Buying and Using Bitcoin Anonymously / Without ID

Are you looking to buy Bitcoin anonymously? Do you hate providing your photo ID to different Bitcoin exchanges? In this guide, we will try to answer all your questions about how to buy crypto anonymously and retain privacy when using it.

Buying Bitcoin Anonymously: Summary

Despite its reputation, Bitcoin is not completely anonymous. With every transaction publicly disclosed on the blockchain and identity verifications required by many exchanges, it’s easy to see how your Bitcoin can be traced back to you.

There are methods to buy Bitcoin anonymously with cash, such as LocalCoinSwap or Bitcoin ATMs. Furthermore, there are places that require minimal identification and not necessarily your true identity. Best Wallet, Margex, Exodus, AlphaX, BloFin, KCEX, or Bisq all offer ways to purchase Bitcoin without KYC.

Lastly, to really get ‘off the grid’ and become completely anonymous, you will require solutions such as Tor and Tails, coin mixers, a VPN provider, and more.

The price for anonymity is usually inconvenient and vice versa. It is up to any user to decide how much they will sacrifice one for the other.

That’s how to remain anonymous in a nutshell. If you want a deeper explanation of the process, keep reading.

1. Is Bitcoin Anonymous?

No, it isn’t. While Bitcoin is far more private than credit cards, it’s much less anonymous than cash.

The way Bitcoin works is that all Bitcoin transactions are stored in a public ledger called the blockchain. This means, in actuality, that to buy Bitcoin without ID is not possible if you regard a blockchain transaction as an ID marker.

The data stored in each of these transactions includes a Bitcoin transaction amount, the Bitcoin addresses of the sender, and the Bitcoin address of the recipient. Many blockchain analysts and firms such as Chainalysis can easily trace and track Bitcoin transactions. While there is no personal information associated with a crypto wallet address upon creation, as soon as a user goes to buy or sell Bitcoin at a centralized exchange where they undergo KYC, anyone can easily connect Bitcoin addresses to personal identities.

This is why the claim that Bitcoin is only used by criminals has been thoroughly debunked by Chainalysis, who reported that less than 0.5% of crypto transactions are used for nefarious purposes and why some law enforcement agencies said they wish all criminals would use crypto as it is easier to trace than cash. Sorry, Elizabeth Warren and your anti-crypto army, you will need to find another untrue crypto stereotype to hold on to as that tired old narrative has been thoroughly used up.

Can Bitcoins be Traced?

Yes. Because every transaction uses Bitcoins from a prior transaction, and the blockchain is public data, every Bitcoin payment has a traceable history that anyone can view right from that coin’s inception.

While cryptocurrency addresses are 100% traceable, they can’t be linked to a specific person or entity. That’s why Bitcoin is often called pseudonymous or pseudo-anonymous.

However, a person’s identity can be associated with a Bitcoin address through other means, as stated above by using KYC exchanges or crypto platforms. If you want to learn more about this, we have an article on the  7 different ways your identity can be linked to your Bitcoin address.

Once the association has been made, someone with enough determination, time, and resources could analyze the blockchain and determine how many Bitcoins an individual has, how they received them, and how they spend them. In other words – you can follow the paper trail (digital trail).

To use Bitcoin anonymously, precautions must be taken to prevent your true identity from being associated with your transactions and addresses for buying crypto with no ID.

How to Buy Bitcoin Anonymously

This is becoming harder due to recent changes in KYC requirements, which obviously depend on your local jurisdiction. The best way to do this is to meet a seller in public and buy crypto anonymously using a platform such as LocalCoinSwap. However, this does not come without its risks.

Another option is to use a Bitcoin ATM or a prepaid credit/debit card (more on these later). Bitcoin tumblers also allow you to “wash” your Bitcoin — however, we advise seeking advice regarding your local laws on this practice. There have been some enforcement actions and sanctions taken against users who use crypto tumblers and mixers so we recommend avoiding this method or using caution.

In addition, there is the option to use a P2P marketplace that matches buyers and sellers such as Bisq; however, finding marketplaces that do not require KYC is becoming more difficult as regulations continue to come into force across the crypto market. So, where can you buy Bitcoin without id verification? Take a look at our Anonymouse Crypto Exchanges Guide to help point you in the right direction.

How to buy Bitcoin with a credit card anonymously

This section will talk you through how to buy Bitcoin with a credit card anonymously.

