Using a MMPOG game to buy bitcoin anonymously

[rdbase]

The thought of not needing to use fiat and doing this from the comfort of your own home is great for the need to social distance from one another.
I have heard of doing this using a monetary system in the Entropia Universe and the intermediary site Virwox before they closed.
I originally thought it was only possible to do this using these sites so to transfer your PED (Project Entropia Dollar) into another currency of your choice.
But someone has made a guide teaching us how this can be accomplished using the rather old game runescape.
https://twitter.com/ercwl/status/1242162916985618435

A more indepth look with more screenshots of how it can be done.
https://medium.com/human-rights-foundation-hrf/privacy-and-cryptocurrency-part-v-bisq-runescape-and-stories-from-buying-bitcoin-anonymously-f345a0eecf59

I haven't tried this method myself as I haven't played runescape.
Looks like you need to install a TOR browser and do some VPNing so to get this to work. So it does seem to be breaking the companies rules if you need to do this in order to purchase bitcoin anonymously.
What are your thoughts on this and does anyone know of any other games which allow you to exchange your in game currency to bitcoin?

[1714618503]

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[1714618503]

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[dothebeats]

Runescape has been that game wherein most people are just grinding for the money, and it's nothing really new to meet people who are selling and buying cryptocurrencies. They will add you on Discord groups to facilitate the transaction before the trade happens, and they don't really ask for much information as long as you have the money/in-currency and that's pretty much about it. Kinda like P2P trades happening on crypto though this time you don't trade real money but rather in-game currency, and the devs of the game don't really bother much about it.

[The Sceptical Chymist]

Looks like you need to install a TOR browser and do some VPNing so to get this to work. So it does seem to be breaking the companies rules if you need to do this in order to purchase bitcoin anonymously.

Ugh.  I really wish bitcoin was easy enough to buy such that you wouldn't have to jump through hoops like this in order to do it.  I've never played Runescape or used TOR, so I think this option is a no-go for me.

The thought of not needing to use fiat and doing this from the comfort of your own home is great for the need to social distance from one another.

Not sure where the social distancing part comes into this, as most bitcoin transactions are usually between people who are far more than six feet away from each other--and they're usually doing it from home (or some other comfortable place) as well.  I get your point about not needing to use fiat, because that's usually the big pain in the ass part when it comes to buying crypto.  Though I'm not going to give this method a try, I do appreciate you posting it here as I find it interesting.

[adzino]

Runescape has been that game wherein most people are just grinding for the money, and it's nothing really new to meet people who are selling and buying cryptocurrencies. They will add you on Discord groups to facilitate the transaction before the trade happens, and they don't really ask for much information as long as you have the money/in-currency and that's pretty much about it. Kinda like P2P trades happening on crypto though this time you don't trade real money but rather in-game currency, and the devs of the game don't really bother much about it.

Runescape was actually the first online MMORPG i played when I was like 10 years old. Discovered it through miniclip and started playing back in 2003. Still have access to my account and I do login like 4/5 times a year just for the nostalgia. Yeah, it isn't the same like it used to be.
But, the way you are saying, it sounds like everyone playing the game sells their rsgp (money) for cryptocurrencies which isn't true. You won't randomly meet people who are selling/buying cryptocurrencies for items or rsgps. It is against the rule to do real world trading. Those who illegally sell rsgps through other websites or forums bots 24/7 to earn those rsgps. They usually get banned within hours and any account that has traded with those bot accounts will receive a ban eventually (people even got banned after months!). Jagex mod can trace trades. I remember Jagex taking legal action against a lot of gold farmers, bots and sellers. Google "Mark and Eric Snellman vs Jagex".

devs of the game don't really bother much about it.

Wrong.

The thought of not needing to use fiat and doing this from the comfort of your own home is great for the need to social distance from one another.
I have heard of doing this using a monetary system in the Entropia Universe and the intermediary site Virwox before they closed.
I originally thought it was only possible to do this using these sites so to transfer your PED (Project Entropia Dollar) into another currency of your choice.
But someone has made a guide teaching us how this can be accomplished using the rather old game runescape.
https://twitter.com/ercwl/status/1242162916985618435

A more indepth look with more screenshots of how it can be done.
https://medium.com/human-rights-foundation-hrf/privacy-and-cryptocurrency-part-v-bisq-runescape-and-stories-from-buying-bitcoin-anonymously-f345a0eecf59

I haven't tried this method myself as I haven't played runescape.
Looks like you need to install a TOR browser and do some VPNing so to get this to work. So it does seem to be breaking the companies rules if you need to do this in order to purchase bitcoin anonymously.
What are your thoughts on this and does anyone know of any other games which allow you to exchange your in game currency to bitcoin?

