizing assets can use zkKYB to verify the legal standing of issuers and investors.
DAO Treasury Management: DAOs can implement zkKYB checks for entities that interact with their treasury, mitigating risk and providing accountability.
Agent-to-Business Commerce: AI agents negotiating contracts, opening credit lines, or executing B2B payments on behalf of a business can present zkKYB credentials to instantly establish corporate identity and compliance status with counterparties.
Pricing & Integration
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