AML Check (zkAML)
Sanction, Watch, and Wanted List Checks, Politically Exposed Persons (PEP), and Adverse Media Checks.
User Journey
Using zkMe zkAML, Alice undergoes a one-time verification where his identity is checked against global sanctions lists, Politically Exposed Persons (PEP) databases, and adverse media sources. Without revealing his personal identity or the specific results, he receives an AML-compliant credential as a Soulbound Token (SBT) that contains zero-knowledge proofs of his clearance status. This Credential allows him to seamlessly access multiple DeFi platforms and financial services that require AML verification, maintaining his privacy while proving regulatory compliance.
See It in Action
Why AML Checks
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks are critical regulatory requirements for financial institutions and increasingly for decentralized finance platforms. Traditional AML processes force users to disclose extensive personal information, creating privacy risks and central points of failure. zkMe zkAML transforms this paradigm by enabling necessary compliance checks while protecting user privacy through advanced cryptography, ensuring that platforms can meet regulatory obligations without compromising user security or creating honeypots of sensitive data.
Why zkMe zkAML
Advanced Privacy Architecture: Our zero-knowledge circuit design ensures that even the verification service cannot determine why a user passed or failed screening—only that they meet compliance criteria.
Decentralized Trust Model: No single entity controls the AML verification process, eliminating central points of failure and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive screening data.
Comprehensive Coverage: We integrate with leading global data providers for sanctions, PEP, and adverse media screening, ensuring thorough coverage while maintaining privacy.
Regulator-Friendly: Provides necessary audit trails and compliance evidence for regulators without exposing individual user data, balancing privacy with regulatory requirements.
Seamless User Experience: One-time verification grants access to multiple services, eliminating repetitive AML checks while maintaining continuous compliance monitoring.
How It Works
The Zero-Knowledge AML (zkAML) procedure verifies a user's compliance status against global databases without exposing personal information. The system checks sanctions lists, PEP registries, and adverse media sources while generating cryptographic proofs of compliance.
Verification Process Flow:
Identity Document Verification
User submits government-issued ID through secure channels
Document authenticity is verified using advanced validation algorithms
Biometric matching ensures the user presenting the document is its legitimate owner
Database Screening
System checks user Identity against global sanctions lists (OFAC, UN, EU)
Screens for Politically Exposed Persons status across international registries
Scans for adverse media mentions and negative news indicators
All checks occur in a privacy-preserving environment
Zero-Knowledge Proof Generation
Commitment Phase: User's device generates cryptographic commitments representing AML status
Challenge Phase: Verifier issues random challenges to ensure proof validity
Response Generation: System processes challenges with user's random seed and commitment
Validation: Verifier confirms AML status without learning specific screening results
Credential Issuance
Successful verification generates an AML-compliant SBT
Credential contains ZKPs of compliance status without sensitive data
Token is stored in user's self-sovereign identity wallet for future use
Key Benefits
Privacy-Preserving Compliance: Verify AML status without exposing personal information or specific screening results
Global Regulatory Alignment: Meets FATF, FinCEN, and international AML standards while maintaining user privacy
Reduced False Positives: Advanced algorithms minimize incorrect flags while maintaining security
Real-time Monitoring: Continuous screening with privacy-preserving status updates
Cross-Platform Interoperability: Single verification works across multiple services and jurisdictions
Use Cases to Benefit
DeFi Platform Compliance. Decentralized exchanges and lending protocols can ensure regulatory compliance by verifying users' AML status without collecting or storing sensitive personal information, enabling permissioned DeFi services while preserving user privacy.
NFT Marketplace Verification. High-value NFT marketplaces can screen participants against sanctions lists and PEP databases to prevent money laundering through digital assets, maintaining compliance without doxxing collectors.
Cross-Border Payments. Remittance services and cross-border payment platforms can verify sender and receiver compliance status across jurisdictions while protecting financial privacy and meeting international AML standards.
Institutional Crypto Access. Traditional financial institutions entering the crypto space can implement compliant onboarding processes that meet their existing AML obligations while adapting to web3 privacy expectations.
DAO Treasury Management. Decentralized Autonomous Organizations can ensure compliant treasury management by screening transaction participants against global watchlists without exposing member identities.
Gaming and Metaverse Economies. Play-to-earn games and metaverse platforms with significant economic activity can prevent money laundering through their ecosystems while maintaining user pseudonymity.
Pricing & Integration
From startups to scale-ups, our pricing and simple integration are designed to support your growth and follow industry best practices.
A flat rate of US$0.5 per verification applies, which is around ⅓ of typical providers charge, giving you a clear and transparent cost model.
We stand by the value of our offering and provide a price-match guarantee for equivalent services upon review of a valid quotation.
Drop us a line at [email protected] and let’s kick things off!
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