Service overview
GhostSwap
ghostswap.io
Swap front-end routing orders through third-party processing partners
Privacy 10.0/10
Safety 8.4/10
ChangeNOW review
High-volume instant swap service; no account needed, AML/KYC policy applies
Privacy score
2.7/ 10
PoorHow much you reveal
See the score breakdown Safety score
4.4/ 10
CautionHow well you’re protected
See the score breakdown Identity policy
3/ 4 KYC level
ID on risk flag Read the policy Evidence
Documentation reviewed Grades based on published terms and documentation.
0 published tests Two grades. Different questions.Understand the methodology
The overview
The essentials, at a glance.
ChangeNOW is a swap service operating since 2017. Its terms put it at KYC level 3 of 4: ID on risk flag. NoKYC Score grades it 2.7/10 for privacy (poor) and 4.4/10 for safety (caution). In its favour: no account needed, no email needed and no phone number. To watch: it may ask for ID, screens deposits and passes orders to partner exchanges. No incidents are on record.
What stands out
- No account needed
Usable without creating an account, or the account is only a random number.
- Accepts Monero
Monero hides sender, receiver and amount, so the payment cannot be traced to you.
- No email needed
An email address is not required to sign up or use it.
Before you use it
- May ask for ID
The terms reserve the right to demand identity documents, often after a risk flag.
- Screens deposits
Deposits are scored by blockchain analytics; a flag can freeze them.
- Passes orders to partners
Orders go to upstream exchanges that apply their own screening.
No test transactions published yet.
About ChangeNOW
ChangeNOW is one of the largest instant swap services and powers swaps inside many wallets and partner sites. Standard exchanges do not require an account, while an optional account unlocks extra features. The terms of use refer to a separate AML/KYC policy that applies to all users, and the company states publicly that AML reviews decide whether it can process, refund or must hold a transaction. Reviewers on public review sites have reported large amounts placed on hold after such reviews, which the company disputes. Swaps are routed through external liquidity, so upstream screening can also affect an order.
Cite this review or read as plain text
NoKYC Score, "ChangeNOW review", reviewed 22 Oct 2026, https://nokycscore.com/service/changenow
Open plain-text review ↗The feature review
Privacy, without the guesswork.
5 / 15 features confirmed5 warnings in the recorded terms
Identity
3 / 4 confirmed
- ID never requiredNo
The terms rule identity checks out, or the design makes them impossible.
- No account neededYes
Usable without creating an account, or the account is only a random number.
- No email neededYes
An email address is not required to sign up or use it.
- No phone numberYes
A phone number is never required.
Payment
1 / 2 confirmed
- Accepts MoneroYes
Monero hides sender, receiver and amount, so the payment cannot be traced to you.
- Accepts LightningNot stated
Bitcoin Lightning payments: fast, cheap and more private than on-chain.
Access
0 / 2 confirmed
- Tor onion addressNot stated
An official .onion address, reachable only through Tor.
- Works without JavaScriptNot stated
Core functions work with scripts disabled, as in Tor Browser on its safest setting.
Trust
1 / 7 confirmed
- Never holds your fundsNo
The operator never controls user funds, so it cannot freeze them.
- Own liquidityNo
Fills orders from its own reserves, so no upstream exchange screens your deposit.
- Refund without IDNot stated
The terms commit to refunding a stopped order without identity documents.
- Open sourceNo
The code that matters is public and can be inspected.
- Independent auditNot stated
A third party audited the code or the no-logs claim, and the report is public.
- Company namedNot stated
The operating company and its jurisdiction are published.
- 5+ years operatingYes
Has operated continuously for five years or more.
Warnings
5 flagged
- May ask for IDYes
The terms reserve the right to demand identity documents, often after a risk flag.
- Screens depositsYes
Deposits are scored by blockchain analytics; a flag can freeze them.
- Passes orders to partnersYes
Orders go to upstream exchanges that apply their own screening.
- Holds your fundsYes
The operator controls user funds while they are on the platform.
- Email requiredNot in terms
An email address is required to use the service.
- Phone number requiredNot in terms
A phone number is required to use the service.
