Bisq review
Bisq is a P2P market. ID rule from its own pages: No ID, by design. kycnot.me rates it level 0, Never KYC.
No ID, by design
Bisq never asks for ID by design, per its own pages. You hold the keys.
Latest release: Bisq1: v1.10.10 (2026-10-24); bisq2: v2.1.14 (2026-10-15)
Choose Bisq if
Who Bisq suits, from the values on this page.
Bisq suits you if
- You want to trade with no account and no ID: Bisq never asks for ID, by design.
- You want to keep your own keys: on Bisq, you hold the keys.
- You want Monero: Bisq lists it.
- You want to pay or get paid over Lightning.
- You want open-source software that trades over Tor.
Bisq might not be the right fit if
- You want shielded Zcash: Bisq accepts transparent addresses only.
- You want a market with no incident on record: Bisq had one in 2020.
Best for
P2P without ID
Monero for bitcoin
What kycnot.me says about Bisq
kycnot.me is an independent directory of services you can use without ID checks. The rating and notes below are its own, not ours.
The terms rule out ID checks altogether. kycnot.me sorts services into five levels, from 0 (never asks for ID) to 4 (ID is mandatory).
Pros kycnot.me lists
- Refunds do not require KYC
- Strict no-log policy
- Non-custodial wallet
- Open source code
- Peer to peer network
- Escrow available
- Accepts Monero
- No registration needed
- Decentralized network
- Peer to peer market
- Non-custodial protocol
- No JavaScript needed
Cons kycnot.me lists
- Usage can be detected on public blockchains
- Active incidents
Events kycnot.me lists
- 2026Oct 15, 2026: Update. kycnot.me writes: “Bisq 2 v2.1.15 released | mandatory security update”
- 2026Oct 1, 2026: Update. kycnot.me writes: “v1.10.9 released | update encouraged”
- 2026Sep 16, 2026: Update. kycnot.me writes: “v1.10.8 released | update to continue trading”
- 2026Sep 16, 2026: Update. kycnot.me writes: “Bisq 2 v2.1.13 released | update to continue trading”
- 2026Aug 22, 2026: Update. kycnot.me writes: “Bisq 2 v2.1.12 released | update to continue trading”
- 2026Aug 20, 2026: Update. kycnot.me writes: “v1.10.5 released | update to continue trading”
Source: the kycnot.me listing. Bisq on kycnot.me (opens in a new tab)
Checked October 22, 2026
Inside Bisq
Screenshots taken November 3, 2026
- Platforms
- Bisq 1 and Bisq 2 desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux; Android: Bisq Easy Node app; Bisq Connect (Android, iOS via TestFlight) is a companion that needs a running Bisq 2 desktop node
What you get with Bisq
Yes, no or partly, from our dataPrivacy 3 of 6, 1 partly
- No IDYesBy design
- No accountYes
- Tor built inYes
- Onion addressPartlyTor built into the app
- I2P addressNoNone published
- Works without JavaScriptNot statedNot statedBisq'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 2 of 4, 1 partly
- You hold the keysYes
- Open sourceYes
- Reproducible buildsPartlyBisq 1: reproducible release builds documented; Linux has a pinned two-worktree release builder, macOS and Windows installers are not yet deterministic
- Address screeningNot statedNot statedBisq's own pages we checked do not say. This is not the same as no.
When can Bisq ask for your ID?
Never, by design, per Bisq's own pages. Labels come from each provider's terms, never from our guess.
- 1Never, by designBisq is on this stepNo company holds your order, so nobody can ask
- 2Only if you chooseID only for extras you opt into
- 3If a payment is flaggedNo 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
Not applicable: no identity checks. Bisq 1 trade funds sit in a 2-of-2 multisig of the two traders; mediators and arbitrators hold no key.
“Bisq never holds your funds. Deposits held in 2-of-2 multisig wallets encourage safe, successful trades.”
Not stated on Bisq's pages: what triggers a check, fee on refusal, refund policyBisq's own pages we checked do not say, checked Oct 28, 2026. This is not the same as no.
