In my opinion, the AML process is a tool to destroy and discredit Bitcoin. Bitcoin is money that does not need the support or approval of a third party.
Sure, you can still make transactions without AML, but OP is just being cautious to ensure that the Bitcoin or other coins they plan to acquire don’t come from questionable sources or have any shady links. Whether we like it or not, AML is already deeply involved in the crypto industry, and they’re tightening regulations as scams continue to rise year after year.
By insisting on the legitimacy of the AML process, regulators and the organizations they control are attacking the very essence of Bitcoin. They are saying, “Without our approval, Bitcoin cannot be recognized as real, genuine, legitimate Bitcoin.” But in reality, any Bitcoin that exists in nature is real, genuine, and legitimate.
The right thing to do is to ignore the AML process. If everyone did that, we would get rid of a lot of problems.
Of course, you can do it differently. You can buy Bitcoin from an officially approved cryptocurrency exchange (like Coinbase), but as rightly noted above, even that does not guarantee that you will not have problems in the future.
For me, I’ve been ignoring KYC, but I understand there are people who prefer to play it safe. Those systems are in place because they serve a purpose. At the end of the day, it’s just a matter of preference, not something that’s strictly mandatory or compulsory.