Institutional Compliance Framework

KYC, Merchant Verification &
Tiered Compliance Architecture

Why verification is required, required documents for each merchant tier, fee discounts, and profit advantages for building on OwnPay's non-custodial rails.

1. Global Regulatory & AML Mandate

OwnPay operates across international fiat-to-stablecoin boundaries. To guarantee seamless merchant operation without bank freezes or jurisdictional injunctions, adhering to FATF, AML (Anti-Money Laundering), and CTF standards is strictly required for real Mainnet settlement.

2. Non-Custodial Direct Settlement

Unlike traditional intermediary gateways, OwnPay never holds merchant funds in escrow. Money flows directly from buyer to merchant wallet in under 2 seconds. Verified KYC ensures that non-custodial freedom is protected against fraudulent bad actors or malicious exploitation.

3. Human & AI Agent Safety

Autonomous AI agents operate programmatic financial session keys. Merchant KYC anchors every agent policy, spending cap, and smart account to an accountable human or enterprise entity, preventing rogue bot transactions.

Live Settlement KYC Tiers & Testmode

Developers and Merchants: Test all features freely with zero KYC in Testmode. Complete tier-based verification only when you are ready to settle real funds on Live Mainnet.

Zero KYC Required • 100% Free Developer & Merchant Testmode

Build, Test, and Verify Everything Before Doing KYC

There is no KYC required to build on OwnPay. Both Developers (who run autonomous AI agents) and Merchants can connect their project, workspace, or store in Testmode to test the full pipeline:

Send & Receive Tokens
REST API & Client SDKs
Automated Withdrawals
Framework Plugins & Adapters
HMAC Webhook Events
Model Context Protocol (MCP) AI Tools
Open Free Sandbox
Live Mode Requirement: When ready to settle real USDC on Base Mainnet, both Developers and Merchants must complete tier-wise KYC verification.
Tier 1 • Individual & AI Agent Devs
Starter Live
0.25%
$0/mo SaaS • Pay As You Go
Required Documents
  • Government ID (NID, Passport, Driving License)
  • Verified Merchant Business Email
  • Self-Custody Settlement Wallet
User Benefits & Limits
  • Live Mainnet Settlement Unlocked
  • Up to $10,000 USD / Day ($300,000 / mo)
  • 0 Rolling reserves • Sub-2s settlements
  • Hosted checkout links & Retail POS
Verify as Starter
Tier 3 • Institutional
Enterprise
0.05%
Lowest Fee in Web3 • Custom Volume
Required Documents
  • Full Corporate KYB & Articles of Association
  • Board Resolution & Authorized Signatory
  • Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) Verification
User Benefits & Limits
  • Lowest 0.05% Processing Fee (5 bps)
  • Custom High-Volume ($500,000+ / day) / Unlimited
  • Dedicated Private Relayers & Custom Proxies
  • Direct Sub-Cent Local Bank Offramps
  • 24/7 Dedicated Engineering & Legal SLA
Contact Enterprise

Frequently Asked Compliance Questions

Is my identity data sold or stored unsafely?
Absolutely not. All identity documentation is encrypted at rest using AES-256 and used strictly for anti-fraud compliance and sanctions screening. OwnPay adheres to GDPR privacy principles and never monetizes merchant or consumer data.
Does KYC give OwnPay custody of my funds?
Never. OwnPay is 100% non-custodial by protocol design. All USDC settlements land directly into your self-custody wallet (MetaMask, Phantom, Coinbase Smart Wallet) via smart contracts on Base, Solana, BSC, or opBNB. OwnPay holds $0 in merchant escrow.
How long does verification take?
Starter tier automated verification completes within 5–15 minutes. Verified Business tier applications are typically reviewed and approved within 2–6 hours.