SimpleSwap review
SimpleSwap offers an instant swap service that does not hold user funds, and requires no account for most crypto-to-crypto swaps. It typically asks for no ID, but can demand a check on any transaction after a risk trigger, and may freeze the transaction during this review. Users can only recover frozen funds after a documented request providing both proof of identity and the source of funds, with a deduction of 1% of the amount and at least $100. The terms of service restrict access in the United States and various other countries, including Austria and Belgium. In our view, SimpleSwap serves swappers who maintain immediate access to their records.
ID only if flagged
SimpleSwap asks for ID only if a payment is flagged, per its own pages.
Choose SimpleSwap if
Who SimpleSwap suits, from the values on this page.
SimpleSwap suits you if
- You want no ID for normal use: SimpleSwap asks only if a payment is flagged.
- You want Monero: SimpleSwap lists it.
- You want to pay or get paid over Lightning.
SimpleSwap might not be the right fit if
- You want a market that can never ask for ID: SimpleSwap can ask if a payment is flagged.
- You want shielded Zcash: SimpleSwap accepts transparent addresses only.
- You live in the US: SimpleSwap is not available there.
Best for
Monero for bitcoin
Inside SimpleSwap
Screenshots taken November 3, 2026
What you get with SimpleSwap
Yes, no or partly, from our dataPrivacy 1 of 6, 1 partly
- No IDPartlyIf a payment is flagged
- No accountYes
- Tor built inNot statedNot statedSimpleSwap's own pages we checked do not say. This is not the same as no.
- Onion addressNoNone published
- I2P addressNoNone published
- Works without JavaScriptNot statedNot statedSimpleSwap's own pages we checked do not say. This is not the same as no.
Coins 3 of 4, 1 partly
- BitcoinYes
- MoneroYes
- LightningYes
- ZcashPartlyTransparent addresses only
Custody and code 0 of 3
- You hold the keysNo
- Open sourceNot statedNot statedSimpleSwap's own pages we checked do not say, checked Oct 14, 2026. This is not the same as no.
- Address screeningNot statedNot statedSimpleSwap's own pages we checked do not say. This is not the same as no.
When can SimpleSwap ask for your ID?
If a payment is flagged, per SimpleSwap's own pages. Labels come from each provider's terms, never from our guess.
- 1Never, by designNo company holds your order, so nobody can ask
- 2Only if you chooseID only for extras you opt into
- 3If a payment is flaggedSimpleSwap is on this stepNo ID by default; checks when a risk system flags you
- 4Above a limitID once you pass a stated amount
- 5AlwaysID before you trade, deposit or withdraw
If a check comes and you do not pass it
Freeze: suspected funds frozen during investigation; return fee: 1% of the returned amount, minimum $100
“we reserve the right to freeze any funds that are suspected to be involved in illegal activity. [...] We impose an additional fee of 1% of the retuned amount to cover administrative expenses, with a minimum charge of $100.”
What triggers a check: Transaction flagged as suspicious by SimpleSwap or a partner system; compliance, AML, governmental or financial institution requirements; mandatory KYC on any transaction at SimpleSwap discretion after risk triggers; fiat purchases: provider KYC
Fee on refusal: 1% of the returned amount, minimum $100
Refund policy: Processing: refund requests processed within up to 31 calendar days; fees: network fee and possible recovery fee deducted; unclaimed: funds held up to 1 calendar year
Checked October 22, 2026
What SimpleSwap costs
| What | SimpleSwap |
|---|---|
| Crypto swaps | All-in rate, no separate percentage; may start from 0.2% for some assets |
| Fiat purchases | Not fixed; may start from 0.5%; set by third-party providers |
- Currencies
- 42
- Trade limits
- Floating max: no strict upper limit; fixed: may be limited by pair and liquidity; min: per pair, shown in the exchange flow
- Typical time
- 1 to 60 minutes as a rough reference
No-ID limits per trade
3 limits from SimpleSwap's pages| Where | Limit |
|---|---|
| Maximum at a floating rate | No strict upper limit |
| Fixed rate | May be limited by pair and liquidity |
| Minimum | Per pair, shown in the exchange flow |
Checked October 22, 2026
What SimpleSwap knows about you
Who sees what during a trade, and who runs it.
