Guide to Buying Crypto Without KYC Verification - Top 10 Platforms Included

Interested in buying or selling crypto without KYC verification? The list of secure and creditable non-KYC exchanges gets narrower and narrower with every new year. What worked last year may no longer be a viable option today, as you might be asked for identification and other documents.

All because of governmental agencies, tax offices, new laws and regulations. All these things slowly crackdown on private crypto exchanges, pushing them to seek personal information from their customers and complying with all kinds of requirements.

But despite all these, there are investors and traders out there who stick to crypto for its anonymity before anything else.

That’s why we’ve gathered together the best crypto exchanges with no KYC requirements in the world. Some of them have no KYC at all, others have such rules after particular limits.

With these thoughts in mind, here's everything you need to know about buying, selling, or trading cryptocurrencies without being asked for every document you can think of.

Understanding KYC in Crypto Purchases​

KYC in crypto is similar to KYC in banking. The exchange must collect some sort of information to make sure the customer is who they say they are. Officially, such procedures are in place to understand financial risks and possible activities.

While the process is normally quick and barely takes a few days, it’s considered a breach in the primary reason wherefore cryptocurrencies are so popular today. Privacy.

Some crypto exchanges relying on KYC rules collect data like the full name, date of birth, full address, proof of address, and personal identification numbers, which include info about income, work, taxes, and others.

There are specific KYC requirements for each country out there, some stricter than others.

Why is KYC Essential in Crypto Exchanges?​

In theory, these procedures are in place to prevent financial crimes or money laundering. While they’re useful against those involved in crime, they also affect people who are simply trying to diversify their assets or make some money.

By making sure only verified users can join, KYC helps make the platform more secure and protects against possible dangers. KYC also shows users that the exchange is careful and trustworthy.

Taking all this info in consideration, it’s also seen as a privacy breach. There are older systems in place that are less strict than KYC.

Take the UK for example, where you can register as a self-employed individual and declare the income yourself without any solid checks. But when it comes to crypto, the government wants to know every transaction you make, rather than trust you.

The privacy and data breach isn’t the only issue with KYC.

Cryptocurrencies weren’t all about privacy, but also about decentralization operating principles. When centralized entities control all this data, the classic operating principles are no longer in place.

Top 10 Crypto Exchanges Without KYC​

Popular crypto exchanges like Bitget or KuCoin (among many others) are now history in terms of KYC, since they’ve implemented mandatory verifications recently. Here are a few others that are still decentralized and won’t bother you too much with random documentation requests.

CoinEx​

CoinEx deals with over 600 investment tools, including cryptocurrencies. It offers various promotions and rewards, as well as low fees.

Fees depend on the VIP level and normally vary between 0.1% and 0.2% for spot fees.

Deposits are simple and straightforward. There are no maximum limits, but minimum limits, depending on the crypto. For example, you’ll need 0.001 BTC or 2.4 USDT. Deposits are free. Withdrawals come with fees, but they’re just as low. For BTC, for instance, the withdrawal fee is 0.0001 BTC.

CoinEx stands out with its unique trade matching system, which adds to the overall experience. Believe it or not, it normally takes up to 10,000 transactions per second.

Operates in North America, Europe and Australasia

No new customers have been accepted from the USA

Hundreds of coins

Numerous payment options

Pros

• Super low fees
• Spot, margin, and futures trading
• Mobile app

Cons

• May seem too sophisticated for newbies

dYdX​

dYdX offers access to over 120 cryptocurrencies. It’s mainly aimed at those with a bit of experience, offering advanced investment options in countries where they’re normally banned.

Given its non-custodial profile, dYdX has no KYC, but it’s restricted to users from the USA or Canada. Fees vary from one tier to another and normally range between 0% and 0.02%.

Deposits can be made through more cryptos, while withdrawals are either slow or fast, depending on your choice. Fast withdrawals are almost instant but come with higher fees.

dydX is a primary choice for seasoned traders, with up to 25x leverage for futures contracts. The whole operation is transparent and secure, making the platform look like a mix between centralized and decentralized exchanges.

Advanced derivatives trading

Connection to a non-custodial wallet

Over 120 cryptocurrencies

Multiple trading options

Pros

• Low fees for most users
• Lending opportunities for interest gains
• Reduced transaction costs
• ZK roll-ups

Cons

• Limitations for margin trading pairs

PrimeXBT​

PrimeXBT offers different types of trading for a few digital assets, with the main cryptos leading the game. Offering an intuitive interface and advanced tools, it’s a popular choice for both newbies and seasoned traders.