- If a trade goes wrong
- Mediation first, traders must answer mediators within 48 hours; if the mediator's payout is refused, arbitration opens after 10 days (altcoin trades) or 20 days (fiat trades), the trade funds go to the Burning Men and refund agents reimburse at their discretion; a DAO reimbursement request is the last step
- How trust works
- Bisq Easy: seller reputation score (a score of 1,200 is needed to post a sell offer, 200 points per USD of trade size); Bisq 1: payment account signing and account age
Checked October 28, 2026
What Bisq costs
| What | Bisq |
|---|---|
| Bisq 1, trade fee | Maker 0.15%, taker 1.15% (combined 1.3%) when paid in BTC; about 40% discount when paid in BSQSources disagree. bisq.wiki: "If paid in BTC, makers pay 0.1% and takers pay 0.7%. Fees are roughly halved if paid in BSQ tokens." · bisq.wiki: "There are no trade fees for buyers or sellers for trading on Bisq Easy." |
| Bisq 1, mining fees | On-chain mining fees for deposit and payout transactions |
| Bisq Easy | No trade fees; seller pays mining or Lightning routing fees; sellers are expected to charge a premium of about 10-15% |
- Ways to pay
- Bisq1 definitions: 58; bisq2 fiat rails: 42; removed: CashApp (chargeback risk)
- Trade limits
- Bisq Easy: 6 USD minimum and 600 USD maximum per trade, a seller's maximum depends on the reputation score (200 points per USD); Bisq 1: base limits per payment method by risk class of 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 or 1 BTC, which the Bisq DAO can scale
- Typical time
- Maximum trade period set per payment method in Bisq 1: 1 day (for example SEPA Instant, Revolut), 6 days for SEPA, up to 8 days for postal money orders and cash by mail
No-ID limits per trade
5 limits from Bisq's pages| Where | Limit |
|---|---|
| Bisq 1, crypto trades | 0.25 BTC per trade |
| Bisq 1, fiat trades | Per payment method, all below 0.25 BTC (e.g. SEPA 0.0624 BTC) |
| Bisq 1, buying from an unsigned account | 0.002 BTC per trade until the payment account is signed (risky fiat methods) |
| Bisq 1, new users | 0.1 BTC (user can opt out) |
| Bisq Easy | 6 USD to 600 USD per trade |
Show all 5 limits+2 moreShow fewer
Checked October 14, 2026
What Bisq 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
- Governance
- Bisq DAO: no CEO; BSQ stakeholders vote on contributor compensation and project decisions
- Requests from authorities
- Not published
- Warrant canary
- Not published
Checked October 28, 2026
Track record and code
One protocol exploit (April 2020) published by the project; no later incident found.
Incidents
- 2020Apr 7, 2020: Trade protocol flaw (unverified donation/payout address in Bisq v1.2) exploited in the XMR/BTC market: about 3 BTC and 4000 XMR stolen from 7 victims over 12 days; developers disabled trading with the alert key, fixed in v1.3.0, DAO proposal to repay victims from future trading revenue.
- Regulator warnings
- None found
- License
- AGPL-3.0
- Bug bounty
- No: no guaranteed bug bounty; a critical bug fix may be eligible for Bisq DAO compensation
- Support
- Matrix; Forum (bisq.community); Telegram (t.me/bisq_p2p); Reddit (r/bisq); in-app mediation (trades)
- Wallet needed
- Yes: Bisq Easy: a Bitcoin address or Lightning invoice of the buyer; Bisq 1 trades from its built-in wallet
Checked October 22, 2026
Community
Discussions about Bisq on Reddit (opens in a new tab) (r/bisq)
More facts we checked on Bisq
- Coins listed
- Count: 14; scope: main crypto list in CurrencyUtil.java (Bisq 1), traded against BTC
- Rate type
- Fixed price or a percentage from the market price (needs a price feed)
- Log retention
- Not published
- Onion address
- Not published
- I2P address
- Not published
- Security deposit
- Sources disagree
Bisq in the US and elsewhere
Bisq's pages name no blocked country. That is not a promise that it is legal where you live.
In the US
US availability: Not statedBisq's own pages we checked do not say, checked Oct 28, 2026. This is not the same as no.
- Blocks US IPs
- Not published
- 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
Excluded countries: none named on the page we checked.Bisq's pages list no excluded country or group. We show no flags because the list is empty.
Regional rule: Not statedBisq's own pages we checked do not say. This is not the same as no.
- Site blocks by region
- Not published
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. The provider's terms may let it ask for ID later. 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. Bisq's terms say that if a check is requested and not completed: not applicable: no identity checks. Bisq 1 trade funds sit in a 2-of-2 multisig of the two traders; mediators and arbitrators hold no key.
Checked October 28, 2026
P2P markets to compare with Bisq
Active P2P markets from our list. The shield shows each one's ID rule from its own terms.
Bisq side by side
From our privacy data, the same fields for every marketChecked October 23, 2026
Short answers about Bisq
From the data on this page.
Does Bisq ask for ID?
Bisq never asks for ID by design, per its own pages. There is no account.
How much can you trade on Bisq without ID?
