People have different reasons why they don’t want to release their identity while purchasing cryptocurrency. If you want to protect your privacy, buying Bitcoin anonymously with no verification is a good idea and lots of people would like to use this opportunity.
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Is it possible to buy Bitcoin without verification?
As lawmakers around the world gradually introduce tighter regulations on cryptocurrency trading, it’s becoming more difficult to buy Bitcoin without ID.
However, if you value your privacy, there are still some sites where you can buy cryptocurrency without going through a verification process.
Please note: Bitcoin is pseudonymous rather than anonymous. Everything is recorded on a publicly shared global ledger called a blockchain. And it is only a matter of enough dedicated time and resources to de-anonymize your Bitcoin transactions, even if you don't verify your identity while buying crypto.
Ten (10) ways to buy cryptocurrency anonymously
1. SimpleSwap
SimpleSwap is a non-custodial cryptocurrency exchange where you can buy Bitcoin and altcoins anonymously. Being non-custodial means that the platform never holds your coins or lets you store them on their platform. Instead, you can simply provide an address when making a purchase, and they transfer to coins to the designated address once you complete a payment.
Ideally, you may have to provide an email address to receive notifications about the exchange transaction and also pay through a bank transfer or debit card. However, the purchase process does not require an ID verification process and can be completed within a few minutes.
Additionally, SimpleSwap offers a crypto-to-crypto exchange service for converting one coin to another. If you already own some crypto and wish to buy another coin anonymously, the platform might be an excellent choice.
Supported payment methods: Google Pay, Apple Pay, Bank Transfer, Debit Card, and other cryptocurrencies.
2. Bisq
Bisq is open-source, peer-to-peer software that allows you to buy and sell cryptocurrencies in exchange for national currencies. There’s no registration required to use this platform. You can buy BTC without firstly scanning your passport, driving license, or disclosing your financial history.
Bisq does not hold any bitcoins. This means that all cryptocurrencies are held in multi-signature addresses rather than a Bisq-controlled wallet. Additionally, Bisq does not hold any fiat currency (i.e., Dollars, Euros). Fiat is transferred directly from one trader to another. In other words, it is a cryptocurrency marketplace.
All you need to do is to download Bisq’s desktop software As its FAQ explains, “Bisq does not know the traders. No data is stored on who trades with whom. Bisq does not require registration. This means privacy is maintained, there are no “approval” wait times, and identity theft becomes impossible.”
Supported payment methods: Faster Payments, MoneyGram, Bank Transfer, SEPA, Uphold, and Bitcoin.
3. HodlHodl
HodlHodl is a global P2P Bitcoin exchange that allows users to trade directly with each other. The site doesn’t hold users’ funds, which allows it to avoid KYC and ID verification processes. HoldHodl locks user funds in a multi-sig escrow that minimizes the possibility of Bitcoin theft and allows for a faster trading experience.
Furthermore, HodlHodl only charges a 0.6% fee shared between the buyer and seller. Users can also access a variety of payment methods depending on their location.
Supported payment methods: SEPA, Faster Payments, PayPal, and many others.
4. BestChange
BestChange is an aggregator platform that makes it easy to find some exchanges and exchangers that let you buy crypto anonymously. The platform vets the exchangers listed for users and simply provides a link that directs you to the partner website.
The process of buying Bitcoin with GBP anonymously on the platform is also relatively straightforward. First, Select GBP (Visa/Mastercard) as the currency to give and Bitcoin (BTC) as the currency to receive. Filter through the list of exchangers and pick any that do not implement a mandatory KYC option.
Visit the exchanger website and follow the prompts to complete your purchase. In most cases, it simply involves providing your card details and the Bitcoin address to receive the payment. Upon payment completion, the exchanger will transfer the coins to your provided address.
Supported payment method: Debit cards
5. Crypton Exchange
Crypton Exchange is an anonymous and decentralized crypto exchange service based on the Utopia P2P ecosystem and provides secure cryptocurrency transactions with the lowest fees on the market.
