Tria Unveils zkKYC Integration with Billions as U.S. Considers Patriot Act for Digital Assets

As U.S. lawmakers weigh new legislation being described as a “Patriot Act for Digital Assets”, Web3 institutions are facing mounting pressure to reconcile privacy with compliance. 

Tria, the borderless Web3 neobank, is taking a proactive stance by integrating ‘zkKYC’ – a zero-knowledge identity solution developed by Billions – that allows users to verify their credentials without revealing personal information.

With Washington’s proposed bill threatening to extend surveillance powers across the digital asset ecosystem, Tria’s latest integration offers a model that upholds user autonomy while meeting the evolving expectations of regulators.

Today’s blockchain networks, including those powering stablecoin payments, make every transaction public. While this transparency fosters accountability, it also creates a new class of risk that means anyone can trace wallet addresses and infer spending habits, relationships, and personal behavior. For stablecoins and digital payments to reach mass adoption, users need the assurance that their financial lives are not on display, and regulators need verifiable compliance that doesn’t rely on surveillance.

“Regulators want proof, users want privacy – zkKYC delivers both,” said Vijit Katta, co-founder and CEO of Tria. 

“We’re building a financial system where your identity isn’t your vulnerability. Since Web3 is going to power the next generation of global finance, this is how we scale – responsibly, and without compromise.”

Powered by Billions’ zero-knowledge infrastructure, zkKYC allows Tria users to verify key attributes such as jurisdiction, age, or source-of-funds checks, without revealing underlying personal data. The system uses zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) – a cryptographic method that confirms facts as true while keeping the information itself private.

“Most KYC systems today demand total disclosure, which runs counter to the principles of decentralization,” explained Evin McMullen, co-founder and CEO of Billions Network. 

“Zero-knowledge proofs flip that model. They enable identity verification that is private, verifiable, and tamper-proof. zkKYC is the foundation for a financial system that protects both users and institutions.

“Following successful pilots with HSBC and Sony Bank, Tria is the first neobank to fully integrate zkKYC, with more to follow. We are now focused on developing these capabilities further on the Billions platform.” 

As regulators around the world sharpen their focus on anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) enforcement in digital assets, zkKYC demonstrates how privacy and compliance can align. It offers a blueprint for projects building in an environment where transparency is mandated but data sovereignty remains non-negotiable.

By embedding compliance at the protocol level, Tria is setting a precedent for Web3-native financial institutions – enabling borderless access to finance while meeting emerging regulatory expectations. The integration also anticipates broader adoption of zero-knowledge tools across Web3, which experts view as essential to balancing user protections with regulatory clarity.