Best strategy to stay anonymous with crypto?

[Abiky]

From privacy-oriented cryptocurrencies like Monero and Grin, to mixers, there's always a way to achieve anonymization on crypto land. Some privacy techniques are complicated to understand for the non-tech savvy person, though. Despite the tools available to obfuscate sensitive transactions, there's no method that's proven 100% effective. If you're careless enough about covering your tracks, you'll eventually get caught by governments or other third-parties.

That said, I'm wondering which is the best strategy to stay anonymous with crypto? Will using a VPN + TOR + Monero do the trick? Or is it best to acquire a privacy coin like Monero completely off-chain (in person)? Your input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

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[semobo]

The first and foremost step is to never buy cryptocurrency from centralized exchanges, that is where most of your privacy data gets leaked. Then we can use VPN or TOR to avoid our traces on internet but my suggestion is TOR since even most of the VPN tracks our data and sell them as well.

[Kunotcoin]

I think it is too complicated to stay anonymous for long, especially if you are living in crypto regulated countries, like in the US and other parts of the world, and using those available privacy tools won't be a guarantee that your anonymity will preserve forever especially now that the IRS is doing all in its power to tract all possible crypto users in the US alone to tax them. but I don't know in some other parts of the world. if those methods like VPN- TOR- privacy coins are still working.

[Abiky]

The first and foremost step is to never buy cryptocurrency from centralized exchanges, that is where most of your privacy data gets leaked. Then we can use VPN or TOR to avoid our traces on internet but my suggestion is TOR since even most of the VPN tracks our data and sell them as well.

Buying crypto in-person or through a P2P exchange, would be your best bet to achieve full anonymity. Of course, there's no such thing as 100% anonymity. There's always the room for error. As a last resort, you can count on "Off-chain transactions" to achieve complete privacy in crypto land. With a physical bearer wallet like OpenDime or Tangem, it's easy to send crypto to another person without leaving any trace on the Blockchain. You'd just hand it in just like you would do with cash.

For on-chain transactions, you can either go through a non-custodial mixer or simply use the combination of TOR + VPN and Monero. Crypto empowers you to take control of your financial life without worrying about governments or other third parties. Privacy is achievable with crypto, but the same cannot be said about Fiat. As long as you follow the necessary precautions to preserve your anonymity, there should be nothing to worry about. Just my opinion

[target]

Once you use a wallet to send in and out of the exchange, this wallet will always going to be connected to you even if this is a monero wallet. Hard to protect privacy when you have already been KYCed on exchanges even if you send your coins from centralized exchanges going to DEX.

Bounty hunters have some advantage when they send you some coins going to a newly created wallet either ETH or BTC because it's definitely a new identity.

[kidbounty]

first for what purpose do you use crypto? if the transaction is only peer-to-peer no need vpn and TOR, using a mixer or private coin is enough, you will not be tracked. but if you want to stay anonymous when buying something at an online merchant or buying coins on an exchange, you need a VPN or TOR. and don't use the main account, you should also pay attention to the regulations regarding KYC. Remember to always create a new account for every transaction you want to make.

[Little Mouse]

Or is it best to acquire a privacy coin like Monero completely off-chain (in person)?

You mean purchasing Monero from someone you know. Does it really make any sense? People tend to use privacy crypto to hide their financial asset or to hide their illegal transactions. You are revealing your identity if you are doing so.
Instead, you can own bitcoin and convert them for Monero. There are few sites which allow swapping bitcoin for monero and vice versa without revealing your identity.

[cabron]

Reason why there are some users who are still taking a path of registering someone else ID to buy on some exchanges. This is shady but you know how important privacy for these people and they have good reasons to do so. I don't have to ask my parole officer for that.  

If it dangers me I would also go through lengthy procedures just to cover my track. I'm wondering if over-the-counter transactions provide privacy as well. Is it?

[cryptoaddictchie]

Lets be frank here, there's no such thing as true privacy in digital age like this, the best we can do is to conceal our identity but until how long? we can't keep watching our asses every minute, we even don't know whether using tor as you mentioned is truly secure.

Actually somehow I agree. As much as we want to stay anonymous, we are probably gonna get out of the veils somehow. Even we do strictest way to conceal our identity or hide our assets portfolio some can still track it somehow. Using mixer and other ways to get avoid can help but surely the big question is are we not being watched by some organization based on our data online?

[TheUltraElite]

The first and foremost step is to never buy cryptocurrency from centralized exchanges, that is where most of your privacy data gets leaked. Then we can use VPN or TOR to avoid our traces on internet but my suggestion is TOR since even most of the VPN tracks our data and sell them as well.

A bit extreme there with the craze of privacy. Honestly speaking you cannot be so anonymous that you can hide all your tracks - because if that was true then criminals would not be caught by FBI once a while and put in jail. Obviously they will make have left some tracks.

There is no harm in buying from a centralized exchange if that exchange operates from your country and you have been KYC-approved. If you are looking forward to launder money then this is not the case, in which case you will be caught one day.

The whole point of "remaining anon" with crypto started when some people wanted to use this freedom as fiefdom.
They dont wan to listen to the law and do as they wish, but trust me, majority of users here are law abiding ones - at least they sleep well at night knowing that they are not doing anything illegal.

As for what the OP said, Bitcoin itself is as we say pseudo-anon. There is no harm with that. Go with Monero if you are too conscious about privacy. But I would not spend money on it. Any group which advocates use of its system because is gives "more" privacy is likely feeding on your fear of being caught. Dont let that happen.

