How we check platforms

Every listing answers one question first: how much identity does this platform ask for, and when? Below: how we get that answer, and how far we have checked each listing.

The three identity levels

• None: no ID document and no account details. You connect a wallet or trade without signing up.
• Light: no ID under a stated limit, or only an email address or a phone number.
• Tiered: an ID document is required above a threshold. The threshold is written on the listing.

Two kinds of listing

Documented: we built the listing from the platform's published terms, FAQ and help pages. This is where every listing starts.

Tested: we opened an account (or connected a wallet), moved a small real amount through the platform and noted every piece of information we were asked for. Tested listings show the date and the details of each test.

Our paid test

1. Sign up with nothing prepared, behind a VPN, and note every field requested.
2. Deposit a small amount, using the payment method the listing describes.
3. Trade or swap once on a main pair. Fees are read from the receipt, not from the marketing page.
4. Withdraw to our own wallet. This is where most ID checks appear: we note the limit and the moment it is triggered.
5. Publish the result with its date. A listing tested more than 90 days ago goes back in the queue.

When a listing changes

If a platform makes ID mandatory for its core features, we re-tag or remove it. A platform that closes or is reported as a scam stays visible with that status, so people searching for it find the warning.

We check reports from users before changing anything. Submit a platform or report a change.

What you cannot buy

Listing, identity level and position in the directory cannot be bought. Some "Visit" links are affiliate links, and the page says so. Sponsored placements sit in separate tiles labelled as advertising.