# Proof-of-UBO

zkMe’s zkKYB suite includes comprehensive Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) verification, enabling regulated entities to comply with global AML/CFT standards while preserving the privacy of corporate officers.

## What is a UBO?

An Ultimate Beneficial Owner is the natural person(s) who ultimately owns or controls a corporate entity. International anti-money laundering regulations, such as those from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), typically define a UBO as any individual who directly or indirectly:

* Holds **25% or more** of the shares or voting rights in the company.
* Exercises **significant influence or control** over the company and its management, regardless of ownership percentage.

Identifying and verifying UBOs is a critical component of any robust Know Your Business (KYB) process. It prevents individuals from using complex corporate structures, shell companies, or trusts to conceal illicit activities.

## How UBO Verification Works in zkKYB

UBO verification is an integral part of the **Document-Based eKYB** path within the zkKYB process. It follows a clear, multi-step procedure after the initial corporate documents have been authenticated.

1. **Ownership Structure Mapping:**
   * zkMe’s system analyzes the provided corporate documents (e.g., articles of incorporation, shareholder registry, cap table) to map out the full ownership structure.
   * It identifies all individuals who meet the jurisdictional UBO threshold, tracing ownership through any intermediate legal entities.
2. **Individual Identity Verification (zkKYC):**
   * For each identified UBO, a standard [zkkyc](https://docs.zk.me/hub/what/zkkyc "mention") process is initiated.
   * The individual verifies their identity using their government-issued passport or national ID.
   * This process includes an authenticity check of the document, a liveness check, and screening against global AML, PEP, and sanctions lists.
3. **UBO Compliance Credential Issuance:**
   * Once all identified UBOs have successfully completed their individual zkKYC, the system can issue a UBO Compliance Credential.
   * This credential is a zero-knowledge proof that attests to the fact that all beneficial owners of the entity have been identified, verified, and have passed all necessary AML/CFT checks.

## zkMe’s Role in UBO Verification

zkMe’s platform provides a seamless, privacy-preserving solution for the entire UBO workflow:

* **Automated Analysis:** Automates the complex task of parsing legal documents to identify the UBO structure, reducing manual effort and human error.
* **Integrated zkKYC:** Leverages its core zkKYC service to perform high-assurance identity verification on each UBO without requiring the business to handle its officers' personal data.
* **Zero-Knowledge Attestation:** The final output is not a list of names or sensitive documents. It is a single, verifiable ZKP credential confirming that UBO due diligence has been successfully completed according to regulatory standards.

## Use Cases

* **Regulated Financial Services:** Enables crypto exchanges, lending platforms, and asset issuers to meet their legal obligation to perform UBO checks before onboarding corporate clients.
* **DAO & Protocol Governance:** Allows DAOs to verify the human controllers behind corporate entities participating in governance votes, ensuring transparency and preventing Sybil attacks.
* **Enterprise Onboarding:** Any Web3 platform that interacts with corporate clients can use zkMe’s UBO check to mitigate counterparty risk in a compliant and privacy-preserving manner.