PrimeXBT doesn’t have any trading fees, so most people can trade for free. Spreads start from 0.1%, while many overnight swap fees are as low as 0%.

You can deposit crypto through your PrimeXBT wallet from an external wallet for free. As for withdrawals, you can only withdraw cryptos, no fiat currencies. A small mining fee will apply, but that’s insignificant.

Cypro margin trading is one of the elements making PrimeXBT stand out. It’s established in Seychelles, but has offices in a few other countries. It serves customers in over 150 countries.

Access to leveraged trading

Relies on CFD trading, not spot trading

Superior trading platform

Crypto futures

Pros

• More asset classes
• Easy to use interface
• Advanced features
• Massive daily trading volume

Cons

• Less cryptocurrencies than other exchanges

Bisq​

Established in 2014 and originally known as Bitsquare, Bisq is a decentralized exchange that helps users interact and eases transactions. Unlike other exchanges, it mainly revolves around BTC.

In terms of fees, the BTC trading fee is set at 1.3%, with the taker paying most of it, 1.15%. The minimum fee is 0.00005 BTC.

You can make a deposit in over 20 different ways, including Advanced Cash, Alipay, MoneyGram, Revolut, bank transfers, and others, each with its own maximum limits. Funds can be withdrawn to a Bisq wallet or an external one.

While transactions are allowed in numerous currencies, Bitcoin must be used along each transaction, in any quantity. Furthermore, the exchange is known for easing the peer to peer connection between customers.

Fully open source build

Non-custodial profile

Escrow transactions

Decentralized arbitration system for disputes

Pros

• Supports fiat and cryptocurrencies
• Decentralized system
• Easy to start
• Solid security measures

Cons

• All transactions requite Bitcoin along them

HODL HODL​

HODL HODL doesn’t hold people’s funds, meaning there’s no need for KYC. Funds traded are handled through an escrow service.

Fees vary, but they’re quite low. For example, trading fees for users are set at 0.5%. Users coming through referrals benefit from 0.45% trading fees.

There are nearly 400 payment options, but as you search for what you’re after, it may not be available in your country. So, options will be given based on the location. Fees are as low as 0.3%. Withdrawals are free.

HODL HODL is special because it has its own wallet, avoids token pumping and other similar activities, but also has a reputation for anonymity and security. It does require an email address though, but that’s an insignificant minus.

Simple interface

Supports Bitcoin exchange against fiat currencies

Multisig escrow contracts

Hundreds of payment options

Pros

• Great fees
• Self-custodial wallet
• No security deposits for buyers
• Peer to peer

Cons

• Orders and information aren’t E2EE

PancakeSwap​

Established in 2020, PancakeSwap has quickly become a top option in the decentralized exchange market, allowing everyone to list tokens if they have a liquidity pool in place.

There are minor maker or taker fees on PancakeSwap, 0.09% altogether, while the liquidity fee is set at 0.25%. Only 0.03% is taken by PancakeSwap, the rest goes to liquidity pools and CAKE buyback and burn processes.

PancakeSwap offers access to dozens of cryptos. USDT, APX, BUSD and CAKE are accepted for deposits, but you can also purchase crypto by card or bank transfers. Withdrawal fees may apply based on the time of your requests.

Other features worth some consideration include token swaps, an NFT marketplace, perpetual trading, lottery opportunities and staking, among many others.

Allows market maker integration

Active liquidity farming

More rewards and discounts for CAKE

High security standards

Pros

• Easy to use interface
• Full private key control
• Staking allowed
• Low fees

Cons

• Limited to Binance Smart Chain

SimpleSwap​

With around 1,500 currencies (both fiat and crypto) on offer, SimpleSwap allows quick and easy transactions without even having to register an account. Therefore, there’s no need for KYC.

SimpleSwap is more appealing than other exchanges because of its simple interface. Set the crypto you’re interested in, how you want to buy it, put in the right addresses and you’re good to go.

Fees are calculated for each transaction individually. The system is not too transparent, but you'll know exactly what the fees are before completing the contract. Fiat deposits are charged less than 5%, though.

You can make deposits and buy crypto with cards, bank transfers, Apple or Google pay, but you can also use your own digital wallet with other cryptos.

