[Discussion topic] Why YOU Should Be Careful with Aggregators?

[bxae00]

I’ve been following different swap aggregators for a while now and the more you look into how they actually work, the more problems you start to notice. These points come from real user reports, basic logic, and general experience with how instant swap services operate.

1. The “We delete your transaction from our database” claim isn’t what people think it is

Aggregators love to say that they wipe your data after the swap is finished. The typical idea is: “We don’t store anything, so your privacy is protected.”
The problem is simple: the aggregator isn’t the one performing the swap. They only pass your request to the actual provider. That provider still logs everything on their side, because they need it for liquidity tracking, fraud checks, accounting, and support.

So even if the aggregator deletes their entry, the important part still exists with the provider:

- deposit TX
- payout TX
- amount and timing
- refund address
- whatever metadata they collected

The aggregator removing their own row from a DB does not delete the part that matters.
It just looks good in marketing.

2. You’re adding an extra trust layer for no reason

With a direct provider, there’s only one party who can screw up or mishandle data. With an aggregator, you now rely on two:
the aggregator + the provider.
If the provider stalls the transaction, freezes funds, or delays a payout, the aggregator can’t actually fix it. They can only send emails back and forth.

More steps = more risk.

3. Downtimes on Tor / i2p push people back to clearnet

Multiple users have reported that Trocador onion/i2p mirrors were unstable at times. When that happens, a lot of people end up using the clearnet version because they need to finish a swap. That alone kills any anonymity benefits the hidden service was supposed to provide.

If privacy is their selling point, forcing users onto clearnet because the onion is down is a huge downgrade.

4. “Anonymous prepaid cards” that don’t allow VPN/Tor

This one speaks for itself. They promote certain prepaid cards as “anonymous,” but those cards reportedly block VPNs, Tor, and proxies.
If something bans VPN/Tor, it’s not anonymous.
Simple as that.

5. Some aggregators still depend on centralized services

Many aggregators rely on Cloudflare or load fonts/scripts from Google or other big centralized hosts. Even if Trocador currently doesn’t, the whole model shows how fragile “privacy tools” can be when they rely on infrastructure that leaks metadata by default.

6. Mixed experiences with providers behind the aggregator

A lot of issues people have aren’t directly with the aggregator, but with the partners behind it. Examples include providers delaying swaps, changing rates mid process, or offering refunds at worse prices. When that happens, the aggregator has no control - you’re stuck between two parties that point fingers at each other.

I’d be happy to hear your thoughts as well! If anyone has any insights or information they believe could be valuable, please feel free to share it in the comments!

[Darker45]

I'm not a fan but, to be fair, aggregators aren't entirely a pointless extra layer. They could also be useful. In the first place, juggling various exchange accounts just to take advantage of the best real-time rates and fees is a big hassle that can be avoided by using an aggregator. You don't have to manually check every exchange's current rate just to make the most of the differences. Aggregators provide their quotations for you. A few more clicks and you're done.

Also, a number of aggregators like OrangeFren or Trocador offer guarantees or insurance, fully or partially, when using certain exchanges. That's at least a protection against exchanges that suddenly leave users hanging after receiving the deposit.

[hugeblack]

Good advice, but usually Aggregators are price comparison services with referral links in the background, so trading is not direct but rather done through a third-party service. Therefore, you need to visit them and read the terms of use carefully and then decide whether you want to use them or not.

[ABCbits]

3. Downtimes on Tor / i2p push people back to clearnet

Multiple users have reported that Trocador onion/i2p mirrors were unstable at times. When that happens, a lot of people end up using the clearnet version because they need to finish a swap. That alone kills any anonymity benefits the hidden service was supposed to provide.

If privacy is their selling point, forcing users onto clearnet because the onion is down is a huge downgrade.

FWIW, each people have different privacy requirement. Some may feel that using browser with fairly good privacy (such as firefox) with VPN is good enough.

Also, a number of aggregators like OrangeFren or Trocador offer guarantees or insurance, fully or partially, when using certain exchanges. That's at least a protection against exchanges that suddenly leave users hanging after receiving the deposit.

The no KYC verification guarantee is also good feature, although usually you need to screen your UTXO/address using their service before performing swap.

[rat03gopoh]

Good advice, but usually Aggregators are price comparison services with referral links in the background, so trading is not direct but rather done through a third-party service.

I think the OP is referring to DEXs relying on third-party liquidity providers, not exchanger aggregators. These types of DEXs typically have "swap route" information after the coin amount is entered. Or am I misinterpreting your post?

[bitmover]

I'm not a fan but, to be fair, aggregators aren't entirely a pointless extra layer. They could also be useful. In the first place, juggling various exchange accounts just to take advantage of the best real-time rates and fees is a big hassle that can be avoided by using an aggregator. You don't have to manually check every exchange's current rate just to make the most of the differences. Aggregators provide their quotations for you. A few more clicks and you're done.

Also, a number of aggregators like OrangeFren or Trocador offer guarantees or insurance, fully or partially, when using certain exchanges. That's at least a protection against exchanges that suddenly leave users hanging after receiving the deposit.

I think they are quite useful for small amounts.

I use to receive small payments such as $15-30 in altcoins, such as LTC or XMR. The cheapest way to exchange them is using swap services (which sometimes are also aggregators with third party liquidity).

