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Topic: Bitcoin mixing is NOT money laundering, per se - page 4. (Read 3942 times)

hero member
Activity: 1111
Merit: 588
Even through Mixers are the current primary target ,
wonder how much longer before LN hubs that do not comply with KYC/AML laws could also be considered as not transparent and become illegal.   Cool
Something to think about if you are running a LN hub and can't afford to follow  KYC/AML reporting regulations.

LN is by default a money transmitter service , and could be also placed in the category of money laundering services as it anonymises transactions . This has been mentioned many times in the past in here and those presenting the problem were consider loonies . A whole community is waiting for the overenginnered "holy graal" which will be proven a waste of 8 years and a serious delay in bitcoin adoption . Probably we will see devs working on LN facing charges like the tornado cash dev at some point ? Authorities work slow but they will act at some point .
hero member
Activity: 1442
Merit: 775
BlackHatCoiner, could you add this point to OP as additional information for mixer definition, please.

It is not a mixer definition but is part of elements to consider a mixer is illegal or not.

A cryptocurrency mixing service is not necessarily illegal.

It won't change anything because the admin decided and Mixers to be banned but I think with that quote, it can add a useful information for your topic.
full member
Activity: 868
Merit: 190
web developer for hire
It would've been different if criminals didn't use mixers. It's unfortunate bitcoin mixers are being used for bad criminal tumbling cash to launder. That's one of the reasons mixers are going to be banned in the forum next year. If govts form an alliance to ban mixers they'll become illegal. It means ppl shouldn't use them because they'll break the law.

I'm saying it isn't fair for govts to say ppl who've used mixers are doing something illegal. They know mixers like banks can be used for good or bad reasons so they shouldn't put all bitcoin traders in one criminal bracket. Criminals have taken advantage of crypto so that's why it's getting a hard time.

Many people abuse mixers for the purpose of embezzling funds from crimes resulting from corruption and other illegal funding, because they can disguise the user's address.  This is an important concern for the government to investigate cases like this, in fact crypto has become the main choice for irresponsible individuals, Because there have been many criminal cases involving misuse of mixer services for certain purposes. Maybe this is one of the main causes, even next year a ban will be implemented on promoting their advertisements here

sr. member
Activity: 1792
Merit: 264
I'm saying it isn't fair for govts to say ppl who've used mixers are doing something illegal. They know mixers like banks can be used for good or bad reasons so they shouldn't put all bitcoin traders in one criminal bracket. Criminals have taken advantage of crypto so that's why it's getting a hard time.

Many people abuse mixers for the purpose of embezzling funds from crimes resulting from corruption and other illegal funding, because they can disguise the user's address.  This is an important concern for the government to investigate cases like this, in fact crypto has become the main choice for irresponsible individuals, Because there have been many criminal cases involving misuse of mixer services for certain purposes. Maybe this is one of the main causes, even next year a ban will be implemented on promoting their advertisements here
full member
Activity: 868
Merit: 190
web developer for hire
Less sig campaigns means there's less spam so that's a benefit but there isn't a ban or restriction on talking about mixers. They won't be promoted or advertised so they've been banned in the forum. It's going to affect sig campaigners so we're going to see less income ops now but if it's the safest action for protecting the forum theymos made a good decision.

Well, despite that mixers are "not necessarily illegal" theymos banned their advertising and promoting on the forum starting January 1, 2024.

It doesn't stop the discussion about mixers, but I'd say it is an important statement in line with it on this forum.
Oh well, I guess some people will stop (shit)posting... Roll Eyes

I know someone who made $1200/month (not a lot of money in the USA, but still plenty enough in poorer countries).

If people don't like Theymos' decision (that's fine), they should start a decentralized forum, because bitcointalk.org has always been centralized. Deal with it.
legendary
Activity: 4270
Merit: 4534
Ironically, they're the ones laundering & counterfeiting our money. That is harming all of us.

They are literally taking half of our paycheck and using it to bomb children in Palestine. 

My question to that is , how you can prove that you do this just to increase your privacy ?

Please tell us your full name, phone number, where you live, how much money you have and share us your transaction history.  If you do not because you consider this information private, can you please prove to us you are innocent?

No.  You do not have to.  The default position is innocence.  You are not guilty until proven guilty.

people say the same about guns "i have the right to bear arms"
yes but if you are seen walking along a sidewalk openly waving a gun around shouting "this is my right i will defend myself" you will become a suspect of possibly wanting to use the gun for illegal purpose like shooting someone, they will want to know what you mean by and how you intent to "defend yourself"
you will be approached by cops for suspicion of inciting fear and terror

many cops also have the right to defend themselves. so if they see you waving a gun around they may see you as a threat..

and thats how america got so bad.. right to bear arms = cops allowed to shoot if feeling threatened
also cops can stop and search you and ID you to make sure you are permitted/licenced to have a gun.

if you want to have a gun. dont advertise it to make yourself a target.. in short: use it dont advertise it
if you want use/be a mixer. dont advertise it to make yourself a target.. in short: use it dont advertise it


posting from another topic ITS ABOUT MIXING AND BLACKHATS THOUGHTS SO ITS ON_TOPIC AND RELEVANT
(topic about putting mixer tools into core)
Could the network of nodes be used in a way to create a built-in system to send joined transactions of sorts within the Bitcoin Core? Or is this considered outside of the scope of the project and you are always going to need to use some sort of 3rd party software or web as a service?
If we implement mixer on Core, this will help governments to tag Bitcoin as a currency that helps terrorists and criminals and so on.
You're telling me it isn't yet tagged as funding terrorism? Literally hundreds of articles every year, and even bills, proposing regulation of some sort to prevent "further terrorism funding".

