How to buy Monero privately (no KYC/AML) with Retoswap

This is also the path to buying Zcash privately.

Also published at: Substack

Installation and Setup

  1. RetoSwap is a decentralized P2P exchange built on the Haveno protocol.

    RetoSwap does not require an email, phone number, or ID. All communication is encrypted and routed through Tor.

    As Retoswap does is a P2P, no KYC/AML marketplace, it is currently one of the most private ways to trade Monero for fiat.

  2. RetoSwap is a desktop application, not a website. You must run the software to access the network. Download the latest release for your OS (Linux/Windows/macOS) from the official GitHub repository or retoswap.com.

  3. Upon launching, RetoSwap will automatically connect to the Tor network. This may take a few minutes.

  4. Create a new wallet within the app. Write down your 25-word seed phrase. This wallet will hold your Monero once the trade is complete.

    If you lose this phrase, your funds cannot be recovered.

  5. Configure Payment Account
    To buy with cash by mail, you must add “Cash by Mail” as a payment method.

  6. Navigate to Account > Payment Accounts.

  7. Click Add New Account and select Cash by Mail.

  8. Enter a name for the account (e.g., “Cash Mail USD”) and select your currency.

    Note: You do not need to enter your physical address here. You will share that privately with the seller through the encrypted trade chat later.

Finding a Trade

  1. Go to the Buy XMR tab.

  2. Filter the offers by Payment Method: Cash by Mail.

  3. Look for a seller with a high Reputation Score or “Signed” status.

  4. If no offers exist, you can click Create New Offer to Buy XMR. You will need a small amount of XMR in your RetoSwap wallet to cover the security deposit and fees.

Completing a trade

Once you select an offer and the seller accepts:

  1. Both you and the seller must lock a security deposit in XMR. This incentivizes both parties to complete the trade honestly. If a dispute occurs, an arbitrator will step in.
    The seller deposits the XMR into a 2-of-3 multisig escrow.

  2. Mailing the Cash: The seller will provide their mailing address in the encrypted trade chat. Follow the process for paying with “Cash by Mail”.

  3. Once the seller receives the package and verifies the cash, they will release the XMR from escrow directly to your RetoSwap wallet.

Want to stay in touch?