From KYC to KYA, Is It Time to Give AI Agents Their Own 'ID Cards'?

marsbitPublicado em 2026-05-10Última atualização em 2026-05-10

Resumo

Titled "From KYC to KYA: Is It Time to Issue 'Identity Cards' for AI Agents?", this article discusses the emerging concept of Know Your Agent (KYA) as AI agents become increasingly autonomous. In Agent-to-Agent (A2A) scenarios, where agents execute contracts, payments, and trades without human intervention, the lack of a shared identity standard creates risks like unauthorized transactions, fraud, and accountability gaps. KYA acts as a trust layer to verify an agent's origin, authority, and accountability. The need for KYA is most critical outside centralized platforms (like Google or Coinbase), such as in decentralized exchanges (DEX), A2A payments, and merchant payments. Several key players are building KYA infrastructure: - **ERC-8004**: A proposed Ethereum standard that issues a unique AgentID as an NFT, building on-chain identity, reputation, and validation systems. - **Visa TAP**: Visa's solution issues agent identity credentials, with transactions verified via triple signatures (legitimacy, delegator, payment method). - **Trulioo**: Extends its KYC/KYB compliance infrastructure using a Digital Passport for Agents (DAP), issued after verifying both the developer and user, and refreshed per transaction. - **Sumsub**: Focuses on post-issuance real-time verification, detecting agent anomalies during transactions using its existing compliance systems. Regulatory bodies are also acting. The EU AI Act mandates operator identification in logs for high-risk AI systems, the US...

Authored by: Tiger Research

Compiled by: AididiaoJP, Foresight News

The era of AI agents is accelerating, and alongside it, concerns about the uncontrolled creation and behavior of agents are growing. Know Your Agent (KYA) systems, which assign identities to agents and regulate their behavior, are receiving increasing attention. Why is a KYA identity infrastructure needed? Which companies are building it?

Summary

  • AI agents have entered an era of autonomously executing contracts, payments, and transactions, but there are currently no shared standards to verify "who this agent is." In Agent-to-Agent (A2A) scenarios, KYA is gaining more focus than KYC.
  • KYA is not needed in all scenarios. Within centralized platforms (Google, OpenAI, Coinbase), existing KYC is sufficient. Where KYA truly becomes important is in scenarios where independently deployed autonomous agents interact with DEXs, A2A payments, and merchant payments.
  • The KYA standards race has begun:
  • ERC-8004: Issues AgentIDs on top of NFTs, building an on-chain system for identity, reputation, and verification.
  • Visa TAP: Visa issues identity credentials for agents, verified through TAP's triple signature (legitimacy, delegator, payment method).
  • Trulioo: Adopts the SSL CA model, with DPAs issuing DAPs.
  • Sumsub: Layers a KYA system on top of its own compliance system.

Regulatory action has begun at the national level. The EU's AI Act requires high-risk AI system behavior logs to include operator identity. The US NIST has listed agent identity management as a priority standard area. Singapore has released the world's first national-level AI agent governance framework. Just as the 2019 FATF Travel Rule determined which crypto exchanges survived, whether one possesses KYA infrastructure will determine who enters the next market cycle.

Why is KYA Emerging Now?

KYC: The Layer That Reshaped Finance

  • Before 1989, global finance lacked a unified identity standard. This gap made it difficult to track drug money and illicit funds.
  • After the FATF was founded in 1989, KYC became a mandatory requirement in finance, blocking illicit funds at the entry point.

Without Agent Identity, Systems Regress

  • AI agents execute contracts, payments, and transactions without human involvement, but currently, it's impossible to verify "who it is."
  • In A2A environments, accountability becomes blurred, dispute risks increase, and users are exposed to fraud patterns like money laundering.

The Role and Response of KYA (Know Your Agent)

  • KYA (Know Your Agent) is a trust layer that pre-verifies an agent's origin, permissions, and accountability framework.
  • Unverified agents bring three major risks simultaneously: unauthorized transactions, fraud, and accountability gaps.

The Manifestation of KYA's Necessity

KYA is Needed at Every Level

  • Within centralized platforms, user KYC + platform accountability is sufficient. In interoperable scenarios outside platforms, KYA becomes crucial for verifying an agent's specific actions and safety.
  • Within a country (inside a platform), one ID (KYC) is enough to move freely. But once crossing borders (outside a platform), the environment changes, and entry review (KYA) of purpose and trust is needed.

Market Players

ERC-8004: NFT-Based Agent Identity

  • ERC-8004 adds an identity layer on top of ERC-721, minting an NFT as a unique ID for each agent.
  • It also adds three on-chain registries (Identity, Reputation, Validation), serving as identity, reputation board, and verification record respectively.