*Utopia P2P is a decentralized ecosystem that provides all the benefits of Web 3.0 already in 2023. It is anonymous and secures data transmission, web browsing, information retrieval, and much more.
The crypto exchange claims full anonymity and the easiest possible KYC verification. It means that you do not need to enter your data to register. The entire registration process is associated with anonymous registration in the Utopia P2P ecosystem. At the same time, you do not need to enter a phone number, email address, and other data.
Using Crypton Exchange, you can anonymously buy and sell Bitcoins, with subsequent exchange or withdrawal of funds. At the same time, all the data of the buyer and seller are encrypted and anonymous.
Also, Crypton Exchange has its cryptocurrency — Crypton (CRP) and Utopia USD Stablecoin (UUSD), as well as some other popular cryptocurrencies — Monero, DAI, USDT, available for purchase, exchange, sale, or withdrawal on the platform.
6. Exolix
Exolix is another secure and anonymous crypto exchange that offers to swap over 349 cryptocurrencies. Launched in 2018, it is one of the few crypto exchanges that does not require customers to register on the platform and verify their identities to complete a transaction. Other great benefits of Exolix are no maximum limits and the possibility of making fast, easy, and secure transactions.
Exolix is a fixed-rate exchange where users do not suffer from unpredictable fee changes. The exchange process is characterized by absolute transparency since users can track every stage of the order and its status. Any questions faced by users can be easily solved by customer support available 24/7.
How can you exchange funds on Exolix? There are three simple steps to complete:
- Enter order details: currencies to swap and the amount to give, the recipient’s address.
- Send coins to the address generated by the platform.
- The platform completes the exchange, and you will see all the transaction details.
Usually, it takes 5 to 30 minutes to process the transaction on Exolix. The exchange does not charge any fees and has a fixed rate without any hidden fees. Exolix also offers an affiliate program where users can receive from 0.5% to 0.7% of each successful transaction.
However, one thing we do hold against the platform is that it does not support fiat transactions. Nonetheless, if you already hold another crypto and want to buy Bitcoin anonymously in the UK, then you can check out Exolix.
Supported payment method: Cryptocurrency
7. Cryptex
Cryptex is a crypto exchange and trading platform registered in the UK. It is an automatic service that allows exchanging, buying, and selling Bitcoin for electronic currencies and vice versa without identity verification.
There are no transaction volume limits, and the platform operates with cash in over 10 countries and 100 cities. These include regions such as Russia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Spain, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries.
Why is Cryptex a superior choice for traders? The platform offers the best exchange rates for Perfect Money and Bitcoin, as well as offers withdrawals via a one-string code provided by Cryptex if the price does not satisfy you. The code is denominated in US Dollars and can be credited to any Cryptex account. Cryptex code can be used as a source of payment as well.
Traders receive a wide range of top-notch benefits on Cryptex, including zero trading fees for liquidity providers and solid account protection.
How to buy Bitcoin on Cryptex? It is necessary to open the official website and press the Make Exchange button to start the process:
- Enter the amount you want to send and select the currency.
- Provide the currency you want to get, and the amount to be received is calculated automatically.
- Enter your email address.
- Paste your wallet address to get funds.
- Agree with the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, and confirm that you have been notified that the exchange rate may change during the transaction.
- Complete the transaction by following the hints provided on the website.
Supported payment methods: Debit cards
8. ShapeShift
ShapeShift exchange is a pseudo-decentralized exchange and thus requires no registration or verification. Put simply, Shapeshift is directly integrated with decentralized exchanges (DEXes). Hence, even though you're trading on ShapeShift, the order is routed through a DEX.
One thing to keep in mind while using ShapeShift is that not all currencies are available. Check and make sure that the crypto token you get is open for swapping. Shapeshift takes a fee on the crypto swap, so you will get a little less of the pair currency you have exchanged for.
Meanwhile, you'll also require a Web3 wallet, such as Metamask or Trust Wallet, to interface with the ShapeShift platform. Once you have some cryptocurrencies in your wallet, you can swap them on Shapeshift.
