# LocalMonero review: KYC policy, privacy and safety grades

> LocalMonero was a P2P exchange and is no longer operating. Wind-down announced in May 2024; the site was taken offline in November 2024.

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

## Key facts
- **Category:** P2P Exchanges
- **KYC level:** 1 of 4: No ID mentioned
- **Sign-up:** Email optional
- **Custody:** custodial
- **Incidents on record:** 1
- **Last reviewed:** 22 Oct 2026
- **Official website:** https://localmonero.co

## What it is
LocalMonero was for nearly seven years the best-known peer-to-peer marketplace for buying and selling Monero for cash, bank transfers and other payment methods, with trades protected by a platform-held arbitration bond. The operators announced in May 2024 that the service would wind down, citing unspecified internal and external factors, and the site was taken offline in November 2024. The official domain now shows a closure notice stating that the platform is offline and that its knowledge-base articles are preserved through the Internet Archive. The reasons for closure were never stated in detail by the operators.

## What the terms say about ID
No identity verification was required by the platform while it operated.

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

## Incidents on record
- 7 May 2024: Announced wind-down citing internal and external factors (outcome: service closed). Source: https://decrypt.co/229844/monero-exchange-localmonero-is-winding-down-its-operations

## Questions
### Is LocalMonero still operating?
No. Wind-down announced in May 2024; the site was taken offline in November 2024. See the alternatives listed on this page.

## Sources
- https://localmonero.co
- https://decrypt.co/229844/monero-exchange-localmonero-is-winding-down-its-operations

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