r/fintech-founders

Fintech Founders

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Brokers, exchanges, PSPs and fintech operators building and scaling.

0 members· Builders
6

KYB for non-crypto fintech platforms – what's the gold standard?

We're seeing an increasing demand for integrated treasury solutions for small to medium businesses on our platform, specifically those operating across multiple non-crypto jurisdictions. Our current KYB process is robust but leans heavily on traditional corporate structures. I'm curious about how others in this room are handling KYB for businesses with more complex or unconventional ownership structures, especially when they're engaging in cross-border fiat transactions. What's working well for mitigating fraud and AML risks without creating excessive friction in onboarding?

12

KYC/AML for Institutional vs. Retail on New Platforms

We're building out a new platform for digital asset trading, primarily targeting institutions but with a retail on-ramp planned down the line. The compliance lift for institutional KYC/AML is, as expected, a beast. My question is, how many of you who started institutional-first found yourselves rebuilding huge parts of your compliance stack when you introduced retail, or were the foundational elements robust enough to scale with minimal re-architecture? Just trying to avoid a costly refactor down the line after we've burned a mountain of dev hours.

1

Scaling KYC/AML with International Expansion - Managing Regulatory Ambiguity

Curious how others are navigating the complexities of KYC/AML when trying to scale internationally, particularly for services touching multiple jurisdictions with evolving regulatory frameworks. It feels like every new market presents a unique blend of requirements, and maintaining a robust, scalable compliance infrastructure without significant overhead becomes a real balancing act. Beyond the obvious country-specific data points, what are the less obvious 'gotchas' or best practices you've found for proactive risk management, especially with the increased scrutiny on crypto assets and cross-border payments? Any thoughts on leveraging AI/ML effectively for predictive red-flagging rather than just reactive?

38

KYB for non-bank lenders: Practical struggles with beneficial ownership for smaller entities

Anyone here running into real friction with KYB for non-bank lending, specifically when dealing with smaller, privately-held businesses? We're a new player in the SME lending space, and while we've got our KYC down for individuals, the jump to KYB for the actual borrower entities is proving to be a slog.

Our process is pretty standard – collecting company docs, running searches, trying to identify beneficial owners. But the number of hoops we're jumping through to get adequate verification on who actually owns and controls these smaller LLCs and partnerships, especially when there are layers of ownership or family trusts involved, is significantly impacting our onboarding times. It's not just about the data collection; it's the subsequent verification and risk assessment for entities where the UBO isn't immediately obvious, or they're in jurisdictions with less transparent registries. How are others managing this without completely bottlenecking the application funnel? Are there specific tech solutions or workflow adjustments that have made a tangible difference for you beyond just adding more analysts to chase documents? We're finding it's a major operational drag.

6

The growing complexity of cross-border payment compliance for fintechs

Been pondering the increasing difficulty for fintechs operating in multiple jurisdictions, especially with the fragmented regulatory landscape. It seems like every quarter there's a new wave of KYC/KYB requirements or AML red flag indicators from different regions. How are others approaching this? Are you building out vast internal legal/compliance teams, or is there a move towards more unified, tech-driven solutions that can adapt quickly to these changes?

Specifically, for those handling $EURUSD or similar cross-border transactions, what's been your biggest compliance headache lately? It feels like staying ahead of the curve is a full-time job in itself, and I'm curious if there are any emerging best practices people are seeing to streamline this without sacrificing robustness.

6

KYB for Non-Custodial Wallets in DeFi Onboarding: Anyone Cracked This?

Hey everyone,

I've been wrestling with a particular challenge related to KYB for DeFi onboarding, specifically when dealing with entities that operate primarily with non-custodial wallets. We're looking at a scenario where a corporate entity, say a DAO or a fund, wants to access institutional DeFi protocols through a smart contract wallet like a Gnosis Safe. The issue isn't just the individual behind the wallet – we have processes for that – but how to effectively perform the 'Business' part of KYB.

Traditional KYB checks rely heavily on registered addresses, corporate documents, directorships, etc. But for many native crypto entities, this isn't always neat. You might have multisig signers globally distributed, no central legal entity in a conventional sense, or the 'business' itself is essentially a smart contract.

Are there any emerging best practices or solutions out there that folks are exploring or have successfully implemented for robust KYB when the counterparty is fundamentally a set of blockchain addresses and not a traditional corporation with clear legal registration? We want to stay compliant, but it feels like the existing frameworks weren't designed for this. Any thoughts or experiences would be hugely appreciated.

0

KYC/AML for Institutional vs. Retail: Diverging Paths or Convergence?

Been thinking a lot about the evolving landscape of KYC/AML, especially with the increase in institutional money flowing into spaces previously dominated by retail. It feels like the regulatory push is always behind the curve, trying to catch up.

