What CryptoLocally is
CryptoLocally was a peer-to-peer (P2P) platform for buying and selling cryptocurrencies between individuals, paying in local currency by bank transfer, online services or cash, including through in-person meetings, a practice that is risky for personal safety. According to a legal document on the website, it was launched on 27 November 2018. A smart contract, initially on the EOS blockchain, acted as an escrow: the seller locked the crypto in it and released it once payment had been received. In 2022 it claimed more than 20 cryptocurrencies, more than 50 payment methods and a governance token, GIV. The new 2025 app reuses the name and legal texts of the original website. (Verified: October 2026)
Regulation and licences
(Verified: October 2026)
- MiCA: NO — CryptoLocally does not appear in the ESMA register of authorised providers (version of 22 October 2026).
- The legal documents, both in 2021 and in the new app (updated on 4 July 2024; the terms refer to Hong Kong law), name only "CryptoLocally of Hong Kong", with no registration number or address.
- Warnings: no blocking order from CONSOB (Italy's securities regulator) concerns CryptoLocally or its domain.
Security
There are no significant public incidents on record; for the new app, it is not known which smart contracts it uses or who controls them (Verified: October 2026). In P2P trades the main risk is the counterparty: fake payments or payments reversed after the crypto has been released, and third-party accounts used to launder money.
Headquarters and contacts
- No company identified beyond the wording "CryptoLocally of Hong Kong". The legal documents point to Hong Kong, not to the "China" previously given in this profile.
- No link to the website: the domain has been up for sale and the operator is unknown.
Alternatives
For anyone looking for a similar service that is operating and authorised in the EU:
- Kraken — MiCA licence from the Central Bank of Ireland (25 June 2025)
- Bitstamp — MiCA licence from Luxembourg's CSSF (15 May 2025)
- Revolut — MiCA licence from Cyprus's CySEC (20 October 2025)
FAQ
Is CryptoLocally still active? The original platform does not appear to have been active since 2022; the new app that appeared in 2025 shows no evidence of real trades and no identifiable operator. (Verified: October 2026)
Is it risky to buy cryptocurrencies for cash from individuals? Yes: besides scams (fake payments or counterfeit banknotes, crypto never delivered), meeting strangers puts personal safety at risk and may breach anti-money-laundering rules and limits on the use of cash.
Verified sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20200421104751/https://cryptolocally.com/en/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20210303025442/https://cryptolocally.com/en/disclaimer/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20210928071405/https://cryptolocally.com/en/privacy-policy/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20220507012259/https://cryptolocally.com/en/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240129214656/https://cryptolocally.com/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20251008034728/https://cryptolocally.com/
- https://www.esma.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2024-12/CASPS.csv
- https://www.consob.it/web/area-pubblica/oscuramenti