And no. Bitcoin Core isn't Bitcoin. It's simply an implementation of a Bitcoin client. An optional mix setting in QT wouldn't be that kind of a red alarm. Gaining privacy on-chain is already possible and it works fine. There would be a red alarm if we hark forked into an enforced-private cryptocurrency on a protocol level.

blackhatcoiner KNOWS core is the default CORE(central) reference client thus it is the defacto protocol decision maker these days. so wanting to make core become a mixer tool is the biggest red alarm where everyones coins will be treated as suspicious

the idiot wants to think if every coin is suspicious the analysis businesses will give up analysing.. he doesnt understand by making every transaction suspicious they will enact more policy and lobby more regulation..

people can make their own wallet software (forked code of core and rebranded) into a mixer tool manager. however making the reference client everyone use into a mixer is stupidly going to cause more problems for all users.

blackhatcoiner is more interested in sales commissions of promoting mixers, than caring about the repercussions on the users of such

mixers should be just a side niche service not everyone needs. but for the idiots that want to get tagged as suspicion can remain idiots and use mixers to get listed on a watchlist by using mixers..

the solution to being tagged and watchlisted, is not to recruit everyone to be tagged and watchlisted. though i feel blackhat earns more commission if everyone was
sr. member
Activity: 1666
Merit: 310
Well, despite that mixers are "not necessarily illegal" theymos banned their advertising and promoting on the forum starting January 1, 2024.

It doesn't stop the discussion about mixers, but I'd say it is an important statement in line with it on this forum.
Oh well, I guess some people will stop (shit)posting... Roll Eyes

I know someone who made $1200/month (not a lot of money in the USA, but still plenty enough in poorer countries).

If people don't like Theymos' decision (that's fine), they should start a decentralized forum, because bitcointalk.org has always been centralized. Deal with it.
hero member
Activity: 1111
Merit: 588
My question to that is , how you can prove that you do this just to increase your privacy ?

Please tell us your full name, phone number, where you live, how much money you have and share us your transaction history.  If you do not because you consider this information private, can you please prove to us you are innocent?

No.  You do not have to.  The default position is innocence.  You are not guilty until proven guilty.

I haven't used a mixer ever . Does that mean that everything you ask me to provide is accessible to anyone ? Doesn't bitcoin provide privacy ? Because i think there's a section in the whitepaper that explains specifically that part . And if at any time authorities ask me , i have the proof of source of funds . Do you ? How will you explain to them if your funds come directly from a hacked exchange or other criminal activities ?
- " Your honor , i'm a privacy seeker and i thought it was a good idea to mix my funds in a pool that 50% of the mixed funds are from criminal activity and 50% are legal . Trust me , i'm not one of those criminals . And remember , no one is guilty until proven otherwise " .
- " Do you have any evidence to prove your innocence ? "
- " No , just my word "
Guess the verdict .

I'm saying it isn't fair for govts to say ppl who've used mixers are doing something illegal. They know mixers like banks can be used for good or bad reasons so they shouldn't put all bitcoin traders in one criminal bracket. Criminals have taken advantage of crypto so that's why it's getting a hard time.


I thought bitcoin was created so society can get rid of those banking tactics that everyone dislike . Do we want to have a more advanced money laundering system than the banking ?
legendary
Activity: 1974
Merit: 3049
Well, despite that mixers are "not necessarily illegal" theymos banned their advertising and promoting on the forum starting January 1, 2024.

It doesn't stop the discussion about mixers, but I'd say it is an important statement in line with it on this forum.
full member
Activity: 868
Merit: 190
web developer for hire
I'm saying it isn't fair for govts to say ppl who've used mixers are doing something illegal. They know mixers like banks can be used for good or bad reasons so they shouldn't put all bitcoin traders in one criminal bracket. Criminals have taken advantage of crypto so that's why it's getting a hard time.

So, right, same tools can usually be used for good and for bad, but if we talk about bitcoin it becomes more and more suitable for honest and respected and not for criminals. And mixing bitcoin is also what is needed for honest and respected users as well, so criminal share in it falls like in all bitcoin transactions.
legendary
Activity: 4256
Merit: 8551
'The right to privacy matters'
Ironically, they're the ones laundering & counterfeiting our money. That is harming all of us.

They are literally taking half of our paycheck and using it to bomb children in Palestine.  

My question to that is , how you can prove that you do this just to increase your privacy ?