- Closed sourceYes
The code is not public, so its behaviour cannot be checked.
- Nobody accountableNot in terms
No company or person is publicly responsible for the service.
“Not stated” means the service’s own pages do not say. Expand a group to see every check.
Identity requirements
Does ChangeNOW require KYC?
Level 3 of 4
ID on risk flag
- 0 Never
- 1 Not mentioned
- 2 Rare
- 3 On risk flag
- 4 Mandatory
KYC level 3: ID on risk flag. The terms allow funds to be held and identity demanded after an automated risk flag.
Terms incorporate an AML/KYC policy covering all users; transactions flagged in AML review can be held pending verification.
Transparent by design
Every point, explained.
Both grades start at 50 points and move by fixed, published amounts. Nothing is adjusted by hand. The total is divided by ten.
Privacy
2.7/ 10
- Starting points 50
- KYC level 3: ID on risk flag -14
- No registration +6
- Accepts Monero +4
- Third-party liquidity -3
- AML screening -7
- May request ID -7
- Closed source -2
- Total, clamped to 0–100 27
Safety
4.4/ 10
- Starting points 50
- Third-party liquidity -6
- AML screening -3
- May request ID -4
- Closed source -3
- 5+ years operating +10
- Total, clamped to 0–100 44
Evidence, not promises
Test ledger 0
Published test transactions, with the route, amount and outcome available to inspect.
No test transactions published yet
The grades above rest on ChangeNOW’s terms and documentation. Tests will appear here with the date, route, amount band and result as they are run.
The track record
Incidents 0
No incidents on record
We have no documented cases for ChangeNOW. An empty record does not guarantee a service is risk-free.
Community experience
What users are saying 0
Reviews never change a grade. Reviews with a transaction reference are marked.
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Alternatives to ChangeNOW
All alternatives → Service overview
Chainflip
chainflip.io
Cross-chain DEX protocol for native BTC, ETH, SOL and stablecoin swaps
Privacy 7.1/10
Safety 8.3/10
Service overview
Swap Market
swapmarket.github.io
Open-source front end for atomic swaps between Bitcoin, Lightning, Liquid and Rootstock
Privacy 9.3/10
Safety 7.3/10
Service overview
eigenwallet
eigenwallet.org
Desktop wallet for peer-to-peer BTC-to-XMR atomic swaps, formerly UnstoppableSwap
Privacy 8.9/10
Safety 7.0/10
ChangeNOW vs GhostSwapChangeNOW vs ChainflipChangeNOW vs Swap MarketChangeNOW vs eigenwallet
ChangeNOW: common questions
Does ChangeNOW require KYC?
ChangeNOW is rated KYC level 3 of 4 on this site: ID on risk flag. Terms incorporate an AML/KYC policy covering all users; transactions flagged in AML review can be held pending verification.
Is ChangeNOW safe to use?
ChangeNOW has a Safety grade of 4.4 out of 10 and a Privacy grade of 2.7 out of 10. No incidents are on record. Evidence level: documentation reviewed.
Is ChangeNOW legit?
ChangeNOW is a working swap service that has operated since 2017. Being real is not the same as being safe: its Safety grade here is 4.4 out of 10, built from custody, liquidity, track record and incidents.
Is ChangeNOW a scam?
NoKYC Score does not label services as scams; it records documented incidents with their sources and outcomes. No incidents are on record for ChangeNOW. Its terms also allow it to hold a flagged deposit and ask for identity documents.
Do I need an account or email to use ChangeNOW?
No account needed.
Does ChangeNOW have a Tor onion address?
No official onion address was found on ChangeNOW's own pages.
Which cryptocurrencies does ChangeNOW support?
ChangeNOW supports BTC, ETH, XMR, USDT, LTC, SOL, XRP, TRX.
Is ChangeNOW custodial?
Yes. ChangeNOW holds funds during a trade, which means it is able to delay or freeze them.
Can I use ChangeNOW over Tor?
ChangeNOW does not publish an official onion address.
Listing history
- Listing added. Facts and KYC level set from the service's own terms and documentation.