Before Bitcoin became famous, people used to believe that Bitcoin was anonymous. But because everything is recorded on a publically shared global ledger (theblockchain), it is actually not anonymous at all!
Know that if you leave a digital trail (such as buying bitcoins with an ID), then it is only a matter of enough dedicated time and resources to de-anonymize your transactions on Bitcoin’s blockchain.
And that’s why more and more people are finding ways to enhancetheir anonymity when they interact with the Bitcoin network. Lots of people want to know how they can get bitcoins without using an ID.
To support such demands, some companies offer anonymous buying/selling of bitcoins. And there also are certain tricks and tips one should follow to stay anonymous.
So to fulfil the needs of such users, today I am going to discuss some of the best ways to buy bitcoins without an ID.
But one needs to keep in mind that nothing is a free lunch, and this extra anonymity comes with a cost. These methods are 5- 10% more costly than other conventional ways of buying bitcoins.
That said, let’s begin!!
Page Contents
- 1. Rango exchange
- 2. CEX (Requires ID in 2023)
- 3. Person to Person Purchase
- 4. Bitcoin ATMs
- 5. Bitsquare (aka BISQ)
- 6. Wall of Coins
- 7. Changelly Exchange
- Conclusion: Buy Bitcoin anonymously
Top 7 Ways To Buy Bitcoin Without ID & Anonymously
1. Rango exchange
Rango is a multi-chain DEX aggregator and a heaven for those who are looking to buy BTC without KYC. It is perhaps the best way to get BTC, ETH, and any other crypto projects without KYC. You can buy BTC using USDT, or any other stable coin or crypto of your choice.
Rango exchange uses the Thorchain liquidity to bring BTC for you without KYC. The process is not very simple for a newbie and is suggested for users who have a bit of experience in crypto and especially Defi.
Buy BTC without ID on Rango
2. CEX (Requires ID in 2023)
CEX.io is a USA registered exchange that allows users to buy crypto worth $100/day without needing any ID. This is also applicable when you are buying using a credit/debit card.
Update: CEX requires ID for crypto purchases of any size.
- Supported currencies: USD, EUR, RUB, GBP, USDT, BTC, GUSD, OMG, ONT, ONG, USDT, ADA, USDC, NEO, GAS, BAT, ATOM, XTZ, MATIC, LINK, WABI
- Supported payment methods: Credit card, debit cards, SEPA, ACH, FasterPayments, Skrill, Qiwi
Read CEX.io review to find out more about this popular platform.
Buy BTC without ID on CEX
3. Person to Person Purchase
This is perhaps one of the most underutilized tricks to buy bitcoin without id. As the adoption of Bitcoin is increasing, you might meet a lot of people who own Bitcoin and you can actually ask them to sell Bitcoin to you directly. You will be surprised to find, a lot of them might be ok selling you at the exchange price or even lower at the market price, as they will be saving money on the taxation. You should also check out some of these p2p exchanges for more options.
Make sure, you use one of these best Bitcoin wallets to receive the funds.
4. Bitcoin ATMs
The trend of Bitcoin ATMs is not very prevalent. But it is still one of the best ways of buying Bitcoin without an ID. Some BTC ATMs don’t require you to disclose your identity and they don’t require facial or fingerprint identification.
You can simply buy bitcoins from such ATMs in exchange for fiat currency.
A Bitcoin ATM asks you to scan your public address and transfers BTCs to that address in theequivalent fiatyou deposited in it. In some cases, if you don’t have a public address, just select the option of “don’t have an address”and the ATM will generate a paper wallet for you (if it supports that feature).
Check here if your country has a Bitcoin ATM
5. Bitsquare (aka BISQ)
Bitsquare is a peer-to-peer marketplace for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoins. It is a fully decentralized exchange that requires no name, email ID, or verification.
To be a truly anonymous peer-to-peer network, it uses Tor and doesn’t hold fiat or bitcoins on their serversor in their account. Every aspect of this exchange is decentralized from placing the order, to matching the order, to executing it.
Currently, it supports 126 cryptocurrencies (including BTC) and is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms, but trade volumes are low.
How Bitsqaure works are beyond the scope of this article. But in the future,CoinSutra is going to cover all important aspects of Bitsquare…
Note: Bitsquare was recently rebranded to Bisq due to copyright issues.
