Comparison · facts checked October 18, 2026
ChangeNOW alternative for swapping Monero (XMR)
ChangeNOW is a large swap service with more than a thousand coins. SilentXMR does one thing: swaps to and from Monero. Here is how the two compare, based on ChangeNOW's own terms.
The short version
- ChangeNOW: over 1,000 coins, no account needed, the fee built into the rate, and card purchases through partners. Its terms make KYC mandatory for residents of the EU, the US, Australia, Canada and several other countries, and let it pause any swap for checks.
- SilentXMR: Monero only, six coins to and from XMR, Kraken's price minus 0.5% locked with no expiry, and no name, email address or ID requested.
- Pick ChangeNOW for coins other than XMR or to buy with a card. Pick SilentXMR for a plain XMR swap with a published spread and a quote that does not run out.
Order
Send exactly
on the network to:
- You get (locked)
- Rate
- Your address
- Payout transaction
- Created
- Send the exact amount above from your wallet.
- We check the deposit wallet, and once your deposit confirms we send the amount quoted above to your address, even if the price has moved since.
- This page updates by itself. Keep your order ID to check later on the Track order page.
Questions? Email service@silentxmr.com with your order ID.
What ChangeNOW is
ChangeNOW calls itself a non-custodial exchange service: its terms say it does not store your assets on deposits or balances, and that you don't need to register to use the site. It also runs ChangeNOW Pro, an optional service with an account. The site lists more than 1,000 coins (its FAQ says 1,500+), and you can buy crypto with a card through partners such as Guardarian, Banxa and Transak. Its terms say it may use third-party liquidity providers and, in some cases, other exchange services to complete a swap.
There are two rate modes. The classic rate is the market rate at the time your swap is processed and is not guaranteed. The fixed rate includes a small reserve against price moves, and the terms say it applies when your deposit is sent within 4 minutes of creating the exchange. If you send a different amount, the classic rate applies, and if the market moves 3% or more, ChangeNOW may offer the market rate or a refund instead. ChangeNOW's fee is included in the rate it shows; it does not publish a percentage.
On ID checks, ChangeNOW's terms (updated 18 September 2026) say residents of the European Union, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, the UAE, Australia and Canada must complete KYC before using the service. For everyone else, all transactions go through an automated risk system, and a swap stopped by that system has to pass a verification with its KYC provider, Sumsub, which can ask for an ID document and the origin of the funds. The verification window is 3 days. If you decline, the terms say you get a refund, unless the transaction is suspected of being linked to illegal activity, in which case it can be frozen.
SilentXMR vs ChangeNOW
Facts about ChangeNOW come from its own website, documents and announcements, checked on October 18, 2026. "Not published" means we could not find it stated there.
| Feature | SilentXMR | ChangeNOW |
|---|---|---|
| Type of service | A single swap service for Monero. Every swap starts or ends in XMR. | Multi-coin swap service. Optional account-based ChangeNOW Pro. |
| Monero (XMR) | Yes, on every pair, in both directions. | Yes, to and from XMR. |
| Coins and networks | BTC, ETH, LTC, SOL, USDT (ERC-20, TRC-20, SPL) and USDC (ERC-20, SPL), each to and from XMR. | "1000+" coins on the site; the FAQ says 1,500+. |
| Account | None. | Not needed for swaps on changenow.io. |
| ID checks (KYC) | No name, email address or ID requested. | Mandatory for residents of the EU, US, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, UAE, Australia and Canada. Elsewhere, any swap can be paused for verification (ID, origin of funds). |
| Fees and pricing | Kraken's last price minus a 0.5% spread, shown before you send. You receive the quoted amount. | Fee included in the rate. No percentage published. |
| Minimum and maximum | $50 worth. Above $50,000, contact support first. | From about $2 depending on the coin. No upper limit, per its FAQ. |
| Rate | Locked when you create the order, with no expiry, even if the price moves before your deposit confirms. | Classic (floating) or fixed. Fixed applies if the deposit is sent within 4 minutes of creating the exchange. |
| Who holds the coins during the swap | You send to the deposit address on your order and we send the payout to your address. You trust SilentXMR between the two. | Says it is non-custodial (no stored balances). Funds can be frozen during a check. |
| Fiat (bank, card, cash) | No. Crypto to crypto only. | Card purchases through partners such as Guardarian, Banxa and Transak. |
| How you receive the coins | Deposits are checked and payouts sent by hand after your deposit confirms. Follow it with your order ID. | Automated after the deposit is accepted (typically at six block confirmations, per its terms). |
Ready to swap? Lock your XMR rate now.
