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Buy Bitcoin Anonymously: The 5 methods to buy BTC without a bank card

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For African residents, you should know that buying bitcoin anonymously is necessary. For what? Most sites installed in Europe and the USA prohibit access to African residents. This is why it is essential for them to find alternatives.

Do you also want to buy Bitcoin anonymously? Don't want to provide your photo ID on exchange platforms? That's a perfectly normal reaction; and know that you're not the only one who wants this!

Many people want to know how to buy Bitcoin anonymously and how to use it in the same way (completely anonymously). Many of us want to protect our privacy online, and this is all the more legitimate since Bitcoin was also designed to be "anonymous."

Whatever your reasons, there are several factors that can push us to own bitcoin without anyone else knowing. After all, these are the very foundations of bitcoin as such, so, inevitably, we can seek to preserve what makes it a strength.

That said, over time and as Bitcoin enters our lives and becomes regulated by state authorities, it inevitably loses its anonymous aspect.

For example, when you buy bitcoin via a platform such as Coinbase, Coinhouse or any platform, you (normally) send your identity documents (and sometimes, this is only required after a certain withdrawal threshold) . Sending identity documents is what we call KYC (Know Your Customer) and it is mandatory for companies that want to be in compliance.

Thus, each person who buys bitcoin by credit card is logically traceable, on the surface. Without being fully aware of it, when you buy bitcoin, you leave digital traces.

You will see later that even like that, there is a way to escape it.

Otherwise, what we will see concretely in this article is rather to know how from the start you can buy bitcoin anonymously.

In this guide, I will try to answer all your questions about how to buy Bitcoins and remain completely anonymous while using them . We will also look at the ideas and preconceived notions people have about Bitcoin.

1/ Focus: Is bitcoin really anonymous?

Yes, before getting to the heart of the matter, we still need to clarify certain things. There are some things you need to know...

In fact, it's important to know that Bitcoin is semi-anonymous. By design, Bitcoin transactions are not directly linked to individuals or identities.

But, in fact, we can still find a person's identity via public addresses and IP addresses especially. And, if you went through a regulated platform, then, there, really, your anonymity does not exist, know that.

Despite popular belief, bitcoin is not completely anonymous. Once again, I repeat myself. In fact, every transaction is recorded on the blockchain. Anyone can access it and see the transactions in question.

Moreover, to access it, we go to sites called “block explorers”.

Thus, on the Blockchain.com website , for example, one has access to all mined blocks and to all (without exception) transactions. This allows one to trace back to the very first transaction, logically that of Satoshi Nakamoto.

Only, as you can see, we only see transactions and alpha-numeric addresses. We have no names, no first names and even fewer physical addresses. So, it remains anonymous, you think…

Bitcoin is pseudo-anonymous

Well, yes and no. It depends on whether the bitcoins were exchanged on a centralized exchange platform or not.

When we buy on a platform, most of the time, above a certain threshold, we are asked to send our identity documents. Other platforms require papers for withdrawals, for example. In short, companies must comfort themselves with the legal realities of the country in which they are registered; So much so that the identity verification procedure is mandatory for most of them.

This means that with these platforms, we can trace transactions and identities linked to the addresses that have been created. Quite simply. And, it is therefore at this moment that you lose anonymity, in a way.

This is why many people will opt for other methods to buy bitcoin anonymously.

2/ Risky method: Buy bitcoin in cash in person

You got it from the title. To buy bitcoin with this method, you have to REALLY trust the person you're exchanging with. This was done a lot back then, in the early days of bitcoin. This is typically when you have a friend (trusted, again) who owns bitcoin and sells it to you. You can pay them in cash or even by bank transfer (if the amount isn't too high, eh?).

So if you have a friend, enough confidence, this is a possible method. You have instant access to your cryptocurrencies and you have them anonymously.

That said, we are obliged to warn you not to have fun trying to do it with strangers, like that in the street. They could very well pocket your money and not send you the bitcoins, for example. If you choose this option, again, only do it with someone you trust.

And, if you don't have any friends who own bitcoins, don't panic. This was just the first method to buy bitcoins anonymously.

Let's move on to the second method, shall we?

3/ Recommended method: Buy bitcoin peer-to-peer

I don't know if you were aware, but for a very long time, there were no exchange platforms for buying Bitcoin. Before Mt. Gox (one of the first exchange platforms) and others existed, the only option was peer- to -peer ( P2P) exchanges .

Perhaps the term rings a bell? It might, because platforms like BitTorrent , the platform known for downloading movies and music, are examples. These are platforms where both parties act as both server and client, unlike other platforms where it's server-client. Without going into the technical definition, remember that these are platforms where you can exchange digital files (of any kind) in real time.

