Can I start my own no-KYC exchange?

[Country_Outlaw]

I'm considering starting my own instant exchange that won't require KYC.  I'm no developer, and honestly I don't even know where to start.  I have a couple of no bitcoin that I'd be willing to use to provide liquidity at first expose at this time, but I'm not sure that's necessary if I use a trusted back-end liquidity provider.

I can pay someone for consultation, front end development, and of course I'd be willing to use a forum-trusted escrow to ensure both parties are protected.  Although, this isn't a service request.  I'm just exploring the possibility for the time being, but I would be willing to hear from the community if you have any recommended developers who could help me with more understanding about where to start.

I do want to preface this by mentioning that my country doesn't look fondly at KYC-Free crypto exchanges, so I would need to find a domain name registrar and hosting provider that accepts bitcoin payments and doesn't require personal information.  Recommendations for such a service would be helpful also.

Thanks for your time, and Mods, I'm sorry if this is in the wrong section.

[Vod]

First thing you should do is sign a message from a wallet holding at least 2btc so we know you are serious.

[Country_Outlaw]

I would really prefer not to.  The coins are spread out in multiple addresses, and I'd rather not expose any of them for my own privacy.

As I said, this is not an offer or request for services.  I am serious about having the discussion, and I don't think I need to expose my funds just to talk about the possibility or feasibility.

[Vod]

I would really prefer not to.  The coins are spread out in multiple addresses, and I'd rather not expose any of them for my own privacy.

So just sign one address containing the majority of funds.   What privacy exposure are you talking about?

As I said, this is not an offer or request for services.  I am serious about having the discussion, and I don't think I need to expose my funds just to talk about the possibility or feasibility.

We get these threads on a regular basis - you have no funds and no skills - what do you bring to the table?

[electronicash]

you are no developer which it would be harder for you to check the code yourself. you can't just the people you hire for this project. but maybe if you have a tight relationship to the code you have. somehow this will be a good opportunity if you can really fund it and just like what Vod said, a sign message for you to be taken seriously. 

there will be the need for no KYC exchanges these days. no one wants to submit documents to companies anymore especially because this market is being monitored already.

[hugeblack]

Can you sign a message from this address, at least to prove you're the account owner?

Code:

1EPe3abhTbtG2rFpm4QiXxsx8fD8MSJ332

Since you don't have any ideas, start as a liquidity provider for legitimate projects instead of building your own service.

[Country_Outlaw]

you have no funds and no skills - what do you bring to the table?

I started off on the wrong foot with you.  I'm not here to argue, I'm here to learn.  So, yes, of course, you're right.  I have no funds, I have no skills, I bring nothing to the table.

Now that we have gotten that out of the way, can we please focus on the actual question?  What funding will I need, what skills should I learn, what must I bring to the table?

Thank you for staying on topic.

Can you sign a message from this address, at least to prove you're the account owner?

What?  Lol, sure, why not.

Code:

-----BEGIN BITCOIN SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Country_Outlaw
30 March 2026
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5578749.0
-----BEGIN SIGNATURE-----
1EPe3abhTbtG2rFpm4QiXxsx8fD8MSJ332
IHRp6Ht71hQ+iLP3sXGsS0k0cX3hCjpdtZ9CZlVhncr2YCcRfTzhYEKzr4W3GcM+5X6rdImzVIT48xj3l+m1mQ0=
-----END BITCOIN SIGNED MESSAGE-----

Since you don't have any ideas, start as a liquidity provider for legitimate projects instead of building your own service.

Are you suggesting "investing" to provide liquidity to someone else's project?  That would require more trust, not only that the individual is honest, but that he's a capable business man.

I would rather build my own service.  If this isn't the place to learn how to do that, then please let me know where I can learn.  If this isn't the place to find trustworthy individuals to help me, then I guess I've been wasting everyone's time.

[DireWolfM14]

This isn't my field of expertise, but it seems many of the new instant exchanges are using THORChain as the back-end and liquidity provider.  No need to use your own funds for liquidity if you don't want to.  But it's probably best to familiarize yourself in the configuration of the APIs needed for integration.  You shouldn't need to trust anyone if you're just paying someone to develop a good looking front end for your graphical interface.

The Thorchain site has plenty of documentation, probably the best place to start your education.

Best of luck.

[WannaParadise]

I'm considering starting my own instant exchange that won't require KYC.  I'm no developer, and honestly I don't even know where to start.  I have a couple of no bitcoin that I'd be willing to use to provide liquidity at first expose at this time, but I'm not sure that's necessary if I use a trusted back-end liquidity provider.

I can pay someone for consultation, front end development, and of course I'd be willing to use a forum-trusted escrow to ensure both parties are protected.  Although, this isn't a service request.  I'm just exploring the possibility for the time being, but I would be willing to hear from the community if you have any recommended developers who could help me with more understanding about where to start.

I do want to preface this by mentioning that my country doesn't look fondly at KYC-Free crypto exchanges, so I would need to find a domain name registrar and hosting provider that accepts bitcoin payments and doesn't require personal information.  Recommendations for such a service would be helpful also.

