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What is KYT

KYT (Know Your Transaction) is a risk identification mechanism for individual cryptocurrency transactions, providing real-time analysis of each on-chain transaction to determine its risk level and provide handling recommendations.
Core Question: Is this transaction safe?KYT helps you quickly identify the risk level and associated risk entities before processing each transaction.

Comparison with Traditional Finance

DimensionTraditional FinanceCrypto KYT
Monitoring MethodBank transaction monitoringOn-chain transaction analysis
Data FoundationAccount history basedAddress association based
Processing TimeT+1 batch processingReal-time/near real-time
Rule EnginePrimarily manual rulesAlgorithm + label driven

How It Works

Analysis Flow

  1. Fund Tracing: Trace fund sources and destinations forward/backward
  2. Entity Identification: Identify known entities involved in transactions (exchanges, protocols, labeled addresses)
  3. Pattern Detection: Identify suspicious transaction patterns (splitting, obfuscation, layering)
  4. Sanctions Screening: Match against sanctions lists

Risk Level Definitions

ChainStream uses a four-tier risk classification system:
LevelIndicatorDefinitionTypical Triggers
SEVERE🔴Known criminal associationSanctioned addresses, confirmed hacker addresses, darknet markets
HIGH🟠High-risk patternsMixer outputs, scam associations, unlicensed gambling
MEDIUM🟡Requires attentionHigh-risk exchanges, privacy coin swaps, anomalous patterns
LOW🟢NormalKnown compliant entities, regular user behavior

Level Details

  • Definition: Direct association with confirmed criminal activity
  • Data Sources: OFAC sanctions list, law enforcement reports, confirmed hacking incidents
  • False Positive Rate: Very low (<0.1%)
  • Recommended Action: Immediate freeze, report to regulators
  • Definition: High-risk characteristics but unconfirmed criminal activity
  • Data Sources: Mixer identification, scam address clustering, behavior pattern analysis
  • False Positive Rate: Low (<5%)
  • Recommended Action: Manual review, delayed processing
  • Definition: Risk signals present but requires further evaluation
  • Data Sources: Association analysis, behavioral anomaly detection
  • False Positive Rate: Moderate (5-15%)
  • Recommended Action: Enhanced monitoring, may proceed
  • Definition: No obvious risk characteristics
  • Data Sources: Normal transaction patterns, known compliant entities
  • Recommended Action: Process normally

Based on risk level, the system provides standardized action recommendations:
Risk LevelRecommended ActionAutomation LevelSLA
SEVEREFreezeAutomaticImmediate
HIGHManual ReviewRequires manual confirmation4 hours
MEDIUMEnhanced MonitoringSemi-automatic24 hours
LOWPassAutomaticImmediate

Action Flow


Exposure Types

ChainStream distinguishes between two types of risk exposure:
Definition: Transaction directly interacts with a risk address
Risk Address ──────────────> Target Address
             Direct Transfer
             
Exposure Type: DIRECT
Risk Transmission: 100%
Characteristics:
  • One-hop association
  • High certainty of risk
  • Typically triggers immediate response
Example Scenarios:
  • Receiving funds from known hacker address
  • Sending to sanctioned address
  • Receiving directly from mixer output
{
  "type": "DIRECT",
  "category": "SANCTIONS",
  "entity": "OFAC Sanctioned Address",
  "percentage": 100
}

Exposure Handling Guidelines

ScenarioDirect HandlingIndirect Handling
SEVERE sourceImmediate freezeFreeze within 2 hops, 3+ hops manual review
HIGH sourceManual reviewFlag for monitoring
MEDIUM sourceProcess normallyIgnore

Business Flow

Standard KYT Flow

1

Register Transaction

Submit transaction information to KYT API
POST https://api-dex.chainstream.io/v1/kyt/transfer
Authorization: Bearer <access_token>
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "network": "ethereum",
  "asset": "ETH",
  "transferReference": "0x1234...abcd:0xRecipientAddress",
  "direction": "received"
}
2

Wait for Analysis

Wait for analysis completion via polling (typically within 30 seconds)
3

Query Results

Retrieve risk assessment results
GET https://api-dex.chainstream.io/v1/kyt/transfers/{externalId}/summary
Authorization: Bearer <access_token>
4

Execute Decision

Execute business logic based on risk level and recommendations

Processing Times

StageTarget TimeSLA Commitment
Transaction Registration<100ms99.9%
Risk Analysis<30s95%
Result Return<30s95%
End-to-end<1min90%
Valid transactions complete analysis within 30 seconds. Complex associations may require longer processing time.

