localbitcoins is still exisiting im surprised

[cryptoboss2020]

you can buy btc now with a lot cheaper and quicker ways!
the cryptocurrency liqutity all over the world been improved a lot so now you can exchnge crypto just with ur bank card

how is this possible that localbitcoins still have customers? 

[Oshosondy]

Localbitcoin still have customers because some people are very acquainted with the exchange, users privacy has been reduced significantly with their strict kyc that was implemented on the site, now it is like even using credit cards to buy and sell bitcoin if talking about kyc. Like me, I do not think localbitcoins should even be used if privacy is of concern now, I prefer HoldHold and mycelium local traders.

[Fundamentals Of]

Localbitcoins is famous. There was perhaps even a time when LBC is the number one site for P2P exchanges. So even if the policies of the site have changed greatly the loyal customers and those who have already trusted the site and became comfortable with it remained there. But if you are after privacy, you would really end up leaving the site you already learned to appreciate over the years. And rightly so.

[blockman]

how is this possible that localbitcoins still have customers? 

What's surprising about localbitcoins? they have been existing and one of the most accessible places to trade bitcoins. Don't be surprised as if you're thinking that they'll ever be phased out just because you have thought so. But in case you have missed this. Read the article.
(https://decrypt.co/44902/russia-blocks-p2p-crypto-exchange-localbitcoins)

[Tytanowy Janusz]

It is illegal in some countries to buy/sell bitcoin. Some banks bans accounts that try to transfer to crypto exchanges or block transfers. For them localbitcoins is the only place to find seller/buyer.

You are also able to buy/sell without KYC, and without any trace. Anonymity is a tier 1 thing for some.

[mk4]

Some people prefer to buy/sell bitcoin through peer-to-peer platforms(such as LocalBitcoins) for privacy purposes, for some reasons like preventing your local bank from knowing that you're an active buyer/seller of bitcoin or something similar.

[cryptoboss2020]

it comes down more to the point that the big excangers would prefer traders would use stable coins with them and every buy and sell order will have impact on cryptocurrecny prices.

by trading localbitcoins its likely otc type of exchnger and tradign there it does not have impact over the global market price.

[Fundamentals Of]

It is illegal in some countries to buy/sell bitcoin. Some banks bans accounts that try to transfer to crypto exchanges or block transfers. For them localbitcoins is the only place to find seller/buyer.

You are also able to buy/sell without KYC, and without any trace. Anonymity is a tier 1 thing for some.

That's in the past. Just last year, LBC has already deprived a good deal of privacy from its users when they started implementing KYC/AML. That is why the services of Bisq and Hodl Hodl have become more popular. There's probably a lot of migrations that happened from LBC to either of the two alternatives mentioned.

That is totally understandable because most of the customers of LBC must have privacy in their minds as the primary factor for choosing them. And now that they have removed it with the KYC/AML implementation, it is just logical that people would just look for other sites.

[tranthidung]

It is illegal in some countries to buy/sell bitcoin. Some banks bans accounts that try to transfer to crypto exchanges or block transfers. For them localbitcoins is the only place to find seller/buyer.

In countries where cryptocurrency is illegal, people have to go to direct tradings with trusted people in their communities as same as in the forum. The trusted people will not go first. Then, P2P marketplaces are one of best options for locals.

In my nation, people can choose Remitano, Paxful or Bitcoinvn.io. There are a few others but they are smaller.

You are also able to buy/sell without KYC, and without any trace. Anonymity is a tier 1 thing for some.

It is wrong. If you have to open account on P2P marketplaces, and have to leave your bank details in trade chat, you don't have anonymous trades. Another contributor to destroy your privacy and anonymity is KYC.

Some people prefer to buy/sell bitcoin through peer-to-peer platforms(such as LocalBitcoins) for privacy purposes, for some reasons like preventing your local bank from knowing that you're an active buyer/seller of bitcoin or something similar.

What you said is true when people believe they will be totally safe on P2P marketplaces. In fact, it is not correct all the time especially in nations where buying/ selling bitcoin or cryptocurrency are illegal.

In such nations, if you have trade with a payment method is bank transfer and the trade partner has bad flow of money (from money laundering, ie.) when the victims of those guys report issues to local police, and police steps in, you will get troubles. Police simply contact you and retrieve fiat money for the victims. Bitcoin trading is illegal so you don't have rights to ask for refund in BTC. You will lose your BTC and you will never want to get troubles with police.

On P2P marketplaces, choosing good trade partners is the most important skill.

[mk4]

What you said is true when people believe they will be totally safe on P2P marketplaces. In fact, it is not correct all the time especially in nations where buying/ selling bitcoin or cryptocurrency are illegal.

In such nations, if you have trade with a payment method is bank transfer and the trade partner has bad flow of money (from money laundering, ie.) when the victims of those guys report issues to local police, and police steps in, you will get troubles. Police simply contact you and retrieve fiat money for the victims. Bitcoin trading is illegal so you don't have rights to ask for refund in BTC. You will lose your BTC and you will never want to get troubles with police.

On P2P marketplaces, choosing good trade partners is the most important skill.

You're right. But buying and selling bitcoin on P2P platforms in a country where bitcoin is illegal is very different with using P2P platforms for simply just wanting more privacy(in contrast to using the typical Coinbase-like exchange).