About 1,500 cryptocurrencies to trade

Anonymous trading

Can use it with or without an account

Instant swaps

Pros

• No registration required
• Good customer support
• Fixed and floating rates
• Can buy crypto with fiat

Cons

• No advanced trading tools

Changelly​

Changelly is normally an exchange that doesn’t require KYC. However, if a transaction is flagged as suspicious, the administration may ask for more details, which are similar to the KYC verification.

To use Changelly, you only require a non-custodial wallet. KYC could be required if you use Changelly to link or connect to another platform though.

Exchange rates can be fixed or floating. Fees for deposits are charged based on the method. They’re displayed once you pick a method. Exchange fees are included in the chosen rate. Changelly’s network fee is 0.25%.

Changelly allows payment options like most credit and debit cards, wire transfers, and Apple Pay, among others.

Has a mobile application

Professional tools may require KYC, but basic tools don’t

Partners up with around 20 different platforms for good rates

Works well with most non-custodial wallets

Pros

• 24/7 customer support
• No account is required for basic tools
• Easy to use and entertaining mobile app
• Cypro profit calculator

Cons

• KYC could be required if something looks suspicious

TradeOgre​

TradeOgre lists around 150 cryptocurrencies, as well as a few stablecoins. It was established in 2008 and has a strong focus on privacy and anonymity.

TrageOgre is one of the few exchanges out there that won't impose restrictions on customers in the USA. In fact, the company is headquartered in Los Angeles, but it also has offices in New York City.

For trading, TradeOgre charges 0.2%. Fees also apply for withdrawals, but they’re calculated on the spot based on the crypto and amount.

As for payment deposits, you’ll find it difficult to buy crypto with your card or by bank transfer. At the moment, TradeOgre doesn’t accept fiat currencies.

Accepts customers in the USA

Cryptocurrencies and stablecoins

Suitable for new and advanced crypto users

Doesn’t accept fiat currencies

Pros

• Access to altcoins
• Straightforward interface
• Good security methods
• Easy to use

Cons

• Customer support is limited

OpenPeer​

The decentralized exchange is built like a platform to allow P2P transactions between users. There are no intermediaries whatsoever, so users are in full control of their money.

OpenPeer relies on a smart contra-based escrow, enhancing the users' control over their finances. It offers promotions and rewards as well, mainly to add to its popularity. After all, compared to other exchanges, it's considered relatively new.

P2P fees are set at 0.3%, pretty average for this category. It supports both fiat and cryptocurrencies for payment options.

In terms of KYC, such requirements don’t exist, yet they depend on the country. In some countries, you may have to complete KYC verifications no matter what exchange you use.

Allows trading from self-custody wallets

Works well for traders in emerging markets

Supports numerous payment options

Suitable for P2P trades of any size

Pros

• Low fees
• Allows earning rewards
• Accepts fiat currencies
• Dapps and games

Cons

• Restrictions for the USA and a few other countries

Selecting the Best Crypto Platform Without KYC​

There are a few general things to pay attention to when choosing a crypto exchange with no KYC.

• Security and regulation, like cold storage wallets or encryption protocols.
• Reputation, which can only be determined through reviews.
• Supported assets only to ensure they match your needs.
• Liquidity refers to the possibility of exchanging crypto without affecting its price too much.
• Fees, so you know what you pay upfront.
• Interface, to ensure you can use it without making mistakes.
• Customer service, in case you’re in need.

Double check upfront to ensure you use a crypto exchange without KYC if you’re mainly focused on privacy and anonymity.

Popular Cryptocurrencies That Don't Require KYC​

Different exchanges have different cryptos, fiat currencies, or pairs you can rely on. Bitcoin is still the most popular crypto out there, followed closely by Ethereum. However, the list is longer:

• Tether
• BNB
• Solana
• USD Coin
• XRP
• Dogecoin
• Toncoin
• Cardano
• Shiba Inu
• Avalanche

Risks of Buying Crypto Without KYC​

Privacy, quick access and security are the main reasons wherefore people prefer to buy crypto from exchanges with no KYC requirements. However, there are also a few risks here and there.

The good news is these risks are less likely to affect the consumer. Most exchanges use an escrow service or use P2P transactions, simple as that.

Risks are more likely to affect actual exchanges, the industry or perhaps the dark industry, meaning anonymous people could use crypto to fuel crime activities, which you’re less likely to control as a user anyway.