Data Elements

Input Data (Register Transfer)

FieldRequiredDescription
networkNetwork: bitcoin, ethereum, Solana
assetAsset type: BTC, ETH, SOL, etc.
transferReferenceTransfer reference (tx hash:address)
directionDirection: sent or received

Input Data (Register Withdrawal)

FieldRequiredDescription
networkNetwork: bitcoin, ethereum, Solana
assetAsset type
addressWithdrawal destination address
assetAmountAsset amount
attemptTimestampAttempt timestamp
assetPriceOptionalAsset price

Output Data

{
  "externalId": "393905a7-bb96-394b-9e20-3645298c1079",
  "asset": "ETH",
  "network": "ethereum",
  "transferReference": "0x1234...abcd:0xAddress",
  "direction": "received",
  "tx": "0x1234...abcd",
  "outputAddress": "0xAddress",
  "assetAmount": "1.5",
  "usdAmount": "3000.00",
  "timestamp": "2024-01-15T10:30:00.000Z",
  "updatedAt": "2024-01-15T10:30:15.000Z"
}

Response Field Description

FieldTypeDescription
externalIdstringTransfer ID (UUID), used for subsequent queries
assetstringAsset type
networkstringBlockchain network
transferReferencestringTransfer reference
directionstringTransfer direction
txstringTransaction hash
outputAddressstringOutput address
assetAmountstringAsset amount
usdAmountstringUSD amount
timestampstringTransaction timestamp
updatedAtstringUpdate time

API Usage

Register Deposit Transaction (Transfer)

POST https://api-dex.chainstream.io/v1/kyt/transfer
Authorization: Bearer <access_token>
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "network": "ethereum",
  "asset": "ETH",
  "transferReference": "0x9f318afbad2a183f97750bc51a75b582ad8f9e9c:0x17A16QmavnUfCW11DAApi",
  "direction": "received"
}

Register Withdrawal Transaction

POST https://api-dex.chainstream.io/v1/kyt/withdrawal
Authorization: Bearer <access_token>
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "network": "Solana",
  "asset": "SOL",
  "address": "D1Mc6j9xQWgR1o1Z7yU5nVVXFQiAYx7FG9AW1aVfwrUM",
  "assetAmount": "5",
  "attemptTimestamp": "2024-01-15T10:30:00.000Z"
}

Get Assessment Details

# Get transfer summary
GET https://api-dex.chainstream.io/v1/kyt/transfers/{externalId}/summary

# Get direct risk exposure
GET https://api-dex.chainstream.io/v1/kyt/transfers/{externalId}/exposures/direct

# Get risk alerts
GET https://api-dex.chainstream.io/v1/kyt/transfers/{externalId}/alerts

# Get network identifications
GET https://api-dex.chainstream.io/v1/kyt/transfers/{externalId}/network-identifications
# Get withdrawal summary
GET https://api-dex.chainstream.io/v1/kyt/withdrawal/{withdrawalId}/summary

# Get withdrawal direct exposure
GET https://api-dex.chainstream.io/v1/kyt/withdrawal/{withdrawalId}/exposures/direct

# Get withdrawal alerts
GET https://api-dex.chainstream.io/v1/kyt/withdrawal/{withdrawalId}/alerts

# Get fraud assessment
GET https://api-dex.chainstream.io/v1/kyt/withdrawal/{withdrawalId}/fraud-assessment

Best Practices

Adjust thresholds based on business risk appetite:
Business TypeSEVERE ThresholdHIGH ThresholdRecommendation
Licensed CEXDefaultDefaultStrict mode
Wallet ServiceDefaultRaise 10%Balanced mode
DeFi ProtocolDefaultRaise 20%Relaxed mode
Establish a false positive feedback mechanism:
  1. Record all manually overturned cases
  2. Regularly analyze false positive patterns
  3. Submit false positive feedback to ChainStream
  4. Adjust local threshold configuration
Ensure compliance audit requirements:
  • Save all KYT requests and responses
  • Record manual decisions with reasoning
  • Retain for at least 5 years (per regulatory requirements)
  • Support export in standard report formats
Risk status may change (e.g., address subsequently sanctioned). Recommendations:
  • Periodically re-evaluate historical transactions
  • Monitor new activity from associated addresses
  • Establish alert mechanism for risk status changes