That’s not all you could be in more danger having your mobile number on an exchange
The exchanges are no more revealing people phone number, they allow people to chat directly through the exchange. But maybe some exchanges are not protecting people's mobile number. What I noticed is that the ad creator can request for phone number, but make sure you do not give the person your phone number and be confident about it. Some people are giving the ad creator a fake number and it worked but that is not necessary. The exchanges now are even displaying to people that personal information should not be disclosed which means you have the right nie to tell anyone your phone number on P2P exchanges.
Also if you register on an exchange, know that if you use email to register, the exchange may not demand for your phone number. I have not used phone to register on any centralized exchange before. I use just email. Also decentralized exchanges and other no KYC exchanges will not demand for phone number.
I quite understand what information you’re trying to pass OP from this thread, but one thing we need to let clear of is if you want to protect your privacy as you stated then you have absolutely nothing to do using a centralized exchange that requires KYC, once you have registered and provided KYC on platforms like this you can just be careful from there but there is nothing like privacy again. Phone details if not used for account details might be required during setup or you use your email which is still giving out personal information.
Phone number tricks are there but it requires more information to be added before the Scammer can be able to get you information, phone number can not be used to access your bank details even from fintechs banks except you actually give them access through token codes like OTP.
Although it is not bad actually using the number which isn’t serious attached to you but since you have BVN or NIN attached to exchanges you cannot be anonymous fully.
For fully anonymity you need to avoid KYC oriented exchanges
What if the person use a decentralized exchange or a noKYC exchange and still use Opay or Palmpay account number which is his or her phone number? OP post is more about not giving out your phone number to buyer and sellers. Giving out your Opay or Palmpay account number which is your phone number can make you a target because some of these people are scammers. You can know their phishing attempts because you have experience already, but there are some newbies that may not know it.
Another thing is that the OP did not specify which exchange but
hehis post is general.