# Paxful

> Source: https://fuckyc.org/services/paxful/
> Website: https://paxful.com/
> Categories: P2P exchanges
> KYC: enforced — P2P exchange that shut down in April 2023, relaunched in May 2023 under tightened KYC requirements. Listed for historical reference and to flag the change in posture.
> Status: degraded
> Jurisdiction: United States (Paxful Inc.)
> Fiat on-ramp: yes
> Payment methods: card, bank-transfer, paypal, gift-card
> Founded: 2015
> Open source: no
> Custodial: yes
> Last verified: 2026-05-12

## Verdict

Paxful was a major P2P Bitcoin venue from 2015-2023. The April 2023 shutdown and May 2023 relaunch under stricter KYC means the platform older privacy guides reference no longer exists. Listed for historical reference. Users seeking no-KYC P2P should use AgoraDesk, Hodl Hodl, or Bisq instead.

## Strengths

- Historically one of the largest P2P venues with hundreds of payment methods.
- Cited in older privacy guides as a P2P route.

## Caveats

- Original Paxful shut down in April 2023 citing operational reasons and an internal dispute among founders.
- Relaunched May 2023 with stricter KYC requirements at signup — the no-KYC posture that older guides reference is no longer accurate.
- U.S. operator; co-founder pleaded guilty to AML violations in July 2024 (separate from the platform operations).
- Users seeking the original Paxful no-KYC experience should look at AgoraDesk, Hodl Hodl, or Bisq instead.
- Facts need re-verification by operator (last seeded 2026-05).

---

## What Paxful is

A P2P cryptocurrency exchange platform; the no-KYC posture older sources describe is no longer accurate post-2023 relaunch.

## Threat-model fit

Historical reference. Modern no-KYC P2P alternatives are AgoraDesk, Hodl Hodl, Bisq, RoboSats.

## Sources

- [Paxful homepage](https://paxful.com/) — accessed 2026-05-12
- [U.S. DOJ Northern District of California (Paxful co-founder context)](https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca) — accessed 2026-05-12