Why bitcoin mixers are only for criminals

[zanezane]

I do not think mixers are only for criminals but rather anyone that intends to add an extra layer of security will do so by using a mixer. I personally believe most of the people mixing might have done so in order to get rid of their coin being traced but there are still some people that used it just for privacy. For instance it is very common to see ETH address of a fraudster being flag up by etherscan and metamask as scam but such criminal might get away with it by using mixing services

We can say that all the time but that doesn't discount the fact that mixers can be used for illegal purposes, remember that when there is a chance to abuse a system, people will always take the opportunity to exploit especially if it means that the watchful eye of the law will not be able to find what they are doing. We know that not only criminals are using mixers but are we going to be ignorant to the fact that mixers cater criminals too?

[Ghepetto]

Imagine what would happen if people did some homework and held the Legacy fiat systems to the same standard as Bitcoin?  

Coinbase would be forced to delist the Dollar and all the banks would be shut down.  The amount of death, destruction and crime committed with the USD and all fiat is exponentially higher than Bitcoin (mixers or not).

[Lizzie_Girl]

This reminds me a little bit about the argument about torrenting and privacy. We all say "peer-to-peer networking" is for sharing personal files among one another but e all know it's for pirating movies and games and software. I can't think of any reason why you would want to "mix" bitcoin. It is anonymous enough. How very paranoid do you need to be to use mixers? I ask the question why are you so paranoid to begin with? What are you doing that makes you paranoid.

[GideonGono]

Bitcoin mixers and coin mixers in general are only designed for criminals and are only used for criminals.

It's very sad that this forum allows ads from coin mixers. People representing them in their signatures are also supporting criminals.

This coin mixers are used to hide transactions made from deals like drugs and child pornography or any other crimes. And nothing else.

All the instructions which can be found online are literally telling you how to avoid being trace and hide your money. 

All those coin mixers are illegal only alone by the fact that they are not even a company or anything. There's no single legal address. They have no financial license. And even all the scam brokers have one.

And don't come with things like "Its also a use case for some poor guy in Iran who has to hide". That's bullshit. And you know its a lie.

Everyone knows it but many don't want to accept it. They are accepting coin mixers because they think there now some rebellious guy.

When you accept them and support them your making the world more worse.

You should not give them a chance and support someone else. Support good things.

Everyone who tries to find an contra argument will be sad because their aren't any

Well it is design to clean the track of the crypto so I guess it would really seems like it.
But there are some who would use it ensure that their savings wouldn't be tracked down on their known wallet.
For example my family or friends know my crypto address so they know how to look how much I am holding but I want to keep it hidden to them.

[Asuspawer09]

I kinda agree with this one since I don't really use crypto or bitcoin mixers probably I guess try some just for curiosity or something, I just can't see the importance of using this crypto mixer.

For me, you don't really need too much privacy that the crypto mixers provide since they can't really know your identity just able to see your transactions if they know your bitcoin address or something, but that was just my opinion because I not some kind of whale, maybe a lot of people are concerned because of the amount of bitcoin they are holding not necessarily because they are some like of criminals.

So it's like a 50/50 for me, maybe we cant see the use of this for now but maybe in the future, we can use this in something that would benefit us.

If you hit a jackpot in a casino and you want to hide your coins with a mixer service, then are you a criminal?

If you was an early miner and you want to hide your coins with a mixer service, then are you a criminal?

I don't think so... A lot of criminals use the mixing service to hide their coins, but not all the users from the mixers are criminals, you can be sure of that.

A good example, I think you have your point, I mean it's up to you if you want to hide your transactions.

[tyz]

Bitcoin mixers and coin mixers in general are only designed for criminals and are only used for criminals.

It's very sad that this forum allows ads from coin mixers. People representing them in their signatures are also supporting criminals.
-snip-

It's very sad that you did not understand the actual purpose of Bitcoin mixers. Real criminals do not need mixers which, by the way, are not that anonymous as you think. Their outcome can often be calculated if you invest some time and energy. They rather use privacy coins.

There are countries in which Bitcoin is banned and since Bitcoin is easy tracable as you already stated, users from those counties often need to add some privacy to do transactions.

If I follow your logic, then all Tor users are criminals too.

[khaled0111]

I've used mixers multiple times and I can assure you  I am neither a criminal nor involved in any kind of illegal activity.
I use mixers because I buy and sell bitcoin regularly and don't want my clients to be linked to each other and because I respect their right to privacy.