Other than that, there are a few things worth some consideration:

• Non-KYC exchanges aren’t regulated.
• Liquidity is usually lower.
• There are possible risks like falling for scams if you’re not careful.

Buying Bitcoin in a P2P Crypto Exchange Without KYC​

Bitcoin is the first and most popular cryptocurrency out there, so pretty much every exchange out there implements it, meaning you can buy, sell or trade it on any of the above mentioned platforms.

In fact, Bisq actually revolves around Bitcoin, being the only P2P crypto exchange with no KYC in the list that requires Bitcoin for each transaction.

Given the fact that there’s no KYC, the platform ensures a high level of privacy, while users have full control over their finances.

Buying Crypto with Credit Card​

Many exchanges allow buying crypto with credit cards, as well as debit cards. The process is similar to shopping online. You'll need the number, expiry date and verification code at the back. Such details must be entered on the checkout page. If that's your preferred option, make sure the exchange allows it.

When using a crypto debit card with no KYC service, anonymity is slightly affected. While the exchange may not require KYC verification, the truth is you’ve already done it for your debit card. Therefore, anonymity is reduced.

Tips for Bypassing KYC Regulations​

Bypassing KYC regulations goes in more directions, legal or illicit.

Crypto Exchanges Without ID Verification, the Legal Way​

Using crypto exchanges without ID verification is the way to go. They offer non-custodial services, so they don't need to verify you. It's a legal way to buy or sell crypto without worrying that your account could be locked for breaking the rules.

Going Down the Illicit Way​

In the attempt to bypass verifications on more reputable exchanges, people often rely on innovative solutions like fake IDs, fake biometrics (such as AI generated content) or VPNs. VPNs are legal, but not when used with illicit purposes.

None of these is worth the risk of getting your account locked when you can bypass KYC verifications the legal way.

Legalities and Safety of Non-KYC Exchanges​

Non-KYC exchanges are legal but not regulated. This means no one knows who's trading on them. If you're naive enough, you could fall for a scam, hence the necessity of being cautious.

Centralized exchanges are in full control of your money, so you could get your funds blocked out of nowhere. That’s why a decentralized exchange is usually a better option.

Given the low liquidity in trading, market volatility is higher, and prices can be manipulated more effectively.

In theory, non-KYC exchanges are perfectly legal, but you have to be more careful because they come with more risks than regulated exchanges. That’s the price you have to pay for anonymity.

Ensuring Privacy When Buying Crypto Without KYC​

Despite the concept behind cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin isn’t 100% anonymous, but there are things you can do to enhance its privacy.

• Buy Bitcoin with cash from Bitcoin ATMs, if any, in your area or from friends.
• Non-KYC exchanges are anonymous, but you shouldn’t use cards or bank transfers, which are linked to you, ruining the whole concept.
• Browsers like Tor ensure a higher degree of anonymity, yet a VPN could be just as handy.
• Utilize P2P exchanges like Bisq that facilitate direct transactions between buyers and sellers without the need for KYC verification.
• Use coin mixing services like CoinJoin or Wasabi Wallet to mix your cryptocurrency with that of others.

Bottom line, anonymity is inconvenient and convenience isn’t anonymous. You’ll need to determine how far you want to sacrifice in order to enhance anonymity.

Some people use non-KYC exchanges to bypass unnecessary restrictions. Some others do it for their own peace of mind. No matter why you need it, there are steps you can take to get there, and a non-KYC exchange is one of them.

 

[ActionMan]

To be on track on what @JohnLocke intended.

Use XMR. Period. While it's fine to make casual crypto transfers now and then, for anything sensitive, always use Monero (XMR). Don’t use mixers—they’ll leave you with “dirty coins,” which doesn’t make sense. There’s no such thing as dirty coins; you wouldn’t look at a dollar bill and call it dirty. Cash is cash, and XMR is essentially digital cash because it's fungible!

Anyway, back to topic.

Non-KYC:

1- unstoppableswap (tested): Truly non-KYC atomic swaps (XMR <> BTC). Unlike services like Changelly, which can request KYC at any time.

2- P2P bot, A no-KYC cash-to-crypto P2P exchange. It's what LocalBitcoin or LocalMonero should have been to avoid shutdowns. Very active in LATAM, offering a great way to inject capital into specific countries.

3- infinity! (Tor-only exchange): Speaks for itself—what Samurai Wallet should have been.