This is difficult as credit cards leave a transaction history with your bank. Therefore using a prepaid credit card is a more viable option for buying Bitcoin anonymously.

In addition to this, many banks do not allow crypto purchases using credit cards, so you will need to research prepaid credit cards that can be used without KYC and will be an accepted form of payment from whomever your seller is.

Buying Bitcoin Anonymously: Pros and Cons

Below is a table outlining the pros and cons of buying Bitcoin anonymously:

Pros	Cons
Privacy: Helps protect your identity and financial information.	Risk of Scams: Anonymous transactions can attract fraudulent sellers.
Avoid KYC: No need to provide personal documents or sensitive information.	Higher Fees: Methods for anonymous purchases often come with higher transaction fees.
Freedom: Allows for more control over your assets without regulatory oversight.	Limited Options: Fewer platforms and methods are available for anonymous purchases.
No Tracking: Reduces the likelihood of your transactions being traced back to you.	Legal Risks: In some jurisdictions, buying anonymously may raise legal concerns.
Cash Transactions: Allows for direct cash purchases without involving banks.	Lower Security: Anonymous methods may involve less secure platforms, increasing the risk of loss.

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2. 3 Easy Methods to Buy Bitcoin Anonymously

Method 1 – LocalCoinSwap

If you’re looking to buy BTC without verification, then the easiest way would be to buy Bitcoin with cash and in person, if possible. Use LocalCoinSwap to find someone near your location who is willing to sell Bitcoin for cash.

You can use an alias email address to sign up for LocalCoinSwap; their verification process is optional. When you use cash, it’s easy to become untraceable as there is no documentation for the transaction.

Remember that most sellers on LocalCoinSwap don’t like to deal with anonymous buyers; however, since you’re paying in cash, this should be less of an issue.

Method 2 – Bitcoin ATMs

Another way to buy BTC without verification is to go to your nearest Bitcoin ATM and buy it with cash. Buying Bitcoin via an ATM is probably the best way to buy cryptocurrency anonymously; however, not everyone has an ATM nearby.

When asked to enter your Bitcoin address at the ATM, just specify that you don’t have one. This will generate a new paper wallet for you in most cases, and you’re good to go. Later, you can import the private key from that paper wallet and send those Bitcoins wherever you like. Alternatively, you can buy a hardware wallet or download a software wallet first and only use that with a Bitcoin ATM to preserve anonymity. Remember as soon as you use a crypto wallet to send funds to or from a platform that requires KYC, that crypto wallet is no longer anonymous.

Do I need an ID for a Bitcoin ATM?

Some Bitcoin ATMs require identification. If they don’t, they’re usually limited in the amount of Bitcoin you can buy.

Do Bitcoin ATMs charge a fee?

Yes. Most ATMs charge a fee (usually between 7% and 10%). If the fee isn’t stated explicitly, it’s “hidden” inside the exchange rate. Do your own calculations beforehand to have a rough estimate of what you expect to receive.

Method 3 – Prepaid Card

One way to stay anonymous is to use a prepaid credit card you can get at any supermarket or convenience store. You can then use this card to buy Bitcoin without the need to supply any form of identification through sellers on LocalCoinSwap.

Top 6 Methods to Buy Bitcoin Anonymously Without Verification

Below is a table outlining the pros and cons of the best methods for buying Bitcoin anonymously without verification:

Method	Pros	Cons
Bitcoin ATMs	Quick, cash-based	Outlawed in a number of countries
P2P Marketplaces	Direct, flexible payment options	Risk of scams, higher fees
In-Person Cash Transactions	Full anonymity, no digital trail	Requires trusted seller, safety risk
Prepaid Credit Cards	No link to your identity	Higher fees, limited acceptance
Bitcoin Mixing Services	Obscures transaction history	Can be expensive, potential delays
Tor/ VPN Usage	Masks IP address, enhances privacy	Slower transactions, technical setup

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Best Places to Buy Bitcoin Without ID

Below is our guide to the best places to buy Bitcoin without ID, including Best Wallet, Margex, Exodus, AlphaX, and BloFin.

3. Buy Bitcoin Without Verification/Photo ID

The following places allow you to buy Bitcoin without verification; however, they do not accept cash.

