What ChangeNOW is
Launched in 2017, ChangeNOW is an instant swap service: in the standard swap you do not deposit funds, you send one crypto and receive another directly to your own wallet. The company states that more than 1,000 assets can be exchanged, and there is a fiat option via card. The standard swap is non-custodial and eliminates custody risk, but shifts responsibility for the wallet onto the user. ChangeNOW also offers optional custodial services, such as the ChangeNOW Pro account. Since 18 September 2026 its terms of service have required residents of the European Union to complete mandatory identity verification (KYC) before using the services. (Verified: October 2026) The company operates as CHN Group LLC, registered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with declared headquarters in the Seychelles (Mahé). The company's public face is Pauline Shangett, Chief Strategy Officer since 2025 after various C-level roles in the group starting in 2018; on leadership ChangeNOW has historically remained reserved and does not publish the name of a CEO. (Verified: September 2026)
Regulation and licences
- MiCA: NO — ChangeNOW does not appear among the CASPs authorised in the ESMA register (Verified: October 2026).
- The company is registered offshore (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines / Seychelles). Since 18 September 2026 its terms of service have required mandatory identity verification (KYC), before use, for residents of the European Union and of some other countries, including Japan, South Korea, Australia and Canada. Elsewhere the swap still requires no registration, with selective AML checks: a small share of transactions (the company indicates around 0.5%) is held for KYC verification after automatic flags. (Verified: October 2026)
- The terms of service exclude residents of the United Kingdom, the United States, India and Russia, and of countries subject to UN sanctions. (Verified: October 2026)
- Since 01/07/2026 crypto exchange services aimed at EU clients require CASP authorisation. An unauthorised service does not offer MiCA protections (safeguards on funds, complaints, supervision): using it means operating outside that perimeter, with the responsibilities that follow. (Verified: September 2026)
Security
In the standard swap, being non-custodial is the main defence: with no user deposits there is no "vault" to empty. Things are different for the optional custodial services, such as the ChangeNOW Pro account. There are no known breaches of user funds. The typical risks are different: transactions held for AML checks (with variable unlocking times) and less favourable rates than an exchange with an order book. (Verified: October 2026)
Headquarters and contacts
- CHN Group LLC, with its registered office at Euro House, Richmond Hill Road, Kingstown (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), according to the company's website (October 2026).
Alternatives
- Kraken — for those who want an exchange with a full MiCA licence
- Crypto.com — MiCA via Malta, with app and card
FAQ
- Does ChangeNOW require documents? For residents of the European Union, yes. Since 18 September 2026 the terms of service have required mandatory identity verification (KYC) before using the services, on ChangeNOW.io or through ChangeNOW.com. In countries without this requirement the standard swap still requires no registration, but a small percentage of transactions (around 0.5% according to the company) is held for AML checks, and in that case documents are needed to unlock the funds. (Verified: October 2026)
- Is ChangeNOW legal in the EU? It is not a MiCA-authorised CASP: after 01/07/2026 crypto services aimed at EU clients require that authorisation. Anyone using it does not enjoy the protections of the European regime.
- Does ChangeNOW hold my funds? In the standard swap, no: the exchange takes place wallet to wallet and responsibility for the keys rests with the user. ChangeNOW does, however, also offer optional custodial services, such as the ChangeNOW Pro account, for those who prefer an account with custody. (Verified: October 2026)
Verified sources
- https://changenow.io/terms-of-use/changenow-terms
- https://changenow.io/faq
- https://www.esma.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2024-12/CASPS.csv
- https://cryptobriefing.com/changenow-non-custodial-crypto-execution/
- https://coinpaprika.com/education/changenow-review-non-custodial-instant-crypto-exchange-e
- https://u.today/interviews/strategy-leadership-building-trust-and-growing-ecosystems-big-i
- https://casptracker.eu/
