Moral dilemma: to mix or not to mix stolen coins, e.g. from Binance hack

[JiiBs]

Arguments for mixing:
- mixers help keep bitcoins fungible (one bitcoin is worth the same as another bitcoin) and censorship-free. Anyone who uses Bitcoin should understand the risks and that transactions are irreversible.

On this I would argue differently.

Of course there is a sense of responsibility when the offense is known and when it’s not. It shouldn’t be all service (mixing), it should be giving the space in which we operate a good name. Knowing the risk as an operator or someone who owns Bitcoin is one thing and the other is, having to aid or help illicit elements within the space get away with crime, that’s another thing.

It goes against moral standards and would be rather encouraging for perpetrators to continue the act. Better to act against it and force them to be more creative or resist the act.

[Tamaperdana]

I just wondered on what the community's consensus is on whether mixing services should go ahead with mixing stolen coins, e.g. those stolen in the recent Binance hack (estimated 18,270 bitcoins).

Argument against mixing:
- when you know coins are stolen, it would be a moral thing to do to return them to the rightful owner(s).

Arguments for mixing:
- mixers help keep bitcoins fungible (one bitcoin is worth the same as another bitcoin) and censorship-free. Anyone who uses Bitcoin should understand the risks and that transactions are irreversible.
- freezing coins would breach the trust of mixers' users. It is implied that a mixer provides service indiscriminately to anyone without judgement.

Any thoughts?

Yes, I don't know whether the people who own mixer companies would do that if they had customers sending stolen bitcoins. After all, they're just mixer companies, and anyone has the right to use them. So, holding someone's bitcoin would obviously damage their reputation. So, yes, this would definitely be a dilemma for mixer owners. On the one hand, they're simply providing a service to allow Bitcoin users to be more anonymous.

But on the other hand, their service could be used for nefarious purposes, such as sending stolen bitcoins. So, given that, I'm not sure what they'd do. It's quite complicated if we talk too much about it. Unless, for example, the mixer owner has a bold mindset and is prepared to accept all the risks. He would certainly be ready to catch the bitcoin thief when he sends the bitcoins. So, yes, it depends on who owns the mixer company.

[YellowSwap]

Actually it will be a good thing of mixers can also contribute hunting down those hackers because it's possible that mixer will be their gateway to escaping the tracks in the end.

But doing so wouldn't it reduce the trust on Mixers? It will make mixers look like centralised entities too, Mensing they are not different from Tether and the rest who can easily block your funds.

The main question isn't even if mixers can expose these hackers but how will they do it, I mean how will the mixers knows that the money is stolen anyway?