---
layout: ../layouts/MarkdownLayout.astro
title: About
updatedAt: 2025-05-15
description: 'Learn how KYCnot.me website works and about our mission to protect privacy in cryptocurrency.'
icon: 'ri:information-line'
---

import DonationAddress from '../components/DonationAddress.astro'

- [What is KYC?](#what-is-kyc)
- [Why does this site exist?](#why-does-this-site-exist)
- [Why only Bitcoin and Monero?](#why-only-bitcoin-and-monero)
- [User Accounts](#user-accounts)
  - [Verified and Affiliated Users](#verified-and-affiliated-users)
- [Listings](#listings)
  - [Suggesting a new listing](#suggesting-a-new-listing)
  - [Listing statuses](#listing-statuses)
- [Reviews and Comments](#reviews-and-comments)
  - [Moderation](#moderation)
- [API](#api)
- [Donate](#support)
- [Contact](#contact)
- [Downloads and Assets](#downloads-and-assets)

## What is this page?

KYCnot.me is a directory of trustworthy alternatives for buying, exchanging, trading, and using cryptocurrencies without having to disclose your identity, thus preserving your right to privacy.

## What is KYC?

**KYC** stands for _Know Your Customer_, a process designed to protect financial institutions against fraud, corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing.

The truth is that KYC is a **direct attack on our privacy** and puts us in disadvantage against the governments. **True criminals don't care about KYC policies**. True criminals know perfectly how to avoid such policies. In fact, they normally use the FIAT system and don't even need to use cryptocurrencies. Banks are the biggest money launders, the [HSBC scandal](https://www.reuters.com/business/hsbc-fined-85-mln-anti-money-laundering-failings-2021-12-17/), [Nordea](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nordea-bnk-moneylaundering-idUSKCN1QL11S) or [Swedbank](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-moneylaundering-swedbank/swedbank-hit-with-record-386-million-fine-over-baltic-money-laundering-breaches-idUSKBN2163LU) are just some examples.

Chainalysis found that only 0.34% of the transaction volume with cryptocurrencies in 2023 was attributable to criminal activity. Bitcoin's share of this is significantly lower. Illicit transactions with Euros accounted for 1% of the EU's GDP or €110 billion in 2010. [[1]](https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/2024-crypto-crime-report-introduction/) [[2]](https://transparency.eu/priority/financial-flows-crime/)

KYC only affects small individuals like you and me. It is an annoying procedure that **forces us to trust our personal information to a third party** in order to buy, use or unlock our funds. We should start using cryptocurrencies as they were intended to be used: without barriers.

## Why does this site exist?

Crypto was born to free us from banks and governments controlling our money. Simple as that.

When exchanges require your ID and personal information through KYC, they undermine the core principle of cryptocurrency: privacy. Not everyone possesses an ID, and not everyone resides in a "supported" country. Small businesses often struggle with the burden of compliance and the fear of hefty fines. Moreover, exchanges are [targets for hackers](https://www.reuters.com/business/coinbase-says-cyber-criminals-stole-account-data-some-customers-2025-05-15/?ref=guptadeepak.com), putting your sensitive data at risk of theft.

KYC turns crypto back into the system we're trying to escape. That's why I built this site - to help you use crypto the way it was meant to be used: privately.

## Why only Bitcoin and Monero?

**Bitcoin**: It's the initial spark of the decentralized money. A solid project with a strong community. It is the most well-known and widespread cryptocurrency.

**Monero**: If you're looking for digital cash that's truly private, Monero is it. It's designed for privacy, works like real cash (fungible), has low fees, and is supported by a dedicated, long-standing community.

While the main focus is on Bitcoin and Monero, you'll find that many of the listed services also accept other cryptocurrencies, such as Ethereum or Litecoin.

## User Accounts

You can [create an account](/account/generate) to suggest new services or share your feedback on service pages.

User accounts do not require any personal information. Your username will be **randomly** generated to prevent impersonation and protect your privacy.

When you create an account, you are given a **login key**. Login keys are **displayed only once**. Be sure to **store it securely**, as it **cannot be recovered** if lost. It is recommended to use a password manager like [Bitwarden](https://bitwarden.com) or [KeePassXC](https://keepassxc.org/).

### User Karma

Users earn karma by participating in the community. When your comments get approved, or when making contributions. As your karma grows, you'll unlock **special features**, which are detailed on your [user profile page](/account).

### Verified and Affiliated Users

**Verified users** have proven their identity by linking their account to a specific website. This verification confirms they are legitimate representatives of that site, whether it's a personal website, blog, social media profile, or service page. You can request verification [in your profile](/account).

**Affiliated users** are users who represent a service listed in the directory, such as owners, support staff, or team members. If you represent a service and want to become affiliated, you can request it [in your profile](/account).

