First time using Bisq. Suggestions and tips?

[RickDeckard]

Probably I'm late to the party, but try your best to make a transaction with a signed user @bitmover. That will enable you to also have a elevated account limit[1] on the payment method that you've used, which in turn will allow you to buy more bitcoin per day. However, as others mentioned, there's limits on the amount that you're able to buy, which is directly tied to your payment method - see here[2] for more details.

As for fees, it's a matter of timing - I know of cases where users were able to buy bitcoin with a rate bellow the market value (biggest I know was of -1,5 %). As long as the fee is within the price you're willing to pay, getting KYC-free bitcoins never gets old.
[1]https://bisq.wiki/Account_limits#How_to_get_an_account_signed
[2]https://bisq.wiki/Payment_methods#Fiat_payment_methods

[bitmover]

Probably I'm late to the party, but try your best to make a transaction with a signed user @bitmover. That will enable you to also have a elevated account limit[1] on the payment method that you've used, which in turn will allow you to buy more bitcoin per day. However, as others mentioned, there's limits on the amount that you're able to buy, which is directly tied to your payment method - see here[2] for more details.

Thanks RickDeckard

For now I am still just selling. And to get a "signed account" I need to buy from a signed user. I will probably do that in the bear market only 

But there is no limit to how much btc I can sell, so no problem for now

[RickDeckard]

Probably I'm late to the party, but try your best to make a transaction with a signed user @bitmover. That will enable you to also have a elevated account limit[1] on the payment method that you've used, which in turn will allow you to buy more bitcoin per day. However, as others mentioned, there's limits on the amount that you're able to buy, which is directly tied to your payment method - see here[2] for more details.

Thanks RickDeckard

For now I am still just selling. And to get a "signed account" I need to buy from a signed user. I will probably do that in the bear market only 

But there is no limit to how much btc I can sell, so no problem for now

My recommendation is that, if possible, do look for an opportunity to have your account signed. This would make your offers standout more in the market (buyers tend to prefer signed accounts, as a sign of trust and for the possibility of having their account signed as well).
Other than that, keep at it! Bisq is great but has a somewhat steep learning curve - please let me know if you need further help with it.

[DireWolfM14]

Welcome to the ranks of Bisq users.  I only just saw this thread and wanted to chime with hope to see more discussion about Bisq.

There's really nothing else like it, and as decentralized of an exchange as one is likely to get.  I've been using it for years now, and it's my go-to exchange.  I've even traded some alts on it, but it's definitely more bitcoin on/off ramp with Monero on the side.

The developers purposefully keep it free of payment types that make chargebacks easy.  Here in the US we have Zelle which is very safe for the sellers, but the software gives the peers 96 hours to complete the exchange.  If I'm the seller, sometimes I'll wait a couple of days before releasing the bitcoin if the peer has a new account, or the trade account has been signed for less than a few months.

My trade account was signed almost 4 years ago, so when I'm the buyer almost everybody I trade with releases the bitcoin almost immediately after they get the payment notification.

[bitmover]

Welcome to the ranks of Bisq users.  I only just saw this thread and wanted to chime with hope to see more discussion about Bisq.

There's really nothing else like it, and as decentralized of an exchange as one is likely to get.  I've been using it for years now, and it's my go-to exchange.  I've even traded some alts on it, but it's definitely more bitcoin on/off ramp with Monero on the side.

The developers purposefully keep it free of payment types that make chargebacks easy.  Here in the US we have Zelle which is very safe for the sellers, but the software gives the peers 96 hours to complete the exchange.  If I'm the seller, sometimes I'll wait a couple of days before releasing the bitcoin if the peer has a new account, or the trade account has been signed for less than a few months.

My trade account was signed almost 4 years ago, so when I'm the buyer almost everybody I trade with releases the bitcoin almost immediately after they get the payment notification.

I used it a lot last year. Now, in the bear market is am not using anymore.
But bisq is an amazing software.

It was hard at first, you can see in the OP. It was quite confusing. But now that i understood and got used to It, it is amazing

[notocactus]

I used it a lot last year. Now, in the bear market is am not using anymore.
But bisq is an amazing software.

It was hard at first, you can see in the OP. It was quite confusing. But now that i understood and got used to It, it is amazing

As a classic disadvantage of true decentralized P2P platforms, it has low trading volume. It's what I knew and I try to check its volume recently when writing this post.

The finding is no tracked trading volume on Coinmarketcap.
https://coinmarketcap.com/exchanges/bisq/

While on Coingecko, I even could not find Bisq.

