Thoughts on monero's anonymity?

[Celsiuss]

What's the deal here? Do you want to be anonymous when using cryptos? As we know, bitcoin has an open and searchable blockchain, where you can trace anything. That's why some like to use mixers. Coins like Monero are popular because of ONE thing, anonymity. No one knows where goes what or how much. I've seen lately in illegal drug markets that monero is becoming increasingly popular due to its anonymity. I haven't seen monero been used much for anything outside the illegal drug market.
Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Do we want to enforce anonymity among cryptos or defend it?

[1715161223]

1715161223

[o_e_l_e_o]

There are plenty of reasons to want anonymity and privacy that are perfectly legal. Suggesting otherwise is nonsense. If you think that only criminals need anonymity, then you can do away with VPNs, Tor, encryption, etc. You can do away with your "Celsiuss" username. If you have nothing to hide, then surely you have nothing to fear and have no reason to require anonymity or privacy? Feel free to post your full name, address, email and password below.

Incidentally, Monero is good coin for reasons other than anonymity. Its recent Bulletproof upgrade has slashed transaction fees by 97%. They are constantly moving forward and consistently stick to their timeline and release dates. It is one of the very small number of altcoins that isn't complete trash.

[NeuroticFish]

monero is becoming increasingly popular due to its anonymity. I haven't seen monero been used much for anything outside the illegal drug market.

This is what you get if all you read is from press. Aren't you also convinced that Bitcoin only use is for hackers to steal your money?


Monero is used by everybody that don't like people take a look into their wallet.
While with Bitcoin one can use mixers, one can use change addresses heavily and in a smart way, many will not do that and some already got into trouble because of this.

In the same way you don't show everybody how much money you have in your pocket and what you do with them, Monero does that with anonymity. Monero is much closer to how actual cash works than Bitcoin. As you can see, this is good. And this is bad too:

Governments also want to take a look into your pocket and some will prohibit Monero "to avoid people buy drugs" (or other made up reasons that help you sleep well).
Bad people can indeed use it for wrong, in the same way as they do with money, gold and so on.

[Black Coffee]

Is monero made for the purpose of illegal transactions? I don't think so, just like things like internet, fiat money, banks and others that are commonly used by criminals for other illegal activities, do we blame everything? not.

[o_e_l_e_o]

Is monero made for the purpose of illegal transactions? I don't think so, just like things like internet, fiat money, banks and others that are commonly used by criminals for other illegal activities, do we blame everything? not.

Exactly. Far, far more crime is carried out using fiat than any cryptocurrency. Is anyone seriously suggesting banning fiat? Of course not. I haven't seen many balaclavas being used outside of criminal organisations. Perhaps we should ban them?

By claiming Monero is only popular in illegal drug markets you are simply mimicking the people who said the same things about Bitcoin years ago. Where are those people now? Probably cursing themselves that all they did was talk nonsense instead of buying in at <$10.

[karman383]

Is monero made for the purpose of illegal transactions? I don't think so, just like things like internet, fiat money, banks and others that are commonly used by criminals for other illegal activities, do we blame everything? not.

I think Monero is not related to illegal transaction activities. And I don't think a bit about that. I always think positively about addressing a number of related matters, and always think clearly so as not to misinterpret.

[ripzombie]

There are a plenty of anonymous coins but I think that Monero is the most perspective from them all. It has quite good technical spects..

[CuriousGeorge]

What's the deal here? Do you want to be anonymous when using cryptos? As we know, bitcoin has an open and searchable blockchain, where you can trace anything. That's why some like to use mixers. Coins like Monero are popular because of ONE thing, anonymity. No one knows where goes what or how much. I've seen lately in illegal drug markets that monero is becoming increasingly popular due to its anonymity. I haven't seen monero been used much for anything outside the illegal drug market.
Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Do we want to enforce anonymity among cryptos or defend it?

This has already happened with bitcoin https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/bitcoin-price-fall-criminals-blockchain-anonymous-cryptocurrency-zcash-monero-dash-a8174716.html
I can't deny the fact that mostly markets that accept monero as payment system is in the dark marketplace and there a few stores that make you able to purchase any goods and service that doesn;t violate any regulation use monero. That depends on the people's opinion regarding it.

[shield132]

Monero is very anonymous and to my mind this coin will become in top soon, after bitcoin and possibly ethereum. As bitmixer's owner claimed, more than 1 million bitcoin was mixed in a year by using his website. See what happened to btc-e, what's happening now, bitcoin was great option for anonimity, now Monero, higher level of anonimity becomes popular. Don't know what others think but I can repeat the same answers you already get yourself in your proposal.
See this post too: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2042470.msg21113378#msg21113378

[xtraelv]

What's the deal here? Do you want to be anonymous when using cryptos? As we know, bitcoin has an open and searchable blockchain, where you can trace anything. That's why some like to use mixers. Coins like Monero are popular because of ONE thing, anonymity. No one knows where goes what or how much. I've seen lately in illegal drug markets that monero is becoming increasingly popular due to its anonymity. I haven't seen monero been used much for anything outside the illegal drug market.
Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Do we want to enforce anonymity among cryptos or defend it?