During a trade
No ID check does not make a bank payment private.
Network and who runs it
- Requests from authorities
- Transaction records may be kept under data retention rules for law enforcement and shared on government request; SimpleSwap cooperates with law enforcement where funds are suspected to be criminal
- Warrant canary
- Not published
Checked October 22, 2026
Track record and code
None found.
Incidents
None found
- Audits
- Not published
- Bug bounty
- Not published
- Support
- Channels: live chat; e-mail [email protected]; hours: 24/7; languages: multiple languages (not listed)
- Wallet needed
- Yes: the recipient's wallet address; SimpleSwap does not hold the assets
Checked October 14, 2026
Community
Discussions about SimpleSwap on Reddit (opens in a new tab) (r/SimpleSwap_io)
More facts we checked on SimpleSwap
- Coins listed
- 2800+
- Networks
- Networks: 366; crypto entries: 3,143; fiat entries: 42
- Rate type
- Fixed: rate locked 20 minutes; deposit needs one confirmation in the window; floating: no strict time or upper amount limit
- Log retention
- Transaction personal data: 12 months after the end of the month of the transaction; account and business contacts: 12 months after the business relationship ends; exceptions: longer where local law, authorities or legal defence require
- Onion address
- Not published
- I2P address
- Not published
SimpleSwap in the US and elsewhere
In the US
US availability: Not available
- Blocks US IPs
- Terms: US users are excluded by the terms
- VPN clause in terms
- Not published
If you are a US person, US sanctions rules apply to you whether or not a service asks for ID.
Outside the US
Where SimpleSwap does not serve
58 places in its terms
Afghanistan- Burundi
- Central African Republic
China
Colombia- Côte d’Ivoire
Cuba
Democratic Republic of the Congo- Eritrea
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
Germany- Greece
- Hungary
India- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Guinea
Iran
Iraq
Japan- Liberia
Libya- Mali
- Nicaragua
North Korea
Myanmar (Burma)- Republic of Guinea-Bissau
- Somalia
South Sudan
Sudan
Syria- non-government-controlled occupied territories of Ukraine (including Crimea region, Donetsk region, Kherson region, Luhansk region, Zaporizhzhia region)
- United States of America (including all USA territories: Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Island, and the US Virgin Islands)
United Kingdom- Venezuela
- Yemen
- Zimbabwe
Show all 58 places+52 moreShow fewer
Regional rule: Not statedSimpleSwap's own pages we checked do not say. This is not the same as no.
- Site blocks by region
- Afghanistan; Burundi; Central African Republic; China; Colombia; Côte d’Ivoire; Cuba; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Eritrea; Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czechia; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; India; Ireland; Italy; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; Netherlands; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Guinea; Iran; Iraq; Japan; Liberia; Libya; Mali; Nicaragua; North Korea; Myanmar (Burma); Republic of Guinea-Bissau; Somalia; South Sudan; Sudan; Syria; non-government-controlled occupied territories of Ukraine (including Crimea region, Donetsk region, Kherson region, Luhansk region, Zaporizhzhia region); United States of America (including all USA territories: Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Island, and the US Virgin Islands); United Kingdom; Venezuela; Yemen; Zimbabwe
Where you live and the provider's terms
Many services on this page do not serve every country. Some exclude people because of where they live or their citizenship, not only where they connect from. Read the provider's terms before you send funds. If the terms exclude you, do not use the service, and do not try to get around the restriction, for example with a VPN.
Taxes
A service that does not ask for ID does not change your taxes. In the US, the federal income tax return asks a yes-or-no question about digital assets, and you must report digital asset transactions whether or not they result in a gain or loss. In the UK, you may owe Capital Gains Tax when you sell, swap or spend crypto, and you must keep your own records. Rules in other countries differ.
