# ChangeNOW review: KYC policy, privacy and safety grades

> 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.

Source: NoKYC Score, "ChangeNOW review", reviewed 22 Oct 2026, https://nokycscore.com/service/changenow

## Key facts
- **Category:** Instant Swaps
- **KYC level:** 3 of 4: ID on risk flag
- **Grades:** Privacy 2.7/10, Safety 4.4/10
- **Sign-up:** No account needed
- **Custody:** custodial
- **Incidents on record:** 0
- **Last reviewed:** 22 Oct 2026
- **Official website:** https://changenow.io

## What it is
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.

## What the terms say about ID
Terms incorporate an AML/KYC policy covering all users; transactions flagged in AML review can be held pending verification.

## Features and warnings
- **Identity:** ID never required: no; No account needed: yes; No email needed: yes; No phone number: yes
- **Payment:** Accepts Monero: yes; Accepts Lightning: not stated
- **Access:** Tor onion address: not stated; Works without JavaScript: not stated
- **Trust:** Never holds your funds: no; Own liquidity: no; Refund without ID: not stated; Open source: no; Independent audit: not stated; Company named: not stated; 5+ years operating: yes
- **Warnings:** May ask for ID: yes; Screens deposits: yes; Passes orders to partners: yes; Holds your funds: yes; Email required: not in terms; Phone number required: not in terms; Closed source: yes; Nobody accountable: not in terms

## 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.

## Sources
- https://changenow.io/terms-of-use
- https://www.trustpilot.com/review/changenow.io?search=AML

How grades are calculated: https://nokycscore.com/methodology