4- Haveno, Built on Monero, theoretically the best way to exchange BTC for XMR. While the testnet was up, one developer, a strong libertarian, didn't like the direction the project was heading. He took lessons from LocalMonero but left when his colleagues seemed too profit-driven. It’s currently a bit of a mess, but you can read more about it here

5- Majestic bank. good albeit low trading daily volume (in the ~ 400-500k)

6- exch: instant swap, works great and no KYC whatsoever.

tradeogre is also good as @gh0p said, but not the best. exercise caution!

There are many more non-KYC OTC and P2P exchanges and swaps available, but I prefer to keep them discreet, sharing only with trusted clients and community members.

 

[Houdini]

Use XMR. Period. While it's fine to make casual crypto transfers now and then, for anything sensitive, always use Monero (XMR). Don’t use mixers—they’ll leave you with “dirty coins,” which doesn’t make sense. There’s no such thing as dirty coins; you wouldn’t look at a dollar bill and call it dirty. Cash is cash, and XMR is essentially digital cash because it's fungible!

Have never had the sightest issue with "dirty" coins when using mixers. I have been able to transfer them to any exchange I work with i.e. Binance and Kraken and Coinbase - worked always.

What are "dirty coins" and how do they find them or how can I see them ?

 

[jafo]

Have never had the sightest issue with "dirty" coins when using mixers. I have been able to transfer them to any exchange I work with i.e. Binance and Kraken and Coinbase - worked always.

What are "dirty coins" and how do they find them or how can I see them ?

Dirty is actually used as a synonym for "tainted."

Here's the GOAT explaining it:

 

[jesuschrist]

What are "dirty coins" and how do they find them or how can I see them ?

Buy some BTC on TradeOgre and deposit it to your Binance or Kraken, your account will be blocked in 5 minutes. (don't do it)

The last time I seen how mixers work on the blockchain was more than 10 years ago, they moved old deposits to a new address every 10 minutes, sometimes there were hundreds of oldAddress->newEmptyAddress transfers before they sent coins out. I doubt this can still pass new exchange detections. Maybe they changed their mixing system?

We have Monero now, there is no reason to use mixers anymore, for regular users for privacy reasons.

• For Ethereum-based stablecoins (like DAI, LUSD, FRAX, etc.):
  • The ETH itself cannot be frozen on the Ethereum blockchain. Ethereum is designed to be censorship-resistant.

This is no longer the case since PoS.

High number of Ethereum blocks censoring US sanctioned users

Since Ethereum’s Merge in 2022, more than 40% of blocks have apparently sanctioned wallets on the Specially Designated Nationals List.

protos.com

I think only a matter of time untill every validator will be forced to filter transactions that contains tainted ETH.

I was an Ethereum fan since "the new beginning", I converted 90% of my BTC to ETH and I deeply believed in it even when the Classic chain split happened.
I did very good financially, made much more than if I would have held BTC instead, so I can never hate Ethereum but I no longer believe in it, now it's just another shitcoin smart contract blockchain.

[ANN] Ethereum: Welcome to the Beginning

[ANN] Ethereum: Welcome to the Beginning

bitcointalk.org

Use XMR. Period.

This is a very good list, but only safe if you convert BTC->XMR.
If you convert XMR->BTC on these sites there is still a chance you get tainted coins.

 

[ActionMan]

Have never had the sightest issue with "dirty" coins when using mixers. I have been able to transfer them to any exchange I work with i.e. Binance and Kraken and Coinbase - worked always.

Then you are lucky, or maybe not. Imagine one of the coined you get from a PEP or a sanctioned individual, or from any other illegal dark net means. I mean, there is a reason why companies like chainalysis exist. it's their business model. Go figure.

What are "dirty coins" and how do they find them or how can I see them ?

Just don't use mixer, exchange whatever crypto to XMR, if the amount is large, divide it between multiple XMR wallet to avoid time correlation attacks, other than that, you should be good to go!

We have Monero now, there is no reason to use mixers anymore, for regular users for privacy reasons.

Exactly, I just don't understand the use of mixers, Wasabi or whatever, a simple solution exist. Use XMR

This is a very good list, but only safe if you convert BTC->XMR.
If you convert XMR->BTC on these sites there is still a chance you get tainted coins.

Yes atomic swaps are only useful for people who have BTC, the fees are high with some traders, but if you value your privacy, you get what you pay for!

