If you install from F-Droid you are good to go it have pro features already but if you have play store then don't update at all. And maybe source code of SMT app will be archived in future.
I don't know how safe is this I really don't care about ban. If they ban me then I have a excuse to not use whatsapp.
You can turn on double check blue mark in Privacy Setting by Clicking on 3 dots.
c/me_irl