Few people here may like this opinion - but I believe that this is the right step.
You don't try to pay with A Snickers wrapper at the grocery store because you think it's money, do you? It's the same here - for your token to be considered a legitimate means of payment, it must meet certain requirements (including KYC). This will really help clean the market of garbage and make it
a) more transparent
b) more reliable
If I know for sure that a particular coin meets the established standards, then I am much more comfortable to use it rather than some dark token that doesn't even have a team on the site.
Again , this is another step towards a long and mutually beneficial coexistence and cooperation between the state and cryptocurrencies.
I share this sentiment about regulation of exchanges being necessary for confidence in the system, and a necessary part of that is KYC. I think it's because of the nature of how bitcoin started that so many people are opposed to it, but it's necessary to reach mass adoption. Regulation gives it legitimacy and gives people confidence there will be consequences and recourse for bad actors.
That's it.
It just so happened that without normal regulation, it is impossible to use any service and feel safe - this applies to cryptocurrencies and exchanges, among other things.
Until appearance of the normal mechanisms of regulation and asset insurance are created, as well as the most ordinary control we will not see mass legal adoption.
Yes, everyone is drowning for total decentralization and everything else, but again - it just so happened that we do not live on an island in a vast ocean where you can do whatever you want, but live in a society.