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ChangeNOW Review
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ChangeNOW is an instant swap service founded in 2017 that holds no balances for standard swaps. Fees are built into the rate, card purchases go through partners, and Pro accounts add cashback. KYC is mandatory for residents of the EU, the US and seven other jurisdictions.
ChangeNOW
Overview
Quick Facts
ChangeNOW is an instant swap service that has run since 2017; today it is operated by CHN Group LLC, organized in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Its fee sits inside the exchange rate, and card purchases go through partners such as Guardarian, Banxa and Transak.
Information about ChangeNOW
Pro's & Con's
- No account needed for a standard swap outside the US, the EU and seven other jurisdictions
- Card purchases in more than 47 fiat currencies through partners
- iOS and Android apps, Pro cashback and NOW staking
- Open to US residents with an account and KYC in 40 states plus DC
- Higher built-in cost than FixedFloat in our latest rate snapshot
- Mandatory KYC for residents of the EU, the US and seven other jurisdictions
- Not open to people in, or citizens or residents of, the United Kingdom or India
- Refunds after deposit mistakes cost $50 plus network fees
Offer and features of
ChangeNOW
KYC Requirements
- US residents: account and KYC under the Pro terms, which name 40 states plus DC
- Mandatory KYC for residents of the EU, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, the UAE, Australia and Canada
- Other users: only in specific cases, such as fraud reports, AML checks, requests from fiat partners or unusual transactions
Minimum/Maximum Transaction Limits
- Minimum varies by currency
- No maximum on the standard rate; fixed-rate swaps have a maximum per pair
Security Features
- Non-custodial: no user balances held for standard swaps
- Automated risk checks can put a swap on hold for KYC
Exchange Rates Competitiveness
- Fee built into the rate, no separate fee
- Standard and fixed rates
Privacy Policy
- Available on website
Anonymity Conditions Description
- No account for the standard swap outside the US, the EU and seven other jurisdictions, except for US citizens or residents
- Mandatory KYC for residents of the EU, the US and seven other jurisdictions; elsewhere only in specific cases
Our
ChangeNOW
Review
Our Rating
Conclusion
In our view, ChangeNOW is a practical all-round swap service: no account for a standard swap outside the US, the EU and seven other jurisdictions, card purchases through partners, apps, Pro cashback and NOW staking. It is not the low-cost option, as its quotes in our latest rate snapshot cost more than both rates at FixedFloat on every pair we compared. Residents of the EU, the US and seven other jurisdictions must complete KYC first; US residents also need an account under its Pro terms, which name 40 states plus DC.
Customer Reviews
/ 5 average rating from 4 reviews
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ChangeNOW is an instant swap service that has run since 2017, and outside the US, the EU and seven other jurisdictions a standard swap needs no account. In our view, it suits people who want swaps, card purchases and an app in one place.
In our latest rate snapshot, its quotes cost more than both rates at FixedFloat on every pair we compared.
How ChangeNOW works
Choose two coins, provide your receiving address, and send the deposit to the address ChangeNOW generates. ChangeNOW says it does not hold user balances for these swaps.
The standard rate serves as an estimate, so the amount you get might slightly differ from the quote. The fixed rate secures the quote, but ChangeNOW's terms say the deposit has to be sent within 4 minutes of creating the exchange.
Fees and our rate snapshot
ChangeNOW does not impose a separate fee: the terms indicate the fee is included in the final rate, and its FAQ notes that the fixed rate includes a small reserve against price fluctuations. Therefore, the quote is the number to compare.
In our latest rate snapshot, ChangeNOW quoted 1.203% below the mid-market rate for 0.1 BTC to ETH and 1.606% less for 1,000 USDT on Tron to BTC. For the same pairs, the floating rate at FixedFloat was 0.584% and 0.587% below the mid-market rate, and SideShift reached 1.889% and 2.226%. These quotes come from public price endpoints, with network fees included as far as each endpoint shows them.
In our view, that makes ChangeNOW convenient rather than cheap. The free VIP level of ChangeNOW Pro returns 0.1%, capped at 1,000 NOW a month.
Limits and card purchases
No maximum limit exists for crypto swaps at the standard rate. However, fixed-rate swaps have a maximum per pair, while minimums start at about $2 depending on the coin. ChangeNOW's terms allow it to decline a deposit valued below $10, so in our view small swaps should stay above that.
Card purchases using Visa or Mastercard go through partners such as Guardarian, Banxa, and Transak, available in more than 47 fiat currencies. They are capped at $20,000 per transaction and per day and $50,000 per month. ChangeNOW lists no bank transfer option.