Even if we admit you are right and, somehow, we find a way to shut down all mixers, criminals will still have better alternatives to hide their traces such as using coinjoin, privacy coins...

[Slow death]

if you create a topic of this type you will undoubtedly be greeted with many negative posts, but unfortunately the harsh reality will sooner or later be stamped on people's faces. I think the owners of the mixers created the mixers with good intentions, but eventually the criminals took advantage of the mixers. it is enough to see that governments are tough with laws that involve financial services and I do not see any day when we see a mixer being licensed or approved by governments, mixers are condemned to be used by criminals of the worst kind unfortunately the owners of the mixers are not there is a way to stop criminals who use mixers for malefic purposes and the only way out for the future will be the closure of many mixers and the governments will be chasing the owners of the mixers

[CaVO32]

I've used mixers multiple times and I can assure you  I am neither a criminal nor involved in any kind of illegal activity.
I use mixers because I buy and sell bitcoin regularly and don't want my clients to be linked to each other and because I respect their right to privacy.

Even if we admit you are right and, somehow, we find a way to shut down all mixers, criminals will still have better alternatives to hide their traces such as using coinjoin, privacy coins...

Criminals will always be here and will always find a way how to launder their money. So even without mixers, they will have other options out there. But too bad, mixers are getting this bad notion in their business. People thought that you are using mixer because of some illegal things going on. This perspective is hard to eliminate though. Like for example, you are using mixer for the sake of your clients. There are still good things why mixers are needed in this industry. However, people are very judgmental human beings.

[DooMAD]

Bitcoin mixers and coin mixers in general are only designed for criminals and are only used for criminals.

It's very sad that this forum allows ads from coin mixers. People representing them in their signatures are also supporting criminals.
-snip-

It's very sad that you did not understand the actual purpose of Bitcoin mixers. Real criminals do not need mixers which, by the way, are not that anonymous as you think. Their outcome can often be calculated if you invest some time and energy. They rather use privacy coins.

I think they actually understand pretty well and are simply making dishonest arguments to stir the pot.  It helps if you try to view the intent behind this topic through the eyes of someone who is trying to spread faketoshi CSW propaganda.  It's the only way this thread makes sense.  The OP is just a BSV fanboy who believes regulation at protocol level is the way forward.  Obviously they're not going to find much success with that ideology around here.  Pay them no mind.

[oleg8791]

If Bitcoin mixers are designed for criminals, privacy coins are designed for criminals only too. Why do ordinary people need privacy if they have nothing to hide?

[20kevin20]

That's not an counterargument at all. Its so bad that I won't even go into it. Rethink

Buying crypto with fiat in person is a very bad idea in any aspect. So that's your fault. And why should they stalk you, sit all day in front of the computer and watch your transaction on block explorers without any clues where your sending your money to and for what reason. The most unrealistic scenario I've ever heard off. 

Privacy is not a criminal tool. As already someone stated here its dangerous to see it that people are using and abuse it for making crime or even judging their crimes.

I don't have what to rethink because I already know BTC is used way less often in crimes than fiat is. With mixers, even less. Prove me wrong

Buying crypto with fiat in person is the way Bitcoin was created to be. Peer-to-peer. In real life or virtually with multisig and smart contracts, crypto makes this possible. And that is not my fault since this can happen with exchanges as well. Once you create an account on an exchange and deposit some BTC, expect them to spy on you.

Blockchain analysis companies have developed API tools that work automatically. You don't even need a human operator to spy on all your customers. We're in the era of technology and AI - it works out of the box with no human needed. Unrealistic? Say that to all those dust attacks and all those people who've got their accounts banned on exchanges for their history (or even future) transactions. Some exchanges literally look into your deep wallet history. They can, and they care.

[Kong Hey Pakboy]

If Bitcoin mixers are designed for criminals, privacy coins are designed for criminals only too. Why do ordinary people need privacy if they have nothing to hide?

That is a really flawed argument, privacy is a right and just because you don't have anything to hide then you don't need privacy. If I were to use that logic, that also means that people doesn't need clothes because they don't have anything to hide because clothes is some sort of privacy. Privacy coins were designed to be used by people that are living on surveillance states.