Best Wallet

Best Wallet is a great way for investors to buy BTC without verification. This top cryptocurrency wallet does not require users to complete a complicated KYC form. Instead, users can add their email addresses and start trading Bitcoin within minutes.

Best Wallet offers cross-chain interoperability, allowing users to connect to thousands of tokens on the Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain. Users can also access portfolio management tools to track their profit/loss in real-time. 

This top wallet also comes equipped with market insights that tell users about trending tokens, study market sentiment, and provide real-time updates. Through $BEST, the native token, wallet users can also secure a discount on trading fees.

Margex

Margex is another popular way for you to buy Bitcoin anonymously. This top exchange doesn’t require users to go through a long KYC process for basic trading. Instead, users can deposit crypto and begin buying Bitcoin right away. Please note that KYC is needed for some features, but you can still do basic spot trading without providing your identity.

It’s worth noting that users can safely trade 40+ cryptos, including Bitcoin. They can also use advanced trading tools like futures with up to 100x leverage. The app also gives traders access to real-time market data and charting tools that help them make well-informed choices.

Margex’s low trading fees (0.06% taker / 0.019% maker) make it easy for people to trade Bitcoin. The platform also lets users stake their crypto holdings to make passive income.

Strong security measures, such as two-factor authentication (2FA) and cold storage, make Margex a relatively safe place to trade. The exchange also offers copy trading features that let users automatically mirror the trades of successful traders.

Exodus

Exodus is another top crypto wallet that allows users to trade Bitcoin anonymously. Along with Bitcoin, investors can trade more than 115 cryptos on Exodus, including Ethereum and Tether.

Through Exodus’ built-in swap feature, users can buy and sell one cryptocurrency for another in seconds. To keep your wallet safe, Exodus encrypts private keys and transaction data on the device for your eyes only. This multi-currency wallet can be accessed on desktop and mobile (iOS and Android).

AlphaX

Another popular platform for buying Bitcoin anonymously is AlphaX. It’s a DEX that aims to redefine crypto trading with its high-speed futures platform. When it launched in 2023, AlphaX transitioned from a centralized exchange to a fully decentralized model. It gives users the benefits of on-chain security with performance similar to a centralized exchange.

AlphaX is unique because its execution speed is as fast as that of traditional centralized platforms. However, it still has the security benefits of decentralized trading. You can create an account anonymously by simply connecting your crypto wallet or using an email address to bypass cumbersome KYC procedures.

The platform’s main feature is the crypto derivatives market. It gives users up to 125x leverage on some of the most popular perpetual pairs. The platform also gives users access to advanced trading tools and indicators that make trading easier for both new and experienced traders.

BloFin

BloFin is a popular crypto exchange that allows users to trade Bitcoin and other cryptos without going through KYC verification for basic trading. This exchange offers spot and futures trading on over 300 USDT-margined pairs without requiring identity verification for core features.

It’s worth noting that users can access up to 150x leverage on futures trading. The platform also provides advanced tools like TradingView charting, copy trading, and trading bots to assist traders in making informed decisions. BloFin’s competitive fee structure (0.1% maker/taker for spot, 0.02% maker/0.06% taker for futures) makes it even more attractive for frequent traders. The exchange also offers a welcome bonus of up to $5,000 for new users completing trading and deposit tasks.

Strong security measures, including a partnership with Fireblocks for asset custody and a 1:1 reserve policy, make BloFin a relatively safe place to trade. However, non-KYC users face a daily withdrawal limit of 20,000 USDT.

Zengo

Zengo is a great crypto wallet and exchange that offers users top-level security and privacy. Its unique keyless security system allows for anonymous and secure storage of cryptocurrencies.

Zengo, is a great solution for how to buy crypto without ID , i.e., without performing KYC. However, this feature will depend on which payment provider processes the order, the country involved, and the amount of Bitcoin bought.

Zengo also has the Zengo Pro subscription feature for $9.99 monthly, offering many additional features.

• Legacy Transfer allows you to pass your wallet on to loved ones.
• Lock your assets to a unique 3D FaceLock biometrics.
• Alerts and protections against Web3 attacks.
• Priority support is guaranteed in less than 1 hour, with most responses handled in less than 5 minutes.

Read our full Zengo review here.

