KYW vs KYT vs KYC
Definition
KYC (Know Your Customer) verifies who a person is. KYT (Know Your Transaction) screens what their transactions touch on-chain. KYW (Know Your Wallet) ties both to a specific wallet: it confirms the verified person actually controls the wallet and that its history is clear of sanctioned or illicit exposure.
Side by side
| KYC | KYT | KYW | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Question answered | Who is this person? | What do these transactions touch? | Is this wallet theirs, and is its history acceptable? |
| Object examined | Identity documents | On-chain transactions | The wallet: identity + ownership + history |
| Typical user | Any regulated onboarding | Exchanges, payment processors | Holders documenting a wallet; platforms screening one |
| Proves wallet ownership | No | No | Yes: Satoshi Test or WalletConnect |
Why the distinction matters
A frozen withdrawal or held deposit is rarely resolved by KYC alone: the institution already knows who you are. What it usually needs is evidence connecting you to the wallet and the wallet to a clean history. That is KYW territory: the combination of ownership proof and transaction screening in one document.
FAQ
Does KYW replace KYC?
No, it includes it. A KYW assessment starts from a verified identity and adds wallet ownership plus on-chain screening. Without the identity layer, a wallet check can't say anything about whose wallet it is.
Is KYT the same as AML screening?
KYT is the transaction-level part of AML screening for crypto: tracing what a transaction's counterparties touched, such as mixers, sanctioned addresses, and exploit proceeds. AML is the broader legal framework this serves.
Free basic check · no card, no KYC upfront