Two Markets Built by Ethereum Standards, a Third is Coming

  • ERC-20 (Token Issuance Standard): Before standardization, every token needed brand-new code. After ERC-20, most major assets were issued on it.
  • ERC-721 (NFT Standard): CryptoPunks, BAYC, ENS built the NFT market itself upon it. As blockchain integration accelerates in the agent era.
  • ERC-8004 will play the same standardizing role for Agents.

Visa TAP: Authentication on the Visa Rail

Visa issues identity credentials (Agent Intent) to agents, akin to an identity card. Without a key, transactions cannot occur. Keys are issued only after Visa pre-approval. Every transaction is signed and submitted to the merchant.

The merchant receives three signatures, not one: Visa approval, delegator, payment method, all confirmed simultaneously.

Visa: A Strategy to Pull Every Transaction into the Visa Network

  • Just as Visa previously captured payment rails, it is now encapsulating the agent era.
  • Through Visa Intelligent Commerce (VIC), Visa offers a solution bundle that packages KYA with payments.
  • If agent payments still use the card rail, and this bundle becomes the default option, then Visa's market share can remain stable even through the transition.

Trulioo: Extending KYC-Era Verification Infrastructure

  • Trulioo is a compliance operator on the global KYC/KYB rail and is expanding its verification stack to KYA.
  • DPAs play the role of SSL-CAs. Unlike SSL (domain only), DPAs verify developer KYB and user KYC before issuing a DAP.
  • Banks and fintechs legally require human and business identity. As agents enter finance, Trulioo's KYC/KYB position will be further solidified.

DAP, an Agent's Digital Passport, Refreshed with Each Transaction

  • DAP is an agent's digital passport. A DPA verifies the developer (KYB) and user (KYC), packages both into a token, and grants it to the agent.
  • Unlike a paper passport, it is a live token, refreshed and re-verified with every transaction. Once delegation is revoked or anomalies are detected, the DAP is invalidated immediately.
  • KYA is not a one-time verification. Trust must be reconfirmed with every transaction.

Sumsub (AI Agent Verification): Detecting Agent Anomalies

  • Sumsub's approach is: whenever an agent attempts an anomalous transaction, re-verify the currently active human identity.
  • It leverages its verification systems from its compliance business since 2015 to detect agent anomalies more accurately.

Operators with Technology to Address New Threats of the AI Era

  • Other KYA players focus on one-time pre-transaction identity verification. Sumsub focuses on real-time verification post-issuance.
  • As agent permissions expand, anomaly detection becomes crucial; as fraud scales with technology, Sumsub's real-time verification stack gains attention.

Proactive Regulatory Positioning, Shaping Entry Rules

The Gap Caused by the FATF Travel Rule May Recur with KYA

After the 2019 FATF Travel Rule, VASPs diverged based on their ability to bear KYC/AML infrastructure costs. Peers like CryptoBridge and Deribit, unable to afford it, either shut down or moved to less regulated regions.

The EU, Singapore, and the US are already vying for leadership. KYA will become a core layer of the agent era.

KYA Will Differentiate by Market Segment, Not a Single Winner

The real variable in the standards race is not technology, but combinations. Mainstream players have entered the collaboration and combination phase. In the future, who pairs with which merchants, payment networks, and KYC customer bases will determine the leader in each segment.

The market will not have a single winner; it will differentiate by market segment.

Perguntas relacionadas

QWhat is KYA (Know Your Agent), and why is it emerging as an important concept in the AI agent era?

AKYA (Know Your Agent) is a system designed to verify the identity, authority, and accountability of AI agents, especially in scenarios where they operate autonomously without direct human oversight. It is emerging as a crucial trust layer due to the rise of AI agents that autonomously execute contracts, payments, and transactions. In these Agent-to-Agent (A2A) environments, there is currently no shared standard to verify 'who the agent is,' leading to increased risks like unauthorized transactions, fraud, and accountability gaps. KYA addresses these risks by establishing a trust infrastructure for pre-verifying an agent's source, permissions, and purpose.

QWhat are some key standards and solutions being developed for KYA?

ASeveral standards and solutions are being developed for KYA. Notable examples include: 1) **ERC-8004**: An Ethereum-based standard that uses NFTs (ERC-721) as unique AgentIDs and adds on-chain registries for identity, reputation, and validation. 2) **Visa TAP (Triple Authorization Protocol)**: Visa's solution that issues identity credentials (Agent Intent) to agents and requires triple signatures (from Visa, the delegator, and the payment method) for transaction approval. 3) **Trulioo's DAP**: Extends their KYC/KYB infrastructure to issue a dynamic Digital Agent Passport (DAP) that is re-validated per transaction. 4) **Sumsub (AI Agent Verification)**: Focuses on post-issuance, real-time verification of agents to detect and prevent abnormal behavior using their existing compliance stack.

QIn what scenarios is KYA most necessary, according to the article?