KCEX

Another promising exchange from which to buy Bitcoin anonymously is KCEX. It allows users to trade without extensive KYC requirements. This platform enables basic trading with just an email or phone number signup, which makes it an attractive option for those prioritizing privacy. While some features may require additional verification, users can engage in spot trading and other basic functions without providing detailed personal information.

The exchange offers trading in over 100+ cryptos, including major coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum and various altcoins. The platform offers advanced trading options, particularly in futures trading—with leverage of up to 100x. Traders can also access real-time market data and charting tools to make better trading decisions.

One of KCEX’s standout features is its competitive fee structure, with 0% fees for spot trading and low fees for futures trading (0% maker / 0.02% taker). This fee schedule makes KCEX an economical choice for frequent traders. The platform also offers various promotions, including sign-up bonuses and rewards for completing certain tasks or reaching trading volumes.

HodlHodl

HodlHodl is a global P2P Bitcoin exchange that allows users to trade directly with each other and buy Bitcoin with no ID. The site doesn’t hold users’ funds, which allows it to avoid KYC and ID verification processes.

HodlHodl locks user funds in multi-sig escrow, which minimizes the possibility of theft of Bitcoin assets and reduces trading time.

Bisq

Bisq is open-source, peer-to-peer software that allows you to buy and sell cryptocurrencies in exchange for national currencies. No registration is required to use Bisq.

Bisq does not hold any Bitcoins. Much like HodlHodl, all cryptocurrencies are held in multi-signature addresses rather than in a Bisq-controlled wallet.

Additionally, Bisq does not hold any fiat currency (i.e., dollars and euros). Fiat is transferred directly from one trader to the other.

StealthEX

StealthEX is a cryptocurrency platform that offers asset swaps and direct sales with debit and credit cards. What’s noteworthy about StealthEX is that the platform doesn’t require users to sign up. There is no KYC; swaps and purchases can be accomplished without registration.

The exchange has over 1,400 coins available for swapping. For direct crypto purchases, StealthEX accepts Visa, Mastercard, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.

StealthEX is also a custody-free exchange, meaning they don’t store user funds. StealthEX locates the best deal during a crypto swap and makes the swap between wallets for you. There are no extra or hidden fees, but you must pay the network transaction fee for every exchange.

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4. Why Stay Anonymous?

Before we discuss ‘how to stay anonymous,’ we need to understand why it is important to become anonymous in the first place.

The main reason most often is that you don’t want to get hacked or become a potential target. Raising your privacy level will lower your risk of falling victim to such actions. Some people value privacy as a matter of principle, while others lean into Bitcoin’s anonymity and privacy features for more specific activities, like accessing the darknet, possibly, but not necessarily, for illicit activities.

However, not all examples point to “bad intentions” or paranoia; the anonymous and private aspects of Bitcoin also lend themselves to, for example, the online gambling industry. Because anonymity and privacy are at the very backbone of Bitcoin, many online crypto casinos require very few personal documents (like IDs, passports, utility bills, etc.) to register and play.

Furthermore, anonymous transactions allow people to make private donations—like to political parties or public causes—without exposing their real identities. This is especially useful if you want to support a political party or a cause without facing public scrutiny.

Bitcoin’s blockchain is built on rock-solid cryptography, preventing counterfeiting and other types of fraud, but the human element in Bitcoin transactions is always the “weakest link.”

Using an online pseudonym (e.g., Satoshi Nakamoto) will improve your privacy, but remember that a capable investigator can identify you over a standard internet connection.

Most Bitcoin wallets broadcast your real IP address, which can then be easily associated with your address(es).

As all Bitcoin transactions are a matter of public record, any address that becomes associated with your identity reveals four important pieces of information:

1. How much Bitcoin you have or had in that address
2. Exactly when you receive Bitcoin
3. Who you receive or received that Bitcoin from (unless they employ effective privacy methods)
4. The address to which you send any Bitcoin (which, as with Number 3, may identify its owner).

Bitcoin wallets with coin control features allow you to make payments from select addresses (technically called UTXOs), giving you some control over what addresses you expose.

However, the way most Bitcoin wallets handle change often results in various addresses within the wallet becoming linked, making it not ideal for those looking to buy Bitcoin without ID verification.

As a result, one identity-associated address under your control can “leak” information about your other “unknown” addresses.

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5. How to Use Bitcoin Anonymously (Basic Guide)

As we already suggested, you can assume, as a starting point, that all addresses within your Bitcoin wallet can be linked to your real identity somehow.