Supported payment method: Cryptocurrency
9. CoinCorner
CoinCorner is a cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2014 with headquarters located in the UK. The exchange operates in over 45 countries all around the globe, and its main advantage is the possibility for both UK and EU citizens to buy Bitcoin without ID verification. The maximum amount to buy crypto without a check is £900 (and the EUR equivalent).
CoinCorner is a traditional exchange that allows buying, selling, and storing Bitcoin. The service is trusted by over 200K people and allows buying coins with as little as £10 spending a minimum of time (less than 10 minutes on average).
The purchasing procedure is quite simple. It is enough to register on the platform, make a deposit, and buy Bitcoin on the respective page. The platform also offers the Auto Buy feature for more convenience.
Meanwhile, CoinCorner has a number of advantages over other platforms. It is an award-winning exchange that allows purchasing Bitcoin with GBP or EUR and has a user-friendly mobile app available on the respective app stores (Android and iOS.)
Supported payment methods: Credit or debit cards, bank transfers, SEPA, or Neteller,
10. Bitcoin ATM
Bitcoin ATMs are another option for one to purchase Bitcoin anonymously with a credit or bank card. Most large cities have a Bitcoin ATM machine and some even have several!
That is where CoinATMRadar gets super handy. The website features an interactive map of global Bitcoin ATMs (aka BTM). Simply search for your location, select the nearest machine, and check the requirements for buying.
Note that there are over 36,000 ATMs in existence and 492 operators around the globe. Knowing who made and who operates your chosen bATM will give you extra insight into the buying process. The reason is that some do sell bitcoin without ID being requested, while others will need a passport before exchanging cryptocurrency for fiat money.
It is worth mentioning at this point that new regulations have reduced the number of Bitcoin ATMs operating in the U.K., with authorities shutting down several machines. At the time of writing, there is only one such machine located in Birmingham.
However, it is still vital to know about Bitcoin ATMs as you may come across one on your travels that lets you buy BTC anonymously with GBP.
Keep in mind that just like buying with cash, Bitcoin ATMs take a higher commission relative to the spot price. Expect premiums of 10 to 20 percent, depending on the machine operator. Some machines also support Bitcoin only.
Supported payment method: Cash, credit and debit cards.
Why is it difficult to buy crypto without ID?
Regulators around the world are gradually introducing legislation that governs digital currency exchanges and cryptocurrency trading. Hence, exchanges often require ID verification so that they’re able to operate globally without unknowingly facilitating money laundering and terrorism financing for bad actors.
How to protect your privacy while buying crypto?
Most of the methods described above don’t require you to use an ID verification to buy bitcoins. Yet, it is possible for authorities to track your identity using more sophisticated techniques. Sometimes, you can be identified using your IP or through the private wi-fi that you are using.
Or you might accidentally disclose your Bitcoin public address online somewhere. Or a seller might track you down from your mobile or vehicle number when you do your face-to-face Fiat/Bitcoin deal with them.
So here are a few techniques to add an extra layer of privacy to your crypto transactions:
- Privacy-focused Bitcoin wallet
Bitcoin wallets that implement CoinJoin technology (like WasabiWallet) help you break down the linkability and traceability of your transactions.
- Tor browser and .onion links
Use the Tor browser to connect to the Bitcoin network and trade coins on one of the above-listed platforms.
- VPN
A log-less virtual private network (VPN) is a network that doesn’t store the history of your activities on its servers. It encrypts all of your internet traffic and routes it through multiple servers of your choice at different locations before arriving at the final location.
- New Wallet Address
Generating a new address for each transaction is good practice to ensure anonymity when using Bitcoins on a regular basis. This way, it will be hard to link to trace 2 or more transactions to your real-life identity.
Summing Up
It is not that easy to buy Bitcoin anonymously due to multiple regulations that are being introduced around the world.
Luckily, there are still workarounds that allow you to move around and buy BTC without ID. And to support such demands, some companies offer anonymous buying and selling of bitcoins. However, extra anonymity comes at an extra cost. These methods are 5-10% more costly than other conventional ways of buying bitcoins.
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