AAccording to the article, KYA is most necessary outside of centralized, walled-garden platforms (like Google, OpenAI, or Coinbase), where traditional user KYC and platform accountability are sufficient. KYA becomes critical in scenarios involving independent, autonomously deployed agents interacting across platforms, particularly in: 1) **Agent-to-Agent (A2A) transactions** (e.g., payments between agents). 2) **Accessing decentralized exchanges (DEXs)**. 3) **Making payments to merchants**. These represent interoperable environments where a lack of agent identity verification creates significant operational and financial risks.

QHow are governments and regulatory bodies responding to the need for AI agent identity management?

AGovernments and regulatory bodies are beginning to act on AI agent governance, effectively pushing the need for KYA infrastructure. Key actions include: 1) **The EU AI Act**: Requires operators of high-risk AI systems to be identifiable in activity logs. 2) **US NIST**: Has prioritized AI agent identity management as a key standard-setting area. 3) **Singapore**: Released the world's first national-level AI governance framework specifically for agents. The article draws a parallel to the 2019 FATF Travel Rule, suggesting that the ability to implement compliant KYA systems will be a determining factor for which entities can participate in the next phase of the AI agent market.

QWhy does the article suggest the KYA market will be segmented, with no single winner?

AThe article suggests the KYA market will be segmented because the key variable for success is not just technology, but the combination and integration of solutions with existing business ecosystems. Major players are entering a 'cooperation-combination' phase. The future market leader in each segment will be determined by which KYA provider successfully partners with which merchants, payment networks (like Visa's approach), and existing KYC customer bases. Therefore, different KYA standards and solutions (e.g., ERC-8004 for the crypto-native ecosystem, Visa TAP for card-based commerce) are likely to dominate different application areas, leading to a fragmented market rather than a single universal winner.

Leituras Relacionadas

Bitcoin Eyeing $60,000 Support As Iran Strikes Hammer Crypto Markets

Bitcoin faces crucial support at $60,000 following a market sell-off triggered by escalating Middle East tensions. The cryptocurrency fell 4.5% to an intraday low of $65,700, pressured by a record $1.44 billion in weekly outflows from US spot Bitcoin funds—the highest of 2026. Geopolitical events, including new US attacks on Iranian targets and reports of missile strikes in Bahrain, have fueled risk aversion, impacting oil prices and inflation fears. Technical analysis indicates Bitcoin has breached key support levels, with a close below $65,000 potentially opening a path toward the $60,000 mark. The conflict has also disrupted diplomatic ceasefire talks between the US and Iran.

bitcoinistHá 26m

Bitcoin Eyeing $60,000 Support As Iran Strikes Hammer Crypto Markets

bitcoinistHá 26m

A Confession from a US Stock KOL: The AI Bull Market Isn't Over, But Risks Are Looming

A self-proclaimed AI bull and US stock influencer reflects on the market. While firmly believing AI is a transformative revolution creating exponential token demand versus linear semiconductor supply, the author warns of rising risks. The current "low-PE bubble" appears resilient, fueled by strong company fundamentals and abundant post-regulatory liquidity, making it hard to oppose. However, the bull market's core premise—that hyperscalers' massive capital expenditures will be justified by soaring AI model revenues—is fragile. Key vulnerabilities are identified: the supply chain is strained and fragmented, losing the pricing control once held by giants like TSMC. More critically, leading AI models (like Anthropic's Opus) are showing signs of "cognitive decline" due to compute shortages, potentially undermining the revenue growth story. If investor faith in the model monetization cycle wavers, it could trigger a broad re-evaluation of semiconductor stocks as cyclical rather than growth assets. The author concludes that one can participate in the ongoing party but must stay vigilant, ready to exit when the music—the foundational narrative of AI revenue growth—stops.

marsbitHá 1h

A Confession from a US Stock KOL: The AI Bull Market Isn't Over, But Risks Are Looming

marsbitHá 1h

STRC Breaks Below $95: Why Does It Continue to Depeg? Is There Default Risk?

