<p>Yes, this is a pretty common onboarding experience with exchanges. You used to only have to upload a photo ID of yourself, however a lot of these databases of users' photo IDs were leaked so now new signup require that you write something down to prove you are not impersonating another individual. As others have pointed out there are ways to get bitcoin without going through all of this.</p>
<p>If you are only looking to buy and sell small amounts (usually less than $2000) of BTC, lots of bitcoin ATM's allow small purchases like this by only providing a phone number. Be prepared to pay a 8-20%+ transaction fee though.</p>
<p><a href="https://coinatmradar.com/bitcoin-atm-map/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://coinatmradar.com/bitcoin-atm-map/</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-10T13:51:44.637Z
2022-09-10T13:52:10.523Z
2022-09-10T13:52:10.523Z
jpkiser
<p>Is it normal for a crypto exchange market site to require a photo of myself holding a signed handwritten note in one hand and my id card in the other as kyc information? I'm not a hostage and it feels weird. Usually it's enough to just email them a copy of a document.
It's the first time I hear about this. Should I look for a different exchange?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-28T09:35:16.277Z
What exchange are you trying to use?
Crypto Bitcoin
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-28T13:33:27.337Z
@CryptoBitcoin Kraken.com
IDK
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-29T09:30:17.933Z
Kraken.com is a reputable site, as far as i can tell. I think this practice is forced on them by regulators. However, it's not really a question about Bitcoin itself so i don't think it fits this site. Good luck navigating through all this :)
Antoine Poinsot
<exchanges><know-your-customer>
Doubts about kyc information request of crypto exchange site
IDK
# Doubts about kyc information request of crypto exchange site

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-08-28)

Is it normal for a username_1 exchange market site to require a photo of myself holding a signed handwritten note in one hand and my id card in the other as kyc information? I'm not a hostage and it feels weird. Usually it's enough to just email them a copy of a document.
It's the first time I hear about this. Should I look for a different exchange?

**Tags:** exchanges, know-your-customer

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What exchange are you trying to use?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 Kraken.com  
> **username_2**: Kraken.com is a reputable site, as far as i can tell. I think this practice is forced on them by regulators. However, it's not really a question about username_1 itself so i don't think it fits this site. Good luck navigating through all this :)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2022-09-10. Score: 1

Yes, this is a pretty common onboarding experience with exchanges. You used to only have to upload a photo ID of yourself, however a lot of these databases of users' photo IDs were leaked so now new signup require that you write something down to prove you are not impersonating another individual. As others have pointed out there are ways to get username_1 without going through all of this.

If you are only looking to buy and sell small amounts (usually less than $2000) of BTC, lots of username_1 ATM's allow small purchases like this by only providing a phone number. Be prepared to pay a 8-20%+ transaction fee though.

<https://coinatmradar.com/username_1-atm-map/>


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