## Listings

### Suggesting a new listing

Suggest a new listing by visiting the [service suggestion form](/service-suggestion/new). Provide the most accurate information for higher chances of getting approved.

Once submitted, you will get a **unique tracking page** where you can monitor the suggestion status and communicate directly with moderators.

#### Listing Requirements

To list a new service, it must fulfill these requirements:

- Offer a service
- Publicly available website explaining what the service is about
- Terms of service or FAQ document
- The service must have been operating for at least 6 months.

Examples of non-valid services:

- A cryptocurrency project
- A cryptocurrency wallet
- A chat link without any information about the service, or review page.

#### Suggestion Review Process

When you submit a new service, it gets the `COMMUNITY_CONTRIBUTED` status and the `unlisted` visibility level. The service **will not appear in search results**, but it can be viewed with a direct link.

##### First Review (Unlisted -> Public)

- A member of the **KYCnot.me team** reviews the submission to ensure it isn't spam or inappropriate.
- If the listing passes this initial check, it becomes **publicly visible** to all users.
- At this stage, the listing is **Community Contributed** and will show a disclaimer.

> Allow up to a week for the initial review. As a small team of two volunteers, we have to handle a large number of suggestions alongside our other life commitments.

##### Second Review (Community Contributed -> Approved)

The service will be tested and investigated more in depth. If:

- Service information is accurate.
- Works as described (at the time of the testing).
- Basic functionality is tested successfully.
- Communication with service's support was successful.
- No obvious red flags.
- Platform user reviews will be taken into account.
- Terms of Service and other documents are briefly reviewed.
- Other platforms are checked for the service reputation (Trustpilot, Reddit, Bitcointalk, etc.)

The service will be granted the `APPROVED` status.

##### Final Review (Approved -> Verified)

After a period of no reported issues, we will do a **third review**.

- The service is tested across different dates and under various conditions.
- The service administrators and support teams will be contacted for additional verification.
- User reviews will be checked for any issues and taken into account.
- Terms of Service and other documents will be reviewed again.
- Other platforms are checked for the service reputation (Trustpilot, Reddit, Bitcointalk, etc.)

If the service meets all requirements, it is granted the **`VERIFIED`** status.

##### Failed Verifications (Scams)

If the data is not accurate, the service is a scam, or any other checks fail, the service will be rejected and will appear with a disclaimer.

#### Verification Steps

Services will usually show the verification steps that the admins took to reach the verified (or not) status. Each step will have a description and some evidence attached.

#### Service Attributes

An attribute is a feature of a service, categorized as:

- **Good** – A positive feature
- **Warning** – A potential concern
- **Bad** – A significant drawback
- **Information** – Neutral details

You can view all available attributes on the [Attributes page](/attributes).

Attributes are classified into two main types:

1. **Privacy Attributes** – Related to data protection and anonymity.
1. **Trust Attributes** – Related to reliability and security.

These categories **directly influence** a service's Privacy and Trust scores, which contribute to its **overall rating**.

#### Service Scores

Scores are calculated **automatically** using clear, fixed rules based on the attributes of the service ([See all attributes](/attributes)). We do not change or adjust scores by hand. The scoring system is **open-source** and anyone can review or suggest improvements.

##### Privacy Score

The privacy score measures how well a service protects user privacy, using a transparent, rules-based approach:

1. **Base Score:** Every service starts with a neutral score of 50 points.
1. **Privacy Attributes:** The sum of all privacy points from attributes categorized as 'PRIVACY' is added to the score. [See all attributes](/attributes).
1. **Final Score Range:** The final score is always kept between 0 and 100.

##### Trust Score

The trust score represents how reliable and trustworthy a service is, based on objective, transparent criteria.

1. **Base Score:** Every service begins with a neutral score of 50 points.
1. **Trust Attributes:** The total trust points from all attributes categorized as 'TRUST' are added to the score. [See all attributes](/attributes).
1. **Final Score Range:** The final score is always kept between 0 and 100.

##### Overall Score

The overall score is calculated as `(privacy * 0.6) + (trust * 0.4)` truncated. This provides a combined measure of privacy and trust.

#### Terms of Service Reviews

KYCnot.me automatically reviews and summarizes the Terms of Service (ToS) for every service monthly using AI. You get simple, clear summaries that highlight the most important points, so you can quickly see what matters.

We hash each ToS document and only review it again if it changes. Some services may go a long time without a new review, but we still check and scrape their ToS every month.

We aim for accuracy, but the AI may sometimes miss details or highlight less relevant information. If you see any error, contact us.

