How do I use Bitcoin in a country that it is banned?

[EarnOnVictor]

This is not to preach lawlessness, yet the fact remains that there are many countries' governments that are less informed about Bitcoin and the benefits therein, thereby depriving their citizens of these benefits. But the good part is that some of these countries do not ban the accessibility and domains of crypto wallets and exchanges, which makes it possible for anyone to disregard the government and use Bitcoin, but carefully.

Taking Nigeria as an example, the most suggested approach is through P2P, it is working well, but I read that many have had their bank accounts banned, especially when there is a huge inflow, or the amount becomes much in its accumulation with time without a good explanation for it.

What are your suggestions for me and other beginners/users that are in this condition but want to participate in the technology and benefits that Bitcoin brings over the banks and government interference?

[Charles-Tim]

What are your suggestions for me and other beginners/users that are in this condition but want to participate in the technology and benefits that Bitcoin brings over the banks and government interference?

In Nigeria, as long as you do not take bitcoin and other crypto P2P trading towards business level, you are fine. In my opinion.

Bitcoin is implicitly banned in Nigeria, because the government are mute about it while only CBN is against it. The people that are still turning it to business means can find their bank account blocked, but bitcoin is not illegal to be traded among people in Nigeria.


There are some countries like China, two to four countries in white African countries (the Northern Africans) and some other countries in the world, which totalled 14 countries as at last year that totally banned bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies. But China makes it known that bitcoin can not be totally banned because of its decentralized design. But it would have been better if bitcoin is not banned in these countries.

[BIT-BENDER]

Well I am from a country that has banned Crypto-currency as a whole so I can probably tell you from experience how I do it, but first you have to understand that not even the government can stop the complete usage of Crypto-currency amongst its citizens
Firstly
#Avoid buying using crypto-currency on government affiliates even if there is an option to do so.

#only deal in Crypto-currency with fellow crypto enthusiast.

#Be careful on centralized exchange: there were rumors that government creates fake accounts to track people who are involved in crypto-currency. I rather prefer using peer to peer that involves the use of privately own wallet.

[Little Mouse]

Govt/country can ban an exchange, ban a centralize (custodial) wallet but they can't ban your non custodial wallet of course. As long as you are using a non custodial wallet, there's nothing can country/govt do.
I'm from a country where any kind of crypto activities is illegal but still I'm investing in crypto specially in bitcoin. If you are using p2p, you can use mobile banking too. Don’t you have such option in Nigeria?

[Freeveto]

What are your suggestions for me and other beginners/users that are in this condition but want to participate in the technology and benefits that Bitcoin brings over the banks and government interference?

How you can trade Bitcoin safely without any issues with banks
.Ensure you don't use any crypto related words while making payments in fiat currency to buy Bitcoin both you and your trading partner.
.Ensure your transaction doesn't involve cents/kobo let it be in a round figure when during transfers.
.When you go to the bank to do some transaction never disclose to them that your involved with Cryptocurrency trading because in some cases they might ask you what you do for a living or your source of income.

[Fivestar4everMVP]

Speaking about Nigeria, you can still buy and sell bitcoins in Nigeria safely even with the ban still in place, all the user have to do is take some precautions during sending money and also letting those who will be sending you money take the same precaution.

And such precaution is ~ to not include any pointer to Bitcoin or cryptocurrencies in your reference box while sending money or paying for crypto services, and also let those who are sending money to you for your crypto services take the same precaution.
Once you are able to keep to this rule, I believe you are safe to transact in bitcoin without government or banks interfering.

[passwordnow]

They can ban the usage, the operations of exchanges in their countries but they have no full control over the individuals that will keep on transacting with the use of bitcoin.
We can have that thing about banning that they're all just talks because they can't really enforce that to the people as there are countries that banned bitcoin yet, many still can trade on P2P exchanges and can also gain access to the centralized exchanges through virtual private networks.

[Upgrade00]

No government can ban Bitcoin, they can only ban themselves from the network. In Nigeria as a case study, the government restricts banks from engaging in crypto transactions, so you can not directly fund an exchange account from your bank account. But if you were to trade directly with anyone, the bank would not know the source of the funds received.

Taking Nigeria as an example, the most suggested approach is through P2P, it is working well, but I read that many have had their bank accounts banned, especially when there is a huge inflow, or the amount becomes much in its accumulation with time without a good explanation for it.

Accounts can be suspected and restricted if it suddenly starts receiving huge inflow of cash, not necessarily related to Bitcoin. If you trade P2P, tracing the source of the funds would be through thorough investigations, or if it was included in the transaction details.