I knew Bisq for years but findings today with Coinmarketcap and Coingecko are quite surprising with me.

[bitmover]

I used it a lot last year. Now, in the bear market is am not using anymore.
But bisq is an amazing software.

It was hard at first, you can see in the OP. It was quite confusing. But now that i understood and got used to It, it is amazing

As a classic disadvantage of true decentralized P2P platforms, it has low trading volume. It's what I knew and I try to check its volume recently when writing this post.

The finding is no tracked trading volume on Coinmarketcap.
https://coinmarketcap.com/exchanges/bisq/

While on Coingecko, I even could not find Bisq.

I knew Bisq for years but findings today with Coinmarketcap and Coingecko are quite surprising with me.

There used to be this website (I think maintained by mempool.space  as it had the same UI)
https://markets.bisq.services

This used to show all bisq market data,  trading volume, offer book, etc. It was removed a few months ago, I dont know why.

So coinmarketcap and coingecko cant track it anymore

[Italian Panic]

I used it a lot last year. Now, in the bear market is am not using anymore.
But bisq is an amazing software.

It was hard at first, you can see in the OP. It was quite confusing. But now that i understood and got used to It, it is amazing

As a classic disadvantage of true decentralized P2P platforms, it has low trading volume. It's what I knew and I try to check its volume recently when writing this post.

The finding is no tracked trading volume on Coinmarketcap.
https://coinmarketcap.com/exchanges/bisq/

While on Coingecko, I even could not find Bisq.

I knew Bisq for years but findings today with Coinmarketcap and Coingecko are quite surprising with me.

Coingecko and coinmarketcap do not list Bisq volumes because it is not a server-based platform with log records, but rather a p2p platform with private volume. The same like robosats and hodl hodl.

Welcome to the ranks of Bisq users.  I only just saw this thread and wanted to chime with hope to see more discussion about Bisq.

There's really nothing else like it, and as decentralized of an exchange as one is likely to get.  I've been using it for years now, and it's my go-to exchange.  I've even traded some alts on it, but it's definitely more bitcoin on/off ramp with Monero on the side.

Bisq is truly an excellent P2P exchange with good references and not as complex to use as many believe. Of course Binance is easier to use, but how can you compare it to the guarantee of anonymity?
We should talk more about it. It fully deserves it.

[RickDeckard]

This used to show all bisq market data,  trading volume, offer book, etc. It was removed a few months ago, I dont know why.

I remember that one - one of the main contributors of mempool.space (wiz - 3,224 commits at the time I'm writing this[1]) - had an issue upgrading his instance of Bisq 2[2]. In that same thread he then basically said that it was time that someone else to carry on the work by maintaining the BSQ explorer. It ended up being removed on April 2nd[3]. This is also confirmed to have been abandoned in a thread where the whole idea was discussed/developed[4].

This[5] used to work after mempool.space stopped supporting BSQ market, but that is also no longer the case. I think the only hope now is for this[6] TOR url to be online but even thought the issue is closed[6] it doesn't seem to exist at the moment...
[1]https://github.com/mempool/mempool/graphs/contributors
[2]https://github.com/bisq-network/bisq/pull/7041#issuecomment-1950540129
[3]https://github.com/mempool/mempool/pull/4786
[4]https://github.com/bisq-network/projects/issues/41
[5]https://bisq.mempool.emzy.de/
[6]http://runbtcx3wfygbq2wdde6qzjnpyrqn3gvbks7t5jdymmunxttdvvttpyd.onion
[7]https://github.com/bisq-network/proposals/issues/454

[bitmover]

The finding is no tracked trading volume on Coinmarketcap.
https://coinmarketcap.com/exchanges/bisq/

While on Coingecko, I even could not find Bisq.

I knew Bisq for years but findings today with Coinmarketcap and Coingecko are quite surprising with me.

Coingecko and coinmarketcap do not list Bisq volumes because it is not a server-based platform with log records, but rather a p2p platform with private volume. The same like robosats and hodl hodl.

It used to be listed, as the volume wasn't private, as i mentioned above and RickDeckard explained in more detail.

People from mempool.space just aren't maintaining it anymore.

https://markets.bisq.services

[DireWolfM14]

Coingecko and coinmarketcap do not list Bisq volumes because it is not a server-based platform with log records, but rather a p2p platform with private volume. The same like robosats and hodl hodl.

For those of us using Bisq the easiest thing is to check the Bisq app itself.  It's unfortunate that mempool.space isn't supporting it anymore, but it's really not the end of the world.  The only way to trade bsq was to use the app anyway, so any other reference to the markets was redundant.