"STRC Falls Below $95: Why the Persistent Depegging and Is There Default Risk?" The article discusses the recent decline in the price of STRC, a perpetual preferred stock issued by Strategy (MSTR) designed to trade around a $100 par value. As of publication, STRC traded at $94.65, raising market concerns. STRC is described as a high-yield cash flow product, offering an 11.50% annual dividend paid monthly. Its "preferred" status grants it priority over common stock for dividends and in liquidation. Key reasons cited for the price depegging include: 1. **Bitcoin's Price Drop:** MSTR's assets are heavily tied to Bitcoin (BTC), which fell over 21% from its recent high, pressuring all Strategy-related products. 2. **Competitive Pressure:** Rival Strive Asset Management's similar product, SATA, offers daily dividends and has maintained its $100 par value with a ~13% yield. In response, Strategy has proposed changing STRC's dividend frequency from monthly to bi-weekly, pending shareholder vote. 3. **Technical Selling:** A break below $100 may have triggered algorithmic selling and stop-losses, exacerbating the decline. Regarding default risk, the analysis suggests it is currently low. Strategy founder Michael Saylor confirmed the June 2026 dividend rate remains at 11.50% with no cuts or suspensions. The company's massive reserve of 843,706 BTC provides a significant backstop for its obligations. Industry opinions are mixed. Some analysts view the BTC holdings as reliable support for dividends, while critics like Peter Schiff warn of potential dividend cuts leading to price crashes and lawsuits. Others highlight inflation risk and the company's ability to reduce dividends without a formal default. In summary, STRC's drop is attributed to BTC volatility, competition, and technical factors. While immediate default risk appears contained, the product faces challenges from market conditions and competitive dynamics.

marsbitHá 1h

STRC Breaks Below $95: Why Does It Continue to Depeg? Is There Default Risk?

marsbitHá 1h

AI Trading Cools, South Korean Stocks Plunge 1.8%, Spot Gold Rises 1%, Bitcoin Dives

A sell-off in AI-related stocks, triggered by Broadcom's disappointing earnings forecast, sent shockwaves through global markets. South Korea's KOSPI led Asia's decline, plunging 1.8% as the risks from concentrated chip stock gains and surging leveraged investments came to the fore. The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 futures fell 0.5% following Broadcom's 14% after-hours plunge, which signaled a slower-than-expected transition to AI clients. This pullback extended Wall Street's weakness, halting the S&P 500's nine-day rally amid hawkish Fed signals and renewed Middle East tensions. South Korean authorities convened an emergency meeting, pledging "immediate measures" against market volatility and warning of record-high stock margin debt. The adjustment rippled across assets: Bitcoin fell to around $64,000, its lowest since February, while safe-haven gold rose 1% on bargain hunting. Oil prices dipped on Middle East ceasefire news. Market analysts noted the sell-off was driven by profit-taking after massive gains, particularly in chip stocks like Samsung and SK Hynix, which now dominate the KOSPI. Wall Street banks are divided on Korea's outlook, with Goldman Sachs raising its target while Citigroup and others warn of overvaluation and a potential bubble. Bridgewater's Ray Dalio noted that great technological shifts often create bubbles. Meanwhile, Fed officials' hints at potential future rate hikes added to the cautious mood ahead of key U.S. jobs data.

华尔街日报Há 1h

AI Trading Cools, South Korean Stocks Plunge 1.8%, Spot Gold Rises 1%, Bitcoin Dives

华尔街日报Há 1h

Trading

Spot
Futuros

Artigos em Destaque

Como comprar ID

Bem-vindo à HTX.com!Tornámos a compra de SPACE ID (ID) simples e conveniente.Segue o nosso guia passo a passo para iniciar a tua jornada no mundo das criptos.Passo 1: cria a tua conta HTXUtiliza o teu e-mail ou número de telefone para te inscreveres numa conta gratuita na HTX.Desfruta de um processo de inscrição sem complicações e desbloqueia todas as funcionalidades.Obter a minha contaPasso 2: vai para Comprar Cripto e escolhe o teu método de pagamentoCartão de crédito/débito: usa o teu visa ou mastercard para comprar SPACE ID (ID) instantaneamente.Saldo: usa os fundos da tua conta HTX para transacionar sem problemas.Terceiros: adicionamos métodos de pagamento populares, como Google Pay e Apple Pay, para aumentar a conveniência.P2P: transaciona diretamente com outros utilizadores na HTX.Mercado de balcão (OTC): oferecemos serviços personalizados e taxas de câmbio competitivas para os traders.Passo 3: armazena teu SPACE ID (ID)Depois de comprar o teu SPACE ID (ID), armazena-o na tua conta HTX.Alternativamente, podes enviá-lo para outro lugar através de transferência blockchain ou usá-lo para transacionar outras criptomoedas.Passo 4: transaciona SPACE ID (ID)Transaciona facilmente SPACE ID (ID) no mercado à vista da HTX.Acede simplesmente à tua conta, seleciona o teu par de trading, executa as tuas transações e monitoriza em tempo real.Oferecemos uma experiência de fácil utilização tanto para principiantes como para traders experientes.

202 Visualizações TotaisPublicado em {updateTime}Atualizado em 2026.06.02

Como comprar ID

Discussões

Bem-vindo à Comunidade HTX. Aqui, pode manter-se informado sobre os mais recentes desenvolvimentos da plataforma e obter acesso a análises profissionais de mercado. As opiniões dos utilizadores sobre o preço de ID (ID) são apresentadas abaixo.

活动图片

Categorias popularesright-arrow

Etiquetas Popularesright-arrow