TrustScore is a score of an exchanger from 0 to 100 under the Nadoswap methodology. It takes into account the exchanger's written terms and open disputes on external platforms. We back refund, KYC and AML terms with quotes from the documents. For dispute information, we cite the external source. The score does not guarantee the outcome of a specific deal.
Where the data comes from
We analyze exchange rules, user agreements, refund terms and AML/KYC policies. We cross-check provisions across different documents so that we don't draw a conclusion from a single phrase out of context. The date of the last check is shown in the exchanger's card.
Listing positions are not for sale. Exchangers cannot buy a spot in the list, a score, or a badge. Ranking and scores are calculated using the same methodology for everyone — this one.
Six typical situations
When something goes wrong, it's usually one of six stories: the wrong amount was sent, payment was late, the exchanger had a technical outage, the rate changed, a payment got stuck in AML review, or the order was cancelled before the exchange was executed. For each situation we look for an answer in the documents and assign a status:
- refunds — the exchanger firmly promised to return the money: "we will refund," with no discretion caveats;
- at discretion — "we may refund," "a refund is not guaranteed": a right, not an obligation;
- outright refusal — it says "we do not refund";
- not described — the documents say nothing about this situation.
"Refunds: X of 6" shows in how many typical situations the exchanger commits in writing to refund. Cases left to the service's discretion, outright refusals and undescribed situations are not counted in X. "0 of 6" and "refunds: not described" mean different things. In the first case no scenario received the "refunds" status, but the documents may contain refusals or other terms. In the second case there is no information about refunds.
How the score is calculated
The starting score is 50 points. It is a reference point for the calculation, not a confirmation of the exchanger's quality.
The score goes up for: a firm written promise to return money if a payment gets stuck in review; each typical situation closed with a firm "we will refund"; requesting documents only on suspicion, not from everyone.
The score goes down for: "we will freeze" with no explanation of what happens to the money next; mandatory verification for everyone; an outright "we will not refund" — especially for a payment stuck in review; open disputes on external platforms.
Nothing changes the score: "we may refund if we want to" — discretion doesn't count as a promise; and any question the documents don't answer — "no data" gives neither a plus nor a minus.
There is one score per exchanger, and it's the same across every page and route.
The score cannot be read as the probability of a successful exchange. For example, 80 points do not mean an 80% probability of getting your funds back.
Badges on the card
- "AML check" — what happens to the money, per the documents, if a payment gets stuck in an AML review. Green "refunded": it's written that the money will be returned. Gray "service decides": the outcome is described, but the decision stays with the exchanger. Red "frozen": it says "we will freeze," and what happens to the money after that isn't written anywhere. No badge — the documents say nothing about this.
- "Refunds: X of 6" — how many typical situations are closed with a firm promise to refund. "Refunds: not described" — there's nothing about refunds in the documents.
- "KYC" — whether documents will be requested and what happens on refusal. "Refund only after KYC" (red): they won't even return your own money without verification. "Mandatory for everyone": verification before any deal. "Funds frozen on refusal": documents may be requested case by case, but refusal means frozen funds. "Possible based on risk": requested only if the transaction looks suspicious. "Not required" (green): the exchanger has stated in writing that it skips checks.
- Refund fee — on the expanded card: how much will be withheld from your own money on a refund. "No fee" (green) — the refund is described and explicitly free; 20% or more is the red zone.
Trust levels and ranking order
Scores fall into levels: 35+ moderate, 70+ high, 85+ maximum; below 35 is the red zone, and we flag those exchangers separately.
A level refers to the score under our methodology. It does not guarantee a payout or a refund. The starting 50 points also do not mean that enough information has been collected about the exchanger.
The listing takes into account the rate and TrustScore. The best rate does not guarantee the top spot. The "Best rate" badge marks the highest rate on a route among exchangers with 30 or more reviews, "Highest trust" marks the highest score; both are calculated across the whole route and don't depend on active filters.
What the score doesn't mean
TrustScore reflects the exchanger's written terms and the information on open disputes taken into account by the methodology. It does not predict how a specific deal will go.
The "frozen" badge means the documents provide for withholding funds but do not describe what happens next. It does not mean the funds will necessarily be frozen.
"No data" means the documents contain no answer. It is not proof of a violation or of concealment.
The methodology changes
We keep refining the tagging rules and the formula. Every time the methodology changes, all scores are recalculated immediately, and the change gets a version number and a note in the exchanger's history — so a score can change even if the exchanger's documents haven't. The current version is always shown at the top of this page.
Found an inaccuracy?
Tagging relies on documents, and documents can be contradictory — so we can make mistakes. If you notice that a status or quote doesn't match the exchanger's document, write to us with a link to the specific clause: we'll review the case manually and correct the tagging. Disputed cases are tracked in a single log.
For exchangers
Clearly describe your refund terms, the grounds for KYC, the procedure for AML reviews, and fees. When data is updated, we take the changes into account under the current methodology. The score also depends on open disputes on external platforms. A score, a badge, or a listing spot cannot be bought.
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