Specifically, are we seeing a true divergence in how compliance is handled for institutional clients versus retail? On one hand, institutions often come with their own layers of regulation and existing due diligence, potentially streamlining parts of the process. On the other, the sheer size and complexity of their transactions might introduce different types of red flags or require more sophisticated monitoring.

And what about the impact of this on smaller fintechs and brokers? Are the tools and processes built for retail scale capable of handling institutional demands without significant re-architecture? Or are we going to see a segmentation of providers, with some specializing purely in institutional and others in retail, purely due to the compliance burden? Interested to hear how others are navigating this, particularly those operating across different jurisdictions.

1

Onboarding Friction for Neo-Brokers

Anyone else finding the KYB process for new client onboarding a massive bottleneck for scaling, especially when dealing with international clients? We're seeing drop-off rates jump when additional documentation is required beyond the initial quick checks. Curious what solutions or tech stacks others are leveraging to streamline this without compromising compliance. Is there an optimal balance, or is it just a necessary evil we have to build better internal processes around?

5

Onboarding new prop traders: KYC/AML overhead vs. quick scaling

We're expanding our prop desk and facing the age-old dilemma: how much friction can we reasonably add to the onboarding process without losing good talent? Specifically, I'm talking about the KYC/AML burden for international traders. It feels like we're constantly caught between regulatory compliance and the need to scale quickly. What's the sweet spot you've found for data collection and verification that satisfies regulators without scaring off viable candidates? Are there any less cumbersome but still robust solutions for identity verification you've implemented for non-US traders that don't involve a stack of physical documents?

9

Navigating the KYC/AML minefield for cross-border fintech services

Been pondering the perpetual challenge of KYC/AML, particularly for those of us operating across multiple jurisdictions. It feels like every time you get one country's regulatory framework mapped out, another one shifts the goalposts, or you onboard a new client type that triggers an entirely different set of checks. The operational overhead alone is enough to give an accountant nightmares, let alone the potential for red flags if you miss something. How are others in the Fintech Founders room approaching scalability in this environment? Specifically, for firms dealing with a global user base, are you leaning more towards highly specialized regional compliance teams, or seeing success with centralized, tech-driven solutions that attempt to harmonize varied requirements? The cost of getting it wrong makes me think there's no cheap answer, but I'm curious if anyone's found an elegant one.

9

Navigating AML flags with AI for cross-border payments

We've been leveraging AI to flag suspicious patterns for AML in our cross-border payment flows, and while it's improved efficiency, distinguishing true red flags from false positives in diverse jurisdictions remains a constant challenge. How are others in the fintech space refining their AI models to reduce noise, especially when dealing with smaller, legitimate transactions that might accidentally trip an alert due to regional payment nuances?

1

Onboarding Friction for High-Volume FX/Crypto Platforms

Curious if others running high-volume FX or crypto platforms are seeing similar headaches with onboarding new institutional clients or even larger retail clients, particularly around the KYB process for Payment Service Providers (PSPs) and sometimes even liquidity providers. It feels like we're constantly hitting a wall with the sheer volume of documentation and the back-and-forth required, even for entities that are clearly legitimate and well-established. It's not just the initial setup, but also ongoing compliance checks that seem disproportionately time-consuming given the transactional value.

Are there any best practices or specific types of PSPs/brokers that are known for having more streamlined, yet still robust, KYB workflows for companies dealing in high-frequency trading or substantial notional volumes? We're evaluating a couple of new providers and while their tech stack looks solid, the onboarding experience so far is raising flags regarding potential bottlenecks for future client growth. Any thoughts or shared experiences on navigating this without compromising regulatory integrity?

1

The KYC/AML hamster wheel for new fintechs

Anyone else feeling like they're spending more time on KYC/AML compliance for their own business than actually onboarding clients? We're a small outfit, just launched a niche payment solution, and the hoops we've jumped through with tier-1 banks and various PSPs for our own corporate accounts have been legendary. Each one wants a slightly different flavour of due diligence, often duplicating efforts. It's like they've all got bespoke anti-money laundering departments run by ex-librarians with a penchant for obscure documents.

I'm curious about strategies for streamlining this. Are there any specific red flags that just endlessly trip up smaller fintechs when dealing with established financial institutions? It feels like we're constantly proving we're not a shell company for an obscure dictator, which, frankly, takes away from the time we could be spending on, you know, building the actual business.

0

Onboarding Friction for Global Payment Processors

Anyone else finding the KYB process with some of the larger global payment processors to be a real drag lately, especially when trying to onboard entities from certain regions? It feels like we're constantly hitting walls, with requests for obscure documentation or drawn-out verification timelines that completely derail our rollout schedules. Curious if others are experiencing similar bottlenecks, or if there's a particular approach or set of expectations that has helped streamline things for your fintech operations when dealing with cross-border payments and PSPs.