Every time Monero forks it potentially discloses some information that can be used to identify owners of wallets.
Monero 0 (XMZ), Monero Original (XMO), Monero Classic (XMC) and second Monero Classic (XMC)

The potential problem with privacy coins is that exploits are also harder to detect. Exploits like what happened with all the zerocoin based coins.

Personally I think Electroneum is going to be a big competitor against Monero. It is based on the same code and has more people that use it.

There are far more uses for privacy coins other than "illegal uses".

Privacy is something that determines freedom. Without privacy your freedom is impacted.

People wear clothes, have doors on bathrooms, curtains and other privacy measures.

Disclosing your wealth publicly to strangers in not recommended. It makes you a target for theft and extortion.

Would you like everyone to know your purchases ? Porn subscription, hemorrhoid cream and political donation just as an example.

[drlukacs]

It's really hard to know but in my own opinion, if we wanna see cryptocurrency legalized in the future so we need to remove anonymity of cryptocurrencies to avoid cryptocurrencies taken advatages to commit guilty so when nobody can take advantages of cryptocurrency so then it'll be easily legalized.

[vrabac68]

I AM NOT THAT BIG FAN OF mONERO. I LOVE DASH AND ZCASH AND I INVESTED IN SOME NEW PRIVACY COINS . IT IS REALLY RISKY INVESTMENTS BUT WITH MASS ADOPTION COMING SOONER OR LATER IT CAN BE BIG HIT

[adekogbe]

Privacy coins that promote anonymity are very good and Monero is the best of them in my opinion.
Monero can however represent a good or bad coin depending on perspective. Some other crypto currencies can still be tracked to an extent  but monero anomity means in a case of theft, or usage for illegal activities, the culprit will most probably go Scot free

[Argoo]

I believe that people have the right to anonymity. It is not always necessary to disclose all your actions to the public. I see nothing wrong with that. I think that anonymous coins have the right to circulate regardless of the fact that they can be used for criminal purposes. Criminals - this is a problem law enforcement agencies.

[b3llsf1l3s]

What's the deal here? Do you want to be anonymous when using cryptos? As we know, bitcoin has an open and searchable blockchain, where you can trace anything. That's why some like to use mixers. Coins like Monero are popular because of ONE thing, anonymity. No one knows where goes what or how much. I've seen lately in illegal drug markets that monero is becoming increasingly popular due to its anonymity. I haven't seen monero been used much for anything outside the illegal drug market.
Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Do we want to enforce anonymity among cryptos or defend it?

in some ways, indeed this anonymity is not good. because there will be many people who have evil intentions and seeing this as an opportunity and facilitating this becomes part of their activities. it would be better if finally if you have assets outside the limits, then the owner must do KYC

[StephanHofmann]

Moreno has somewhat of a reputation of being used for illegal activities. But that doesn't mean all of its users are dealing with illegal transactions. There is nothing wrong with the want of privacy and desire to hide identity.

[Zero1One0]

What's the deal here? Do you want to be anonymous when using cryptos? As we know, bitcoin has an open and searchable blockchain, where you can trace anything. That's why some like to use mixers. Coins like Monero are popular because of ONE thing, anonymity. No one knows where goes what or how much. I've seen lately in illegal drug markets that monero is becoming increasingly popular due to its anonymity. I haven't seen monero been used much for anything outside the illegal drug market.
Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Do we want to enforce anonymity among cryptos or defend it?

FIAT/CASH is also anonymous, right?

When you hand your $ bill to pay for something, the recipient doesn't care where you got it as long as you have a legit bill and be able to pay for what you owe.

Same with Monero.

[Mikeschmitt]

Monero is used by everybody that don't like people take a look into their wallet. While with bitcoin one can use mixers, one can use change addresses heavily and in a smart way,many will not do that and some already got into trouble because of this.

[Red-Apple]

Is monero made for the purpose of illegal transactions? I don't think so, just like things like internet, fiat money, banks and others that are commonly used by criminals for other illegal activities, do we blame everything? not.

Exactly. Far, far more crime is carried out using fiat than any cryptocurrency. Is anyone seriously suggesting banning fiat? Of course not. I haven't seen many balaclavas being used outside of criminal organisations. Perhaps we should ban them?

By claiming Monero is only popular in illegal drug markets you are simply mimicking the people who said the same things about Bitcoin years ago. Where are those people now? Probably cursing themselves that all they did was talk nonsense instead of buying in at <$10.

there is an important distinction that we shouldn't forget.
what you say about "far far more crimes" is only because of lack of adoption otherwise cryptocurrencies would have been used just as much. when fiat like US dollar is mass adopted all over the world, nobody knows about monero nor uses it.

additionally bitcoin is not anonymous while a coin like monero is. that is the real reason why it doesn't make sense to use bitcoin over using fiat. specifically cash and US dollar.

what i am trying to say is that if bitcoin reaches mass adoption, it will be used for illegal activities more but still nowhere near fiat. but if monero reaches mass adoption then almost all of its usage will be for illegal activities.

[doroshok1]

In fact, it's not just criminals who need anonymity. And the coin doesn't make a bad presence of criminals there. Criminals are everywhere, and there's nothing to be done. You just need to understand that it depends on the people.