Of course Binance is easier to use, but how can you compare it to the guarantee of anonymity?

It's definitely private, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it guarantees anonymity unless you only use it to trade bitcoin for altcoins.  If you're using it to trade for fiat you do end up having to expose yourself in one way or another, and you never know if your trading partner is an officer from a three letter agency, lol.

There are ways to use Bisq while keeping your trail cold, if you think they're looking for you. 

We should talk more about it. It fully deserves it.

Absolutely.  They're not actively advertising in any meaningful way that I know of, so it's really up to us users to inform others and keep talking about it so it becomes more well known.  The more users it attracts the better it is for all of us.

[m2017]

We should talk more about it. It fully deserves it.

Absolutely.  They're not actively advertising in any meaningful way that I know of, so it's really up to us users to inform others and keep talking about it so it becomes more well known.  The more users it attracts the better it is for all of us.

Yes, that's right. The more bisq users there are, the better for everyone. This is precisely what put me off bisq the 1st time I tried it: the small number of users, which meant a lack of choice in terms of exchange methods (trading pairs), as well as the lack of "healthy" competition. Honestly, I simply used an old, trusted exchanger aggregator that time because it turned out to be, quite simply, more profitable than exchanging on bisq. Although, it would seem the opposite is true, since p2p implies direct exchange, without intermediaries, which means lower commission costs.

[bitmover]

We should talk more about it. It fully deserves it.

Absolutely.  They're not actively advertising in any meaningful way that I know of, so it's really up to us users to inform others and keep talking about it so it becomes more well known.  The more users it attracts the better it is for all of us.

I think the volume tracking made by mempool.space and the listing in coingecko and coinmarketcap.com were important ways to advertise bisq and get people to know that it exists.

Those websites are important references when talking about volume and exchanges.

[DireWolfM14]

We should talk more about it. It fully deserves it.

Absolutely.  They're not actively advertising in any meaningful way that I know of, so it's really up to us users to inform others and keep talking about it so it becomes more well known.  The more users it attracts the better it is for all of us.

I think the volume tracking made by mempool.space and the listing in coingecko and coinmarketcap.com were important ways to advertise bisq and get people to know that it exists.

Those websites are important references when talking about volume and exchanges.

I can't disagree with that.  Coingecko probably created more visibility for Bisq than mempool.space.  Mempool.space still seems like one of the smaller blockchain explorers since it's specifically geared for us bitcoin maxies.  I always saw Bisq and mempool.space as being inseparable, tbh, since some of the developers work on both.  The decision to remove the Bisq market volume from there surprised me.

[bitmover]

I think the volume tracking made by mempool.space and the listing in coingecko and coinmarketcap.com were important ways to advertise bisq and get people to know that it exists.

Those websites are important references when talking about volume and exchanges.

I can't disagree with that.  Coingecko probably created more visibility for Bisq than mempool.space.  Mempool.space still seems like one of the smaller blockchain explorers since it's specifically geared for us bitcoin maxies.  I always saw Bisq and mempool.space as being inseparable, tbh, since some of the developers work on both.  The decision to remove the Bisq market volume from there surprised me.

I think this would be a great project to work on. I am thinking about creating a new project, this might be a good idea.

My main idea is not to create the BSQ block explorer, but the API to share market data from BISQ. From there, I might think about the block explorer.

@RickDeckard, do you know where should I start looking?

I saw this post https://github.com/bisq-network/proposals/issues/454, but this looks more related to the block explorer

Edit:
I found, the marketdata API is here:
https://github.com/bisq-network/mempool

[DireWolfM14]

I think the volume tracking made by mempool.space and the listing in coingecko and coinmarketcap.com were important ways to advertise bisq and get people to know that it exists.

Those websites are important references when talking about volume and exchanges.

I can't disagree with that.  Coingecko probably created more visibility for Bisq than mempool.space.  Mempool.space still seems like one of the smaller blockchain explorers since it's specifically geared for us bitcoin maxies.  I always saw Bisq and mempool.space as being inseparable, tbh, since some of the developers work on both.  The decision to remove the Bisq market volume from there surprised me.

I think this would be a great project to work on. I am thinking about creating a new project, this might be a good idea.

My main idea is not to create the BSQ block explorer, but the API to share market data from BISQ. From there, I might think about the block explorer.

@RickDeckard, do you know where should I start looking?