Thanks for your time, and Mods, I'm sorry if this is in the wrong section.

I believe you should first assess the legal risks before embarking on this venture. i think, operating an exchange without KYC carries the risk of severe penalties the severing of banking relationships and transaction blocks depending on the regulations of the country you are in. i recommend that you do not invest until you have clarified whether you can bear this risk. From a technical perspective, setting up an ‘instant’ exchange requires two main components: a secure backend (order routing, liquidity provision, wallet management, cold and hot wallet segregation, risk controls) and a reliable frontend (user experience, speed, UX security).
This is how i see it an experienced team for development is essential... it is possible to provide liquidity primarily using your own BTC, but in my think, integrating with reliable third party liquidity providers is the best way to enhance scalability and operational ease. in a KYC-free model you must be careful when selecting payment providers and hosting or domain name services; i think anonymous registration and hosting solutions that accept BTC are limited and generally more expensive and service continuity and legal safeguards may be weak. When looking for developers and consultants work with professionals who request past references and agree to use escrow i believe this is the way to go because security and the sharing of legal liability are critical.
In conclusion, if you are prepared to accept the risks first seek legal advice then outsource the development of the technical architecture using a small MVP and proceed with testnets and security audits. i think a careful roadmap, rather than rushing, leads to successful outcomes...
I wish you every success

[Vod]

If this isn't the place to find trustworthy individuals to help me, then I guess I've been wasting everyone's time.

Trustworthy people want to work with trustworthy people, and you started out with dishonesty.  Kudos on not doubling down like many idiots, but it will take you some time to rebuild trust.   

[LoyceV]

if I use a trusted back-end liquidity provider.

The first problem you'll run into, is your liquidity provider freezing funds based on some (arbitrary) taint analysis. You may not ask for KYC, but your liquidity provider will have questions. I've seen many cases like this, where an "exchange" turns out to send funds to a third party and the customer gets screwed. How are you going to handle this?

I would really prefer not to.  The coins are spread out in multiple addresses, and I'd rather not expose any of them for my own privacy.

That makes sense. However, if you do want to prove ownership of funds, feel free to email me a signed message:

The easiest way to send private ~ is if you create a Protonmail account. My email:

Code:

LoyceVswitzerland@protonmail.com

This way, the email has end-to-end encryption and should be secure. There's of course always the risk of your (or my) computer being compromised.

I won't post your address, I'll only post the confirmed ownership of an amount in Bitcoin up to 2 decimals accurate. I'll delete your email after posting the amount. You'll still need to trust me on this, but that's up to you If you do decide to prove ownership of funds, it might add to your credibility. And this only works on people who trust me to do as I say. It can help address Vod's question:

We get these threads on a regular basis - you have no funds and no skills - what do you bring to the table?

I have no funds, I have no skills, I bring nothing to the table.

You'll need at least one of those if you want to create something or hire someone. Dreams require work or money (or both).

If this isn't the place to find trustworthy individuals to help me

I've seen people hire and get hired for programming jobs on the Services board. But it helps if you're taken seriously, and even if you do, you can expect applications from people without the skills you're looking for.

I do want to preface this by mentioning that my country doesn't look fondly at KYC-Free crypto exchanges

I've said it before and I'll say it again: in the long run, we can't have good trusted no-KYC exchanges: if they're good, they'll be used by bad people, authorities will target them, and eventually shut them down. If they're bad, well, there's no point in using them. Before starting this, you should read this entire topic.

I would need to find a domain name registrar and hosting provider that accepts bitcoin payments and doesn't require personal information.

Just in case you think this is your biggest problem:

What funding will I need, what skills should I learn, what must I bring to the table?

I'd say: "it depends". And that answer doesn't help you Many exchanges got hacked and lost fortunes in the past, and this still happens to billion dollar exchanges. So security alone isn't something to take lightly.

[examplens]

I started off on the wrong foot with you.  I'm not here to argue, I'm here to learn.  So, yes, of course, you're right.  I have no funds, I have no skills, I bring nothing to the table.

Now that we have gotten that out of the way, can we please focus on the actual question?  What funding will I need, what skills should I learn, what must I bring to the table?

I'm a little curious.
What exactly attracted you to start no-kyc exchange, from all other business models for which you do not have enough knowledge or skills?
No-KYC exchanges are not limited to the swap process between two currencies, there is a lot more work in the background, both technical and non-technical.
I don't think you can learn everything you need in a short period of time, and it is easily possible that when you are competitive enough, the instant exchanging business will no longer be in such expansion.

I would like to add here, without your own liquidity, you cannot start a no-KYC service, period.

if I use a trusted back-end liquidity provider.

The first problem you'll run into, is your liquidity provider freezing funds based on some (arbitrary) taint analysis. You may not ask for KYC, but your liquidity provider will have questions. I've seen many cases like this, where an "exchange" turns out to send funds to a third party and the customer gets screwed. How are you going to handle this?