If you’ve bought coins from an exchange with identity verification procedures or done business under your real name, this is quite possibly the case.

The good news is your privacy can be partially or fully recovered from this state.

Improve Bitcoin Privacy

Avoid reusing addresses whenever possible. Generate a new address for each transaction you receive. Generating wallet addresses is free, so it’s an easy anonymizing step.

While there’s little point in updating a static address associated with your identity, such as a Bitcoin tip (donation) address linked to a social media profile, this is recommended practice in most other situations.

It’s best to use HD wallets, which allow a virtually unlimited number of addresses to be linked to a single private key.

Improving Your Online Privacy

If you browse the internet from the same computer or device you use for Bitcoin, you should definitely upgrade your privacy and security features.

The information site Prism-Break provides a variety of recommendations for different operating systems and devices.

At a minimum, consider installing ad and JavaScript blockers, as well as denying or regularly clearing cookies. Using privacy-enhancing browsers such as Brave browser, Tor Browser, DuckDuckGo, Opera and others is also a good call.

Another option is to use an end-to-end encrypted email service such as Mailfence or Protonmail, which protects your data from third parties and governments.

Remember – mature and open-source solutions are usually preferable when selecting privacy/security/encryption software.

Avoid SPV and Hosted Wallets

SPV wallets do not store the blockchain locally. Instead, they query a single SPV server for transactions involving your wallet’s addresses.

While this functionality is far more efficient and fast than parsing the blockchain locally, the trade-off is that every Bitcoin address you own is submitted to the SPV server.

Almost all SPV wallets (also known as thin or light wallets) leak the addresses you own to whatever SPV server they connect to.

Some SPV wallets can use bloom filters to help conceal which addresses you own by requesting extra transactions that don’t involve your wallet.

Electrum, for example, doesn’t use bloom filters at all, so any server you connect to knows every address that you own. Another great privacy-focused wallet you can use is Incognito Wallet, an open-source wallet that enables privacy on any asset it holds. The wallet applies anonymity techniques like RingCT and StealthAddress (similar to Monero) – to all assets it supports. This includes Bitcoin, Ether, USDT, and hundreds of other cryptocurrencies.

Hosted clients (wallets managed by a third party like Coinbase) are even worse regarding anonymity. All of your private and public keys reside on third-party servers, so it is trivial for the operator to know which Bitcoin addresses you own.

Additionally, any other information you’ve submitted to the service is associated with your Bitcoin addresses and can be easily accessed by the service’s operators.

These types of wallets make it easy for an SPV server operator or service administrator to know which Bitcoin addresses you own and associate them with your IP address.

If the operator is subpoenaed or NSL’d to provide logs to law enforcement or government agencies, he or she could potentially leak the information, lose it, or expose it.

One of the fundamentals of Bitcoin is not having to trust any single party. In terms of anonymity, it’s best to use a full Bitcoin client like Bitcoin Core or Armory and store the entire blockchain locally.

Managing Passwords

Human-memorizable passwords tend to be weak. This problem and its solution are best demonstrated by the following XKCD webcomic:

Using your own variant on “correct horse battery staple” for multiple accounts is also a bad idea from a security and privacy perspective.

A single compromised account could leak all the passwords to your email, Bitcoin exchange, and other sensitive accounts. Trying to memorize a different password for tens or even hundreds of accounts is similarly a recipe for disaster.

The solution is to use a good, random-word password and a password manager. Password managers generate strong, lengthy, random passwords you don’t need to memorize.

The program stores your passwords in an encrypted format. They are accessible only when you enter your single master password into the manager (which should be memorized and never written down).

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6. How to Become Anonymous (Advanced Guide)

Online security is often characterized as a trade-off between effectiveness and convenience. You can choose which end of this scale you wish to be on.

In this chapter, I’ll review methods that require more effort but make your steps much less traceable.

Disguising Your IP Address with Tor

The first step in becoming anonymous is using Tor, a powerful anonymity tool.

Visit TorProject.org to download and install Tor (short for The Onion Router). Once activated, Tor opens as a separate, Firefox-based internet browser that disguises your IP address.

Tor works by routing your connection through several other participating computers. The ultimate effect is that whichever website you access will see your request as coming from an entirely separate machine, usually in a different state or country.

Although it masks the IP address and certain potentially identifying browser characteristics, Tor is by no means a complete privacy solution.