[djcaoile1205]

Criminals has privacy coins if they want to get real anonymity. Or cash. Bitcoin is not the best even after mixers

[Shasha80]

In my opinion, the thinking is very shallow if there are people who think Bitcoin mixers are only for criminals. In fact, criminals are more comfortable
using privacy coins than having to use Bitcoin mixers. After all, the original purpose of Bitcoin mixers was created to protect the privacy of its users
and not be used to commit crimes. I believe the opening post said that Bitcoin mixers are only for criminals based on his estimation alone, and did not
do the research properly.

[Fatunad]

Criminals has privacy coins if they want to get real anonymity. Or cash. Bitcoin is not the best even after mixers

We are already on digital age or era which means that anything that do implies nor involved with anonymity will surely be considered to be one of the best ways on making out these illegal transaction.
Those words you have said was indeed true somehow but there are other coins which is more anonymous that Bitcoin itself which is im talking with Monero etc.
It is just a wrong perception to have this to be implied on mixers because they arent really created solely for criminals but rather on pure anonymity itself.
They are just taking advantage with that one.

[Vaskiy]

Criminals has privacy coins if they want to get real anonymity. Or cash. Bitcoin is not the best even after mixers

We are already on digital age or era which means that anything that do implies nor involved with anonymity will surely be considered to be one of the best ways on making out these illegal transaction.
Those words you have said was indeed true somehow but there are other coins which is more anonymous that Bitcoin itself which is im talking with Monero etc.
It is just a wrong perception to have this to be implied on mixers because they arent really created solely for criminals but rather on pure anonymity itself.
They are just taking advantage with that one.

We're in the digital age, and more of that we're always part of a nation. This means we'll be under a government, and here we need the privacy. For that purpose we're using bitcoin mixers so that our identity won't get revealed. Then doesn't it mean that you're doing some form of laundering activities or trying to get out of taxation. Mixers aren't used for criminal activities, these day we've got Bitcoin usage high as investment than criminal activities and to stay hidden from the government people prefer it.

[?QuestionMark?]

Bitcoin mixers and coin mixers in general are only designed for criminals and are only used for criminals.

How do you know this? Any proofs, bro?
Bitcoin or coin mixers are basically created not for criminals, it is intended for people who need more privacy. If there are some criminals who use this service, it doesn't mean this service is created for them but it is one of the weaknesses or negative sides of this service. Then, maybe this mixer service needs more improvement.

Why should you hide your coins as an early miner when your going to sell huge amounts on a regulated exchange? The exchange doesn't care if its early mined or freshly. There's also no risk to face when doing so.

[?QuestionMark?]

In my opinion, the thinking is very shallow if there are people who think Bitcoin mixers are only for criminals. In fact, criminals are more comfortable
using privacy coins than having to use Bitcoin mixers. After all, the original purpose of Bitcoin mixers was created to protect the privacy of its users
and not be used to commit crimes. I believe the opening post said that Bitcoin mixers are only for criminals based on his estimation alone, and did not
do the research properly.

Most of financial transaction in the darknet are still done over bitcoin (for whatever reason). Privacy coins are coming up but there's still a huge demand for mixers.

[?QuestionMark?]

That's not an counterargument at all. Its so bad that I won't even go into it. Rethink

Buying crypto with fiat in person is a very bad idea in any aspect. So that's your fault. And why should they stalk you, sit all day in front of the computer and watch your transaction on block explorers without any clues where your sending your money to and for what reason. The most unrealistic scenario I've ever heard off. 

Privacy is not a criminal tool. As already someone stated here its dangerous to see it that people are using and abuse it for making crime or even judging their crimes.

I don't have what to rethink because I already know BTC is used way less often in crimes than fiat is. With mixers, even less. Prove me wrong

Buying crypto with fiat in person is the way Bitcoin was created to be. Peer-to-peer. In real life or virtually with multisig and smart contracts, crypto makes this possible. And that is not my fault since this can happen with exchanges as well. Once you create an account on an exchange and deposit some BTC, expect them to spy on you.

Blockchain analysis companies have developed API tools that work automatically. You don't even need a human operator to spy on all your customers. We're in the era of technology and AI - it works out of the box with no human needed. Unrealistic? Say that to all those dust attacks and all those people who've got their accounts banned on exchanges for their history (or even future) transactions. Some exchanges literally look into your deep wallet history. They can, and they care.

Its a peer-to-peer digital cash system. In terms of network and technical design. Not in terms of meeting in person to sell or trade it.

Then proof the exchange that the coins your owning are not from criminal origin and your good to go.