Beyond KYC: Tiger Research Says AI Agents Demand New Identity Verification Standard

Asian Web3 research and consulting firm Tiger Research has released a report arguing that the rise of autonomous AI agents necessitates a new identity verification framework, moving beyond traditional Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols to what it terms Know Your Agent (KYA). The report, titled ‘2026 Know Your Agent: Agent Identity Infrastructure,’ warns that while AI agents are increasingly executing contracts, payments, and transactions without direct human oversight, no common standard currently exists to verify their identities or authority.

The Growing Need for Agent Identity

As AI agents become more autonomous, they are engaging in agent-to-agent (A2A) transactions, where one digital entity interacts with another to complete tasks, negotiate terms, or exchange value. Tiger Research argues that in this environment, verifying the identity of the agent itself—its provenance, permissions, and delegated authority—becomes critical. The firm suggests that KYA systems could surpass the role of existing KYC frameworks, which are designed to verify human identities, not those of autonomous software.

Major Players Enter the Race

The report highlights that several major companies are already moving to establish a KYA standard. Visa, through its TAP protocol, is developing a structure to verify agent identity, delegators, and payment methods. Trulioo is building a framework based on the SSL certificate authority model, a well-known internet trust mechanism. Meanwhile, Sumsub is implementing a KYA system on top of its existing compliance infrastructure, signaling a shift in how identity verification is approached in the digital economy.

Why This Matters for the Web3 Ecosystem

The implications for the broader Web3 and cryptocurrency ecosystem are significant. Without a reliable KYA framework, the risk of fraud, unauthorized transactions, and accountability gaps increases as AI agents become more prevalent. The report positions KYA as a foundational layer for the next phase of digital interaction, where autonomous entities operate with a degree of independence previously reserved for humans.

Conclusion

Tiger Research’s report underscores a growing consensus that the infrastructure for verifying AI agents must evolve in parallel with the technology itself. As A2A transactions become more common, KYA could become a core component of the digital trust layer, influencing everything from DeFi protocols to enterprise automation systems. The race to define this standard is already underway, with implications for security, compliance, and the future of autonomous commerce.

FAQs

Q1: What is the difference between KYC and KYA?
KYC (Know Your Customer) verifies the identity of human users, typically for compliance with financial regulations. KYA (Know Your Agent) verifies the identity, permissions, and authority of autonomous AI agents, which may act without direct human oversight in transactions.

Q2: Why is KYA becoming important now?
As AI agents increasingly execute contracts, payments, and other transactions independently, there is no standard way to confirm that an agent is who it claims to be or has the authority to act. KYA provides a framework to establish trust in these agent-to-agent interactions.

Q3: Which companies are working on KYA standards?
According to Tiger Research, Visa (through its TAP protocol), Trulioo (using an SSL certificate authority model), and Sumsub (building on its compliance infrastructure) are among the major players developing KYA systems.