- Kraken's live price minus 0.5%. You see exactly what you get before you send.
- Your rate is locked the moment you create the order. No countdown, no re-quote.
- BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC, LTC or SOL in, XMR out to your address. Or the other way round.
When ChangeNOW may suit you better
- You want to swap coins other than XMR, or XMR to a coin SilentXMR does not support. ChangeNOW lists more than a thousand.
- You want to buy crypto with a bank card. SilentXMR does not take fiat.
- You are swapping a very small amount: ChangeNOW minimums start around $2, while SilentXMR needs $50.
- You want automated processing rather than payouts sent by hand.
When SilentXMR may suit you better
- You want your quote to hold until your deposit confirms, without a 4-minute window or a 3% market-move clause.
- You want to know the fee in advance: a fixed 0.5% spread on Kraken's last price, rather than a fee built into the rate.
- You want a service that asks for no name, email address or ID.
- You only need BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC, LTC or SOL to XMR, or XMR back to them.
Swapping to XMR on SilentXMR instead
The steps are the same as on any swap service: choose the coin you send, enter your Monero address, and send the exact amount to the deposit address on your order. The difference is the quote. SilentXMR shows Kraken's last price minus 0.5%, and that amount is locked when you create the order, so a slow deposit or a price move does not change what you receive.
Deposits are checked and payouts sent by hand, so a swap is not instant. Your order page shows each step, and you can look it up later with your order ID.
Pick a coin and amount
The estimate updates from Kraken's live price as you type.
Add your receiving address
For XMR, paste the receive address from Feather, Cake or any Monero wallet.
Send and track
Send to the deposit address on your order. Your order page shows when we've received it and when your coins are on their way.
Swap pairs
Get Monero in your own wallet. No account, no ID.
- Kraken's live price minus 0.5%. You see exactly what you get before you send.
- Your rate is locked the moment you create the order. No countdown, no re-quote.
- BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC, LTC or SOL in, XMR out to your address. Or the other way round.
Questions
Does ChangeNOW require KYC?
For some users, yes. ChangeNOW's terms say residents of the EU, the US, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, the UAE, Australia and Canada must complete KYC before using the service. For others, a swap can be stopped by its risk system and held until a verification is passed. SilentXMR does not ask for a name, email address or ID.
How long is a ChangeNOW fixed rate valid?
Its terms say the fixed rate applies when the deposit is sent within 4 minutes of creating the exchange, and not if the market moves 3% or more. On SilentXMR, the rate is locked when you create the order and has no expiry.
What fee does ChangeNOW charge?
ChangeNOW says its fee is included in the rate and does not publish a percentage. SilentXMR's spread is a fixed 0.5% on Kraken's last price, and the amount you get is shown before you send.
Can I swap XMR on ChangeNOW?
Yes. ChangeNOW lists Monero in both directions. SilentXMR supports XMR to and from BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC, LTC and SOL.
Is ChangeNOW safe to use?
Its own terms are the best guide: it says it does not hold balances, but it can freeze a swap during a check, and a declined check normally ends in a refund. Read them before a large swap, as you should with any service, ours included.
Which is better for small amounts?
ChangeNOW. Its minimums start around $2, while SilentXMR's minimum is $50 worth of the coin you send. For larger swaps, compare the amount you actually receive on both. Questions about a SilentXMR swap go to service@silentxmr.com.
Sources
The ChangeNOW pages we checked on October 18, 2026. Services change their terms, so check the current version before you rely on a detail.
- ChangeNOW Terms of Service (updated 18 September 2026) changenow.io/terms-of-use/changenow-terms
- ChangeNOW AML/KYC Policy changenow.io/terms-of-use/aml-kyc
- ChangeNOW FAQ changenow.io/faq
- ChangeNOW: Monero page changenow.io/currencies/monero
SilentXMR is not affiliated with ChangeNOW. Its name is used only to identify the service being compared.