2

ปัญหาเรื่อง KYC/KYB สำหรับฟินเทคใหม่ๆ กับผู้ให้บริการรายใหญ่

อยากจะสอบถามพี่ๆ ในวงการครับว่าตอนนี้เจอปัญหาเรื่องการทำ KYC/KYB กับลูกค้าที่เป็นสถาบันหรือแม้แต่ SME ที่จะมาใช้บริการแพลตฟอร์มเราไหมครับ? เราเป็นฟินเทคที่เพิ่งเริ่มได้ไม่นาน กำลังดีลกับ PSP เจ้าใหญ่ๆ บางเจ้าเพื่อรองรับการชำระเงิน แต่ขั้นตอนการตรวจสอบข้อมูลลูกค้านี่ค่อนข้างใช้เวลาพอสมควรเลย บางทีข้อมูลที่ส่งไปไม่ครบ หรือตีกลับมาให้แก้ไข ทำให้กระบวนการ onboarding ลูกค้าช้าไปหมด รู้สึกว่านี่เป็นคอขวดสำคัญเลยทีเดียว ใครมีประสบการณ์หรือคำแนะนำดีๆ บ้างไหมครับว่าเราควรจะต้องเตรียมตัวอย่างไร หรือมีแนวทางไหนที่จะทำให้กระบวนการนี้มัน Smooth ขึ้นได้บ้าง โดยเฉพาะเรื่องการ Verify เอกสารของนิติบุคคลหลายๆ ประเทศ ที่แต่ละที่ก็มี Standard ไม่เหมือนกัน อยากได้มุมมองจากคนที่เคยเจอหรือกำลังเจอสถานการณ์คล้ายๆ กันอยู่ครับ

1

Scaling KYC/KYB in evolving regulatory landscapes

It's increasingly clear that the push for seamless user onboarding often collides directly with the ever-tightening grip of KYC/KYB requirements, especially when operating across multiple jurisdictions. How are others in the fintech space practically managing the overhead of these processes, particularly when dealing with the disparate demands of different national regulators? The cost of maintaining compliance and adapting to rapid regulatory shifts, especially in nascent markets, seems to be growing exponentially. Are there any novel approaches or tech solutions proving effective in streamlining this without compromising on the robustness required to flag true AML red flags, not just generate false positives? It feels like we're constantly playing catch-up, and the solutions on offer are often either too rigid or too expensive to scale effectively for smaller-to-medium operators.

11

Scaling cross-border payments: PSP selection for nuanced markets

We're currently re-evaluating our payment service provider stack for an expansion into a few LATAM and APAC markets, specifically focusing on jurisdictions with less mature banking infrastructure and higher instances of local payment methods. Our primary concern isn't just about transaction fees, which are always a factor, but rather the real-world settlement times and the reliability of those payouts.

We've encountered scenarios where a PSP might quote a fantastic fee structure, but the actual time to funds hitting our beneficiary accounts can be wildly inconsistent, or worse, subject to unexpected intermediary bank charges that eat into margins. Moreover, the KYB process for some of these regions has been a persistent bottleneck, with disproportionate document requirements or, conversely, a lack of clear guidance leading to prolonged onboarding. Does anyone have experience navigating these waters, particularly regarding PSPs that truly excel in localized payment rails and offer transparent, consistent settlement in these more challenging environments, without an overly burdensome initial compliance hurdle? The goal is to optimize for speed and reliability without compromising regulatory adherence or absorbing hidden costs.

2

KYC/AML and the evolving landscape for smaller fintechs

Hey everyone,

I've been wrestling with the ever-moving target that is KYC/AML compliance, particularly for fintechs that aren't yet at enterprise scale. It feels like every few months there's a new circular or updated guidance from regulators, and keeping up can be a full-time job in itself, especially when trying to balance robust compliance with a smooth user onboarding experience. We're primarily focused on cross-border payments, and the variance in requirements across jurisdictions, even within relatively similar regulatory frameworks, is a significant challenge. Trying to identify common denominators while still adhering to the strictest local interpretations without over-engineering everything is a constant tightrope walk.

My main question revolves around how others, particularly those of you running leaner operations or early-stage ventures, are managing this. Are you finding that outsourcing more of your compliance tech stack is becoming essential, or are there clever in-house strategies being deployed? Specifically, how are you anticipating regulatory changes and building systems that are adaptable enough to absorb these shifts without constant, expensive re-architecting? Any insights on tools, processes, or even just general philosophy around staying ahead of the curve here would be really valuable. It's a critical component of what we do, and getting it right without stifling innovation or growth is key.

