How we grade
Every listing gets an A–F grade. The rules are public so anyone can check them, and they are the same rules the code uses: the tables on this page are printed from the grading code itself.
What a grade is, and what it is not
A grade summarises the facts we hold about a service. Most of those facts come from reading each service's own website and terms; we record what it states and when we checked. Listings that an XMRList editor has tested hands-on show a Tested date, and only verified or tested listings can reach an A. We never claim a test we did not do.
Sponsorship is not an input. A sponsor is placed higher on the page and marked as sponsored, and is graded by exactly the same rules.
The grades
| Grade | Meaning | Listings now |
|---|---|---|
| A Strong | Monero confirmed, no KYC published, privacy-friendly access, a track record, and verified or tested by XMRList editors. | 49 |
| B Good, one trade-off | Good overall with one notable trade-off, or not yet verified by an editor. | 225 |
| C Usable, with caveats | Usable but with gaps: Monero not confirmed, KYC on some or all orders, or details not yet checked. | 1411 |
| D Not recommended | Listed for reference only: does not accept Monero, marked Questionable, unreachable for a week or more, or under review for fund complaints. | 129 |
| F Warning | Marked as a scam on evidence. Listed only as a warning. | 46 |
Points
Points add up to a score. 75+ is an A, 58+ a B, anything lower a C. Missing information alone never pushes a listing below C: a D or F only comes from the caps and adjustments below.
| Fact | Points |
|---|---|
| Monero accepted or supported, confirmed on the service's own site | +25 |
| No KYC published (KYC "None") | +20 |
| KYC only for some orders or amounts | +10 |
| KYC policy not published | +5 |
| Verified by XMRList editors (status Verified) | +12 |
| Hands-on tested by XMRList in the last 12 months | +10 |
| Online 5+ years (founding or domain date) | +8 |
| Online 2 to 5 years | +4 |
| Onion (Tor) address | +8 |
| Open source | +8 |
| No account needed | +6 |
| No email needed (when an account is needed) | +3 |
| Non-custodial | +6 |
| Independent security or no-logs audit | +6 |
| Details checked by XMRList in the last 12 months | +6 |
| Works without JavaScript | +4 |
| Community rating 4+ from 3 or more reviews | +4 |
| Community rating 2 or lower from 3 or more reviews | -10 |
| Marked Questionable by XMRList | -20 |
Caps
However many points a listing has, these hold it at or below a grade.
| Condition | Highest possible grade |
|---|---|
| Marked as a scam | F |
| Does not accept Monero at last check | D |
| Website unreachable for 7 days or more | D |
| Monero support not confirmed on the site | C |
| ID verification required | C |
| Marked Questionable by XMRList | D |
| Never checked in detail by XMRList | C |
| Not verified or tested by an editor (an A needs one of the two) | B |
Adjustments
- Stale evidence: a listing not re-checked for over 18 months drops one grade until it is checked again.
- Reports: one open report is shown on the listing as a note and does not move the grade. Two or more open reports of scams or held funds drop the grade by one while we review them. A report confirmed on evidence makes the listing a Scam (grade F).
- Reachability: every website is checked once a day, and onion addresses through Tor. A site that has not responded for 7 days or more is held at D until it comes back.
- Editor grade: an editor can set a grade by hand when the facts do not tell the whole story. The listing then says the grade was set by editors and why, and the change is logged.
KYC posture and feature chips
No-KYC no identity documents at any stage. KYC sometimes ID can be required for some orders, amounts or flagged payments. KYC required ID is always required; listed for comparison only.
Chips such as Tor mirror No-JS Open source No account Non-custodial Audited describe properties we have recorded. They do not replace reading the service's own terms.
Removal and corrections
- Evidence of theft: marked Scam (F) and kept as a public warning.
- Dead or abandoned services: removed from the directory; their pages answer "410 Gone".
- Mistakes: report them on the listing page. Every grade and status change is in the public audit log; downgrades and warnings are collected on incidents.
Frequently asked questions
What does an XMRList grade mean?
It is a summary of the facts we hold about a service: whether it accepts Monero, its KYC policy, privacy-friendly access such as Tor, how long it has operated, whether an editor has verified or tested it, community reviews, open reports and whether its website is reachable. A is strongest, F is a warning.
Did XMRList test every graded service with a real deposit?
No. Most grades are computed from facts published on each service's own website, which we read and record. Listings we tested hands-on carry a "Tested" date, and only verified or tested listings can reach an A.
Can a sponsor buy a better grade?
No. Sponsorship changes placement only. It is not an input to the grade, and sponsored listings are graded by the same rules as everyone else.
How often are grades updated?
Websites are checked for reachability every day and every grade is recomputed daily. A listing's grade also updates the moment an editor changes one of its facts.
How do I dispute a grade or report a problem?
Use the Report link on the listing page or the contact form. Every grade change is recorded in the public audit log with the reason.