Using your real name, accessing your regular email, or signing into social media via Tor will have exactly the same de-anonymizing effect as doing so through a regular browser.

For a more private email address, create a dedicated darknet email account for Tor usage, such as a Mail2Tor account.

Note that Tor also disables JavaScript by default; certain websites won’t load properly without JavaScript, but re-enabling it can potentially de-anonymize.

Once browsing through Tor, you may also access the darknet further to research internet anonymity without undue concern over prying eyes.

Running Bitcoin Through Tor

Once you feel familiar enough with Tor, it’s time to make your Bitcoin addresses anonymous. To do that, you need your wallet to connect through Tor.

One solution can be using Bitcoin Core, which automatically connects through Tor if it detects its presence.

To force this behavior, follow these instructions on Bitcoin’s GitHub. Most other wallets can also connect through Tor; consult their documentation to discover how.

Consider installing a new wallet that only ever connects through Tor. To do that, disable your internet connection and configure the new wallet to run exclusively via Tor before launching it. You may then re-enable your internet connection and allow the wallet to sync.

If using a full wallet, copying an existing blocks folder (ensure that you don’t also copy your wallet.dat folder) to the “Tor wallet’s” data directory will greatly speed up the syncing process.

Directly transferring bitcoins from your old wallet to this new one will somewhat obscure the ownership of those coins. However, far more sophisticated transferal methods (covered later) will be more effective at disguising this flow of funds.

Consider Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

As mentioned, Tor does not guarantee 100% privacy. An adversary who owns both the first and last machines you connect through will see your IP address and the sites you access.

So, the question is: How to buy bitcoin without id verification? 

If you’re willing to pay for a little extra peace of mind, consider a VPN service. Instead of accessing the internet – or Tor – directly, your connection will be routed through the VPN’s servers.

A VPN has somewhat similar benefits to Tor; it obscures your IP address. In fact, most VPNs allow you to spoof the nationality of your IP address (which can be helpful for accessing location-specific data).

VPNs also provide security benefits. They act to screen your device for malware via firewalls and proxies.

Unlike certain sites that block access from known Tor routes, VPNs usually afford unlimited access and much higher bandwidth than the Tor network.

It’s entirely possible to access Tor through a VPN for another layer of obfuscation.

Disk Encryption

Leaving traces of your activity on your hard drive or removable media represents another way in which anonymity may be compromised. Disk encryption software allows you to encrypt a file, folder, or entire drive such that it can no longer be accessed without a password.

Encrypting your Bitcoin wallet file and any sensitive information stored on your computer is good practice. With decent disk encryption software, you can create multiple, secure backups of your most important files and data and disperse them on USB memory sticks and the like.

Wikipedia offers a good comparison of the available disk encryption software options. Do not rely on the Windows BitLocker program; unlike open-source alternatives, it is not provably secure.

Warning: If you lose or forget your encryption password, you’ll lose access to any encrypted files. No recovery!

The Amnesic Incognito Live System (TAILS)

Finally, if you’re serious about your privacy, you’ll want to bring all the above methods together in a secure operating environment. Unfortunately, standard operating systems do not prioritize privacy.

Windows, for example, is known for its efforts to monitor users. It, therefore, makes sense to boot into a secure, privacy-respecting operating system before attempting to send Bitcoin anonymously.

The best possible option here is Tails, a variant of the Debian-based Linux operating system, which by design leaves no trails.

Don’t worry if you’ve never used Linux before; Tails features an interface that will be familiar to any Windows or Mac user. Tails can even mimic the appearance of Windows so that casual onlookers won’t notice anything unusual about your computer usage.

Tails packs a host of privacy, security, and encryption features into a package small enough to fit on a portable USB drive. It even includes KeePassX (a password manager) and the Electrum light Bitcoin wallet as standard!

To boot to Tails on start-up, the USB drive must be formatted as bootable via a program like Universal USB Installer or Rufus.

Tails must then be downloaded and installed on the drive. Note that installing and keeping Tails updated will require 2 such USB devices.

If you want to get started with Tails, you can use this simple online tutorial.

Altering your Bios setup to booting from Tails rather than the hard drive allows you to securely use untrusted computers and networks.

This means you may anonymously send Bitcoin from even a public, monitored computer, such as those in a library or internet café, without leaving any traces of your identity or activity.

