Hey, totally understand your concern — I’ve been in the same situation here in the EU. Most EU countries now require ID verification for SIM cards due to anti-terror or anti-fraud laws, so truly anonymous physical SIMs are basically extinct across the Schengen area.
However, for your use case — registering on platforms that just need a phone number for SMS verification — an international eSIM can be a practical solution. You won’t get a national number for your country, but many eSIM providers offer numbers from other countries (e.g., UK or US) that still work perfectly for receiving SMS and registering services like WhatsApp, Signal, or even some websites.
I got mine from encryptdevices.com, where you can pay with crypto and choose between data-only or eSIMs with a phone number. I’ve used it successfully for verifications, and didn’t need to show any ID.
A few notes from my experience:
Recharging is usually straightforward with crypto or online payment if the eSIM plan allows it, but check the provider’s policy on how long the number stays active without top-up.
Be aware some platforms (banks, government portals) may reject foreign numbers for registration — but most apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, social media) accept them fine.
Make sure your device supports eSIM and that it’s unlocked; GrapheneOS on a Pixel works perfectly with these eSIMs.
Hope that helps — good luck staying private while staying connected!