<p>The best way to do it is in person, with cash. Most other methods are traceable. Provided you don't live in the middle of nowhere, it's pretty easy to find at least someone nearby who's willing to buy, and if you're serious about anonymity that extra travel distance is probably a minor issue.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-07T18:16:15.503Z
And local bitcoins is a popular way to find a seller https://localbitcoins.com
Igor Barinov
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-07T07:53:47.920Z
2015-06-07T07:53:47.920Z
nuggetbram
<p>A bitcoin ATM. When it asks if you have a wallet, answer negatively to get a paper wallet printed for you. Then load the paper wallet and walk away. After that transaction is confirmed, sweep the paper wallet funds into your own personal wallet. As someone else noted, this is not the cheapest way to do things, but it is safer than meeting someone with cash.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-08T10:26:54.800Z
2015-06-08T10:26:54.800Z
user19666
<p>Another option is to use cash to buy a pre-paid Visa (or MasterCard or American Express) card from a supermarket or convenience store.  Then, create an account with an online exchange, and use the prepaid card to fund the account, then use the funds to buy bitcoins.  To be sure to cover your tracks, use Tails/TOR when connecting to the online exchange.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-21T04:41:05.293Z
I was thinking about doing this but couldn't find an online exchange that didn't require and validate a ton of personal info including SMS verification.
corysimmons
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-19T19:15:46.837Z
2015-12-19T19:15:46.837Z
mti2935
<p>I agree with @nuggetbram, in person is the most practical way.</p>

<p>An alternative is buying from a BTC ATM, for cash.  Those tend to charge very high fees, though, and would limit the amount you can buy per transaction (there should be no problem splitting to multiple transactions, though, as each is independently anonymous).</p>

<p>Due to strict anti money laundering (AML) regulations around the world, all major BTC exchanges (i.e. all the exchanges you can sort-of trust) employ Know Your Customer (KYC) controls, which make it impractical to use their services anonymously.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-07T19:40:34.880Z
2015-06-07T19:40:34.880Z
shx2
<p>I'm studying the Bitcoin system and I'm wondering if there's a way to anonymously buy Bitcoin.
Is it possible to charge a wallet (e.g. with a credit card, PayPal account, by person, by snail mail, etc.), without being traceable?
Let's suppose I don't trust any website/person...</p>

<buy-bitcoins><privacy><paypal><bitcoin-credit-card>
How to buy bitcoins anonymously
auino
# How to buy bitcoins anonymously

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-06-04)

I'm studying the Bitcoin system and I'm wondering if there's a way to anonymously buy Bitcoin.
Is it possible to charge a wallet (e.g. with a credit card, PayPal account, by person, by snail mail, etc.), without being traceable?
Let's suppose I don't trust any website/person...

**Tags:** buy-bitcoins, privacy, paypal, bitcoin-credit-card


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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-06-07. Score: 4

The best way to do it is in person, with cash. Most other methods are traceable. Provided you don't live in the middle of nowhere, it's pretty easy to find at least someone nearby who's willing to buy, and if you're serious about anonymity that extra travel distance is probably a minor issue.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: And local bitcoins is a popular way to find a seller https://localbitcoins.com  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2015-06-08. Score: 1

A bitcoin ATM. When it asks if you have a wallet, answer negatively to get a paper wallet printed for you. Then load the paper wallet and walk away. After that transaction is confirmed, sweep the paper wallet funds into your own personal wallet. As someone else noted, this is not the cheapest way to do things, but it is safer than meeting someone with cash.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2015-12-19. Score: 1

Another option is to use cash to buy a pre-paid Visa (or MasterCard or American Express) card from a supermarket or convenience store. Then, create an account with an online exchange, and use the prepaid card to fund the account, then use the funds to buy bitcoins. To be sure to cover your tracks, use Tails/TOR when connecting to the online exchange.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: I was thinking about doing this but couldn't find an online exchange that didn't require and validate a ton of personal info including SMS verification.  

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### Answer by username_6 on 2015-06-07. Score: 1

I agree with @username_1, in person is the most practical way.

An alternative is buying from a BTC ATM, for cash. Those tend to charge very high fees, though, and would limit the amount you can buy per transaction (there should be no problem splitting to multiple transactions, though, as each is independently anonymous).

Due to strict anti money laundering (AML) regulations around the world, all major BTC exchanges (i.e. all the exchanges you can sort-of trust) employ Know Your Customer (KYC) controls, which make it impractical to use their services anonymously.


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