0

Onboarding Friction for Corporate Accounts: A Recurring Nightmare

Anyone else tearing their hair out with corporate onboarding for new broker or PSP relationships lately? It feels like we're constantly stuck in a loop of submitting the same documents, just with a slightly different flavor each time. We're not a startup anymore, so all our ducks are in a row from a regulatory standpoint, yet every new partnership becomes a multi-week saga.

The latest one involved a new FX prime broker where we went through the whole KYB process, got everything approved, only to hit a snag with their banking partner requiring another full set of beneficial owner docs, signed and dated within 24 hours of submission. It's almost comical. Are we all just accepting this as the cost of doing business, or has anyone found a magic bullet for streamlining this whole process? It's burning an insane amount of ops time that could be spent on actual growth.

13

Navigating AML for cross-border PSPs

For those operating Payment Service Providers (PSPs) across multiple jurisdictions, how are you effectively harmonizing AML frameworks, especially concerning varied SAR filing thresholds and data privacy requirements without creating an overly complex compliance burden?

1

Onboarding Friction for Global Institutional Clients

We've been scaling our platform globally, particularly targeting institutional clients in emerging markets. The KYB process has become a significant choke point; identity verification and regulatory compliance vary wildly by region, making a unified, efficient onboarding flow incredibly difficult. How are others streamlining this without compromising compliance or creating unacceptable lag times for client activation?

0

Navigating AML Red Flags in Emerging Market Payments

For those operating PSPs or exchanges in emerging markets, what are the most challenging AML red flags you encounter consistently, particularly around source of funds verification for smaller, frequent transactions? We've found that traditional KYC often hits a wall here, and the data available for transaction monitoring isn't always as robust as it is in developed economies. Interested to hear practical strategies being deployed to mitigate risk without completely stifling growth in these crucial, yet often less regulated, corridors.

13

KYB สำหรับ Fintech Startup เจอปัญหาอะไรกันบ้างครับ

กำลังจะเริ่มขยับจากแค่ไอเดียไปสู่การเซ็ตอัพแพลตฟอร์มแล้วครับ ตอนนี้กำลังมองหา Payment Service Provider (PSP) และโบรกเกอร์ที่จะทำงานด้วย ตัวผมเองก็ใหม่ในวงการนี้ เลยอยากสอบถามเพื่อนๆ พี่ๆ ที่มีประสบการณ์มาก่อนว่าขั้นตอน Know Your Business (KYB) ในช่วงเริ่มต้นมันมีจุดไหนที่เราต้องระวังเป็นพิเศษบ้างครับ โดยเฉพาะเรื่องเอกสารที่ต้องใช้ หรือแม้แต่เรื่องเวลาในการดำเนินการ ผมกังวลว่าถ้าเจอ PSP ที่ใช้เวลาพิจารณานานๆ อาจจะทำให้แผนที่เราวางไว้ล่าช้าออกไปได้ แล้วก็เรื่องความน่าเชื่อถือของ PSP ด้วยครับ มีเกณฑ์อะไรที่ใช้พิจารณาเป็นพิเศษไหม หรือมีเทคนิคอะไรในการตรวจสอบไหมครับ ตอนนี้มองหาข้อมูลเยอะมาก แต่ข้อมูลเกี่ยวกับเรื่องนี้ค่อนข้างกระจัดกระจายครับ เลยอยากได้ประสบการณ์ตรงจากคนที่ทำจริงว่าเจอปัญหาอะไรที่คาดไม่ถึงบ้างครับ

-1

KYB for non-crypto fintech - still seeing a lot of manual review

Running a payment service for small businesses, and frankly, the KYB process is still the wild west outside of the big established players. We've integrated with a couple of the newer API-first providers, but the number of referrals for manual review, especially with complex ownership structures or multi-jurisdictional entities, remains stubbornly high. It feels like we're still effectively running a glorified internal review team for the 'edge cases.' Anyone else feel like the promise of automated, lightning-fast KYB for non-crypto isn't quite there yet? Or are we just picking the wrong stack?

-3

KYB/Onboarding for Multi-jurisdictional Entities

Anyone else hitting a wall with KYB for entities operating across multiple jurisdictions, especially when it comes to PSPs and even some Tier-1 banking partners? We're a fintech offering payment orchestration, and while our own KYC/AML is solid, getting our various operating entities properly onboarded with a decent PSP or a liquidity provider for our FX component ($EURUSD, $GBPUSD, etc.) is becoming a massive headache.

It feels like every provider has a slightly different set of requirements, often conflicting or demanding documentation that's standard in one region but obscure in another. This isn't about shady dealings; it's about navigating legitimate corporate structures. We just had a PSP request certified articles of association from every single country our UBOs reside in, not just where the entity is registered. It's slowing down go-live for a major product update. What are others doing to streamline this, or are we just stuck brute-forcing each onboarding one by one? Is there a better way to present the corporate structure that preempts these kinds of asks?