Bisq 1, crypto trades: 0.25 BTC per trade; Bisq 1, fiat trades: per payment method, all below 0.25 BTC (e.g. SEPA 0.0624 BTC); Bisq 1, buying from an unsigned account: 0.002 BTC per trade until the payment account is signed (risky fiat methods); Bisq 1, new users: 0.1 BTC (user can opt out); Bisq Easy: 6 USD to 600 USD per trade.
Who holds your coins during a Bisq trade?
You hold the keys. Escrow-multisig (Bisq 1: trade amount and both deposits in a 2-of-2 multisig of the two traders); Bisq Easy: no escrow, buyer pays fiat first and the seller then sends BTC, security rests on seller reputation.
Can you buy Monero on Bisq?
Yes. Bisq lists Monero.
What does Bisq cost?
Bisq 1, trade fee: Maker 0.15%, taker 1.15% (combined 1.3%) when paid in BTC; about 40% discount when paid in BSQ; Bisq 1, mining fees: On-chain mining fees for deposit and payout transactions; Bisq Easy: No trade fees; seller pays mining or Lightning routing fees; sellers are expected to charge a premium of about 10-15%. Sources disagree on some of these fees; the info bubble in the fee table gives the other reading.
Who checked this page
Sources, how we read the terms and our process
Sources
- api.github.com/repos/bisq-network/bisq, for open source and license, checked October 22, 2026
- api.github.com/repos/bisq-network/bisq/releases/latest, for status and latest release, checked October 28, 2026
- bisq-network.github.io/bisq-mobile, for platforms, checked October 22, 2026
- bisq.network, for custody, custody in detail, account, onion address, Tor in the app, requests from authorities, support, blocks US IPs, VPN clause in terms, site blocks by region, log retention and I2P address, checked October 22, 2026
- bisq.network, for ID rule, what happens if a check fails and data collected, checked October 23, 2026
- bisq.network/dao, for governance and warrant canary, checked October 22, 2026
- bisq.network/dao, for operator, checked October 23, 2026
- bisq.network/statement-security-vulnerability-april-2020, for incidents, checked October 22, 2026
- bisq.wiki/Account_limits, for no-ID limit, checked October 14, 2026
- bisq.wiki/Bisq_Easy, for fees, checked October 14, 2026
- bisq.wiki/Frequently_asked_questions, for fees, checked October 14, 2026
- bisq.wiki/Trading_fees, for fees, checked October 14, 2026
- github.com/bisq-network/bisq/blob/master/core/src/main/java/bisq/core/locale/CurrencyUtil.java, for Zcash, checked October 22, 2026
- github.com/bisq-network/bisq/blob/master/core/src/main/resources/i18n/displayStrings.properties, for Zcash address type, checked October 22, 2026
- iosco.org/i-scan, for regulator warnings, checked October 22, 2026
- kycnot.me/service/bisq, for kycnot.me rating, checked October 22, 2026
- raw.githubusercontent.com/bisq-network/bisq/master/core/src/main/java/bisq/core/btc/wallet/Restrictions.java, for security deposit, checked October 22, 2026
- raw.githubusercontent.com/bisq-network/bisq/master/core/src/main/java/bisq/core/locale/CurrencyUtil.java, for coins listed, checked October 22, 2026
- raw.githubusercontent.com/bisq-network/bisq/master/core/src/main/java/bisq/core/locale/CurrencyUtil.java, for Monero and bitcoin, checked October 23, 2026
- raw.githubusercontent.com/bisq-network/bisq/master/core/src/main/java/bisq/core/payment/payload/PaymentMethod.java, for ways to pay and typical time, checked October 22, 2026
- raw.githubusercontent.com/bisq-network/bisq/master/core/src/main/resources/i18n/displayStrings.properties, for if a trade goes wrong and rate type, checked October 22, 2026
- raw.githubusercontent.com/bisq-network/bisq/master/core/src/main/resources/i18n/displayStrings.properties, for excluded countries, checked October 28, 2026
- raw.githubusercontent.com/bisq-network/bisq/master/SECURITY.md, for bug bounty, checked October 28, 2026
- raw.githubusercontent.com/bisq-network/bisq2/main/i18n/src/main/resources/bi2p.properties, for I2P address, checked October 28, 2026
- raw.githubusercontent.com/bisq-network/bisq2/main/i18n/src/main/resources/bisq_easy.properties, for Lightning and wallet needed, checked October 28, 2026
- raw.githubusercontent.com/bisq-network/bisq2/main/trade/src/main/java/bisq/trade/bisq_easy/BisqEasyTradeAmountLimits.java, for how trust works, checked October 22, 2026
- raw.githubusercontent.com/bisq-network/bisq2/main/trade/src/main/java/bisq/trade/bisq_easy/BisqEasyTradeAmountLimits.java, for trade limits, checked October 28, 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: Bisq'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 14, 2026 and October 28, 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.