KYC
The identity file attached to your exchange account — and to every coin you withdrew.
In plain words
KYC — "know your customer" — is the law that makes exchanges identify you: ID, selfie, sometimes more. It is how most people buy bitcoin. It also writes a permanent record binding your name to the coins you withdrew. Chain data is public, so the exchange — or whoever it reports to, or whoever robs its database — can follow those coins onward. Not cause for panic. Cause for knowing.
Why it matters
- Why "anonymous bitcoin" bought on an exchange isn't.
- Name-to-address databases have leaked before. The risk is real.
- Know what is already linked; then choose your privacy steps.
Not to be confused with
- Wrongdoing — KYC'd coins are normal coins; preferring privacy isn't a crime.
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Updated 2026-07-29