This is a good way to avoid KYC and withdrawal fees.

I use such services for years...

[examplens]

2. You’re adding an extra trust layer for no reason

With a direct provider, there’s only one party who can screw up or mishandle data. With an aggregator, you now rely on two:
the aggregator + the provider.
If the provider stalls the transaction, freezes funds, or delays a payout, the aggregator can’t actually fix it. They can only send emails back and forth.

More steps = more risk.

A reliable aggregator is always an advantage and reduces the risk of phishing scams. It seems, quite a serious reason for an additional layer between the exchanger and the user.

Good advice, but usually Aggregators are price comparison services with referral links in the background, so trading is not direct but rather done through a third-party service. Therefore, you need to visit them and read the terms of use carefully and then decide whether you want to use them or not.

Every referral program must create some kind of logs for greater transparency between the provider and the affiliate partner. Most swap services do not delete this kind of information, I assume, for the sake of records and as evidence in the event of a complaint.
Even if they claim to delete all the logs of executed transactions in the user dashboard, they remain on the affiliate partner.

[bxae00]

I'm not a fan but, to be fair, aggregators aren't entirely a pointless extra layer. They could also be useful. In the first place, juggling various exchange accounts just to take advantage of the best real-time rates and fees is a big hassle that can be avoided by using an aggregator. You don't have to manually check every exchange's current rate just to make the most of the differences.

You’re right, aggregators can easily check which rate will be the best. That’s a good point!

The no KYC verification guarantee is also good feature, although usually you need to screen your UTXO/address using their service before performing swap.

That’s true, but it doesn’t mean anything if the swap is for an amount HIGHER than their “guarantee” it won't protect you and of course the “guarantee” doesn't work on AML.

A reliable aggregator is always an advantage and reduces the risk of phishing scams. It seems, quite a serious reason for an additional layer between the exchanger and the user.

I disagree. I believe that you should not trust any links from any websites like; kycnot.me | monerica etc... especially those that list a lot of them. If the owner takes advantage of the fact that their website is "TRUSTED", they can replace a large number of websites with fake ones and carry out a very large exit scam. There are many risks associated with using “trusted” websites as anti-phishing links.

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I’m thinking of making my own list of swaps that I think are good. Of course, the list will include services that never require KYC or AML. I also want to give a chance to “young” swaps that have recently been created and seem good, but of course there will also be some good old choices. This will, be only my opinion, which I have formed over several years of swaping. I am not influenced by kycnotme or other websites, because these websites often only look at the ToS or other things that can be misleading. Maybe soon? I’ll think about how to do it, and along the way, maybe I’Il find something new and interesting!?

[LoyceV]

I’m thinking of making my own list of swaps that I think are good.

You mean like creating your own .... aggregator?

[joniboini]

This will, be only my opinion, which I have formed over several years of swaping. I am not influenced by kycnotme or other websites, because these websites often only look at the ToS or other things that can be misleading.

So you're basically making a competitor to kycnotme? Do you think people should not trust your website, either? I mean, I'm fine with more resources to find privacy-focused services or something similar, especially if they're open about how they rank websites and so on. At the end of the day, no one should blindly trust anyone, regardless of how famous they are.

[ABCbits]

A reliable aggregator is always an advantage and reduces the risk of phishing scams. It seems, quite a serious reason for an additional layer between the exchanger and the user.

I disagree. I believe that you should not trust any links from any websites like; kycnot.me | monerica etc... especially those that list a lot of them. If the owner takes advantage of the fact that their website is "TRUSTED", they can replace a large number of websites with fake ones and carry out a very large exit scam. There are many risks associated with using “trusted” websites as anti-phishing links.

There's also risk someone hack their server or their domain ownership to modify legit link with fake/scam ones. Such things happened few times in past, but i don't remember name of the website.

I’m thinking of making my own list of swaps that I think are good. Of course, the list will include services that never require KYC or AML. I also want to give a chance to “young” swaps that have recently been created and seem good, but of course there will also be some good old choices. This will, be only my opinion, which I have formed over several years of swaping. I am not influenced by kycnotme or other websites, because these websites often only look at the ToS or other things that can be misleading. Maybe soon? I’ll think about how to do it, and along the way, maybe I’Il find something new and interesting!?

Go ahead. But don't forget some points about aggregator/list you've shared also apply on your own list.

[bxae00]

You mean like creating your own .... aggregator?

Of course not, just a post on btctalk with the names of swaps that I consider good, obviously without affiliate links or links to others third-party websites. With my additional comment, e.g., Is there a chance that they will freeze your funds? etc...

So you're basically making a competitor to kycnotme? Do you think people should not trust your website, either? I mean, I'm fine with more resources to find privacy-focused services or something similar, especially if they're open about how they rank websites and so on. At the end of the day, no one should blindly trust anyone, regardless of how famous they are.

The same as I wrote above.

There's also risk someone hack their server or their domain ownership to modify legit link with fake/scam ones. Such things happened few times in past, but i don't remember name of the website.

Exactly, that’s why I think trusting such sites makes no sense. Is there a site that has links but signed with the PGP key?

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I really don’t care about making money from this, I just want to help people who need help. Nowadays, many websites, including Monerica, are purely focused on money. Even though the creator of Monerica knows that one of the swaps he promotes (he has purchased advertising) is bad, he doesn’t want to do anything about it because it brings him money