 

[5K1PP3R]

What about CoinJoin?

 

[jesuschrist]

Exactly, I just don't understand the use of mixers, Wasabi or whatever, a simple solution exist. Use XMR

My guess is mixers are the only option for people with 1k+ tainted btc.
That volume is just too much for any atomic swap.

A few years ago when XMR was around 250-300$ on every major exchange, there were days when some paid 700-1000$ / XMR on TO and other small exchanges.
It wasn't truly arbitrage because BTC on TO is tainted, you couldn't withdraw immediately and sell it on other exchanges, but all you had to do is wait a few days for the price to go back to double the number of XMR you have.

Pecunia non olet - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

XMR is real money.

 

[EliasIT]

Dirty is actually used as a synonym for "tainted."

Here's the GOAT explaining it:

quick question, does this only apply for Bitcoin or are more coins affected from this?

 

[Jorozey]

Theory: there are signs usdt is being used as some form of cbdc.

It's not a Theory, it's a fact, but many will realize it the hard way.

 

[ActionMan]

quick question, does this only apply for Bitcoin or are more coins affected from this?

Any Crypto that's gained from doing any sort of illicit activity, except XMR

My guess is mixers are the only option for people with 1k+ tainted btc.

that volume is just too much for any atomic swap.

No KYC, instant exchange with AML checker + Tor. should be enough to swap your coins.

 

[gh0p]

Then you are lucky, or maybe not. Imagine one of the coined you get from a PEP or a sanctioned individual, or from any other illegal dark net means. I mean, there is a reason why companies like chainalysis exist. it's their business model. Go figure.

Just don't use mixer, exchange whatever crypto to XMR, if the amount is large, divide it between multiple XMR wallet to avoid time correlation attacks, other than that, you should be good to go!


Exactly, I just don't understand the use of mixers, Wasabi or whatever, a simple solution exist. Use XMR

Yes atomic swaps are only useful for people who have BTC, the fees are high with some traders, but if you value your privacy, you get what you pay for!

I do agree that mixers are poor choice for long-term security on Bitcoin and other public blockchains. When it comes to XMR though, people should note having multiple wallets isn't enough there is a lot more going on the network side that has effect to the privacy of users. As an example to what I am saying take a look at

https://www.reddit.com/r/Monero/comments/1fe8m53/is_this_real_guys

I'll quote one of the users as it encapsulates it well:

Chainalysis is using spy nodes to correlate IPs to user's transactions, and attempting to corroborate it with other info (like IPs) from other parties to attempt to trace where funds have gone, as well as using tools to make guesses on eliminating decoys.

Although recommendations are to run your own node that comes with complications on its own such as putting all wallets to use that node is problematic on the network side, accessing the node server itself, making payments for that server anonymously as well etc. Regardless of this, the balance of user friendliness and security within the Monero ecosystem is an admirable one and without a doubt better than using Bitcoin privacy-wise.

No KYC, instant exchange with AML checker + Tor. should be enough to swap your coins.

I'd be very careful with such places. Many give tainted coins or as we had a discussion in another topic, coins that are exchanged through dummy/accounts with "darks" as named here can later be traced once those very accounts are reviewed (e.g Binance). That's why a bit of legitimacy is needed from the exchanger side when exchanging to public cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. There's a reason why places like Garantex operate but their clients have issues with coins with high AML risk.

To be on track on what @JohnLocke intended.

Use XMR. Period. While it's fine to make casual crypto transfers now and then, for anything sensitive, always use Monero (XMR). Don’t use mixers—they’ll leave you with “dirty coins,” which doesn’t make sense. There’s no such thing as dirty coins; you wouldn’t look at a dollar bill and call it dirty. Cash is cash, and XMR is essentially digital cash because it's fungible!

Anyway, back to topic.

Non-KYC:

1- unstoppableswap (tested): Truly non-KYC atomic swaps (XMR <> BTC). Unlike services like Changelly, which can request KYC at any time.

2- P2P bot, A no-KYC cash-to-crypto P2P exchange. It's what LocalBitcoin or LocalMonero should have been to avoid shutdowns. Very active in LATAM, offering a great way to inject capital into specific countries.

3- infinity! (Tor-only exchange): Speaks for itself—what Samurai Wallet should have been.