#### Events

There are two types of events:

- Automated events: Created by the system whenever something about a service changes, like its description, supported currencies, attributes, verification status...
- Manual events: Added by admins when there's important news, such as a service going offline, being hacked, acquired, shut down, or other major updates.

You can also take a look at the [global timeline](/events) where you will find all the service's events sorted by date.

### Listing Statuses

#### **Unlisted**

Initial state after the service is submitted. The service will **not appear in the list or search results**. Only accessible with a **direct link**. An **initial review** is done by the team to ensure the service is **not spam or inappropriate**.

#### **Community Contributed**

The service is **listed** in the directory, but it has **not been reviewed** by our team. The information **may be inaccurate, incomplete, or fraudulent**. Users should use these services **with caution**.

#### **Approved**

The service is listed in the directory and has been **reviewed by our team**. The information is **accurate and complete**. Initial tests were **successful**, but there is **not enough trust** to be verified.

#### **Verified**

The service has been listed for a while and has **not been reported** as a scam, user reviews are **mostly positive**, and the service is **not under any investigation**. Further tests and checks have been **successfully completed**. Contact with support or admins was also successful.

#### **Scam**

The service is a **scam**. User reports, negative reviews, or **failed internal testing** and other red flags were found. Evidence is provided in the **verification section** of the service page.

#### **Archived**

The service is **no longer available**. It may have been **shut down, acquired, or otherwise discontinued**. Still **visible** in the directory **for reference**.

## Reviews and Comments

Reviews are comments with a one to five star rating for the service. Each user can leave only one review per service; new reviews replace the old one.

You can also post regular comments to share your experience, ask questions, or discuss the service.

If you've used the service, you can add an **order ID** or proof—this is only visible to admins for verification. You can also **flag** comments for issues like blocked funds or KYC requirements.

Some reviews may be spam or fake. Read comments carefully and **always do your own research before making decisions**.

### Moderation

**All comments are moderated.** First, an **AI checks** each comment. If nothing is flagged, the comment is published right away. If something seems off, the comment is held for a **human review**. We only remove comments that do not follow the guidelines.

Comments from [**users affiliated with a service**](/about#verified-and-affiliated-users) are automatically approved on their own service page.

To **see comments waiting for moderation**, toggle the switch in the comments section. These comments show up with a yellow background and a "pending" label.

#### Comment Guidelines

We welcome honest, constructive discussion. However, any comment or review that contains the following will be **rejected**:

- **Spam** – promotional content, fake reviews, or coordinated campaigns.
- **Doxxing** – harassment, threats, or disclosure of private information.
- **Illegal content** – anything that encourages illegal activity.
- **AI-generated text** – AI-written content is not allowed.
- **Unrelated content** – content that is not related to the service.
- **Personal discussion** – discussions not related to the service.

A review score may be **disabled** if it:

- Is not based on your own first-hand experience.
- Contains demonstrably false or unverified claims.
- Is not relevant to the service being reviewed.

## API

You can access basic service data through our [public API](/docs/api).

## Support

You can **support** our work through these methods:

<DonationAddress
  cryptoName="Monero"
  cryptoIcon="monero"
  address="86nkJeHWarEYZJh3gcPGKcQeueKbq2uRRC2NX6kopBpdHFfY1j4vmrVAwRG1T4pNBwBwfJ4U4USLUZ6CjDtacp8x4y8v3rq"
/>

## Contact

You can contact us through SimpleX Chat:

- [SimpleX Chat](https://simplex.chat/contact#/?v=2&smp=smp%3A%2F%2F0YuTwO05YJWS8rkjn9eLJDjQhFKvIYd8d4xG8X1blIU%3D%40smp8.simplex.im%2FcgKHYUYnpAIVoGb9lxb0qEMEpvYIvc1O%23%2F%3Fv%3D1-2%26dh%3DMCowBQYDK2VuAyEAIW_JSq8wOsLKG4Xv4O54uT2D_l8MJBYKQIFj1FjZpnU%253D%26srv%3Dbeccx4yfxxbvyhqypaavemqurytl6hozr47wfc7uuecacjqdvwpw2xid.onion)

## Downloads and Assets

For logos and brand assets, visit our [downloads page](/downloads).

## Disclaimer

This website is strictly for informational purposes regarding privacy technology in the cryptocurrency space. We unequivocally condemn and do not endorse, support, or facilitate money laundering, terrorist financing, or any other illegal financial activities. The use of any information or service mentioned herein for such purposes is strictly prohibited and contrary to the core principles of this project.

By using this website, you acknowledge and agree that you are solely responsible for your actions, due diligence, and compliance with all applicable laws. You use the information and any linked services entirely at your own risk. The operators of this website will not be held liable for any losses, damages, or legal consequences arising from your use of this site or any services listed herein.
