It's kind of like when you're trying to get a credit card or a loan - they need to verify your identity to make sure you're not a risk. Apple Cash is basically a digital wallet, and they need to follow the same rules as traditional banks and financial institutions. This means they have to comply with things like anti-money laundering laws and know-your-customer regulations, which are designed to prevent bad guys from using fake identities to move money around.
So, when Apple Cash asks you to verify your identity, it's like they're saying, "Hey, we need to make sure you're a real person with a real address and a real social security number". It's not because they don't trust you, it's just because they have to follow the rules to keep everything legit. Think of it like a digital version of showing your ID to get into a bar - it's just a way to make sure everyone is who they say they are.
But, what if you're worried about privacy and don't want to share all your personal info with Apple? That's a fair concern, and the good news is that Apple has pretty strict data protection policies in place. They're not going to share your info with anyone else, and they'll only use it to verify your identity and keep your Apple Cash account secure.