4- Haveno, Built on Monero, theoretically the best way to exchange BTC for XMR. While the testnet was up, one developer, a strong libertarian, didn't like the direction the project was heading. He took lessons from LocalMonero but left when his colleagues seemed too profit-driven. It’s currently a bit of a mess, but you can read more about it here

5- Majestic bank. good albeit low trading daily volume (in the ~ 400-500k)

6- exch: instant swap, works great and no KYC whatsoever.

tradeogre is also good as @gh0p said, but not the best. exercise caution!

There are many more non-KYC OTC and P2P exchanges and swaps available, but I prefer to keep them discreet, sharing only with trusted clients and community members.

I wanted to give some background on some of these as I believe it is important. Atomic swaps are the future definitely and the dirty coin problem will follow it throughout, being potentially the weakest point of the atomic swap proposition.

Infinity exchange is owned anonymously but if you dig a little bit on other forums you'll see that exchange is owned and operated by a known DDoS attacker with a long history of scams. Not only failed at running their own DNM and were involved in other projects but also got exposed as p.edo. There's also been a couple of documented instances of people complaining they got completely tainted coins with very high AML risks which defeats the purpose of the exchange itself. I wouldn't use it or recommend it for many of these reasons.

Majesticbank has had a lot of controversy too in regards to who owns it as they started out advertising at few underground forums. At a popular forum before they stopped answering on there, they pulled a scam that left some people without their money. I believe the news had reached reddit at that time too. At some point I remember they had their SSL certificate expose a Canadian company ran by some Chinese person. Additional "controversies" you can also find by googling and searching on reddit or dive deeper on other forums.

Both of these exchanges got put suspiciously quickly at kycnot.me as highly trusting on that website (within 1-2 weeks, higher than long-lasting websites on there) as I was around when each had started out. There's also additional drama with Majestic and Intercambio.app but I'll leave that for whoever wants to dig in deeper into this as lots to uncover about these two.

Smaller P2P swaps and exchangers are a good choice for no KYC provided you have done your DD. Decentralized options like Haveno will be the future for sure and its great to see it advertised here, many people in the community are following its development as its on the right track.

 

[ActionMan]

I do agree that mixers are poor choice for long-term security on Bitcoin and other public blockchains. When it comes to XMR though, people should note having multiple wallets isn't enough there is a lot more going on the network side that has effect to the privacy of users. As an example to what I am saying take a look at

https://www.reddit.com/r/Monero/comments/1fe8m53/is_this_real_guys

I'll quote one of the users as it encapsulates it well:

Completely agree. I already mentioned this in another post here, to quote my self:

from the leaked video, chainanal seems to own 40% of the nodes. it's just a surprise (not really) that you see that they also get other data from main wallet nodes.

Correct! what are they doing is basically rendering Dandellion++ useless. it doesn't matter if dande protects subsequent connections, since if you are connect to Chainanal malicious nodes directly, from your own device. it's game over. it doesn't matter what happen after that!

to summarize. use the official monero GUI wallet if you can. Run your own node on a VPS or if you can't, Connect to the remote node through tor/VPN (with no logs)!.

P.S: if you use exodus, don't. from the video, changenow, Morphtoken and fixedfloat as well. they sent data ALL of it directly to chainanal which is directly shared with the FBI and LEs.
make sure to use atomic swaps when exchanging your coins, or instant exchanges that doesn't collect any KYC documents and has zero/temp longs. run them through TOR if you could. I wrote about some good ones here

don't panic, they didn't discover anything. for the average joe, just buy a mullvad VPN, connect to it, and you are good to go!

Although recommendations are to run your own node that comes with complications on its own such as putting all wallets to use that node is problematic on the network side, accessing the node server itself, making payments for that server anonymously as well etc. Regardless of this, the balance of user friendliness and security within the Monero ecosystem is an admirable one and without a doubt better than using Bitcoin privacy-wise.

How is it problematic? are you talking about the resources required to run the node? or the node being a single point of failure? maybe it should be a concern If many users run self-hosted nodes, in that case Chaianal could exploit vulnerabilities in some of these nodes to trace Monero transactions, using metadata such as IP addresses or timestamps, but I don't see this happen any time soon. most people would still connect to a trusted, remote node. Even if you and I don't do that.

I'd be very careful with such places. Many give tainted coins or as we had a discussion in another topic, coins that are exchanged through dummy/accounts with "darks" as named here can later be traced once those very accounts are reviewed (e.g Binance). That's why a bit of legitimacy is needed from the exchanger side when exchanging to public cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. There's a reason why places like Garantex operate but their clients have issues with coins with high AML risk.