Here is Bitsquare’s introductory video:
Get Started with Bisq
6. Wall of Coins
Wall of Coins is also one of the best ways to obtain bitcoins without disclosing your identity.
It is primarily a cash-based system where a buyer has to go and deposit cash in a bank.
A Bitcoin seller who has a bank branch near you gives you their bank account details. Then, you can then visit the bank’s nearest branch and deposit cash. Once they confirm the deposit, the coins which are held in escrow are released to you.
Like LBC, the fees are set by individual sellers.
As of now, Wall of Coins is operating in the USA, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Latvia, Poland, and the Philippines.
Check out Wall of Coins
7. Changelly Exchange
Another popular way of buying bitcoins is through ShapeShift or Changelly.
Both of them require no ID verification to start with.
However, Changelly requires you to sign up with an email ID, but you can use an alias one. ShapeShift doesn’t need an email. I personally use Changelly for their competitive exchange rates and viewable transaction history for tracking.
But this method requires you to have supporting altcoins like LTC/ETH/DASH/etc. to exchange for BTC. If you have altcoins, then you can buy bitcoins in seconds with no verification.
Check out Changelly
Conclusion: Buy Bitcoin anonymously
All the methods described above don’t require you to use an ID verification to buy bitcoins, but even still, with more sophisticated techniques, you can be tracked. Sometimes you can be identified by your IP or through the private wi-fi which 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 did your face-to-face fiat/Bitcoin deal with them.
These are possible methods of demasking anonymity, so for more serious users of Bitcoin, I suggest you read our guide6 Ways To Make Untraceable Transactions With Bitcoin.
In the near future, CoinSutra is preparing to share some more proven ways of dealing anonymously with Bitcoin. So keep checking back for all the latest tips and tricks!
If you know some more anonymous ways of buying/selling bitcoins, I would love to hear them in the comments section below.
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Editorial Staff
A team of Blockchain and Cryptocurrency experts.
Trusted by over 1.1 million readers worldwide.
I am an expert in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology with a deep understanding of the concepts involved. My expertise is grounded in a comprehensive knowledge of the decentralized nature of blockchain, cryptographic principles, and the intricacies of various cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin.
The article you provided discusses methods to buy Bitcoin without revealing one's identity. This aligns with the growing concern for privacy in cryptocurrency transactions. Let's break down the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Blockchain and Anonymity:
- The article correctly highlights that Bitcoin transactions are recorded on a public ledger, the blockchain.
- Contrary to popular belief, Bitcoin transactions are not entirely anonymous due to the transparent and immutable nature of the blockchain.
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Bitcoin ATMs:
- Bitcoin ATMs provide a way to buy Bitcoin with cash without requiring extensive identity verification.
- Some Bitcoin ATMs don't ask for identity disclosure and may not require facial or fingerprint identification.
-
Peer-to-Peer Transactions:
- Person-to-person purchases involve direct transactions between individuals without intermediaries.
- This method allows for more privacy as it often doesn't involve third-party exchanges, but it requires finding a willing seller.
-
Decentralized Exchanges (DEX):
- The article mentions Rango exchange as a multi-chain DEX aggregator that allows users to buy Bitcoin without KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements.
- Bitsquare (now Bisq) is highlighted as a fully decentralized exchange that emphasizes privacy, using Tor for anonymity.
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Cryptocurrency Exchanges with Limited KYC:
- CEX.io is mentioned as a platform that allows users to buy cryptocurrency without ID up to a certain limit, though it now requires ID for larger purchases.
-
Cash-Based Systems:
- Wall of Coins operates as a cash-based system where buyers deposit cash in a bank, and sellers release Bitcoin once the deposit is confirmed.
- This method provides a degree of privacy but is currently available in specific countries only.
-
Cryptocurrency Exchange Services:
- Changelly and ShapeShift are mentioned as platforms that don't require ID verification initially, making them suitable for those seeking anonymity.
-
Privacy Concerns and Tracking:
- The article emphasizes that even with these methods, users should be aware of potential privacy concerns, such as IP tracking, accidental disclosure of public addresses, or identification through face-to-face transactions.
-
Cost of Anonymity:
- The article mentions that methods providing additional anonymity may come with higher costs, ranging from 5-10% more than conventional methods.
In summary, the article provides valuable insights into various methods for buying Bitcoin without ID, emphasizing the importance of understanding the potential trade-offs between privacy and cost.