No KYC is not anonymity
"No KYC" here means the provider says it does not ask for ID in the cases its terms describe. It does not make you anonymous. SimpleSwap's terms say it can ask for ID in these cases: Transaction flagged as suspicious by SimpleSwap or a partner system; compliance, AML, governmental or financial institution requirements; mandatory KYC on any transaction at SimpleSwap discretion after risk triggers; fiat purchases: provider KYC. Regulated exchanges you send funds from or to may have to collect information about who sends and who receives a crypto transfer. Your tax duties stay the same.
Funds can be held
If a provider asks for more information during a swap or a withdrawal, it may hold your funds until it gets it. Its terms decide what happens next. In the UK, a crypto business that asks for information on a transfer to or from a self-custody wallet, and does not receive it, must not pass the funds on. Read what the provider's terms say before you send. SimpleSwap's terms say that if a check is requested and not completed: freeze: suspected funds frozen during investigation; return fee: 1% of the returned amount, minimum $100.
Checked October 22, 2026
Instant swaps to compare with SimpleSwap
Other active services in this category from our list. The shield shows each one's ID rule from its own terms.
SimpleSwap side by side
From our privacy data, the same fields for every service| What | SimpleSwap | BitcoinVN | CCE Cash | ChangeHero | Changelly | EasyBit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ID rule | ID only if flagged | ID only if flagged | ID only if flagged | ID only if flagged | ID only if flagged | ID only if flagged |
| Account | None | None | None | None | Not stated | None |
| You hold the keys | No | Not stated | Not stated | No | No | No |
| Monero | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Yes | Yes | No |
| Lightning | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | No | No | No |
| Open source | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
Checked October 28, 2026
Short answers about SimpleSwap
From the data on this page.
Does SimpleSwap ask for ID?
SimpleSwap asks for ID only if a payment is flagged, per its own pages. There is no account.
How much can you trade on SimpleSwap without ID?
Maximum at a floating rate: no strict upper limit; Fixed rate: may be limited by pair and liquidity; Minimum: per pair, shown in the exchange flow.
Who holds your coins during a SimpleSwap trade?
Held during the swap. Non-custodial (no accounts holding funds), exceptions for legal requirements.
Can you buy Monero on SimpleSwap?
Yes. SimpleSwap lists Monero.
What does SimpleSwap cost?
Crypto swaps: All-in rate, no separate percentage; may start from 0.2% for some assets; Fiat purchases: Not fixed; may start from 0.5%; set by third-party providers.
Who checked this page
Sources, how we read the terms and our process
Sources
- simpleswap.io, for onion address and I2P address, checked October 22, 2026
- simpleswap.io/aml-kyc, for ID rule, checked October 22, 2026
- simpleswap.io/api/v3/currencies, for Zcash and Zcash address type, checked October 22, 2026
- simpleswap.io/api/v4/currencies, for currencies and networks, checked October 22, 2026
- simpleswap.io/coins, for Monero, bitcoin and Lightning, checked October 22, 2026
- simpleswap.io/contacts, for support, checked October 22, 2026
- simpleswap.io/faq, for what triggers a check, no-ID limit, account, fees, trade limits, typical time, coins listed and rate type, checked October 22, 2026
- simpleswap.io/privacy-policy, for data collected, requests from authorities and log retention, checked October 22, 2026
- simpleswap.io/terms-of-service, for refund policy, checked October 5, 2026
- simpleswap.io/terms-of-service, for status, what happens if a check fails, fee on refusal, custody, custody in detail, excluded countries, US availability, warrant canary, audits, bug bounty, wallet needed, blocks US IPs, VPN clause in terms and site blocks by region, checked October 22, 2026
How we read the terms
We do not give privacy services a score. We record what each provider's own pages say: when it asks for ID, the limits, who holds your coins and what it costs. Labels come from each provider's terms, never from our guess. How we read the terms
Our process
We take fees, availability, licenses and coin counts from primary sources: SimpleSwap's own fee schedules, terms and help pages, and the public registers kept by regulators. Every value carries the date we last checked it. The values on this page were checked between October 5, 2026 and October 22, 2026.
Not legal or tax advice. This page explains how these services work and what their own terms say. It is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules differ by country and change often. Check the rules where you live, or ask a qualified professional, before you use any service listed here.