staff were asked to stop advertising mixing services

[Hispo]

It seems the people behind the maintenance of the forum is just trying not to get in trouble and catch the attention of authorities.
While I do not like what this precedent could mean to all of us, I am aware that there is an abysmal difference between being a regular user of a website like this one from being in charge of the place itself and making sure it stays online and functioning as intended.

I won't say much more since this is rather extra-official information, but I shall keep an eye on it...
If we learn anything from the fall of CM, is that we already have people actively watching over us.
 

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[yhiaali3]

As it turns out, this is a precautionary measure for the management of the forum to avoid getting into legal troubles, I think it is a wise move at this point because the CM issue can develop and involve some members of the forum.

No one knows yet how the case will end, no one also knows what exactly the data has been confiscated, perhaps investigations are being conducted in secret to find out which members were directly linked to CM.

so I see that this behavior is very good from the management of the forum in order to avoid getting into trouble.

[Poker Player]

The topic of Chip Mixer has given a lot to talk about, and about this aspect in particular, there are several conversations scattered throughout the forum. I think it is relevant to bring here a quote from another thread:

but does anybody know if any discussions took place to consider banning mixer signatures from the forum?

No, not really. Mixers are in a grey area that is likely to get darker and darker. If the US government decides to ban mixers, the debate will be very short and you will have to learn how to post in the Gambling section
This is just a protective measure for Theymos, for Bitcointalk and (by consequence) for the Staff. For regular users there is (so far) very little risk, but if you have any doubt, go see a lawyer.
Don't overthink my words, I don't see the future, I don't have any secret information and I don't know anything about laws.

[Plaguedeath]

This forum is following the US laws, since SEC is getting serious about Bitcoin mixer, US might likely ban Bitcoin mixing service regardless what's the purpose is, if it's happen then theymos is forced to agree with the law. Asking all the moderators to not participate in mixer campaign is a preventive way to protect this forum, no one want to see this forum get shut down by SEC isn't?

But I don't know what will theymos do when that's happen, possibly theymos might ban all mixing services.

Still remember Silk Road? I think the situation could be like that.

[stompix]

suppose if HSBC create a signature campaign, it won't be a problem  

Or that we need to trash all Binance topics and ban every link to Binance since by their own admission:
'Like come on. They are here for crime’

Also, should we ban every link and member posting to kycnot since this is also a directory that provides information to avoid FATF and AML regulations and controls?  Oh, but wait!!!! Bisq? Is that legal?

[LoyceV]

If bitcointalk is hosted in US territory then this is the high time to move it to a neutral location where none of the members to worry about it.

Which country do you suggest? Consider this:

Bitcointalk.org aims to enable as much freedom for its users as is legally possible. We will not remove content just because it annoys you.

How many countries really allow that?

[dimonstration]

But these points are valid for other services:
- What guarantee is there that a casino doesn't close and scam all its users?
- What guarantee is there for any service that is advertised to state that it has privacy, and not actually does not?

Just a comment on this, Comparing a casino running away to a potential money laundering case is not that rate . The weight of crime for laundering is enough to seize the forum compared to a mere casino that usually protected by their ToS in times that they need to shut down. They just simply need to declare bankruptcy. What reason can a mixing service use for a potential laundering?

[BenCodie]

If bitcointalk is hosted in US territory then this is the high time to move it to a neutral location where none of the members to worry about it.

Which country do you suggest? Consider this:

Bitcointalk.org aims to enable as much freedom for its users as is legally possible. We will not remove content just because it annoys you.

How many countries really allow that?

T3PR00t is probably hinting at Switzerland considering that is globally renowned as the "neutral" country. I am surprised that to-date BitcoinTalk is still hosted in the US. Maybe after interstellar hosting becomes a reality then BitcoinTalk will make the move to a new jurisdiction On a more serious note though, it would be great if the viability of decentralized hosting was discussed. I suppose that it might be a bit late for it to be effective unless forum governance was somehow transitioned to the community and theymos stepped down before the mayhem/anarchy (at least in the eyes of Johnny Law) that would inevitably ensue shortly after the expanse of freedom caused by such a transition.

[NotATether]

I agree that the forum is more important than mixers, but disabling advertisements on mixers might not be the best solution.

This change is only for staff accounts as has been mentioned in the OP, not for the rest of us plebs. So you have nothing to worry about.

In fact, in the wake of CM's demise, there have been more mixers advertising here than ever.

[dzungmobile]

Seems like theymos was waiting for the law to say it's not good to advertise mixers. Well, a leader should make the rules before others make them for him.

It is an interesting opinion from one of mixer operator years ago in 2017 and explained why they decided to self-close their service. If you feel interested in, you can explore more from the user's post history.

I received a lot of questions by PM, let's clear the situation.

1. We are not under feds control, all our users are safe, all logs and old wallets deleted. We had incredible multiserver custom written Bitcoin software and outstanding mixing algorithm. It is impossible find out even the fact you used bitmixer (it is possible only by logs of your provider if you didn't use tor version). We didn't had linked wallets, traceable ip addresses etc. Don't worry about your past transactions.

2. We do not sell the domain name nor our software nor methods we used for mixing.

3. All I wrote is true. I've changed the view of this business and Bitcoin future. About question "is a knife good or bad tool?". If you sell knifes and you know that most of your clients are murders, will you stop your business? My pastor suggest me it is not a business I should continue. Sorry for that.

4. The message to other mixers. If even btc-e considered as money laundering service, what do you think about your business? Don't be innocent.

Very important message for our investors who still didn't take money. Please take your principal using your investor panel.

Thank you.

[Zwei]

If bitcointalk is hosted in US territory then this is the high time to move it to a neutral location where none of the members to worry about it.

