what happens if our right to p2p is seriously prevented?

[Zlantann]

Just to make it clear, governments are not interested in shutting down the p2p platforms and exchanges but what they really want is access to every transaction about the users who registered their and all their KYC, and any other possible details just to track them better this force the p2p to go out of business.

Since exchanges already got their own p2p sections, so why go through all this on multiple platforms?

But bitcoin is bitcoin, anyone who wants to accept bitcoin can do it and they don't need permission for anyone to do it and they will have issues only when they need to convert into fiat.

I agree with your view.  Before now most exchanges didn't require Bitcoin. But the government began to change rules which began to make it hard to use any platform without giving out your information. Before a normal national identity number was enough. Now they ask for facial recognition, bank statements, and even proof of residence. More stringent laws are still enacted by the government to control centralized platforms.

The decentralized nature of Bitcoin has made it possible to bypass government restrictions. Even if these platforms are closed, which is highly unlikely, there will still be means to buy and sell Bitcoin.

[Doan9269]

The only way that can make our right to be prevented from using P2P network is when we go through a centralized exchange and perform our P2P, because in so doing, we are exposing ourselves and releasing our information to that platform we make use of, this is where the best and most ideal way or method to engage on P2P is by using a decentralized exchange and not a centralized one, but I still don't understand why most people concentrate more on using a centralized platform for their p2p when it is not meant to be so generically.

[Findingnemo]

~
The decentralized nature of Bitcoin has made it possible to bypass government restrictions. Even if these platforms are closed, which is highly unlikely, there will still be means to buy and sell Bitcoin.

There is no denial in that. But how many people choose privacy over the regulated platforms, I bet it won't even be like 10% of total traders.

That is why we see mere volume on decentralized p2p like bisq while there is billions on centralized exchanges, there is a price to pay for that no KYC and the fact is not everyone is willing to pay that price.

[Wapfika]

The only way that can make our right to be prevented from using P2P network is when we go through a centralized exchange and perform our P2P, because in so doing, we are exposing ourselves and releasing our information to that platform we make use of, this is where the best and most ideal way or method to engage on P2P is by using a decentralized exchange and not a centralized one, but I still don't understand why most people concentrate more on using a centralized platform for their p2p when it is not meant to be so generically.

Exactly, Many assumed that P2P can only be done through centralized platform while there’s a lot of P2P platform that offers decentralized service.

Even a direct transaction using the forum can be use as way to dodge the government restrictions on centralized platform for P2P transactions.

Government can only control centralized platforms but not the ability to do P2P transactions.

[kazilunex]

Just to make it clear, governments are not interested in shutting down the p2p platforms and exchanges but what they really want is access to every transaction about the users who registered their and all their KYC, and any other possible details just to track them better this force the p2p to go out of business.

Since exchanges already got their own p2p sections, so why go through all this on multiple platforms?

But bitcoin is bitcoin, anyone who wants to accept bitcoin can do it and they don't need permission for anyone to do it and they will have issues only when they need to convert into fiat.

You've got a good point there. Governments are not really trying to stop bitcoin itself, but they do want visibility and control, especially when it comes to KYC and tracking transactions. That's why pressure usually falls on exchanges and platforms, not the network.

If p2p gets restricted, it doesn't stop bitcoin, people can still send directly wallet to wallet and no permission is needed to receive or send.

The main challenge shows up when converting to fiat, since that's where regulation is strongest. So even if platforms get limited, bitcoin itself still works. It just pushes people to use it more directly instead of relying on services.

[rodskee]

i fail to think of ways that governments can block every single method of p2p transactions whether digital or not. before all the banks and third party intermediaries came, everyone only transacted through each other. unless the government monitor every single one of us 24/7 it’s not possible imo.

[hd49728]

Exactly, Many assumed that P2P can only be done through centralized platform while there’s a lot of P2P platform that offers decentralized service.

Even a direct transaction using the forum can be use as way to dodge the government restrictions on centralized platform for P2P transactions.

Government can only control centralized platforms but not the ability to do P2P transactions.

