Is it possible to use bitcoin without photo ID?

[passwordnow]

For someone in the USA, is it possible to have:

1) A desktop or online based wallet if you don't have a photo ID.
2) Ability to buy btc without needing to provide ID.

That is scary to someone who has had identity stolen before.

Thanks - please be kind.  I am new and still learning.  I have not yet bought BTC.  

Do you have a verified PayPal account? There are ways that you can use it for buying bitcoin even without verifying your exchange account with Photo or with any type of ID. The first one that you can use is virwox, try to learn on how the SLL/bitcoin but don't be surprised with the fee. It's charging higher fee than the usual way of buying bitcoin. And since you are leaving on USA, try this one https://localbitcoins.com/country/US

[Quickfant]

You can always trade via face to face via localbitcoins or craigslist. Yeah it's risky but its the only way. Any exchange that is offering you to convert bitcoin without asking for identification is breaking the law.

[richardsNY]

Any exchange that is offering you to convert bitcoin without asking for identification is breaking the law.

If it concerns fiat, then basically yes, but it's also important to make use of a licensed exchange. If it's not a licensed exchange, then it is breaking the law even when it requires ID verification. It will then be considered an illegal money transmitting service. If you just stick to crypto versus crypto, exchanges won't likely force you to verify yourself, but this is something that has been changing as well. In most cases you'll be able to deposit and trade as much as you want, but they in some cases will not allow you to withdraw anything without walking yourself through the lower tier verification level. In this case they just require textual information from you, such as your name, address and telephone number.

[eagleman]

For someone in the USA, is it possible to have:

1) A desktop or online based wallet if you don't have a photo ID.
2) Ability to buy btc without needing to provide ID.

That is scary to someone who has had identity stolen before.

Thanks - please be kind.  I am new and still learning.  I have not yet bought BTC.  

I'm not from USA and someone please correct me if I'm wrong that they are now more strict when it comes to bitcoin transactions. There are exchanges that cut ties and stop supporting users that are living there.
1). Yes it's very possible to have a web wallet / bitcoin wallet that you don't have to verify with any of your ID.
2). Ask someone here in forum that lives nearby to you or you can meet up halfway just to do the trade. See no ID provided.
We are all concerned with the identity theft that's circulating the web since bitcoin is blooming.

[edisystem]

For someone in the USA, is it possible to have:

1) A desktop or online based wallet if you don't have a photo ID.
2) Ability to buy btc without needing to provide ID.

That is scary to someone who has had identity stolen before.

Thanks - please be kind.  I am new and still learning.  I have not yet bought BTC.  

1. You can use blockchain.info online based wallet, you don't need to verification your identity in this wallet.
2. I think it's hard to buy without provide our ID but in my country there is a person that accept and sell bitcoin without provide our id. I don't know about on your country though. Try to ask your friends or your fellow country to help your problem.

[CircularLoGic]

For someone in the USA, is it possible to have:

1) A desktop or online based wallet if you don't have a photo ID.
2) Ability to buy btc without needing to provide ID.

That is scary to someone who has had identity stolen before.

Thanks - please be kind.  I am new and still learning.  I have not yet bought BTC.  

If you are plannin to buy bitcoins directly from an exchanger you have to provide them with a few verifications in order to purchase and includes photo ID, all the other ways you have to purchase here in the currency exchange may allow you to jump over the ID or photo verification.
I recommend you to find a trusted bitcoin seller here in bitcointalk or at least use escrow to prevent any kind of scam.

[Wipro]

For someone in the USA, is it possible to have:

1) A desktop or online based wallet if you don't have a photo ID.
2) Ability to buy btc without needing to provide ID.

That is scary to someone who has had identity stolen before.

Thanks - please be kind.  I am new and still learning.  I have not yet bought BTC.  

1. You can use blockchain.info online based wallet, you don't need to verification your identity in this wallet.
2. I think it's hard to buy without provide our ID but in my country there is a person that accept and sell bitcoin without provide our id. I don't know about on your country though. Try to ask your friends or your fellow country to help your problem.

I too having the bitcoins in my blockchain.info wallet but there is no option to purchase or sell the bitcoin in there since it only gives the information about explorer and wallet alone. I see coinbase is the best wallet where you buy the bitcoins without any verification ID cards and all.
Other than that you can go ahead to use any trading site like livecoin and polenix site to buy the bitcoins.
If you want to most used exchange site like localbitcoins still they looking to verify with the passport or driving license to make the purchase.

[aoihs00]

For someone in the USA, is it possible to have:

1) A desktop or online based wallet if you don't have a photo ID.
2) Ability to buy btc without needing to provide ID.

That is scary to someone who has had identity stolen before.

Thanks - please be kind.  I am new and still learning.  I have not yet bought BTC.  

Haha! Thats the first ever principle of the bitcoin/blockcahin, the anonymity of the transaction. This is what it is gives you in first place so yes you can completely buy/sell  or do anything you want with you crypto currency without any photo ID. It doesn't matter whether you are in the UK, USA, or in any third world I would say.

This is the core principle for bitcoin and it derives from the fact that the blockchain is decentralized and hence bitcoin or other currencies can spread their wings to larger grounds and make you more anonymous by that.

[pixie85]

It's possible. There's not many sites that don't require verification but there are some that give you limited access. This means that you're unable to withdraw a lot, sometimes completely unable to withdraw fiat, but crypto - crypto transactions are possible on many platforms without the need for an ID. I'm not in the USA, so I can't tell you for sure, but in Europe both of your points are possible. In the US I'd say 1. definitely, 2. probably.

[lablab03]

Photo ID is not required for dealing with BTC. I have heard some exchange takes live photo while opening account.

haha. Seriuosly that is things is stupid how can we hide our identity if that exchange site requirde some photo ID?.WE all know that bitcoin is not legal so its unfair for us  maybe it will put our life into risk situations by  putting our identification or information in public

[Givebirth]

Yes you can. You don't need photo ID to buy/sell bitcoin. There are online wallets that don't require photo ID.

[TheCoinFinder]

Yes of course you can have multiple online wallets without photo Id. Use blockchain.info to create one instantly or visit bitaddress.org.
Most websites ask for Id verification to buy bitcoin through their platform but if you use xapo, you can do it without providing Id.
Alternatively, you can have bitcoin deals privately in this forum, go to Exchange board and find someone to deal.