Which country do you suggest? Consider this:

Bitcointalk.org aims to enable as much freedom for its users as is legally possible. We will not remove content just because it annoys you.

How many countries really allow that?

we should just do a fundraiser and build a data center on the moon, problem solved.

[LoyceV]

T3PR00t is probably hinting at Switzerland considering that is globally renowned as the "neutral" country.

They're neutral in most political conflicts, but that doesn't mean they can't have restrictions online. I don't know Swiss law though.

it would be great if the viability of decentralized hosting was discussed.

Given the fact that it never took off, I guess it's not really viable. Who's going to install forum software, download many GB and run their own forum database just to make a post? And even if that would happen, it would mean the end of signature campaigns as we know it because nobody else sees them.

In fact, in the wake of CM's demise, there have been more mixers advertising here than ever.

Makes sense, they're all jumping at a chance to take CM's place.

[joker_josue]

But these points are valid for other services:
- What guarantee is there that a casino doesn't close and scam all its users?
- What guarantee is there for any service that is advertised to state that it has privacy, and not actually does not?

Just a comment on this, Comparing a casino running away to a potential money laundering case is not that rate . The weight of crime for laundering is enough to seize the forum compared to a mere casino that usually protected by their ToS in times that they need to shut down. They just simply need to declare bankruptcy. What reason can a mixing service use for a potential laundering?

I don't know if you know, but casinos are one of the best ways to launder money.

Either way, the observation I made, on the issue of scams, not illegality. Casinos or any other service that is advertised here may later turn out to be a scam. We have no way of predicting this.

So I say that the reasons that eventually led to this decision are not intended to be a scam, but potential problems with the authorities.

[dimonstration]

But these points are valid for other services:
- What guarantee is there that a casino doesn't close and scam all its users?
- What guarantee is there for any service that is advertised to state that it has privacy, and not actually does not?

Just a comment on this, Comparing a casino running away to a potential money laundering case is not that rate . The weight of crime for laundering is enough to seize the forum compared to a mere casino that usually protected by their ToS in times that they need to shut down. They just simply need to declare bankruptcy. What reason can a mixing service use for a potential laundering?

I don't know if you know, but casinos are one of the best ways to launder money.

Either way, the observation I made, on the issue of scams, not illegality. Casinos or any other service that is advertised here may later turn out to be a scam. We have no way of predicting this.

So I say that the reasons that eventually led to this decision are not intended to be a scam, but potential problems with the authorities.

Casino has a KYC policy for AML if you are not aware. Casino has a legal defense mechanism which they actively caught money launderer while mixer services protects the customer privacy. I hope you knew what's the big difference on the issue that you point out.

Mixer doesn't screen if the transaction is from a launderer or not since their service is for privacy purposes. This is the grey area that they are talking about. Gambling on the other hand has a license to operate.

[NotATether]

Casino has a KYC policy for AML if you are not aware. Casino has a legal defense mechanism which they actively caught money launderer while mixer services protects the customer privacy. I hope you knew what's the big difference on the issue that you point out.

It also means that casinos have to hold user funds which they believe violate their Terms of Service, which in turn means they are subject to a shitton of scam accusations, which you can see by scrolling in the first page of Scam Accusations board - 75% of them are against a casino.

Now I have nothing against casinos, even used some of them myself, but you'd be hard-pressed to find any platform, mixer or casino, that doesn't have black marks on it.

[joker_josue]

Casino has a KYC policy for AML if you are not aware. Casino has a legal defense mechanism which they actively caught money launderer while mixer services protects the customer privacy. I hope you knew what's the big difference on the issue that you point out.

Mixer doesn't screen if the transaction is from a launderer or not since their service is for privacy purposes. This is the grey area that they are talking about. Gambling on the other hand has a license to operate.

It is not for a casino or any other service, following the procedures of the law for its sector, which prevents it from being used for money laundering.

I'm not saying that they do, I'm just saying that it's a sector that is used a lot for that purpose. By the way, this happened long before the emergence of cryptocurrencies and mixing services.

Now I have nothing against casinos, even used some of them myself, but you'd be hard-pressed to find any platform, mixer or casino, that doesn't have black marks on it.

That's exactly what I'm saying.

If they say they don't want to get involved in the matter, because it is a service that, despite not being illegal, is in a gray area of the law, I understand. Now, it's not because it's a possible scam.

[Dr.Bitcoin_Strange]

The forum is open to the public, and anyone can post anything they want, as long as it's not illegal. Then moderation only has to limit published information that is illegal. Mixers are not illegal, so anyone can post information about them.

So the option of not advertising services that are more sensitive to having problems, is better than having these inconveniences.

That's correct, though; the forum is open to the public just like every other social media platform where, by right, other general members or users can advertise what they like as not as it's not illegal and NSFW.
So with these, mixers signatures don't get banned in the forum, but if Theymos gets a bit tense, he may be forced to stop it. Like I know, everyone has their own motivation for joining this forum. Who knows if these investigation agencies are even among us, hiding and digging up information here every day to see if they can get any valid evidence to used against the forum. As far as I know, this is the only Bitcoin community that is very strong and steadily clean, to aavoid scams and shite stuffs here.

[dragonvslinux]

This forum is following the US laws, since SEC is getting serious about Bitcoin mixer, US might likely ban Bitcoin mixing service regardless what's the purpose is, if it's happen then theymos is forced to agree with the law. Asking all the moderators to not participate in mixer campaign is a preventive way to protect this forum, no one want to see this forum get shut down by SEC isn't?

Given we're unlikely to hear the answer, this is probably the most likely reason. If theymos can't advertise mixing services on the forum, then his staff shoudn't either, as it'd be on behalf of bitcointalk to some degree.

Overall, what individuals do on this forum by advertising mixers has different level of scrutiny (much lower) than an entity like bitcointalk promoting mixing services...