Theymos Uneasy about Advertising for Bitmixer.io..

[marcotheminer]

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=868974.msg9764145#msg9764145

How come?

Unfortunately, I must reject this bid. I am uneasy about advertising BITMIXER.IO.

To what I've seen in the past, you've happily accepted bids from Inaba (scammer) and others which had known scam sites. Can find the names if needed.

[1714853104]

1714853104

[1714853104]

1714853104

[Quickseller]

If it were me making the decision it would be because their identity is well hidden and people could potentially send large amounts of money to them at one time, sometimes with the expectation they will not get anything back from them for a long time (and may not check to make sure funds were received for days). This would potentially make it easy for them to straight up steal money from their customers.

While BFL was certainly a scam, they did not straight up steal in this way.

[marcotheminer]

If it were me making the decision it would be because their identity is well hidden and people could potentially send large amounts of money to them at one time, sometimes with the expectation they will not get anything back from them for a long time (and may not check to make sure funds were received for days). This would potentially make it easy for them to straight up steal money from their customers.

While BFL was certainly a scam, they did not straight up steal in this way.

Bitmixer.io have established themselves (in my eyes) for quite a while now. Just because their identity is obscured, doesn't mean their untrustworthy.

[Quickseller]

If it were me making the decision it would be because their identity is well hidden and people could potentially send large amounts of money to them at one time, sometimes with the expectation they will not get anything back from them for a long time (and may not check to make sure funds were received for days). This would potentially make it easy for them to straight up steal money from their customers.

While BFL was certainly a scam, they did not straight up steal in this way.

Bitmixer.io have established themselves (in my eyes) for quite a while now. Just because their identity is obscured, doesn't mean their untrustworthy.

Fair point. Although they may have lost a good amount of money recently (this is speculation) as they had said they could potentially mix several hundred BTC though an exchange per day by depositing and then withdrawing from an exchange, and bitstamp recently disabled withdrawals unless your identity is verified. There were a few anon reports complaining about bitstamp not allowing withdrawals on unverified accounts (I always though this was them)

We transfer mixed coins after we receive numbers of needed confirmations (plus time delay) - it is a random time.
I'm not sure that miners will buy our coins, but we may exchange its to "fresh" coins using public exchange. We already did it, it works for several hundred bitcoins daily. I think we will develop automatic engine this autumn.

Another speculation would be that many users of illegal dark net sites will often use sites like bitcoin fog and bit mixer to obscure the source of their bitcoin when they deposit funds (or withdraw funds) from these sites. Although there are many other legit uses he may not want to advertise such a service so soon after receiving a subpoena for evidence in the Ulbright trial.

[redsn0w]

If it were me making the decision it would be because their identity is well hidden and people could potentially send large amounts of money to them at one time, sometimes with the expectation they will not get anything back from them for a long time (and may not check to make sure funds were received for days). This would potentially make it easy for them to straight up steal money from their customers.

While BFL was certainly a scam, they did not straight up steal in this way.

Bitmixer.io have established themselves (in my eyes) for quite a while now. Just because their identity is obscured, doesn't mean their untrustworthy.

Yes you're right , but this is the terms :

....

I reserve the right to reject bids, even days after the bid is made. In particular, bids from people with less than 15 activity points are likely to be rejected. I recommend not getting into a bidding war with someone who has less than 15 activity points, as their bids might not be accepted, but your latest bids will still stand. If you need to know right away whether someone's bids will be accepted, PM me.

...

[peligro]

Theymos is probably concerned that the site may come under scrutiny as abetting crimes by mixing their Bitcoins. There is no dearth of bidders for ad slots so playing it safe makes sense.

[hilariousandco]

That logic doesn't really make sense. Mixing bitcoins isn't illegal but probably most of the unregulated exchanges and casinos that advertise here likely are.

[marcotheminer]

That logic doesn't really make sense. Mixing bitcoins isn't illegal but probably most of the unregulated exchanges and casinos that advertise here likely are.

Some casinos even have scam accusations out against them.

[98problems]

That logic doesn't really make sense. Mixing bitcoins isn't illegal but probably most of the unregulated exchanges and casinos that advertise here likely are.

He probably knows something about bitmixer that is not public.

There has been a lot more scrutiny against Bitcoin related companies since he accepted ad money from BFL so he is probably more conservative about who he will show an ad for now. 

[dogie]

Does it matter? Its his forum and his liability, he's free to choose what he allows or doesn't in terms of advertising. He doesn't need a concrete reason.

[marcotheminer]

Does it matter? Its his forum and his liability, he's free to choose what he allows or doesn't in terms of advertising. He doesn't need a concrete reason.

Annnnnd we're back to pre-bitcoin times, centralisation.

Never asked for a concrete reason, just an explanation as to why he refuses them and not other proven scams.

[Welsh]

Never asked for a concrete reason, just an explanation as to why he refuses them and not other proven scams.

Judging on Theymos original response, he doesn't want to disclose to the public why he doesn't want this particular service advertised. You can always send a message to him regarding the matter, but don't expect to get a response.

[smoothie]

I guess it is in his own personal discretion why he chose not to accept that bid.

Perhaps it relates to the recent subpoena?

[exoton]

I guess it is in his own personal discretion why he chose not to accept that bid.

Perhaps it relates to the recent subpoena?

I would say this is probably correct. The lack of him knowing their identity (and the high chances that they use tor to connect to the forum) probably makes him less willing to allow them to advertise, as if they scam he could potentially be blamed and/or said that he is behind the scam.

Does it matter? Its his forum and his liability, he's free to choose what he allows or doesn't in terms of advertising. He doesn't need a concrete reason.

Annnnnd we're back to pre-bitcoin times, centralisation.

-snip-

This is a centralized forum. It is not realistic to have a decentralized forum. The closest thing to a decentralized forum is reddit and it is very easy to manipulate upvotting/downvoting

That logic doesn't really make sense. Mixing bitcoins isn't illegal but probably most of the unregulated exchanges and casinos that advertise here likely are.

The casinos at least try to prevent people residing in places where gambling is illegal from gambling. It is not illegal to advertise a casino in places where gambling is illegal as long as the casino does not allow them to gamble

[Blazr]

Quite interesting. I don't particularly trust bitmixer.io either, but I haven't seen any scam accusations against them and they've been around for a while. I really wonder why he refused the bid.

[hilariousandco]

Does it matter? Its his forum and his liability, he's free to choose what he allows or doesn't in terms of advertising. He doesn't need a concrete reason.

True, but people are also free to ask questions regarding the decision (whether theymos chooses to respond or not). I think denying bids is always going to raise intrigue and curiosity as to why, especially when the company doesn't appear to be doing anything wrong (that we know of) and there's much more questionable ads that get accepted without any problems. I'd personally like to know why they were rejected but theymos is under no obligation to provide any reasoning if he doesn't want to, like you say.

[MoreBloodWine]

Technically theymos is already allowing them to advertise for free by allowing a signature campaign from them. The difference is where the ads, or in the namesake of the campaign, sigs are shown so to me this is just a bunch of nothing.

[tss]

is this a discussion of legality or scammer ethics?  

whats legal in your country is not legal in mine.. ie all of these casinos.


ohh.  edit.  on the subject of scammer accusations and the like. not too many drug dealers go to the cops when they get robbed.

[Mobius7]

That is weird as theymos did accept advertisement for ponzi in the past, and a mixer should at least be more ethical and lawful than a ponzi.

[marcotheminer]

Bump. The least you can do theymos is reply..