KYC and accounts
For a standard swap you do not need an account, unless you are in the US or a US citizen or resident. ChangeNOW's terms mandate KYC before using the service for residents of the EU, the US, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, the UAE, Australia, or Canada.
Elsewhere, ChangeNOW might request KYC following a fraud or stolen-funds report, for anti-money-laundering purposes, at the request of a fiat partner, or if a transaction appears unusual. You have 3 days to verify. If you decline, the deposit is refunded, minus network fees, within 24 hours according to its FAQ.
Where ChangeNOW is available
US residents can use ChangeNOW only through an account under its Pro terms, with KYC. Those terms name 40 states plus DC for registered and verified users and say their crypto-to-crypto swaps are processed through third-party payment processors. They do not name Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont or Washington, so we cannot confirm access there. Our page Is ChangeNOW available in the US? lists the states by name.
The standard terms exclude people located in, or citizens or residents of, the United Kingdom and India, anyone located in or resident in the Russian Federation, and countries under United Nations sanctions. They also say ChangeNOW may seize funds from users in excluded jurisdictions and donate them to charity, which in our view is reason enough to stay within them.
Security and track record
The company behind ChangeNOW is CHN Group LLC, organized under the laws of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Its terms mention one license: in the Kyrgyz Republic, its services run through a partner, CJSC AimTech, which holds a VASP license there. We found no entry for ChangeNOW in Europe's register of authorized crypto-asset service providers, and IOSCO's warning database showed no alerts about it. ChangeNOW does not publish a proof of reserves; as it holds no balances for its swaps, in our view that is not a gap.
Refunds
Completed swaps are final. Failed swaps are refunded, though terms allow up to 20 business days to return assets, and a refund for sending the wrong coin, using the wrong network, or omitting a memo costs $50 plus network fees. Unclaimed funds are retained for up to 1 calendar year.
More than swaps
ChangeNOW has introduced crypto loans, a cross-chain bridge, private send, prediction markets, and swaps by AI agents. NOW staking is shown at 6.25% APR. Perpetuals and a NOW Card are announced as coming soon.
Who should use something else
For the lowest built-in cost on major pairs, consider FixedFloat, whose floating rate was the most economical of the six services in our latest rate snapshot; our FixedFloat review covers its limits and crypto-only scope. For a published fee and bank transfers for fiat, Changelly charges 0.25% on floating-rate swaps and accepts SEPA transfers via partners. See our Changelly review. Neither FixedFloat nor Changelly accepts US residents.
US users who prefer not to open a swap account can opt for a standard exchange. Coinbase serves residents of all US states. See our Coinbase review and our list of exchanges for US customers.
Questions about ChangeNOW
Is ChangeNOW legit?
ChangeNOW has run since 2017 and is operated today by CHN Group LLC. IOSCO's warning database showed no alerts about it. In our view, it is a reasonable choice for swaps where its terms allow it; the main risks are a swap held for checks and the cost built into the rate.
Does ChangeNOW require KYC?
Yes, ChangeNOW requires KYC before any use if you live in the EU, the US, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, the UAE, Australia, or Canada. Elsewhere, ChangeNOW can request KYC when a transaction is flagged, with the swap pending verification or refund.
What are ChangeNOW's fees?
ChangeNOW incorporates the fee into the rate. In our latest snapshot, the built-in cost of the standard rate ranged from 1.203% to 1.606% below the mid-market rate across three pairs, compared to 0.481% to 0.587% for the floating rate at FixedFloat.
How does ChangeNOW compare with Changelly?
Changelly lists a 0.25% fee for floating-rate swaps and allows bank transfers for fiat purchases, while ChangeNOW includes its fee in the rate and names only card payments for buying crypto. US residents can use ChangeNOW with an account and KYC; Changelly's terms exclude the United States.
Does ChangeNOW have a mobile app?
Yes. ChangeNOW offers an iOS app in the US App Store and an Android app on Google Play.
About the author
Ethan Parker is Senior Content Editor at Exchange Flow. He has followed crypto since 2015, from Bitcoin and Ethereum to the exchanges people use to buy and trade them.
My go to swap provider, tho StealthEX is also good for some tokens
Love Changenow for many years.
the best swap provider on the market.
ChangeNow is my go-to place now for all exchanges. The process could not have been any easier or faster. I will be recommending telling everyone I know to use ChangeNOW when swaping crypto.