I was talking about exchanging your Crypto to XMR, not the other way around! for cashing out XMR, I do it directly through OTC/P2P trading with trusted partners in HK Or swap it for USDT through same partners.

But for BTC, USDT to XMR. these should be fine. although, it's quite difficult to buy too many monero right now due to liquidity issues, which in theory should make it's price skyrocket! (101 Supply & demand) but that didn't happen, but I will leave that discussion for another thread

I wanted to give some background on some of these as I believe it is important. Atomic swaps are the future definitely and the dirty coin problem will follow it throughout, being potentially the weakest point of the atomic swap proposition.

Yes, I agree. as I mentioned here, it's already useful for people who have BTC and want to trade it for XMR. not the other way around (unless you can trade tainted BTC through whatever mean, then this could be a profitable, albeit, very risky business):

Yes atomic swaps are only useful for people who have BTC, the fees are high with some traders, but if you value your privacy, you get what you pay for!

Infinity exchange is owned anonymously but if you dig a little bit on other forums you'll see that exchange is owned and operated by a known DDoS attacker with a long history of scams. Not only failed at running their own DNM and were involved in other projects but also got exposed as p.edo. There's also been a couple of documented instances of people complaining they got completely tainted coins with very high AML risks which defeats the purpose of the exchange itself. I wouldn't use it or recommend it for many of these reasons.

Any sources on this? maybe you are talking about Killnet, which is owned by KillMilk? If So,I don't think there is any correlation between the two! I would be happy to know more though.

Majesticbank has had a lot of controversy too in regards to who owns it as they started out advertising at few underground forums. At a popular forum before they stopped answering on there, they pulled a scam that left some people without their money. I believe the news had reached reddit at that time too. At some point I remember they had their SSL certificate expose a Canadian company ran by some Chinese person. Additional "controversies" you can also find by googling and searching on reddit or dive deeper on other forums.

I only suggested using said exchanges to exchange your Crypto to XMR in a private manner, using it the other way around defeats the whole purpose!

I would expand more since we are discussing this, So, allow me to play the devil's advocate here!

their existence on the DNMs doesn't make them less legitimate, because XMR is used heavily in the DNMs. Hell, even cash is still the most used form of payments for paying illicit goods.

Yes, their matrix as well as their Dread accounts was wiped out. but their admin was communicative, and they cited the reasons being "their nodes were under heavy attack mostly coming from tor network" which is plausible.

But I agree that you have to be cautions with any of these exchanges.

Both of these exchanges got put suspiciously quickly at kycnot.me as highly trusting on that website (within 1-2 weeks, higher than long-lasting websites on there) as I was around when each had started out. There's also additional drama with Majestic and Intercambio.app but I'll leave that for whoever wants to dig in deeper into this as lots to uncover about these two.

First time I hear about intercambio.app, but from my limited research, it seems that users were mostly suspicious of their quick listing on kycnotme and that it's still new to the market. But it would be great if you can shed more light on this, maybe in another thread!

Smaller P2P swaps and exchangers are a good choice for no KYC provided you have done your DD.

I agree!

Decentralized options like Haveno will be the future for sure and its great to see it advertised here, many people in the community are following its development as its on the right track.

I agree, but who will lead the Project now? to quote one user:

The issue is that even in P2P you need some way of discovering a machine that is part of the network. Traditionally, this is done with DNS (hostnames). That isn't viable for this project because DNS queries can be blocked / taken down. So you usually have to hardcode a couple of nodes into the application before it starts.

This documentation is basically saying here is how to start a Haveno cluster. Once you have one you could configure the client to connect to it and release that to everyone.

The issue is initially there will be many "competing" networks. So they will need to either eventually combine the successful ones or make the client know how to connect to multiple and show order books from all of them.

 

[dany]

PS. Besides Bitcoin and Monero, are there any other really decentralized crypto left that can't be frozen?
They are buying Bitcoin with our tax money (i.e., pensions), but Monero they just couldn't convince the recalcitrant developers.

I haven't thought about it that way at all. You're absolutely right; the large pension funds, hedge funds, banks, etc., are actually using taxpayers' money to invest in Bitcoin and other cryptos, while at the same time, in my opinion, completely wrecking the market.