H1 Clear

HackerOne Ends Anonymous Era for Bug Bounty Hunters with Mandatory ID Verification

HackerOne has introduced compulsory identity verification for all researchers submitting reports to paid bug bounty programs, effective August 1. The policy requires users to complete KYC checks through Estonian firm Veriff by uploading government-issued ID and performing a live selfie, with annual renewals. Vulnerability Disclosure Programs remain open to anonymous participants, but any researcher seeking monetary rewards must now reveal their identity. The move follows similar steps by Bugcrowd and Intigriti and is driven by anti-money laundering and cross-border payment regulations. Researchers in high-surveillance regions and newcomers face new barriers, while the platform argues the change improves report quality and enterprise trust. H1 Clear adds an extra criminal background check layer for elite participants.