# KYC (identity verification)

KYC, know your customer, is the collection of identity documents and business information before a service is sold. Proxy providers differ widely: some require it for every account, some only above a spending threshold or for specific products, and some never ask, relying on an enforced acceptable use policy and abuse handling instead. The choice reflects the provider's payment methods, jurisdiction and target customers, and it decides how much personal data a customer must hand over to buy bandwidth.


## Typical policies

| Policy | Common at | What it means for you |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mandatory KYC | Enterprise vendors, card-based checkouts | Documents before the first purchase |
| Threshold KYC | Mid-market providers | Documents once spending passes an amount or for static products |
| No KYC | Crypto-native providers | An email address opens the account; rules enforced on behaviour |


## No KYC is not no rules

A provider that does not verify identity still enforces its acceptable use policy: abuse reports are investigated, offending accounts are closed, and cooperation with authorities happens where the law requires. Privacy at sign-up and accountability for abuse are compatible.


## How it works at ProxShift

ProxShift asks for an email address and a password, nothing else: no identity documents, no phone number, no sales call. What it does enforce is the acceptable use policy, on every network.

Source: https://proxshift.com/glossary/kyc