What are your suggestions for me and other beginners/users that are in this condition but want to participate in the technology and benefits that Bitcoin brings over the banks and government interference?

• Use self custody as much as possible,
• Only trade with decentralization, P2P platforms,
• If you're in a really hostile country to Bitcoin, then it might be advisable to relocate, if that's an option,
• Document all your transactions and the source, should you ever need to prove you didn't do anything illegal.

[PrimeNumber7]

Well I am from a country that has banned Crypto-currency as a whole so I can probably tell you from experience how I do it, but first you have to understand that not even the government can stop the complete usage of Crypto-currency amongst its citizens
Firstly
#Avoid buying using crypto-currency on government affiliates even if there is an option to do so.

You are saying that your government has banned cryptocurrencies, but there are still government affiliates that accept crypto? That sounds unlikely to me. What country are you from and what government affiliates are accepting crypto?

[GeorgeJohn]

This same question has come across this community severally, but nevertheless any questions deserve an answer to it. If your country doesn't accept cryptocurrency and especially bitcoin theirs every tendency that you will make use bitcoin in such country and especially when you are trader. because from my view many countries has not legalised cryptocurrency and especially bitcoin as legal tender but still it operate successfully with bitcoiners with any problem, if you trade on your house you not any issues with government

[Smartvirus]

Using cryptocurrency in Nigeria is not very much welcomed but trading it is a different story. As much as you ain't doing anything illegal with it, your good. A crypto trader won a case against a government agency some months ago by providing all the necessary evidence to ensure his earnings were legitimate.

Speaking of which, where most of the issues come up wth bakns and traces is in the feedback on a successful trade. The feedback you give is where the problem comes from and the CBN in particular aren't in support, being the issuers of fiat currency and the banks are a direct subordinate to the CBN.

[sheenshane]

What are your suggestions for me and other beginners/users that are in this condition but want to participate in the technology and benefits that Bitcoin brings over the banks and government interference?

Bitcoin was created to become a decentralized digital currency, there is no third-party need and even the government can't stop or interfere with Bitcoin.
So purchasing is also made on decentralized exchange and this becomes possible on P2P exchange which you can buy and sell Bitcoin in your country.  You can't use it publicly in your country as a currency like in a coffee shop or having Bitcoin ATM machines but you can invest or trade Bitcoin using decentralized platforms.

• Hodl-hodl
• Bisq.network

Are the most common p2p exchange where you can buy Bitcoin even though it's banned in your country.

but I read that many have had their bank accounts banned, especially when there is a huge inflow..

Just buy a little by little and don't use a big cash inflow.

[hatshepsut93]

If you don't want problems with your bank account, then trade for cash or use payment methods that won't enforce your country's crypto ban - PayPal, Venmo, foreign banks.  Trade only with people who have good reputation, otherwise you might get scammed and police won't help you, and be wary that undercover cops could be posing as traders. And don't talk about Bitcoin with anyone, not your friends or your family, because words travel far and it can attract law enforcement.

[BitMaxz]

This is pretty risky if you are going to deal with someone in p2p exchange and maybe one of them is government anytime they can seize.

I think if you want to withdraw them safely into your bank without worrying about Bitcoin being banned convert them into USD there are some sites that can do that but you need to have accounts like skrill, Neteller, Payoneer, or any digital currencies account where you can able to receive USD after you convert Crypto.
The one who can help you achieve that thing is this https://www.bestchange.com/ I don't how these users above who promote don't mention it.

After you convert them you can now withdraw them and convert USD to your local currency. Just make sure if you find an exchange in bestchange deal only to exchanges that do not sell private information and don't require KYC.

[tranthidung]

To use Bitcoin, you must have a non custodial wallet. Don't use custodial wallet because if you don't own keys, you don't own any coin.

In countries where Bitcoin exchanges to fiat currency is illegal, you will have troubles if your bank transfer for such crypto trade contains information about what you are trading.

However, you can use Peer-to-Peer trading platforms and they will encrypted the information of your trades. When you make a bank transfer, you only have to leave a code for the trade, without details of what that trade is for. It is good to use but if government do something seriously to restrict that platform, and if they give up customer information, trading record to government, you might be in troubles.

[libert19]

Non custodial wallets, and if somehow governments ban it, use vpn or something. Regarding accumulating it, i don't recommend it to purchase it as your details might surface, better earn through freelance work like bounties, posting on sites like hive.blog - you could relatively go unknown this way.

[pooya87]

Taking Nigeria as an example, the most suggested approach is through P2P, it is working well, but I read that many have had their bank accounts banned, especially when there is a huge inflow, or the amount becomes much in its accumulation with time without a good explanation for it.