Well, there are 2P2 platforms for trading cryptocurrencies specifically. These platforms are still widely used today, precisely to maintain anonymity.

Similarly, they are secure and reliable, as the bitcoins are held in a secure escrow deposit (this does not mean "scammer" but a payment third party) until the transaction is validated by both participants.

There are also many residents of countries that cannot access centralized platforms that use P2P platforms. (Platforms may not accept all nationalities, depending on their specific jurisdiction). This can also be explained by the fact that many people around the world do not have a suitable bank card. For example, many Africans must turn to its platforms to buy bitcoin.

The advantages of using these platforms, such as Paxful , are that they are simple to use and offer a wide range of payment options!

buy bitcoin paxful — You can pay with 300 payment methods on PaxFull!

You can pay with more than 300 possible methods (PayPal; Neteller, Amazon card, Sofort, bank transfer depending on your country, mobile money, etc.).

Discover the Paxful platform

Moreover, it is often with this criterion that we choose our seller.

—> You can consult our Paxful tutorial for more details.

How to buy bitcoin on Paxful?

Registration. This is the first step, of course, you must register on the site, with your email address. As soon as you register, you will have access to your bitcoin wallet.
Find an offer that suits you: When you have created an account, choose the payment method, the amount of bitcoins you want to buy and your preferred currency then click on Search for offers. Now look at the list of available offers and choose the one you want. Read the seller's terms and conditions (as they differ from seller to seller).
Start the transaction : If the seller's conditions suit you, enter the amount of bitcoins you wish to buy and initiate the transaction. This will open a live chat with the seller. Follow the instructions given to the seller to make the payment and confirm it.
Receive your bitcoins : The seller will then release the bitcoins directly to your Paxful wallet. From there, you can do whatever you want with your bitcoins. Send them to your wallet with your voice.

What you need to understand about these platforms is that you still need to check for anonymity. In fact, some sellers still require papers (especially those who sell large amounts) and therefore they ask for papers. If you really want to be anonymous, then yes you will need to find a seller who does not ask for proof.

Editorial: With the ever-increasing requirements of anti-money laundering laws, the Paxful platform has also recently required KYC.

4/ The BTM method (Bitcoin distributors)

To be perfectly honest, this is perhaps my preferred method. However, it might not be easy to find a Bitcoin ATM where you live.

Moreover, to find out where the nearest bitcoin ATM is located, don't forget that you can use the coinatmradar website.

crypto ATMs — Coinatmradar is a site that lists all the ATMs in the world.

The site is really convenient because you can choose ATMs according to your location and according to the cryptocurrencies you want. Ideal for finding the perfect ATM not far from home.

So, what you need to know is that there are several types of ATM and some (very few) will ask you for KYC, but this remains a minority. Yes, there are over 30 different types of bitcoin ATMs with over 20 different manufacturers. This tells you that there is a choice.

The most widespread is GenesisCoin, but it is primarily available only in the USA. The best-known and most widespread Bitcoin ATM in Europe is GeneralBytes.

Really, it's a top ATM, with lots of functionality and of course, with the possibility of buying bitcoin in cash directly.

I just read an article that showed some Bitcoin ATMs in Rouen were removed by the authorities because alleged dealers were using them to exchange cash for Bitcoin. Clever…

However, I would like to point out that in France, the 2016 Sapin 2 law against money laundering stipulates that banking institutions must comply with KYC procedures. … That said, it would be necessary to verify on a case-by-case basis whether this is actually being applied… which I doubt… or whether it applies to all distributors.

Then, there are still alternatives. There are always alternatives, indeed.

Thus, this would reduce the anonymous aspect of these ATM bitcoins, unless you go abroad, where the KYC request is not obligatory….Yes, a simple trip to Malta and everyone could buy bitcoin anonymously on one of these small machines…

However, let's clarify that it is not a bad thing in itself that France and other countries legislate and regulate the purchase of cryptocurrency. In the case of the distributor in Rouen, the police had traced it to a "dubious" origin. For bitcoin payments at the tobacconist's, they would also have been traced back to a group that took advantage of it to finance terrorist groups... So to everything, there is its good side and its bad side... like many things, you will tell me...

So here is for this method, let's now see another method less used, because also used by other people who have less morale...

This is why I am not going to go into details but simply present them to you for the sake of completeness for this article.

5/ Simple but limited method: Buy bitcoin with anonymous bank cards

As you may know, traditional banks cannot offer anonymous bank cards. It is prohibited by law. However, to have an anonymous bank card, you must go through accounts without banks and the famous prepaid bank cards.

That said, even if it's anonymous, be aware that there are limited spending limits. The limits can only be lifted once you send your identity documents…

In fact, since 2017, the implementation of the infamous Tracfin decree has significantly reduced the spending limits on prepaid cards. The monthly limit is €250 per month, and withdrawals are also capped at €100 per month.