While Tails easily defeats any software-based data logging, it can’t protect against hardware keyloggers or hardware screen captures. Fortunately, Tails contains a virtual keyboard and other mouse-driven text entry applications.

For password entry on untrusted devices, employing a combination of onscreen text-entry and spam-text logging countermeasures is recommended.

Tails stores no information regarding the software you use, sites you visit (via its built-in Tor browser), or anything else. However, Tails does allow you to create an encrypted, persistent volume within your USB stick.

Any data placed in the persistent volume will be maintained between sessions. It’s advised to store your password manager data file within this volume.

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7. Anonymizing Your Bitcoin

If you have bitcoins that have already been in some way tainted with a link that could identify you, it’s possible to break that link and effectively anonymize the coins again.

If done correctly, future transactions from that point forward won’t be connected to you anymore.

Tumbling Coins Through Mixers

For anonymizing purposes, there are mixers (also known as tumblers). The basic concept is that you send the coins you want to have anonymized to the mixer, which in turn sends back the same amount minus a fee to a new address you provide.

The coins you receive back are from a large pool maintained by the mixing service and should ideally have no connection to your original coins.

The major flaw of this concept is its centralized nature. You have to trust the mixing service to return your coins, and additionally, you have to trust that they do not keep any records of the mixing transactions that were performed.

The latter point is especially tricky since you can never know for certain what they are doing with the data. If the mixer doesn’t keep any transaction records, they cannot prove it.

On the other hand, you have no way of knowing if they don’t or are even forced to hand over their data.

JoinMarket, an implementation of a privacy-improving technique first proposed by core developer Greg Maxwell, offers a trustless, decentralized method of mixing.

This infographic provides a gentle introduction to the workings of JoinMarket. Although a fairly simple concept, at the present state of development, JoinMarket represents a more complicated undertaking than sending coins through a mixing site:

If you have a good understanding of Bitcoin and you’re prepared for a more hands-on method, JoinMarket is highly recommended.

JoinMarket gives you back control over the mixing process and lowers your risk and transaction fee. It even lets you earn a little money by helping others mix their transactions.

Another easy way to implement coin shuffling is to use the Wasabi wallet. This is an open-source wallet that implements trustless coin shuffling with mathematically provable anonymity.

Obscuring the Trail Through Altcoin Shifting

Why stop at mixing between Bitcoin addresses? Mixing between Bitcoin and privacy-centric altcoins provides another layer of obscurity.

This method may require a little less trust than a centralized mixing service. The best altcoin to use for this purpose is probably Monero (XMR).

This short guide covers buying Monero with Bitcoin (tl;dr, you can use Binance). To anonymize your bitcoins, simply convert them to XMR, forward them to a new Monero address under your control, and then convert them back to a new, anonymous BTC.

Circling Bitcoin Through an Exchange

This is perhaps the easiest method, but it doesn’t provide 100% total anonymity. If you have an account on a crypto exchange like Coinbase, Binance, or Kraken, you can send your Bitcoin to the exchange and then withdraw it to a different wallet address than the one you sent it from.

This works because many exchanges have a general “pool” receiving wallet that assigns incoming coins to your exchange account. You can then send them to a different address.

Whichever exchange you use will be able to see where you sent it, but from the outside, it will look like X sent 0.025 Bitcoin into “Binance Wallet 4.” That’s it. A future withdrawal will come from one of their general wallets. They will know, but again, the outside won’t.

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8. Conclusion – Anonymity Comes at a Price

To sum up, it’s up to you to decide how much anonymity you need online. The more anonymous you want to be, the more effort you’ll need to navigate around the web.

This guide provides you with the main tools and techniques so you can mix and match whichever works best for you.

If you’re just looking to buy crypto without ID and without being traced, just use cash – it will solve most of the issues. If you are just concerned with providing your ID, there are ways to bypass that too.

However, if you want to get really serious about using Bitcoin anonymously around the web, you must go through the trouble of becoming truly and fully anonymous.

If you’ve had any experience with buying Bitcoin anonymously, I would love to hear it in the comment section below – don’t worry, you can use an alias 🙂

FAQS

How to Buy Bitcoin Anonymously

The best way to buy Bitcoin anonymously is to find someone IRL who has some Bitcoin they are willing to sell in exchange for a means of payment such as cash. You can attend crypto meetups to find people that have Bitcoin. Buying Bitcoin anonymously is becoming harder due to changes to KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements on exchanges. Another option is to use a peer-to-peer marketplace to find sellers.