[adzino]

It is illegal in some countries to buy/sell bitcoin. Some banks bans accounts that try to transfer to crypto exchanges or block transfers. For them localbitcoins is the only place to find seller/buyer.

So you are saying some people use it to break the laws? If it is illegal in their country, then they should not buy or use crypto currencies. The risks aren't worth it at all. There are chances that you will get caught eventually. After you buy bitcoin, at one point you might want to convert it to fiat, but there is no way you can use your banks to transfer those money you get after selling your coins (unless you plan to receive cash money and stash it somewhere).

You are also able to buy/sell without KYC, and without any trace. Anonymity is a tier 1 thing for some.

As far as I know, they added KYC. And as long as you are connected to the internet you CAN be traced!

[kryptqnick]

you can buy btc now with a lot cheaper and quicker ways!
the cryptocurrency liqutity all over the world been improved a lot so now you can exchnge crypto just with ur bank card

how is this possible that localbitcoins still have customers? 

Maybe in some places it's still a good option. If we consider major exchanges, Bitcoin can be bought and sold with USD/EUR or a couple of other major fiat currencies. But most of us actually don't live in places where this kind of money can be used directly (without exchanging it for local fiat). So with localbitcoins one can pass the double exchange thing. As an alternative, there are local exchanges where you can exchange Bitcoin for local fiat on your debit card, but maybe such industries are more people at some places but almost absent at others. So localbitcoins is probably still popular at some places where there isn't much alternative.

[tsaroz]

It used to be a good place for people around here to deal with crypto using cash but their recent changes and policy and stricter stance have made every of the dealers disappear. With a large number of people being involved in crypto now, most of the trading happen through facebook and telegram groups as its nearly the same as local bitcoins with dealers with better rates and reviews getting most customers. There are still on real life OTCs here as the legal instance of the government is still not clear. Restaurants and shops putting on the bitcoin accepted here labels were forced to remove them. Localbitcoin is not as popular here as they used to be.

[Alert31]

you can buy btc now with a lot cheaper and quicker ways!
the cryptocurrency liqutity all over the world been improved a lot so now you can exchnge crypto just with ur bank card

how is this possible that localbitcoins still have customers? 

In some other places where there is limited or no crypto exchange ,the other way they can buy and sell crypto is to find a trusted person on their area to trade in. Many people still using localbitcoins but I personally don't want to use local bitcoins because it too risky ,unless you know the person you are going to trade. Much better to trade in some exchanges like binance and OkeX ,etc...More safer.

[fiulpro]

See there are certain things that we have to consider here , not everyone have choices and therefore local bitcoins is well known all around the world , therefore people just try and use their services instead of trying something new that might cause problems or might be a fraud.

But I have seen that even exchanges are giving better rates than local bitcoins now plus most of the times it's really hard to pin point where you would buy/sell because of so many choices and restrictions.

Some have very specific values that they can deal with but with exchanges it's really easy to sell/buy and people should use P2P trading and make a local community this is very easier to deal with and you do have more options there.

But government limitations and limitations with lack of information about fellow crypto users , some have to use local btc in the end.

[slaman29]

Because not every country has good exchanges? And I still like to trade with the guys I found on localcryptos, who you can whatsapp and ask if they're available. With exchanges you just hope it comes through. With LBC it's escrow protected and you can repeat trades with people you trust, and actually, prices are very competitive.

[carter34]

how is this possible that localbitcoins still have customers?  

People still prefer it till date . Localbitcoin has played big role to cryptocurrency exchange. Many people have trusted on it around the world above some exchanges. This trust has been built a long time so they should still have followers

[Leviathan.007]

Why anyone should be surprised by localbitcoins? This is one the oldest p2p markets where you can find people near by you to by or sell bitcoins. However, they had some changes and improved the website for a little bit still I prefer hodlhodl. Since I hate doing the KYC/AML in any condition, never tried that recently. In my own idea adding the KYC was the worst decision they made.

[CryptopreneurBrainboss]

how is this possible that localbitcoins still have customers?  

I'm as surprised as you are although not in the same context. I'm surprised because we now have far better P2P platforms (not mentioning names to avoid unnecessary promotions) that obviously don't force kyc verification on their users, why then is localbitcoin still having huge patronage and not the new platforms with high level of decentralized transaction. Considering the rumors are this P2P exchanges are use for privacy reasons.

Excluding the first mover advantage been in favor of localbitcoin, these results only shows majority of the community, careless about their privacy. Doubt my assumptions? then do some research and you'll observe more individuals will likely make use of this centralized sensitive information stealing platform to those that'll put their privacy above other benefits.

[DoublerHunter]

you can buy btc now with a lot cheaper and quicker ways!
the cryptocurrency liqutity all over the world been improved a lot so now you can exchnge crypto just with ur bank card

how is this possible that localbitcoins still have customers? 

^ The reason is just that not all countries can able be to buy crypto by their own bank account because their government was probably banned bitcoin due to the law that they implemented. Most of the localbitcoin users are those in the country of the US which bitcoin has a restriction upon using on it since Trump and crypto are not friends and the localbitcoin existence that makes their community becomes larger. Nevertheless, it is probably localbitcoin has a terrible trading history but not all of them have the same experience.