[laredo7mm]

From privacy-oriented cryptocurrencies like Monero and Grin, to mixers, there's always a way to achieve anonymization on crypto land. Some privacy techniques are complicated to understand for the non-tech savvy person, though. Despite the tools available to obfuscate sensitive transactions, there's no method that's proven 100% effective. If you're careless enough about covering your tracks, you'll eventually get caught by governments or other third-parties.

That said, I'm wondering which is the best strategy to stay anonymous with crypto? Will using a VPN + TOR + Monero do the trick? Or is it best to acquire a privacy coin like Monero completely off-chain (in person)? Your input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

VPN TOR will not do any good if you are using a centralized exchange that requires KYC. Decentralized exchange is far better to protect your privacy. But if you are talking about hiding your location, IP address, mac address then this thing is way more complicated for a non-technical person. Privacy coins can not fully cover your track when you are doing transactions with a centralized exchange.

[tvplus006]

The first and foremost step is to never buy cryptocurrency from centralized exchanges, that is where most of your privacy data gets leaked. ..

In this case, when withdrawing coins from decentralized exchanges, you should definitely use a mixer, if you care about your anonymity. This will help break the existing connection between your exchange wallet, which is linked to you by KYC, and will not allow you to be identified.

[terrorJR]

Even now, I'm still confused about our data while interacting with crypto until now. because honestly keeping our identity anonymous is very difficult. that's my personal opinion and based on experience and digital footprint so far.

so what you say is true, no 100% anonymous at least 1% trace is left. even without a third party we may not even notice.
p2p exchange can be one way to minimize the leak of identity as a whole. but does it matter when we use crypto not for evil purposes? On the other hand, I don't think we are experts in that area.

[Yaunfitda]

From privacy-oriented cryptocurrencies like Monero and Grin, to mixers, there's always a way to achieve anonymization on crypto land. Some privacy techniques are complicated to understand for the non-tech savvy person, though. Despite the tools available to obfuscate sensitive transactions, there's no method that's proven 100% effective. If you're careless enough about covering your tracks, you'll eventually get caught by governments or other third-parties.

That said, I'm wondering which is the best strategy to stay anonymous with crypto? Will using a VPN + TOR + Monero do the trick? Or is it best to acquire a privacy coin like Monero completely off-chain (in person)? Your input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

I don't think there is a bullet proof way to really hide our anonymity is this crypto space, but I would say a good practice might look like this:

1. Used non KYC-exchange
2. Used Air gapped PC
3. Tor is enough
4. Mixers, Join Market, Wasabi, Samourai
5. Split your transactions
6. Definitely, used privacy coins

[Fivestar4everMVP]

Well, to achieve a complete anonymity online I think is rather very difficult but very possible as well, though it will take a great deal of commitment and carefulness, and there's a lot of sacrifice too as there are many good services which one must give up making use of.
But again, I would definitely like to ask why would any one want to be completely anonymous online if they are clean and have absolutely nothing to hide? I understand that some do very heavy transactions that when spotted on the blockchain causes eyeballs to roll, and it likely that such transactions will be followed by some people, but if the money was gotten by legit means, why should the owner of such transaction be worried about tracking it?

[CoolerSid]

i dont think using tor its a good idea

[Coyster]

The government wants our data by all means possible, they try every means available to make sure people don't stay anonymous, that way it is somewhat difficult to stay absolutely anonymous, they must have been one or two transactions you've made somewhere, sometime that leaves traces of your data.

Most crypto users carry out their transactions through centralized exchanges, and government has a form of control over them and can request your data from such exchanges if need be, you can prolly circumvent that by using P2p or dex exchanges, but the thing remains that only very few crypto persons can succeed in keeping their data totally anonymous.

Having said that, imo responsibility of funds is much more important, if a user takes responsibility and pays close attention to protocols, scammers modus operandi, etc, just basically understanding all the conceptions available for the coin in their possession, thus making it almost impossible for them to lose it, even if their identity is not completely anonymous.

[BIN-BIN]

Crypto anonymous to me is a thing of individual preference and strategies, but it may be hard for none tech users but to some extent, you can compare it to third-party financial institutions like the bank.

[isaac_clarke22]

~

Indeed.
The least that "anonymity" that people can do in crypto is just termed as pseudonymous, due to even address that can be tracked. Full anonymity is gone when people used custodial wallets, because most of it especially the custodial wallet that I use here requires strict KYC requirements.

[kvok1]

The first and foremost step is to never buy cryptocurrency from centralized exchanges, that is where most of your privacy data gets leaked. Then we can use VPN or TOR to avoid our traces on internet but my suggestion is TOR since even most of the VPN tracks our data and sell them as well.

Buying crypto in-person or through a P2P exchange, would be your best bet to achieve full anonymity. Of course, there's no such thing as 100% anonymity. There's always the room for error. As a last resort, you can count on "Off-chain transactions" to achieve complete privacy in crypto land. With a physical bearer wallet like OpenDime or Tangem, it's easy to send crypto to another person without leaving any trace on the Blockchain. You'd just hand it in just like you would do with cash.

For on-chain transactions, you can either go through a non-custodial mixer or simply use the combination of TOR + VPN and Monero. Crypto empowers you to take control of your financial life without worrying about governments or other third parties. Privacy is achievable with crypto, but the same cannot be said about Fiat. As long as you follow the necessary precautions to preserve your anonymity, there should be nothing to worry about. Just my opinion

what are the Off-chain transactions ?