P2P means Peer to Peer, as it names is and it means decentralized but over time, there are business companies with their P2P products for people to use. These companies are like Escrow providers for both Peers in the trade but their engagement in the trade means the trade is no longer P2P.

You can compares not actual decentralized P2P platforms with Decentralized Exchanges created and operated by Centralized Exchanges. These platforms only have P2P, DEX in names or company service description while their products are neither actually P2P or Decentralized.

People need to have proper knowledge, not inaccurate one, then they will have more motivation to choose right platforms for their priorities like privacy, and security to use. When people have all these things rightly, they will practice rightly and stay away from bad platforms with misleading promises.

[vanesha]

So far, my country is still quite lenient with P2P exchange users. They have their own regulatory body. They monitor P2P from there. There's no prevention, but it's worth remaining vigilant. In some of your replies, I agree with the person who said there would be a lot of fraud if transactions were conducted directly on Telegram. However, that's the most reasonable option if P2P is successfully eliminated. I'm just curious about the current situation in your country with P2P.

[Findingnemo]

~
You've got a good point there. Governments are not really trying to stop bitcoin itself, but they do want visibility and control, especially when it comes to KYC and tracking transactions. That's why pressure usually falls on exchanges and platforms, not the network.

If p2p gets restricted, it doesn't stop bitcoin, people can still send directly wallet to wallet and no permission is needed to receive or send.

The main challenge shows up when converting to fiat, since that's where regulation is strongest. So even if platforms get limited, bitcoin itself still works. It just pushes people to use it more directly instead of relying on services.

Governments wanted Bitcoin out of the picture, but they realized it is not a realistic thing to do.



So they moved the other ways like discouraging people to use bitcoin with heavy taxation, and that is why they have this kind of censorship and for that they need access to all the transaction history about all their users.

[ZAINmalik75]

Eventually all government will not just agree to same thing. You have heard of the phrase, one man's food is another ones poison. Where one government stops is where the other would start. P2P is a crypto friendly service, I dont see how it harms anyone.

P2P is a friendly service, but only if the fiat they are sending is not fraudulent. There have been many cases reported showing how these P2P merchants, even verified ones on centralized exchanges, are collaborating with corrupt people in authorities to deal with users, and after that they open legal cases and demand money. I have even seen many P2P traders with negative feedback where people have given them negative feedback because they were threatening them and asking for money, otherwise they would threaten legal cases.

I also like the example given to you by hd49728, it says it all. Government cannot completely eliminate such services. They can put certain laws but people would still manage to bypass them..

We can bypass them, but the banks we are using are theirs. They will ask for documents and reasons, and will ask questions like where this money came from, what the source is, how you earned it, etc. And if they want, they can seize it until they are sure that the money is legitimate. So this is how they can control you.

[Way of a writer]

For the government to ban P2P successfully they need to find out who is controlling the platform, and since the majority of P2P services in crypto space are actually centralised then it's possible.

It's only a true P2P where nothing centralised is happening behind the veil will escape from the government's crack down, there isn't any much P2P that are truly P2P this days.

[Smartprofit]

In my country, exchanging Bitcoin for fiat (and fiat for Bitcoin) through P2P systems is practically impossible (or, more accurately, incredibly dangerous for the exchange participant). 🙋

Why did this happen? First, criminal penalties were introduced for droppers. Currently, such activity (if systematic) carries a prison sentence of up to six years. If it was an isolated incident, the prison term can be three years. As a result, honest people don't participate in such schemes (they're afraid), while hardened criminals do.

Second, a law was passed requiring that if a person receives money from a suspicious source, all their bank accounts are permanently frozen. This is a very severe penalty. The person is completely excluded from the national banking system.

Third, since honest people became afraid and stopped participating in the P2P system, only scammers remain.  As a result, millions of people's bank accounts were frozen, and tens of thousands of criminal cases were opened for the activities of droppers. As a result, no one in my country uses P2P systems anymore. By participating in P2P systems, you are practically guaranteed to become a random participant in some criminal network.

