Understanding Source of Funds (SOF) and Source of Wealth (SOW)

Understanding Source of Funds (SOF) and Source of Wealth (SOW)

What is Source of Funds (SOF)?

Source of Funds (SOF) is the origin of a specific deposit or transaction, the money that lands in your account. We need to understand not only where the funds came from, but the activity that generated them.

What is Source of Wealth (SOW)?

Source of Wealth (SOW) refers to how a person has built their overall wealth, not just one transaction. The key question is why the client has the assets they do, and how they came to accumulate them over time.

What is the difference between SOF and SOW?

  • SOF is about the origin of a specific deposit or set of funds.
  • SOW is about a client's overall wealth and how it was accumulated.

Why does Nebeus need this information?

To comply with financial regulations and confirm that funds and assets are legitimate.

What should I do if my document is older than 3 months?

Documents should generally be recent, issued within the last 3 months, unless they evidence a historic event such as an inheritance or a property sale. If your document is older, please provide a more recent one or contact customer support for guidance.

Can I submit screenshots of online banking as proof?

We do not accept screenshots of online banking. Please provide official bank statements (PDF or paper statements issued by your bank).

Accepted documents

The documents you need to provide depend on the source of your funds or wealth. In most cases, we need evidence of:

  • where the funds or wealth originated
  • that you received the funds
  • your connection to those funds

All documents should clearly show your name, the date, and the relevant amounts.

Employment income (salary)

  • Recent payslips (typically covering the last 2 months)
  • Employment contract
  • Personal tax return
  • Bank statements showing salary credits

Self employment / business income (includes freelancers and independent contractors)

  • Personal and/or business tax returns
  • Audited financial statements
  • Business registration documents
  • Business bank statements
  • Service agreement or contract, where applicable

Accumulated savings

  • Historic bank statements (typically 6 to 12 months)
  • Tax returns evidencing income over time

Sale of a business or company shares

  • Sale and purchase agreement
  • Proof of prior ownership (share register, incorporation documents)
  • Bank statement showing receipt of proceeds

Sale of property / real estate

  • Sale contract or notarial deed
  • Land registry extract
  • Bank statement showing receipt of proceeds

Investments

  • Brokerage or investment account statements
  • Dividend certificates or interest statements
  • Tax returns reflecting investment income
  • Investment certificate or portfolio account statement
  • Employee stock plan exercise confirmation

Inheritance

  • Grant of probate or will
  • Notarial deed of inheritance
  • Letter from executor or solicitor
  • Official bank statement showing receipt of funds (screenshots not accepted)

Gift / donation

  • Gift letter or deed signed by the donor
  • Evidence of the donor's own source of wealth
  • Proof of bank transfer from the donor to the client

Divorce settlement

  • Court order or settlement agreement
  • Bank statement showing receipt of funds

Pension / retirement funds

  • Pension or annuity statements
  • Bank statements showing regular pension payments
  • Insurance claim settlement letter
  • Court judgment or settlement agreement
  • Bank statement showing receipt of funds

Lottery / gambling winnings

  • Official winnings certificate or operator confirmation letter
  • Bank statement showing receipt of winnings

Crypto assets

For crypto related sources of wealth, we need to verify the client as the owner of the relevant wallets or exchange accounts. Where possible, we also ask for evidence showing how the original fiat funds entered the crypto ecosystem and how proceeds were ultimately received.

Trading / sale of crypto assets

  • Full transaction history from the exchange(s) used
  • Exchange account statements showing the client as account holder
  • Proof of the original fiat on ramp (bank transfer or card payment to the exchange)
  • Bank statement showing the fiat off ramp (proceeds received)
  • Wallet addresses used, where applicable

Mining income

  • Evidence of mining activity (pool payout records, mining farm documentation)
  • Wallet addresses receiving mining rewards
  • Evidence of equipment purchase or hosting agreements
  • Records of conversion to fiat, where applicable

Staking, lending and yield rewards

  • Platform or protocol statements showing rewards earned
  • Wallet addresses and on chain history of reward payments
  • Evidence of the source of the originally staked assets

Airdrops and hard forks

  • On chain evidence of the airdrop or fork event
  • Wallet address showing receipt of the assets
  • Evidence of eligibility (holdings of the original asset)

Sale of NFTs

  • Marketplace transaction records (e.g. sale receipts)
  • Wallet addresses showing the sale
  • Evidence of original creation or purchase of the NFT

ICO / token sale proceeds (as founder or early investor)

  • Token sale documentation (SAFT, whitepaper, allocation records)
  • Proof of participation or founder allocation
  • On chain evidence of token receipt and subsequent sale

A few more things to keep in mind

  • Documents in a foreign language may require a certified translation.
  • Higher risk clients or larger amounts may require additional corroborating evidence.
  • Self declarations alone are not sufficient. Independent documentary evidence is required.

Need help?

If you cannot provide one of the requested documents, or your circumstances are different from the examples above, please contact Nebeus Support. We will review your case and let you know what alternative evidence may be acceptable.

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