The risk involved over here is too high. You will need to look for a person who is willing to risk ban. As soon as you buy gold with paypal, you will need to get rid of it asap or else your account can get banned and you will lose everything. Jagex also added bonds so that people stop buying rsgp. Bonds allow you to get rsgp and each bonds cost around $6 (or use a vpn to get it for cheaper like $2).

[hugeblack]

If you are looking for ways to buy bitcoin anonymously, there are many ways to do it without the risk of using games credit.
For example, you can buy gift cards, pay with cash, sell them for a 5% discount.
Buying game credits is like buying Venezuela's currency, it is very central, difficult to convert into cash, and you may be banned at any time, so why use it?

It is also not an anonymous means as the game developers have full access to all your data, and if they accept fiat money without a license, the authorities will end up confiscating that game and losing your money.

[Rune]

If you are looking for ways to buy bitcoin anonymously, there are many ways to do it without the risk of using games credit.
For example, you can buy gift cards, pay with cash, sell them for a 5% discount.
Buying game credits is like buying Venezuela's currency, it is very central, difficult to convert into cash, and you may be banned at any time, so why use it?

It is also not an anonymous means as the game developers have full access to all your data, and if they accept fiat money without a license, the authorities will end up confiscating that game and losing your money.

funny enough I'm pretty Sure runescape gold has been the most stable and reliable currency in the last 15 years.
But you make valid points the risk of getting banned is not a good one to take the gift card idea is ok but it also has risk you can get scammed.
So you need to use a centralized service to MM for you and keep you safe I dont think there is any perfect way to buy bitcoin anonymously and safe

[Jawhead999]

I dont think there is any perfect way to buy bitcoin anonymously and safe

Decentralized exchanges (e.g. bisq, hodl hodl) is the perfect option to buy bitcoin anonymously and safe. You don't need require KYC or personal information (anonymous) and no third parties will hold your coins, you have full control about your coins (safe). But, DEX trading volume still low... so its not fast transaction as CEX.

It is against the rule to do real world trading. Those who illegally sell rsgps through other websites or forums bots 24/7 to earn those rsgps. They usually get banned within hours and any account that has traded with those bot accounts will receive a ban eventually (people even got banned after months!).

That seems like CEX, but you don't have to submit KYC and they can froze your funds (ban your account)

[Kakmakr]

Why go through all that trouble to buy bitcoins anonymously, if you can use online forums to buy bitcoins P2P with Escrow? You can even go to one of your local Bitcoin meetups and hook up with one of the sellers and buy loads of bitcoins, without the people even knowing who you are. 

The real question is, why is anonymity so important to you? (Buy bitcoins legally, push through several Mixer services.. Viola! ....you got your anonymity back, without you having to jump through a bunch of hoops. 

[shield132]

The real question is, why is anonymity so important to you? (Buy bitcoins legally, push through several Mixer services.. Viola! ....you got your anonymity back, without you having to jump through a bunch of hoops. 

Until your exchange wants to control how you use cryptocurrency.

Reference : https://www.newsbtc.com/2019/12/19/what-a-binance-bitcoin-withdrawal-suspension-shows-about-privacy-kyc/

That's the question that I have too, if everything that you do is legal, then why do you really need that much anonimity?
Well, imagine I withdraw bitcoins from binance on my wallet. Now I bough protein powder on website that accepts bitcoins. Now, does binance know that I sent bitcoins on certain website and bought protein powder? If yes, then my apologies. But if not, then what's the problem?

Also another logical way to get rid of binance will be to withdraw money regularly into wallet A and send from this wallet to wallet B (then C, D) and from wallet B to mixers and on wallet Z. Yeah, a lot of fees but shouldn't be very suspicious way cause what you do from binance and your wallet, seems pretty logical and wallet B and Z looks like 3rd party wallets.

[Oasisman]

Why go through all that trouble to buy bitcoins anonymously, if you can use online forums to buy bitcoins P2P with Escrow? You can even go to one of your local Bitcoin meetups and hook up with one of the sellers and buy loads of bitcoins, without the people even knowing who you are. 

