The verification process on adult platforms can be more cumbersome than Know Your Customer (KYC) checks on cryptocurrency exchanges — though added difficulty doesn’t necessarily reflect stronger compliance.
Signing up as a model on OnlyFans or Pornhub isn’t all that different from opening an account on a crypto trading platform. The process often begins with a Google login (or other online accounts, depending on the exchange), followed by the familiar ritual of selfies and ID uploads.
Both adult platforms and crypto exchanges are under mounting scrutiny over how they verify users — one to prevent minors from selling explicit content, the other to stop criminals from laundering money.
To test how those systems work in practice, Cointelegraph attempted to pass identity checks on both types of platforms. The results show that adult sites often frustrate creators with repeated rejections and arbitrary hurdles, while crypto exchanges impose more structured checks tied to financial regulation.
KYC in crypto vs. OnlyFans and Pornhub
On OnlyFans, verification went beyond a standard ID and selfie to include an address, multiple resubmissions and social media handles. The application was denied after the platform claimed the profile image and selfie did not meet its standards, even though they followed the stated conditions. OnlyFans later said the provided social media links were invalid even though they were legitimate.
Cointelegraph refiled the details, but the application was rejected again. When approached for comment, OnlyFans’ media team did not address specific questions. Instead, they referred to the transparency center, which states that the platform invests heavily in technology and moderation teams.
Cointelegraph’s application rejection is not a unique case. OnlyFans creator profiles have a low acceptance rate. In July, the platform received 184,844 creator applications, of which only 35% were approved.
Pornhub also rejected Cointelegraph’s application, citing only “other” as the reason. A second attempt using a passport was later approved, coincidentally after a media inquiry. Pornhub did not respond to a request for comment.
Joshua Chu, an asset recovery lawyer and co-chair of the Hong Kong Web3 Association, also independently conducted these tests. His OnlyFans creator application was similarly rejected.
“I looked into joining as a performer, only to find the verification process significantly more rigorous than expected,” Chu told Cointelegraph. “I ultimately didn’t succeed.”
“During the same period, I’ve opened and verified multiple crypto exchange accounts, including ones not even officially supposed to be operating in Hong Kong, and trading there proved less challenging,” he added.
Related: Stripper index doesn’t apply to Bitcoin, OnlyFans models say
Crypto exchanges Coinbase, Bybit and Bitget focused their checks on financial documentation, source of funds and proof of address. Cointelegraph attempted to pass KYC on each of these platforms to measure how their processes compared.
On Coinbase, registration began with a Google login and SMS verification, followed by questions about employment and the expected source of funds. The exchange required proof of address through documents such as a bank statement or utility bill. The test was conducted on Sept. 1, and a bank statement with minimal transactions submitted by Cointelegraph was rejected several times. The application was locked for 24 hours. Cointelegraph returned to the application after the time expired, and a July bank statement was accepted and approved. A small 6-euro deposit was made to Coinbase via its banking partner, Estonia-based LHV Pank, to test the on-ramp.
Bybit redirected European Union users to its licensed subsidiary, where verification was completed through standard ID checks. A video of a tilted passport had to be taken to display its hologram. The process was completed within minutes.
Bitget offered the fastest approval: A simple ID upload and selfie unlocked crypto transfers in about 10 minutes. Additional verification was needed to trade crypto against fiat, requiring phone and email codes and a linked bank card.
Coinbase and Bybit did not respond to Cointelegraph’s request to comment on the story.
Bitget, when asked how the platform’s KYC verification occurs almost instantly, responded by saying it relies on its eKYC service providers and its review team.
“Adult content platforms, on the other hand, often rely on more conservative, sometimes manual or third-party age checks — think uploaded scans, liveness tests or credit card checks,” Hon Ng, Bitget’s chief legal officer, told Cointelegraph.
“It’s not that…
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