Buying Bitcoin without handing over your ID is not only possible, it’s essential in 2025. As more exchanges tighten surveillance and governments push for stricter compliance, peer-to-peer platforms like Hodl Hodl offer a rare path to use Bitcoin as it was intended for financial privacy and sovereignty.
In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through the entire process of how to buy Bitcoin and how to sell Bitcoin without revealing your identity, uploading documents, or exposing your personal data to centralized honeypots.
This isn’t about theory, this is about action. You’ll learn how to use Hodl Hodl to connect directly with other Bitcoiners around the world, skip invasive KYC processes, and take full control of your funds. From setting up your account and securing a non-custodial Bitcoin wallet to executing trades and using multisig escrow securely, this Bitcoin wallet tutorial shows exactly how it’s done – no ID, no compromise.
Whether you’re looking to protect your privacy, stack sats off the grid, or simply learn how peer-to-peer Bitcoin trading works in practice, this step-by-step breakdown gives you the tools to trade without permission.
KYC (Know Your Customer) rules force centralized exchanges to collect and store your private data: names, addresses, government IDs, even biometric information. Once that data is captured, it’s permanent. You’re added to a database that can be hacked, surveilled, or shared with third parties, forever.
Here’s why that’s dangerous:
Avoiding KYC means more than skipping paperwork. It’s a foundational step toward financial freedom. For those researching how to send Bitcoin anonymously, how to sell Bitcoin peer to peer or looking for top Bitcoin wallets without KYC, platforms like Hodl Hodl are essential.
Hodl Hodl is a global peer to peer Bitcoin marketplace that allows you to buy and sell Bitcoin directly with other users, no ID required. The platform acts as a secure, non-custodial escrow intermediary and supports a wide range of payment methods and currencies worldwide. (Escrow is a financial arrangement where a third party holds and regulates payment or assets until the terms of a deal are met.)
Key features:
All you need is:
This setup supports secure Bitcoin wallets and makes it easy to get started on Bitcoin for beginners focused on privacy.
If you’re based in Canada, this is a smart alternative for those looking at how to buy Bitcoin in Canada anonymously or avoid centralized Bitcoin OTC desks.
And, if you’re looking how to self custody Bitcoin with Sparrow Wallet, here’s an in-depth tutorial on how to get set up with Sparrow Wallet.
Hodl Hodl’s escrow system helps to ensure both parties get paid and avoid Bitcoin scams.
Each trade uses a 3-key multisig escrow:
Two of the three keys are required to release funds.
This setup:
This kind of escrow process pairs well with advanced custody setups like how to create a multisig wallet or integrating the best Bitcoin hardware wallets for cold storage.
Each listing shows:
Top tip: Look for Sellers with high ratings and lots of trades, just like checking reviews on eBay or Amazon.
Note: If you are a new user, some sellers require a small upfront fee (e.g $2) as an anti-spam measure before initiating the contract. You can chat to the Seller in the chat window to the right of the screen.
• The Seller confirms their payment password
• Wait for the seller to send Bitcoin to the multisig escrow address. (See section “How Hodl Hodl Escrow Works” to learn about multisig escrow.)
• Don’t send fiat yet. Once the seller has sent the Bitcoin, wait for one on-chain confirmation.
Once confirmed, the seller’s Payment Details appear. Send fiat using whatever payment method you have chosen and agreed with the seller (e.g. via Liquid Tether or Interac e-Transfer), then click “I've Sent The Payment.”
You now have successfully received Bitcoin directly into your wallet, no ID required.
Selling Bitcoin works the same way, but in reverse.
(Great for those interested in how to sell Bitcoin peer to peer)
(Don’t release Bitcoin until funds hit your bank account. Make sure to check!)
(Once fiat payment has been made, release funds securely using your payment password and 2FA)
This method is ideal for individuals focused on Bitcoin privacy and even for those interested in Bitcoin custody for small businesses.
If you can’t find a suitable listing then you can create your own.
Creating offers supports tools for users who want to store large amounts of Bitcoin safely or avoid Bitcoin scams.
Platforms like Hodl Hodl are vital tools in preserving Bitcoin privacy and resisting financial surveillance. With centralized exchanges tightening restrictions, learning how to buy and sell Bitcoin peer-to-peer is a necessary skill for anyone serious about how to self-custody Bitcoin with full privacy.
Hodl Hodl makes it possible to:
No ID. No middlemen. No compromise.
Learning how to use peer-to-peer platforms like Hodl Hodl alongside how to use alongside how to run a Bitcoin node and how to set up a bitcoin hardware wallet will prove to be invaluable for any bitcoiner looking to maximise the security and privacy benefits available with bitcoin.