Exactly.
This might only apply for those who are playing RuneScape (which is most likely none of the community are actually playing the game atm.) I have played the game back in 2009 but didn't last a month because there are a lot of mmorpg with better graphics and gameplay back then.
Now, talking about buying or selling not an in-game currency such as USD, Bitcoin, etc. is prohibited from most of the online games afaik. And might result to an account ban once caught red-handed.

It would be a real hassle to come into the game and follow those guidelines just to buy Btc anonymously lol 

[alani123]

Farming on Runescape has been a method for people in unstable countries with inflation to earn some money. Apparently, for them, it's a pretty convenient to earn some bucks under the nose of their government. It's anonymous enough for them not to get caught by local authorities. And of course, for them, these tradeable items are of a more stable value than the local currency.

Long story short, there's value in doing this, but if you have cash of a stable FIAT currency at hand, it's probably more convenient to trade it directly.

[Erumo]

Is this really anonymously ? You still register an account in MMORPG. Speaking about mentioned Runescape - random email would do to register. But using more complicated games like World of Warcraft, Lineage or others wont really suit. While registering you still need to fill personal information and often a valid credit card is needed.

[SamuelJobs]

This is old and didn't know you guys don't know about it.
By the way, when you buy gold, you paying extra, when you sell the gold you're getting less.
So you lose around 10-15% of the real value of your fiat.
Not to mention that buying/selling gold for real cash/crypto is forbidden from the runescape devs.
That can bring you ban of the account with the gold inside and they don't remove RTW bans.
Which means there is high percent of you getting banned with your gold (money) in the account right after you buy it, without having the time to sell it.
By the same logic, you can do the same with CS:GO skins, Fifa coins and anything way more secure than game that not allow selling of the in-game currency.
I can call this "method" a "russian roulette" for sure.

[shield132]

The real question is, why is anonymity so important to you? (Buy bitcoins legally, push through several Mixer services.. Viola! ....you got your anonymity back, without you having to jump through a bunch of hoops. 

Until your exchange wants to control how you use cryptocurrency.

Reference : https://www.newsbtc.com/2019/12/19/what-a-binance-bitcoin-withdrawal-suspension-shows-about-privacy-kyc/

That's the question that I have too, if everything that you do is legal, then why do you really need that much anonimity?
Well, imagine I withdraw bitcoins from binance on my wallet. Now I bough protein powder on website that accepts bitcoins. Now, does binance know that I sent bitcoins on certain website and bought protein powder? If yes, then my apologies. But if not, then what's the problem?

There are many reasons to stay anonymous or at least have better privacy knowing what you're doing is legal. It's like saying freedom of speech isn't really needed or important because you have nothing to say.

Also another logical way to get rid of binance will be to withdraw money regularly into wallet A and send from this wallet to wallet B (then C, D) and from wallet B to mixers and on wallet Z. Yeah, a lot of fees but shouldn't be very suspicious way cause what you do from binance and your wallet, seems pretty logical and wallet B and Z looks like 3rd party wallets.

It might be possible, but there's no knowing how far they're willing to track their users or how they determine if you're doing activity they don't want you to do.

Well, that proposal that you sad on freedom of speech is far away from my post, what I meant is different thing. In any way, bitcoin and cryptocurrencies offer higher anonimity than any other traditional payment methods offered by banks and other financial institutes. You make bitcoin transaction = you are anonymous except from those who want to do deep investigation on you. You buy simple things with bitcoin = staying anonymous cause no one will dig into you when there is nothing suspicious but then you do illegal things, then it's a whole different story.

There are better alternatives to bitcoin for higher anonimity and in any way, all of them have weak points that give possibility to trace victim. Some years ago it was very hard or almost impossible to catch those who were using bitcoin for illegal things but right now, situation has dramatically changed.

1. And to make parallel to mine and your example:
Doing legal things with bitcoin = staying anonymous (no reason to track you).
Saying anything ok = freedom of speech

2. Using bitcoin for illegal things = your anonimity under question
Saying offensive words to people = punch on your face.

[Vod]

What are your thoughts on this and does anyone know of any other games which allow you to exchange your in game currency to bitcoin?

I looked into this a few months ago and I chatted briefly with hacker about it.  Legally, you can't provide a platform to allow people to exchange bitcoin unless you are licensed.  And if players can send the game bitcoin, the game cannot send any bitcoin because that could be considered gambling.

The reason no one is doing it may be because they can't yet - at least not on servers in north america.