Opening a crypto wallet or applying for a card often requires digital identity verification. Here's how the process works, step by step.
Published September 15, 2026 · 2 min read
A typical digital KYC flow asks for a photo or scan of an official ID document, checked for basic authenticity markers like document format and security features. The system examines the structure and elements of the ID to confirm it matches expected patterns for that document type. This step does not yet confirm that the person submitting the document is the person shown on it.
A liveness check asks the user to take a selfie or short video, sometimes with a prompted action like turning their head, to confirm a real, live person is completing the verification rather than a photo or a pre-recorded image. This step exists to prevent someone from using a static image or video of another person. The check happens in real time during the verification session.
The selfie or video is then compared against the photo on the submitted ID document to confirm they show the same person. Verification can be processed automatically by software, reviewed by a human, or both, depending on the provider and the specific case; unusual or unclear submissions are more likely to need human review. This comparison is the final step that ties the document to the person completing the process.
None of these steps store a password — they exist to confirm identity once at signup or at specific checkpoints, not to log in on an ongoing basis. Once verified, you access your wallet or card account through your usual login method. Services like Nexus Pay use this verification flow when you open an account and request a Visa card, but the daily experience is simply using the wallet and card without repeating the full check.
Opening…