[ZAINmalik75]

For the government to ban P2P successfully they need to find out who is controlling the platform, and since the majority of P2P services in crypto space are actually centralised then it's possible.

It's only a true P2P where nothing centralised is happening behind the veil will escape from the government's crack down, there isn't any much P2P that are truly P2P this days.

They can pretend to be sellers or buyers to catch people directly, they don't have to collaborate with exchanges, because most of the centralized time exchanges can reject their proposal or request, but if they have millions of customers from the same country, they will definitely look for any kind of proposal coming from them. Because they want to get legal fast in such situations to make more money.

And it is better for the mass adoption, but if it won't be the case and government wants to know who is using the exchange for p2p, they can be their customers, and can act as buyers or sellers and can easily track down people using it, but the work put in here is huge and they will never do it.

Some platforms are good but every centralized one is giving data to governments with no doubt.

[Asiska02]

Seriously it’s something that is likely not to happen. reason being that p2p is just a transaction that occurs between individuals without the involvement of any centralised authority. If that happens, then Satoshi’s aim is defeated and we still have to go back to 2009 and think of something else.

The popular understanding of a p2p service is the use of centralized exchanges to exchange your bitcoin to fiat. These exchanges are centralized which means the identity behind the account is known and can be tracked down and traced if the government wants through these platforms.

And mind you if government want to do that, then they are practically saying they want to eradicate bitcoin and that’s also not possible we know p2p is  the only way to spend our bitcoins.

P2P is not the only way to spend your bitcoins. If the government works on stopping P2P platforms, there are many other ways users can spend their bitcoin without necessarily converting it to fiat as they do using the centralized exchange p2p services. When p2p are banned;

Direct payment through bitcoin cannot be stopped when paying for something you buy on an online store, especially those that accepts bitcoin for payment. So practically you can still spend Bitcoin without doing p2p.

Some platforms allow conversion of Bitcoin into gift cards, that’s another seamless way to spend your bitcoin without necessarily converting through the p2p method.

Cross border payment through direct wallet transfer is also another way to spend your bitcoins without depending on the p2p platforms. We also have decentralized exchanges that allows that, without necessarily having the government to clamp down or control your money for you.

[Wiwo]

What we should know is that p2p have been the core concept of Bitcoin and the centre of the decentralised network, that been said we must know that p2p is between individuals and for that government or third-party involvement won't be relevant since it won't be necessary,  the only thing needed for p2p transaction to take place is both individuals and not government or individuals involvement.

But we shouldn't rely on p2p in a centralised exchange for freedom or privacy from third-party involvement.

[Josefjix]

I am agreeing to what NotAtether is actually saying because when I am selling my crypto to Fiat through p2p on Bybit nowadays, buyers are saying Bybit charges them for creating buy ads and that we sellers will be paying for it by the buyer decducting a little token from our total selling amount. Almost every buyer behaves this way and it's annoying when we weren't even paying before.

This making buyers and sellers through p2p loosing money for trading Bitcoin, making it harder for buyers and sellers to confidentially trade at ease.

[CryptoHeadlineNews]

i came across this post by NotATether and it is a very interest one and truly calls for concern but while responding to it, i got really curious and thought i should it for more better visibility as i believe not everyone would be able to see my response since its no longer the first page and below is the quote for both my response and post by NotATether

Don't let anyone bully you into not buying or selling your crypto P2P.

If only the exchanges control the onramps and offramps, then the governments around the world can do whatever they want to your access and put your coins in a chokehold, when you try to spend them.

They have already failed at stopping Bitcoin itself. Now they are trying to make it harder for people to buy and sell it.

Because they know their currencies are failing and people are running away.

If you've seen any of the proposed laws for hardware wallet regulation, that is just the beginning. Their objective is to seize more money for personal gain.

Be a visionary.

