KYC (Know Your Customer)
Identity verification required by securities regulations. All GigaStar Investors must complete KYC verification before investing in CRT offerings or trading on the Secondary Market.
Understanding KYC (Know Your Customer)
Know Your Customer, commonly abbreviated as KYC, is a regulatory requirement that mandates financial institutions and securities platforms to verify the identity of their customers. On GigaStar, all Investors must complete KYC verification before they can invest in Channel Revenue Token (CRT) offerings on GigaStar Market or trade CRTs on the GigaStar Secondary Market.
KYC requirements exist to prevent fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes. They are mandated by federal regulations and enforced by agencies including the SEC and FINRA. As a registered funding portal and broker-dealer, GigaStar is legally obligated to verify the identity of every Investor on its platform.
The KYC process typically involves providing personal identification information such as full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number or tax identification number, and a current residential address. Investors may also be required to submit copies of government-issued identification documents such as a driver's license or passport for verification purposes.
KYC verification is generally completed during the account registration process. For existing GigaStar Market Investors migrating to the Secondary Market platform, additional or enhanced KYC steps may be required to meet the broker-dealer account standards of GigaStar Securities.
The verification process is designed to be completed quickly, though some cases may require additional documentation or manual review. Investors who cannot successfully complete KYC verification will be unable to open an account or participate in CRT offerings and trading.
GigaStar takes data security seriously and implements safeguards to protect the personal information collected during the KYC process. The information gathered is used solely for regulatory compliance and identity verification purposes.
Investors should be prepared to complete KYC before their first investment. Having identification documents readily available can help streamline the process and ensure timely access to the platform.
Key Points to Remember
- KYC (Know Your Customer) is regulated by the SEC under Regulation Crowdfunding
- All investments carry risk — past performance doesn't guarantee future results
- Review all offering documents carefully before investing
Related Terms
FINRA
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The self-regulatory organization overseeing broker-dealers and funding portals in the United States.
GigaStar Market
GigaStar Market is an SEC-registered funding portal and FINRA member where Investors can purchase Channel Revenue Tokens (CRTs) in primary offerings from YouTube Creators.
GigaStar Secondary Market
GigaStar Trading is GigaStar's upcoming SEC-registered Alternative Trading System (ATS), where CRT holders may buy and sell their positions, launching in 2026.
GigaStar Securities
GigaStar Securities LLC (dba GigaStar Trading), is an SEC-registered broker-dealer and FINRA/SIPC member that operates a secondary market Digital Alternative Trading System (ATS) for the trading of Creator securities (CRTs).
Investor
An Investor is an individual who purchases Channel Revenue Tokens (CRTs) through GigaStar's platform, receiving Monthly distributions from a YouTube Creator's revenue.
SEC
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The federal agency regulating securities markets, including GigaStar's CRT offerings under Regulation Crowdfunding.
SEC Regulation CF
SEC Regulation Crowdfunding (Regulation CF) is the federal securities framework that allows companies like GigaStar to offer CRTs to both accredited and non-accredited Investors, up to $5M annually.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GigaStar secondary market?
The GigaStar secondary market platform, called GigaStar Trading, is an SEC-registered digital Alternative Trading System (ATS) that allows eligible investors to buy and sell previously issued Channel Revenue Tokens (CRTs) with other investors after the initial offering period and any applicable restricted period, subject to securities regulations and platform rules. (e.g., Reg CF = 12-month restricted holding period). This secondary market platform enables peer-to-peer trading of existing CRTs. Note that Investment offerings are speculative, illiquid, and involve a high degree of risk, including the risk of loss of your entire investment. Securities purchased in GigaStar Market must be held 12 months before trading in the secondary market. There is no guarantee of an active or liquid secondary market and investments are subject to market risk and will fluctuate in value. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
How is the secondary market different from GigaStar Market?
GigaStar Market (Primary Market) is an SEC-registered Funding Portal and member of FINRA that offers securities under a Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) platform. This is the primary marketplace where Channel Revenue Tokens (CRTs) are first issued and sold directly to investors to fund a Creator. GigaStar Trading (Secondary Market) is an SEC-registered broker-dealer (BD) operating a digital Alternative Trading System (ATS) for the trading of Digital Asset Securities. This is a secondary market trading venue separate from the primary market, where eligible investors may buy and sell CRTs with one another. Primary offerings raise capital for Creators. Secondary trading allows existing investors to trade CRTs, transferring ownership, subject to market availability. NOTE: Investment offerings are speculative, illiquid, and involve a high degree of risk, including the risk of loss of your entire investment. Securities purchased in GigaStar Market must be held 12 months before trading in the secondary market. There is no guarantee of an active or liquid secondary market and investments are subject to market risk and will fluctuate in value. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
What assets can be traded?
Eligible Channel Revenue Tokens (CRTs) that were issued in primary offerings, have satisfied applicable holding requirements (12-month holding period from initial purchase) and meet platform eligibility standards can be traded on the GigaStar Trading platform.