People often ask whether a service "is KYC or not," but the real world is a spectrum. A platform might need nothing at all, or just an email, or it might be account-free until an automated system flags a transaction and suddenly asks for your passport. To capture that, LessKYC grades every listing on a 0 to 4 KYC scale. Here's what each level means.
Level 0 — Identity-free
No identity, often no account at all. Think non-custodial tools and peer-to-peer trades: the Monero wallet, Bisq, Mullvad with a random account number. Nothing about you is collected or verified.
Level 1 — Minimal data, no verification
You provide something small — usually an email — but no document is checked. Many privacy email providers and some VPNs sit here. Your identity isn't verified; there's just a lightweight account.
Level 2 — Account-free but monitored
No upfront identity, but the service runs AML transaction monitoring and can demand verification if an order is flagged. Many instant swaps like FixedFloat or ChangeNOW live here: usually no-KYC, not guaranteed no-KYC.
Level 3 — Frequent or conditional KYC
Verification is common — triggered by thresholds, regions or risk scoring — even if it isn't demanded from everyone on day one. You should expect to verify sooner or later.
Level 4 — Mandatory ID
Government ID required upfront before you can trade or withdraw. This is the standard centralised-exchange model, included on LessKYC only as a low-scoring reference point.
How the level feeds the score
The KYC level sets the baseline of a service's 0–10 score; from there we add points for privacy-protective features and subtract for invasive ones. That's why a level-0 service with strong attributes scores highly, while a level-4 service starts near the bottom. The full method is on our about page, and every listing shows its own breakdown.
How to read a listing
Check three things: the KYC level (how much identity), the verification badge (whether we've tested it), and the attributes (the specific good and bad behaviours). Together they tell you not just whether a service is private, but how.
Filter the directory by KYC level to see exactly where each service falls.
For educational purposes only. KYC practices can change without notice — always confirm a provider's current policy.