There is a big difference between a bank banning bitcoin usage and the government banning bitcoin. Correct me if I'm wrong but I haven't found any evidence saying bitcoin is banned in Nigeria, there is only a "statement" by the central bank saying it is which doesn't make it a law. So all it takes to solve the problem is to not directly use the banks. P2P trade only works if you actually send money to the other individual not through some platform like localbitcoins or the centralized binance nonsense.

[EarnOnVictor]

In Nigeria, as long as you do not take bitcoin and other crypto P2P trading towards business level, you are fine. In my opinion.

Bitcoin is implicitly banned in Nigeria, because the government are mute about it while only CBN is against it. The people that are still turning it to business means can find their bank account blocked, but bitcoin is not illegal to be traded amount people in Nigeria.


There are some countries like China, two to four countries in white African countries (the Northern Africans) and some other countries in the world, which totalled 14 countries as at last year that totally banned bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies. But China makes it known that bitcoin can not be totally banned because of its decentralized design. But it would have been better if bitcoin is not banned in these countries.

Turning it into a business might not even be the major issue because many people are doing business successfully with it, but not with a huge amount. Those that are being traced and have their accounts banned had huge inflows whether business or not. A case study is a friend of a relative that used Bitcoin to receive payment from abroad instead of bank transfer. He became a victim, though the case is in court.

Govt/country can ban an exchange, ban a centralize (custodial) wallet but they can't ban your non custodial wallet of course.

Don't say that, they will make accessibility frustrating for the citizens. First, they will ensure that android and iOS do not list them as their available apps in addition to the domain banning. The VPN will of course help but I am sure that many will not go through that stress but back out.

I think if you want to withdraw them safely into your bank without worrying about Bitcoin being banned convert them into USD there are some sites that can do that but you need to have accounts like skrill, Neteller, Payoneer, or any digital currencies account where you can able to receive USD after you convert Crypto.

If you don't want problems with your bank account, then trade for cash or use payment methods that won't enforce your country's crypto ban - PayPal, Venmo, foreign banks. 

Both of you have nailed it best! These are good points, some of the hidden ones that I had thought of as the most viable alternative solutions to P2P that are not often mentioned. Taking it through another route might be a very good one. Taking Skrill as an example, I could fund my dollar bank account directly with it using a low fee with any huge volume provided by earnings is legit.

[taufik123]

-snip-
#Avoid buying using crypto-currency on government affiliates even if there is an option to do so.

Cryptocurrency options in government affiliates may be just a trap for those crypto users so that the government knows who is using crypto. Governments that implement this method certainly have the goal of targeting taxes for those who deal with crypto directly.

#only deal in Crypto-currency with fellow crypto enthusiast.

Dealing with fellow crypto fans is the best way because both are involved in the crypto world and there are no restrictions between crypto fans. it will be a thriving community and make crypto a means of P2P between users, without government interference.

#Be careful on centralized exchange: there were rumors that government creates fake accounts to track people who are involved in crypto-currency. I rather prefer using peer to peer that involves the use of privately own wallet.

Centralized exchanges that are legalized by the government will certainly have full access to these exchanges and the data of every crypto user will be known to all. this is the government's way of implementing every policy related to taxation so that those users of a centralized exchange can pay taxes. and as a result, the fees used by centralized exchanges will be higher big.

Living in a country where bitcoin is completely banned will be very difficult, but that doesn't mean there aren't other ways to use bitcoin. As the times progressed, crypto began to be known and developed by every country. Regulations are also set as flexible as possible so that they can run side by side with Fiat. Not only looking at the negative side of cryptocurrencies but also looking at the negative side and uses of crypto which will help in developing better payment technologies.

[LoyceV]

What are your suggestions for me and other beginners/users that are in this condition but want to participate in the technology and benefits that Bitcoin brings over the banks and government interference?

You have to distinguish between "using Bitcoin" and "buying Bitcoin". To use Bitcoin, all you need is internet access. To avoid tracking, it's best if you're not behind a Great Firewall and can for instance use Tails. It runs through the Tor network and comes with Electrum pre-installed. As long as you can use Tor, you can use Bitcoin. If you can't use Tor, you may be able to use Tor Bridges or (as a last resort) use a VPN.

I can't really advice on how to buy Bitcoin, P2P options will vary per country. It's risky though: people have been robbed this way.

I read that many have had their bank accounts banned, especially when there is a huge inflow

Even in countries where Bitcoin isn't banned, any "huge inflow" raises questions from a bank.