How we rate KYC and privacy

The short version

None of the providers we compare needs an account. Most can ask for ID if a swap is flagged by their risk checks. NEAR Intents has no ID step at all, but it can freeze a flagged swap. The rating shows what else each one does beyond that. We check three things against each provider’s own published policy. Each one that applies moves the grade one step, from A to D.

The rating never changes which quote ranks as the best rate. Quotes are always ordered by the amount you receive.

The three checks

• 1. Is ID mandatory for some users, even without a flag? For example, residents of certain countries always having to verify, or a published amount above which ID is always required.
• 2. Can flagged funds be held instead of refunded? If a swap is flagged, can the provider hold your funds, or decline responsibility for a refund, whether until you provide ID or proof of funds or pending a legal process?
• 3. Is extra personal data shared by default? Beyond what any swap needs (the pair, amount and addresses): for example, your IP address sent with every quote, or data shared with other exchanges.

A: none apply. B: one applies. C: two apply. D: all three apply.

Current ratings

• ChangeNOW: B ID is mandatory in some countries: residents of places including the EU and US must verify through ChangeNOW Pro. It says swaps that fail verification are refunded, minus network fees. Sources: terms, FAQ.
• SimpleSwap: B Refunds can depend on ID checks: it may freeze a flagged swap and ask for ID or source-of-funds documents before it proceeds. Sources: terms, AML/KYC policy.
• StealthEX: C ID is required above set amounts (for example transactions over $32,000), and flagged funds are not exchanged or released until its checks are complete. Sources: KYC/AML policy, terms.
• SideShift: C It receives your IP address with every quote and exchange, and serious flags require verification before a refund is processed. Sources: API docs, risk management policy.
• Exolix: C It routes swaps to third-party exchanges and may share your data with them, and if you refuse source-of-funds checks on a flagged deposit, it says it is not responsible for a refund. Sources: privacy policy, terms, AML/KYC policy.
• NEAR Intents: B No account and no ID step, and WalletExchange sends it only the pair, the amount and your swap addresses. It gets a B because swaps are screened and a flagged one can be frozen: its terms say it has no obligation to refund, and in September 2026 it froze about $503,000 linked to the Bitget hack pending legal action. Sources: 1Click terms of use, The Crypto Times.

What the rating does not tell you

• It is not a “no-KYC” label An A would mean none of our three checks apply, not that a swap can never be stopped. No provider we compare rates A today. Read What is conditional KYC? for how that works.
• It is not a safety or reliability score It doesn’t measure security, customer service or how a company handles problems. Each quote’s “Privacy & provider details” panel covers more, including known incidents.
• It reflects published policy, not guarantees Providers change their terms. We review the sources and note the date; if a provider changes its policy, the rating can change too. We check the provider pages behind each rating for changes every month.

For an independent view, KYCnot.me, a directory used by privacy-focused crypto users, currently puts ChangeNOW, SimpleSwap, StealthEX and Exolix all at level 3 of 4 (“shotgun KYC”): no account, but checks possible mid-swap. Our rating looks at the differences within that level.

Sources

• Provider policies Linked for each provider above, reviewed 30 September 2026.
• KYCnot.me kycnot.me, checked 30 September 2026.