Among the bitcoin bank cards , you have the Advcash card at 1 euro which is also anonymous.

Cards like Veritas, Transcach, PCS Mastercard or even Neteller are also interesting alternatives.

6/ The 2 other alternative methods to purchasing bitcoin anonymously

Using the bitcoin mixer (also called “Tumbler”)

How a Bitcoin Mixer works is very simple to understand. When you make a transfer to a wallet, then the transaction will be split into several transactions. These mini-transactions will therefore go through other bitcoin addresses on BitcoinMixer. This is how it becomes almost impossible to trace.

One of the best-known Bitcoin mixers is BitMix.biz.

Note that there is also a version that you can use with Tor, for example, but hey, of course, you need to have some basics in darkweb…

Buy bitcoin with anonymous software

This is truly the ultimate technique, but it's also the most complex. For example, ideally, you would use software like Tails . This software allows you to browse the internet anonymously, particularly on Linux. Finally, as you can imagine, this clearly requires some computer skills.

Next, in this case, you will then need to download the Electrum anonymous wallet.

Also, with the methods seen above, we have seen most of the methods for buying bitcoin anonymously.

How to have an anonymous wallet?

Buying bitcoin anonymously is good but it's not enough. You still have to remain anonymous throughout if you want to do it optimally.

The ideal is therefore to use anonymous wallets. Please note that there are different anonymous bitcoin wallets and we are preparing an article on the subject.

You have the choice between so-called cold wallets such as external wallets.

For example, you can use the Ledger nano X wallet , which needs no introduction as it is seen everywhere.

This is a very popular Bitcoin wallet due to its ease of use. However, there are other equally interesting wallets available, such as SafePal , the latest release from Binance Labs.

These are devices recommended for their recognized safety. The price-quality ratio is also extremely interesting. You can buy them for less than 50 euros for example.

Likewise, they can be used with all iOS and Android devices.

With these devices, the big advantage is that you can control your private keys.

Finally, to close this (long) article, know that there are also anonymous wallets that you can use on your computer or on your smartphone. They are anonymous and recognized for their security.

One of the most famous anonymous wallets is “Samourai”.

This is truly the ideal wallet for those seeking complete anonymity. Samurai has been widely praised as the most anonymous wallet on the market.

With Samourai or other anonymous wallets, your bitcoin transactions remain private and your identity just as secret. In fact, Samourai's encryption is done via AES-256 encryption. The wallet does not communicate with servers. This is above all what maintains its great security.

Why want to be anonymous in the cryptosphere?

In fact, there are three main types of population looking to buy bitcoin anonymously. Here are the major groups:

Those who are minors or who do not have a bank card or required identity documents. Yes, most centralized platforms are open to very specific citizenships. For example, most platforms do not allow African residents to purchase cryptocurrencies on their platforms.
Those who wish to escape the tax authorities of their country and who do not wish to leave a trace.
People who want their privacy and their client confidentiality are respected. Without necessarily having the libertarian ideal, many people want to preserve their private lives in the name of freedom.

What are the disadvantages of anonymity?

Yes, it would be so good if there were only advantages. There are inevitably disadvantages and we prefer to list them for you. This way, you know everything (or almost) about buying bitcoin anonymously.

In general, these methods will cost you more and will technically take longer to implement.

And, for those who, beyond bitcoin, are looking to use anonymous cryptocurrencies. Here, again, there are disadvantages.

And if you want to use anonymous cryptocurrencies, there is also a risk that some states will seek to remove them from certain platforms.

So, we are not safe from anonymous cryptocurrencies like Monero (the best known) or Zcash being banned from certain platforms…

Conclusion on how to buy bitcoin anonymously

We've covered it, although we'll clarify some details later. We are preparing other articles to complement this one.

That said, if you were looking to buy bitcoin anonymously, normally you know how to do it by now.

It is good to weigh the pros against the cons and make your own choice on the matter. Nothing is all black or all white, as you know.

Also, we can end by reminding you that certain platforms like Binance do not require KYC below a threshold which is very high. You can still use them by not sending your papers for example, don't forget that.

Finally, and this is the final word, know that ultimately, government restrictions are also legitimate. If States tighten the screws, it is also for the safety of each of us.

Fighting money laundering and terrorist financing helps us all, indirectly. And that’s good to know and recognize.

Likewise, in the end, it turns out to be much simpler to buy bitcoin on a centralized platform than to use these methods. It’s even more comforting and reassuring to know that there is a regulated company behind it that is monitored by our institutions…

It's up to you to make the right choice!

For those who prefer the video format to learn how to buy anonymous bitcoin, here is a video from Ines: