Digital Onboarding for Investment Firms: MiFID II & AML/CFT

Investing in the Digital Age: Fast, Secure Access to Global Markets

The digital onboarding market has grown substantially in recent years. According to a report by The Business Research Company, the global market is growing from $2.69 billion in 2025 to $3.1 billion in 2026, with a projection of $5.43 billion by 2030. Source. This growth is driven by the rise of internet banking, early adoption of electronic KYC, demand for faster integration, reduced manual paperwork, and the growth of digital platforms.

In the world of investing and brokerage services, speed is everything. The moment a client decides to invest is critical, and any friction in closing the deal can mean a lost opportunity. Yet regulatory requirements for investment firms have never been stricter.

Investment firms in the EU operate under a regulatory package that includes MiFID II and MiFIR for the provision of investment services, and an AML/CFT framework based on Directive (EU) 2015/849 and its amendments, which requires customer identification and customer due diligence before establishing a business relationship. How can a firm give a client market access in minutes while still meeting current regulatory standards?

The regulatory foundation: EBA guidelines on remote onboarding

The answer lies in an advanced digital onboarding system. The concept of digital onboarding has been further defined through the

European Banking Authority’s Guidelines (EBA/GL/2022/15) on the use of remote customer onboarding solutions, published on 22 November 2022 and applicable since 2 October 2023, which set out the technical and organisational measures needed for secure digital identification. For investment firms, it is particularly important that remote onboarding technology aligns with the regulatory framework for financial markets.

Digital onboarding is a service unconstrained by geographic borders, business hours, languages or document formats. Expanding into international markets has never been simpler.

Identification methods for modern investors

SelfID (global 24/7 availability): brokers often serve clients across different time zones. Automated identification gives clients anywhere in the world access to services, backed by best-in-class anti-manipulation technology.
KYCID and KYBID (customer due diligence): this is the “heart” of the system for investment brokers. Customer due diligence is carried out in line with the EU AML/CFT framework (Directives 2015/849, 2018/843 and 2018/1673), which requires identifying the ultimate beneficial owner (UBO), screening for politically exposed persons (PEPs), and ongoing sanctions-list and reputational-risk monitoring.
NFCID (data accuracy): NFC technology ensures data is read directly from the chip in a passport or ID card, eliminating the possibility of error or forgery.
LiveID (premium onboarding): for high-net-worth investors (private banking, wealth management), video identification adds a layer of personalised service and the highest level of security when establishing the relationship. Agent-assisted identification becomes a complete service that combines identification with sales and deal structuring.
WalletID (future interoperability): the EUDI Wallet is the digital identity of the future. Introduced through the revised eIDAS framework, it will let citizens and companies share verified identity attributes through standardised digital wallets, significantly simplifying onboarding, especially across borders.

The future of investing is digital, secure and compliant

In a world where speed is key to acquiring and retaining clients, investment firms no longer have to choose between customer experience and regulatory certainty. Modern remote identification technology grants access to global markets in a matter of minutes, while automating the most complex requirements of the MiFID II and AML/CFT frameworks.

Given the strict EBA guidelines (EBA/GL/2022/15) on remote onboarding, and the upcoming full application of the AI Act and the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), choosing a technology partner is becoming a strategic decision.

Our solutions, from biometric SelfID identification to advanced NFCID identity verification, deliver:

Full compliance with dynamic sanctions lists and politically exposed person (PEP) screening.
Accuracy through NFC chip data reading from the identity document.
Future readiness through interoperability with the EUDI Wallet standard for simple cross-border onboarding within the EU.
Personalised security for high-profile clients through LiveID video identification.

Don’t let bureaucracy slow your growth. Give your clients the fastest route into the world of investing, with technology built for the rules of the digital age.

Contact us today to see how we can turn your onboarding process into your biggest competitive advantage. [Contact our experts]

Author: Dubravko Šimag