How to Buy Large Amounts of Bitcoin Anonymously

Given that a “large amount” is a relative term, this would be difficult given KYC requirements on exchanges, however this could be achieved if someone were able to find a seller with large amounts of Bitcoin they were willing to sell off the books. However, all Bitcoin transactions leave a record on the public blockchain, so anyone could see the address the Bitcoin had moved to “anonymously”.

How to Buy Bitcoin with Cash Anonymously

Do this you would need to find a seller and meet up with them to arrange the sale. Alternatively, you could use a Bitcoin ATM to make the transaction, as some of these accept cash and do not require KYC.

How to Anonymously Buy Bitcoin with Credit Card

This is very difficult to achieve as credit cards leave a transaction record that is linked to your name. One option is to use a prepaid card, however this would require some research to find one that would work without KYC checks.

How to Buy Bitcoin Anonymously in the UK

This is difficult as recent laws now require sellers to register their sale with the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority). In addition, Bitcoin ATMs are now banned in the UK, creating more barriers to buying Bitcoin anonymously in the UK.

How to Buy and Send Bitcoin Anonymously

Even if you manage to buy Bitcoin anonymously, Bitcoin transactions leave a record on the blockchain, so this is not possible.

Can Bitcoin Be Purchased Anonymously?

Yes, Bitcoin can be purchased anonymously, but it’s increasingly difficult now due to regulatory changes to the law.

Can I Buy Crypto Without KYC Checks?

This is possible, but not advised as regulations around the world are making it more unlawful to do this.

Is Bitcoin 100% Anonymous?

Bitcoin is not 100% anonymous. All Bitcoin transactions are recorded on the publicly accessible blockchain. While users’ identities aren’t directly tied to their Bitcoin addresses, advanced techniques like blockchain analysis can sometimes link addresses to real-world identities.

Which Bitcoin Wallet Does Not Need Verification?

A number of wallets, such as Trezor, do not require KYC verification. However, to make a Bitcoin purchase, you will typically need to provide ID verification.

How to buy Bitcoin without ID

The best way to buy Bitcoin without ID is to use a P2P exchange that can match buyers and sellers to make trades. Alternatively, using methods such as a Bitcoin ATM machine or buying Bitcoin from people in person using cash.

How can I buy Bitcoin without ID verification?

You can buy Bitcoin without ID verification by using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) marketplaces, decentralized exchanges (DEXs), Bitcoin ATMs (depending on the machine and limits), or by purchasing directly from individuals for cash.

Can you buy Bitcoin without ID?

Yes, you can buy Bitcoin without ID, but it typically involves using less conventional methods such as: P2P marketplaces Bitcoin ATMs (with limits) Decentralized exchanges (DEXs) Direct cash transactions with individuals However, most major exchanges like Coinbase require ID verification to comply with regulations.

How to buy Bitcoin with PayPal without ID?

Buying Bitcoin with PayPal without ID is challenging because most platforms that accept PayPal for Bitcoin transactions usually require some form of identity verification. However, you might find sellers on P2P platforms like Paxful who accept PayPal for Bitcoin without needing ID verification.

Can I buy Bitcoin anonymously?

Yes, buying Bitcoin anonymously is possible, but it typically requires you to use specific methods like: P2P trading with cash or anonymous payment methods (gift cards, etc.) Bitcoin ATMs (with cash, under a certain limit) Decentralized exchanges like Bisq Bear in mind that truly anonymous transactions are difficult, especially if you plan to convert Bitcoin back into fiat currency.

Buy Bitcoin anonymously with a debit card

Buying Bitcoin anonymously with a debit card is nearly impossible. Most services that allow debit card payments (like Coinbase or Binance) require identity verification. To maintain anonymity, cash or non-trackable payment methods are better alternatives.

Can you buy Bitcoin on Coinbase without ID?

No, you cannot buy Bitcoin on Coinbase without ID. Coinbase is a regulated exchange that follows strict KYC (Know Your Customer) rules, so you must provide ID for verification before purchasing any cryptocurrency. You may be able to use Coinbase and CEXs to rotate bitcoins you already own, but not to buy new ones without ID.