ShapeShift vs ChangeNOW 2025
For anyone navigating the world of digital assets, the ability to seamlessly exchange one cryptocurrency for another is a fundamental necessity. Among the most established platforms serving this purpose are ShapeShift and ChangeNOW. Both are widely recognized for their support of a diverse range of cryptocurrencies and altcoins. Yet, despite their surface similarities, each platform embodies distinct philosophies and technical frameworks. This article aims to do more than skim the surface. We’ll explore the unique DNA of each platform, evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, and give you a practical framework for deciding which one is for you.
Key Takeaways
ShapeShift is a community-governed, non-custodial multichain platform governed by the ShapeShift DAO and the FOX token. It emphasizes self-custody, open source, and DeFi integrations; recent product work focuses on multichain routing and mobile/wallet integrations. Trustpilot: 3★.
ChangeNOW supports a broad spectrum of crypto and fiat currencies, fixed and floating rates, offers permanent wallet addresses and Pro account with perks such as cashback, and executes swaps just in minutes. Trustpilot: 4.5★ with thousands of reviews.
Quick Comparison: ShapeShift vs ChangeNOW at a Glance
| Feature | ShapeShift | ChangeNOW |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Year | 2013 | 2017 |
| Platform Type | A true DEX. You’re in charge of your wallet keys. Available on iOS, Android, Solana Seeker, and mobile browsers | Straight from the web or mobile app. No login required |
| Fees & Pricing | Competitive, but totals can jump around depending on the coin, gas fees, and network load | What you see is what you pay – rates already include fees, no surprises with gas |
| Supported Assets | 10,000+ assets, a platform for altcoin explorers and pro users | 1,400+ cryptocurrencies – plenty for everyday users |
| Fiat Support | Fiat on/off ramps, 150+ fiat currencies | Supports buying and selling crypto; 60+ fiat currencies (cards, SEPA, Apple Pay and more) |
| Swap Speed | Depends on the network and chosen coin | Instant, usually up to ~2 minutes |
| AML & Policy | Does not require KYC, which means anyone can trade or swap without verification, but this also carries higher risks, including lack of user protection, potential for fraud, and no recourse if funds are lost | No sign-ups. Checks only if flagged. Real-time fraud detection and institutional cooperation ensuring user funds’ safety and recoveries. Blog section with AML cases |
| Security & Trust | Optional 2FA. Settled OFAC sanctions case in 2025, paying $750,000 for prohibited transactions; highlights regulatory compliance history | Non-custodial, privacy-first. In 2025, helped recover $5M in compromised funds through coordination with U.S. authorities, demonstrating effective fraud prevention and user protection |
| Customer Support | Mixed bag: some official support, but much of it happens in community channels | 24/7 via chat, email, Telegram – real people, not just bots. 15+ languages |
| Unique Features | Community governance, staking, integrations, bug bounty program | Pro account (staking, loans, cashback), permanent addresses, B2B APIs, clear fixed/floating rate options, merchant API |
Summary: Both platforms enable non-custodial swaps, but ChangeNOW focuses on simplicity, safety, speed, and fiat support, while ShapeShift goes for pros, altcoin variety, and decentralization.
1. Fees & Pricing
ShapeShift monetizes primarily through its exchange rate spread (~0.55%), rather than a fixed trading fee. This means the effective cost is embedded in the rate you receive for a swap rather than being charged as a separate fee [1].
Network and gas fees are additional, varying by blockchain activity [2]. 
Advanced users can leverage multichain routing via ShapeShift’s aggregator to optimize swaps, potentially reducing the effective cost of transactions by selecting the most efficient path across supported chains [3].
ChangeNOW charges all fees upfront, displayed as part of the quoted rate, depending on whether users chooses the Floating or Fixed Rate options [4]. Rates are inclusive: displayed prices include fees and network costs. Users may choose floating (market-linked) or fixed (locked in quote) rates.
2. Supported Assets & Fiat Options
ShapeShift supports a massive selection of over 10,000 crypto assets across 15 networks [5], making it a go-to platform for pro users, altcoin hunters, and DeFi enthusiasts. Beyond major coins like BTC, ETH, and stablecoins, the platform supports:
- Meme Coins: DOGE, SHIB, PEPE
- DeFi Tokens: UNI, AAVE, CRV, COMP
- GameFi & Metaverse Tokens: AXS, SAND, MANA, GALA
- Wrapped Assets: WBTC, WETH, renBTC
- Ecosystem Coins: ATOM, DOT, ADA, SOL
ShapeShift offers multichain routing [6], Base App integration [7], and extensive fiat onramps in 2025 [8], supporting over 150 national currencies and multiple payment methods.
ChangeNOW supports 1,400+ crypto assets [9] and over 1 million trading pairs. Its selection includes major coins, meme coins, DeFi tokens, wrapped tokens, and ecosystem coins. On the fiat side, it supports 60+ currencies, multiple payment methods, and cross-border access [10].
3. Swap Speed
ShapeShift executes swaps directly from users’ wallets, with speed contingent on the underlying blockchain and network conditions [11].