Embrace BTC.

i am also curious how can we spend our bitcoin  if government finally succeeds in blocking every p2p exchanges through some extreme rules and regulations as after reading your post, i got really curious and maybe government then also decides to take drastic actions against anyone who accept these coin or cryptocurrencies in general, how then can be go about these thing

alot of persons might ant to be merchants either through their social medias or best telegram but you will also agree with me that it will also increase the rate of crypto scam and increase fear of potential investors, so i'm curious as what might become of it if such ever happens?

what do you guys really think about this ?

If our right to p2p is prevented due to one rule or the other, this will literally hinder the access to Bitcoin by the majority of both old and new investors that might want to invest in Bitcoin. Because in today's era, majority of the crypto transactions are been don on p2p platforms. And in a scenario whereby if the government tries to make buying and selling of Bitcoin difficult to its users, then the only approach to this should be to buy other coins, such as USDT stable coin or Ripple, while you transfer to the same to Unstoppable non custodial wallet, and then swap it back into Bitcoin. Because having an asset where you have full control over it is actually the best .

[SeriouslyGiveaway]

If our right to p2p is prevented due to one rule or the other, this will literally hinder the access to Bitcoin by the majority of both old and new investors that might want to invest in Bitcoin. Because in today's era, majority of the crypto transactions are been don on p2p platforms. And in a scenario whereby if the government tries to make buying and selling of Bitcoin difficult to its users, then the only approach to this should be to buy other coins, such as USDT stable coin or Ripple, while you transfer to the same to Unstoppable non custodial wallet, and then swap it back into Bitcoin. Because having an asset where you have full control over it is actually the best .

People can buy bitcoins by many reasons and purposes and investment is only one of possible purposes because Bitcoin has many use cases and its utility is very diversifying. These things are helpful to bring Bitcoin to more people and are important contributors for Bitcoin adoption which is very rapid, parabolic and unprecedented in human civilization history.

Governments only can ban Bitcoin P2P trades if they succeed to crack down the Bitcoin mining industry so that there is no longer existence and operation of Bitcoin mining and there is no more confirmations for future transactions. I don't know what will happen with regulations in far future but in the near future, I strongly believe that Bitcoin blockchain will still be very actively and lively operating.

[electronicash]

If our right to p2p is prevented due to one rule or the other, this will literally hinder the access to Bitcoin by the majority of both old and new investors that might want to invest in Bitcoin. Because in today's era, majority of the crypto transactions are been don on p2p platforms. And in a scenario whereby if the government tries to make buying and selling of Bitcoin difficult to its users, then the only approach to this should be to buy other coins, such as USDT stable coin or Ripple, while you transfer to the same to Unstoppable non custodial wallet, and then swap it back into Bitcoin. Because having an asset where you have full control over it is actually the best .

People can buy bitcoins by many reasons and purposes and investment is only one of possible purposes because Bitcoin has many use cases and its utility is very diversifying. These things are helpful to bring Bitcoin to more people and are important contributors for Bitcoin adoption which is very rapid, parabolic and unprecedented in human civilization history.

Governments only can ban Bitcoin P2P trades if they succeed to crack down the Bitcoin mining industry so that there is no longer existence and operation of Bitcoin mining and there is no more confirmations for future transactions. I don't know what will happen with regulations in far future but in the near future, I strongly believe that Bitcoin blockchain will still be very actively and lively operating.

sadly they are almost successful in cracking down BTC mining industry. they even want these mining farms to only use renewable resources and regulate them which farms has to register to the government.  no confirmation of future transactions seem impossible but if it happens i think we will be moving to another blockchain. maybe doge will be better.

because the government already embraces Bitcoin, their goal is control and make money out of the transactions made in Bitcoin so they grip and survey every transactions and identify user if possible. US government wants stablecoin adoption, rest assure they wanna keep BTC transactions going.

[shinratensei_]

Your right of P2P won't be prevented since the heavily regulated exchange such as binance and bybit are all offering P2P market place but they will identify you, requiring KYC so that they can track where the money go.
It's not in anyone's interest to block the right of P2P if they can simply identify you. AML is a thing and they are more concerned with that and the reason why some P2P marketplace isn't really welcomed by government.