I saw this post https://github.com/bisq-network/proposals/issues/454, but this looks more related to the block explorer

Edit:
I found, the marketdata API is here:
https://github.com/bisq-network/mempool

That is a great idea!  I'm not a developer in any sense of the word, but I do have some sever admin chops.  Let me know if I can be of any help.  I can offer a place to host if you need, or if you have your own, an additional place to host certainly couldn't hurt.

[internetional]

The topic is about tips for first time users. My main one is this: if you plan to trade on Bisq, be prepared to lose money.

At the beginning you won't be able to create your own offers (at least in Bisq version 2). You will have to take other people's offers, and their creators usually distort the exchange rate heavily in their favor. They consider this the fee for having reputation.

You can also buy yourself reputation. To do that, you need to burn or lock a fairly large amount of Bisq's native tokens. This gives you the right to create offers with an exchange rate that suits you.

But there will be a loss either way: either through the unfavorable rate in someone else's offer, or through buying essentially unnecessary tokens just to gain the ability to create your own offer.

On Bisq everything is structured so that it is not a platform where peers trade with peers, but rather a marketplace with professional participants (who have invested in reputation) and everyone else.

That is why I try to avoid Bisq. I prefer platforms where everyone is equal (for example, Robosats), or platforms where the lack of reputation is not an obstacle to publishing your own offer (Mostro, LNP2PBOT, LocalCoinSwap, HodlHodl).

[DireWolfM14]

The topic is about tips for first time users. My main one is this: if you plan to trade on Bisq, be prepared to lose money.

At the beginning you won't be able to create your own offers (at least in Bisq version 2). You will have to take other people's offers, and their creators usually distort the exchange rate heavily in their favor. They consider this the fee for having reputation.

I don't use Bisq2, but I understand why the sellers ask high rates.  They are often dealing with newbies, and in order to get any buyers they often have to accept reversable payment types.  The risk of chargebacks is high, so they have to compensate for potential losses.  It's also worth noting that most offers are for a couple of hundred dollars or less, so even if the rates are high, the amount spent isn't huge.  Bisq2 shouldn't be used as a long-term solution by anyone.  It's designed to help Bisq newbies get onboarded with a little bit of bitcoin to stake for offers on Bisq1.

You can also buy yourself reputation. To do that, you need to burn or lock a fairly large amount of Bisq's native tokens. This gives you the right to create offers with an exchange rate that suits you.

I think you're mistaken about this.  Anyone with enough bitcoin to stake can create an offer, no BSQ is required.  BSQ does nothing for one's reputation.  The only reputation indicator on Bisq is that some payment accounts need to be signed, and the indicator how long it's aged after signing.

Unless of course you're referring to Bisq2, which again, I have little experience with.  If so, what I said before applies, buyers shouldn't be using Bisq2 as a long term solution, and if you're a seller staking some BSQ shouldn't be too difficult to overcome.

But there will be a loss either way: either through the unfavorable rate in someone else's offer, or through buying essentially unnecessary tokens just to gain the ability to create your own offer.

On Bisq everything is structured so that it is not a platform where peers trade with peers, but rather a marketplace with professional participants (who have invested in reputation) and everyone else.

Everything about these last statements is just plain wrong.

[bitmover]

The topic is about tips for first time users. My main one is this: if you plan to trade on Bisq, be prepared to lose money.

At the beginning you won't be able to create your own offers (at least in Bisq version 2). You will have to take other people's offers, and their creators usually distort the exchange rate heavily in their favor. They consider this the fee for having reputation.

I never used bisq 2. But this is not true for Bisq 1.

You are probably wrong, but why don't you switch to bisq 1? It isn't hard to use.

You can create your orders. And there isn't much spread. It may depends on the fiat currency you are trading, but you can always switch USD or EUR or some other pair which will have more volume and basically no spread.

[internetional]

I never used bisq 2. But this is not true for Bisq 1.

You are probably wrong, but why don't you switch to bisq 1? It isn't hard to use.

You can create your orders. And there isn't much spread. It may depends on the fiat currency you are trading, but you can always switch USD or EUR or some other pair which will have more volume and basically no spread.

Honestly, I haven't really looked at Bisq 1. Technically I did see it back when it was still called BitSquare, but I wasn't impressed at the time. A few months ago, when I searched Google for Bisq, I came across Bisq 2 and assumed it was simply the current version of Bisq. I looked through the offers, didn't like the exchange rates, tried to create my own, realized that wouldn't work, figured out what I'd need to do to make it work, and then just gave up and closed it.

Are you saying that the first version isn't considered outdated by the community, but is instead just a separate platform? If that's the case, then Bisq 2 seems like a rather unfortunate name - it makes it sound as if it replaced Bisq 1, which is quite misleading.