ChangeNOW processes most crypto-to-crypto swaps in approximately 2 minutes [12]. Its architecture leverages liquidity partnerships and optimized routing across multiple exchanges and blockchains to maintain rapid settlement even under heavy network load.
4. Security & Trust
ShapeShift and ChangeNOW operate as non-custodial platforms, meaning users retain full control over their assets throughout each transaction. Funds never reside on the platform themselves, minimizing counterparty and custodial risks.
ShapeShift enhances transparency through its DAO governance model, where code, audits, and proposals are publicly verifiable on-chain [6]. After its 2021 decentralization, the platform’s open source infrastructure and integration with networks like THORChain and Cosmos enable distributed liquidity and community-driven oversight [7].
Following the 2024 regulatory settlements with OFAC and the SEC, the ShapeShift DAO formalized internal compliance and reporting frameworks, creating a balance between decentralized transparency and regulatory accountability. The case resulted in a $275,000 settlement and a cease-and-desist order, marking ShapeShift’s transition toward structured cooperation with regulators. The transition to a DAO also helped ShapeShift align its governance structure with decentralized principles while addressing prior regulatory challenges through open governance and shared accountability.
ChangeNOW emphasizes real-time AML monitoring and institutional collaboration. Its risk detection system, powered by SumSub, automatically triggers KYC only when transactions are flagged as high-risk [9]. In 2025, ChangeNOW prevented the laundering of approximately $5 million in compromised funds through cooperation with the U.S. Treasury Department, successfully freezing the transactions and returning the assets to victims while updating its internal monitoring systems [10].
Additionally, the platform assisted in recovering over $2.5 million lost to social engineering attacks, demonstrating proactive fraud prevention and effective collaboration with U.S. federal agencies [11]. This and earlier recoveries highlight the platform’s proactive defense against illicit activity and readiness to cooperate with authorities when user safety is at stake.
While ShapeShift resolved its regulatory issues by establishing transparent governance through its DAO, ChangeNOW follows a proactive compliance approach, cooperating with regulators and institutions to prevent financial crimes. Both models reflect different interpretations of user protection: ShapeShift through operational diligence and active cooperation with oversight bodies.
Together, they illustrate the evolving paradigm of non-custodial security, balancing privacy, transparency, and global regulatory expectations within the modern crypto exchange ecosystem.
5. Customer support
ChangeNOW provides comprehensive customer support through multiple channels:
- Email Support: Users can contact support@changenow.io for assistance with transactions or technical issues.
- Support Center: A detailed Help Center is available at support.changenow.io, offering guides and FAQs.
- Live Chat: For immediate assistance, a live chat feature is accessible on the ChangeNOW website.
- Telegram Community: ChangeNOW maintains an active Telegram community where users can ask questions and receive support.
The support team is available 24/7, offering 15+ languages assistance to cater to a global user base.
According to Trustpilot reviews, ChangeNOW has a TrustScore of 4.5 out of 5, with over 12,800 reviews. The company has responded to 99% of negative reviews, typically within 24 hours.
In May 2025, a user’s 192,500 XPR transaction on ChangeNOW was temporarily frozen during an AML review, despite full KYC verification. ChangeNOW clarified that such holds are legally mandated and review times vary based on case complexity, with updates provided via support channels.
ShapeShift offers customer support primarily through:
- Help Center: Users can submit support requests via the ShapeShift Help Center [12] where the team strives to respond within 48 hours.
- Support Page: A dedicated support page is available, offering resources and contact information [13]. On the main platform, support resources are available in 6 languages. For more extensive assistance, their Zendesk help center offers content in 10 languages, covering guides, FAQs, and troubleshooting for a wider range of topics.
ShapeShift’s support operates around the clock, ensuring timely assistance for users.
However, according to Trustpilot reviews, ShapeShift has a TrustScore of 3 out of 5, with numerous complaints regarding high swapping fees and difficulties in withdrawing funds [14].
For instance, a review posted on 31 May 2025 on Trustpilot rated ShapeShift 1 out of 5 stars, highlighting significant user frustration. The reviewer specifically mentioned excessive swapping fees, compounded by difficulties in withdrawing funds from DeFi earnings accumulated over a two-year period. Despite contacting the support team more than ten times, the user reported receiving inconsistent responses and no effective infrastructure including multilingual assistance and a comprehensive Zendesk knowledge base – meaning that users engaging in complex operations, particularly DeFi-related transactions, should have responsive, case specific support to ensure operational reliability.
6. Unique features
ShapeShift sets itself apart with functionalities tailored mainly for experienced users and DeFi aficionados:
- DAO Governance & FOX Token Integration: ShapeShift is structured as a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), allowing FOX token holders to participate in governance decisions, including protocol upgrades, fee changes, and feature prioritization. This approach aligns platform development with the community’s interests ShaheShift DAO Proposal, 2025 [15].
- Multichain Swap Aggregation: The platform’s routing aggregator identifies the most efficient paths across over 15 supported chains, including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, Bitcoin, Cosmos, BNB Chain, and THORChain [16]. This multichain routing optimizes swaps for cost, speed, and liquidity, providing flexibility for sophisticated users [17].
