Key Takeaways
- Many crypto exchanges require ID verification to buy Bitcoin, even those that claim to be No KYC exchanges.
- Bybit is recommended as a reputable crypto exchange where you can buy Bitcoin without any ID.
- The steps to follow include signing up for a Bybit account, going to the 'Buy Crypto' section, signing up for a Paxful account, choosing a payment method, and buying Bitcoin without ID.
There are a lot of crypto investors who want to buy Bitcoin, but wish to do so anonymously. This could be because they are under 18, and don't have any ID, or simply because they don't want anyone to track what they are doing with their money.
Many crypto exchanges require ID, and even ones that claim to be No KYC exchanges may require ID verification to complete certain tasks, such as make fiat purchases, or withdraw money.
We have spent hours testing out various crypto exchanges to see how you can buy Bitcoin without ID. We have come up with a simple method using our #1 recommended exchange, Bybit. In our guide, we will show you exactly what you need to do to buy Bitcoin without ID. We have included screenshots at each step of the way so you can follow along without any issues.
Where to buy Bitcoin without ID?
While many crypto exchanges claim to not require KYC, this is usually limited to crypto trading activities. Alternatively, the exchange does not require KYC, but when you go to purchase crypto using a debit/credit card, ID is required from the third-party payment provider.
This can be frustrating, and you can easily spend days on end signing up to exchange after exchange, only to realize that they require ID at some point.
However, we have found a reputable crypto exchange where you can buy Bitcoin without any ID. This exchange is Bybit, one of the best crypto exchanges in the world, with more than 10 million users, 280+ coins, low fees, and staking options. To learn more about Bybit before signing up, see our in-depth breakdown here.
How to buy Bitcoin without ID?
There are only a few steps to purchase Bitcoin without ID. See our full step-by-step guide below, complete with screenshots from our Bybit account, so you can follow along.
Step 1: Sign up to Bybit
Step 2: Go to the 'Buy Crypto' section
Step 3: Sign up to Paxful
Step 4: Choose a payment method
Step 5: Buy Bitcoin without ID
Step 1 - Sign up to Bybit
The first step is to sign up to Bybit, a proven exchange where you can buy Bitcoin without any ID required. It is best to sign up now, and then you can follow along with the rest of the guide easily, as we use screenshots from our Bybit account throughout.
After clicking the button above, you will see the Bybit sign up page, similar to the screenshot below. You can sign up using your email, phone number, Google account, or Apple account. If you want to stay anonymous, you could register a new email address that is only used to access Bybit.
Note: Bybit is not available for those living in the US or Singapore. However, there is an easy workaround for those who live in those countries. Since no KYC is required, you can sign up to Bybit using a VPN.
After creating an account on Bybit, sign into your email to access the verification code. Once you have confirmed your email, you will be taken to the Bybit homepage.
Step 2 - Go to the 'Buy Crypto' section
In your Bybit account, you should see 'Buy Crypto' in the menu along the top. Click on this, and a dropdown menu will appear. Click on 'One-Click Buy', as shown in the screenshot below.
Your screen should look similar to the screenshot below. You can choose which fiat currency to pay with, the amount, and the crypto you want to receive (Bitcoin). In our example here, we will buy $250 USD of BTC as you can see in the screenshot below.
Click on the 'Payment Methods' dropdown menu, and scroll down till you get to the 'Third Party' options. Select 'Google Pay' from the options.
Your screen will now look like the one below, with several payment channels. To buy Bitcoin without ID, you will need to select Paxful. The other options (LegendTrading, MoonPay, Banxa, and Mercuryo) all require ID verification on their platform before you can use them.
Select Paxful, agree to the disclaimer, and then click 'Continue'.
Step 3 - Sign up to Paxful
You will be directed to another page, similar to the screenshot below. This is where you can sign up to Paxful. Type in your email, and click 'Log In. If you don't have an account with Paxful already, you will be directed to their site where you can register. Activate your Paxful account by verifying your email address.
Now that you have a Paxful account, return to your Bybit account and follow the instructions in 'Step 2' again. This time, your screen should look like the image below. You can see the various payment options available in Paxful.
Step 4 - Choose a payment method
Although there are a lot of payment methods on Paxful, some of them (bank transfers, and debit/credit cards) require ID verification. To buy Bitcoin without ID, you can choose gift cards or cash payments.
In our example here, we will select Steam Wallet gift card. After you have chosen your payment method, click 'Review Offer'.
Step 5 - Buy Bitcoin without ID
You will be automatically matched with another user who is willing to sell you BTC, accepting the gift card as payment.
In our example below, you can see that we are paying 250 USD in return for 0.00878568 BTC. Review the details on your own transaction, and if you are satisfied, click 'Begin trade'.
Your trade screen will look similar to the one below. Follow the instructions to make payment, and then mark 'Paid' once you have finished. In our example, we have only 30 minutes to make this trade.
Important to note:
Something that we want to point out, is that although Bybit and Paxful do not require ID, the user that you trade with may ask for ID. We noticed this issue when we tried to make a purchase using cash on Paxful. We selected Western Union as our payment method, and we were matched with the user in the screenshot below.
When we clicked 'Begin trade', we were met with a notification at the top of the screen. It says that the user requires ID verification in order to sell us Bitcoin (see red arrow below). If this occurs, you can try again later, and find a different user, or try a different payment method, such as gift card.
Step 6 - Check Bitcoin has arrived in your Bybit account
Congratulations on buying BTC without ID! Now that the purchase is complete, you need to check that you received the Bitcoin it in your Bybit account. Click on 'Assets' in the top right of Bybit, and then click on the 'Assets Overview' in the dropdown menu (see screenshot below).
Your screen will now look like the one below, but the prices will not be hidden. You should see that the Bitcoin you purchased is displayed here, as well as the USD value of it. Sometimes it can take a few minutes for your Bitcoin to transfer, but if you cannot see your Bitcoin after waiting a while, then reach out to Bybit customer support via live chat. They can help you find your BTC.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are several Bitcoin apps that don't require ID, such as Bybit, MEXC, and KuCoin. You can also check out our article on best exchanges that don't require ID.
You can buy crypto if you're under 18 by using a crypto exchange that doesn't require verification. See our article on buying crypto when you're underage.
You can buy Bitcoin without ID when you follow the steps in our article above. You can also use Bybit to send your Bitcoin to another exchange or wallet, without ID.
While a lot of people think Bitcoin is anonymous, this is only true to an extent. While your identity is not linked to your Bitcoin address, all transactions are publicly recorded on the blockchain and can be viewed by anyone. The transactions on a Bitcoin wallet can be traced, but it will not reveal the identities behind the Bitcoin wallet.