- Base App Integration: According to the article below, ShapeShift integrates seamlessly with Coinbase’s Base App (formerly CoinBase Wallet), providing direct access to DeFi applications, portfolio dashboards, and one-click decentralized trading opportunities [18].
- Revenue Sharing and Staking: ShapeShift users can participate in the platform’s FOX token staking program through the FOXy system. Staked FOX converts into FOXy tokens at a 1:1 ratio, which automatically rebases decentralized ownership, all without requiring users to manage positions actively [19].
- Advanced Trading Features: Beyond standard swaps, ShapeShift supports limit orders and advanced trading flows, allowing users to automate trades at predefined prices without constant manual input [20].
- Integration with Solana Dapp Store 2.0: ShapeShift has launched on the Solana Dapp Store 2.0, combining the liquidity of both Jupiter and Relay to automatically quote the best possible rates on every trade [21].
ChangeNOW has evolved from a simple instant swap service to offer a range of features and functionalities tailored for regular or professional users:
- Permanent Exchange Addresses: Users can reuse wallet addresses for repeated transactions, streamlining recurring swaps and reducing operational complexity.
- ChangeNOW Pro Account: offers enhanced perks, such as:
- Cashback rewards in NOW tokens for completed swaps.
- NOW token staking, providing a means to earn passive income from held tokens.
- Crypto-backed loans, allowing users to leverage assets without liquidating them.
For further details and an in-depth understanding, you can explore our official blog and learn more about ChangeNOW Pro [22] with comprehensive insights and features.
- Specialized Portals: Curated sections for meme coins and DeFi tokens, facilitating rapid access to trending or niche digital assets.
- NOW Token Utility: Serves as a multifunctional token within the platform, unlocking fee discounts, staking opportunities, governance participation, and cashback incentives [23].
- Crypto Bridge & Cross-Chain Swap Tool: Enables fast, low-fee cross-chain swaps across 70+ blockchains, supporting popular pairs like BSC↔ETH, SOL↔ETH, and POL↔AVAX, ensuring seamless and secure transactions [24].
Overall, these capabilities position ChangeNOW as a comprehensive platform that caters to active users, providing efficiency, financial incentives, and seamless integration with broader crypto ecosystems.
Enterprise & Developer Apps
ShapeShift doesn’t focus on B2B unlike, ChangeNOW, that offers a suite of B2B and developer-focused solutions to facilitate crypto adoption:
- White-Label Exchange Solutions: enables partners to launch branded crypto exchanges with minimal development overhead.
- Merchant Payment Integration: accepts multiple cryptocurrencies across websites, apps, and wallets.
- NOW Wallet & NOWPayments Integration: streamlines crypto transaction management for businesses.
- Referral & Partnership Program: generates revenue through embedded links, widgets, or exchange modules.
- Customizable API Access: Developers can build advanced crypto features into apps or trading systems [25].
- Asset listing: allows a cryptocurrency or token to be added to the platform for trading, providing liquidity, exposure, and community engagement, with standard listing requirements based on market presence and trading volume, and custom solutions like Multichain Bridge or Market Making available if requirements are not met [26].
Final Verdict: Which Platform Should You Choose?
Both platforms continue to be the options in the non-custodial swap market in 2025, but they serve distinct user bases.
ShapeShift excels for advanced users and DeFi enthusiasts. The platform suits professional traders and users who prioritize sophisticated trading strategies.
ChangeNOW, by contrast, focuses on simplicity, speed, and convenience. ChangeNOW is particularly well-suited for everyday users and those who prefer predictable execution without the complexities of DeFi protocols.
Resources
This comparison is based on publicly available data, official documentation, and content from reputable sources:
- ShapeShift GitHub Web Repository
- Etherscan Gas Tracker – Network Fees
- ShapeShift Forum – Community Discussions
- ChangeNOW FAQ – Minimal Exchange Amount
- ShapeShift App – Main Platform
- GitHub – General Repository
- ShapeShift THORChain Integration
- OFAC Recent Actions – ShapeShift Sanctions Case 2025
- ChangeNOW FAQ – KYC & AML Procedure
- ChangeNOW Blog – Security Report: $5M Crypto Recovered
- ChangeNOW Blog – Returns $100K to XPR Scam Giveaway Victims
- ShapeShift Zendesk Help Center – Guides & Support
- ShapeShift Support Page
- Trustpilot – ShapeShift User Reviews
- ShapeShift DAO Proposals – Snapshot
- ShapeShift Supported Chains Overview
- ShapeShift App – Platform Access
- ShapeShift Blog – Coinbase Wallet Integration
- ShapeShift Zendesk – FOX Staking & FOXy Guide
- ShapeShift Forum – Engineering Workstream Monthly Update Dec 2025
- ShapeShift Blog – Solana Mobile
- ChangeNOW Pro
- ChangeNOW Tokens – Full Token Catalog
- ChangeNOW Swap – Crypto Bridge & Cross-Chain Swap Tool
- ChangeNOW For Partners – B2B & Developer Solutions
- ChangeNOW Asset Listing – Listing Requirements & API
- Symbiosis Protocols by ShapeShift
- ShapeShift Articles, Buying and Selling Crypto