Please tell us your full name, phone number, where you live, how much money you have and share us your transaction history.  If you do not because you consider this information private, can you please prove to us you are innocent?

No.  You do not have to.  The default position is innocence.  You are not guilty until proven guilty.

 Not in every country just some.
sr. member
Activity: 336
Merit: 296
Ironically, they're the ones laundering & counterfeiting our money. That is harming all of us.

They are literally taking half of our paycheck and using it to bomb children in Palestine.  

My question to that is , how you can prove that you do this just to increase your privacy ?

Please tell us your full name, phone number, where you live, how much money you have and share us your transaction history.  If you do not because you consider this information private, can you please prove to us you are innocent?

No.  You do not have to.  The default position is innocence.  You are not guilty until proven guilty.
hero member
Activity: 1111
Merit: 588
Mixing BTC is NOT money laundering - you're trying to gain privacy, this is perfectly ethical. You're not harming anyone.

They've simply used these terms to make you feel like a criminal.

Ironically, they're the ones laundering & counterfeiting our money. That is harming all of us.

The right thing to do is stop supporting these crimes by using fiat, paying taxes, using their smart tech - phones, credit cards etc. Most won't do it, but they should.

The hidden hand behind government is the leading cause of death, they are committing every crime imaginable under the sun. The conspiracy is so large & so vast that most can't comprehend it.

They're basically lying about everything. Only you can figure it out though, no one can tell you. Like Morpheus said: No one can tell you what the Matrix is.

I don't know from where to start and where to end . But i will say only this , the criminals using the bank system to hide their money do something completely ethical as they're trying to gain privacy according to your logic . Correct ?
And you will say to protect your position that many are not criminals and are just trying to protect their privacy . My question to that is , how you can prove that you do this just to increase your privacy ? And how it feels to be exit liquidity to those laundering criminal money ?
Laundering money as far as i know involves a high fee , as launderers may face criminal charges . So , they do it for profit . You guys are just handing them your clean money for free and may face charges . Good for you , keep it going . I'll stay on the sidelines with my four hands .

sr. member
Activity: 650
Merit: 321
Mixing BTC is NOT money laundering - you're trying to gain privacy, this is perfectly ethical. You're not harming anyone.

They've simply used these terms to make you feel like a criminal.

Ironically, they're the ones laundering & counterfeiting our money. That is harming all of us.

The right thing to do is stop supporting these crimes by using fiat, paying taxes, using their smart tech - phones, credit cards etc. Most won't do it, but they should.

The hidden hand behind government is the leading cause of death, they are committing every crime imaginable under the sun. The conspiracy is so large & so vast that most can't comprehend it.

They're basically lying about everything. Only you can figure it out though, no one can tell you. Like Morpheus said: No one can tell you what the Matrix is.
sr. member
Activity: 1666
Merit: 310
Well, with the recent events with Sinbad mixer, we've got a statement of the Fiscal Information and Investigation Service of the Netherlands in which they supported what is written in a topic title: Bitcoin mixing is not a criminal activity per se:

Quote
Cryptocurrency mixing
A cryptocurrency mixing service is not necessarily illegal. It is an online service that allows users to disguise the origin and destination of cryptocurrencies. With this service, cryptocurrencies are mixed with other users' cryptocurrencies for a fee. Because these transactions are kept in a public record (known as a blockchain), without using a mixer, the origin of the cryptocurrency can be traced using blockchain analytics. For this reason, some users, including criminals, choose to employ a mixer to disguise the origin of their cryptocurrency. Mixing criminal assets and concealing the origin of criminal funds is a criminal offense. In the case of Sinbad.io, more than 50 percent of all mixed cryptocurrencies were found to have a criminal origin. In the case of Sinbad. io, there are no measures in place to implement and enforce a Know Your Customer (KYC) or Know Your Transaction (KYT) policy.

So we can suppose that the government of the Netherlands sees the difference between mixing bitcoins for own security and safety and mixing bitcoins for some criminal purposes.

So , what is in bold shows that there are on the one side criminal funds and on the other side their exit liquidity from "privacy seekers" .
Good luck to the second group proving who they actually are and that they've done this just to enhance their privacy . By anonymizing transactions you just flush to the toilet any evidence you have to prove your innocence .
Why should people have to prove their innocence to corrupted state officials? Shocked

You remind me of COVID fanatics: everyone is guilty (virus transmitter), unless proven innocent (via a COVID test).

No, fuck them, I have nothing to prove (I don't even use mixers, but I don't care if people wanna use them or not).

Hell, some people even pay exorbitant fees (up to 83 BTC) to clear the money trail. Would I do it? No. Is it risky in case it goes to a pool you don't control? Yes (unless you control the majority of the hashrate).

People can do whatever they want, as long as it follows BTC mainnet rules. Deal with it.
hero member
Activity: 1111
Merit: 588
Well, with the recent events with Sinbad mixer, we've got a statement of the Fiscal Information and Investigation Service of the Netherlands in which they supported what is written in a topic title: Bitcoin mixing is not a criminal activity per se:

Quote
Cryptocurrency mixing
A cryptocurrency mixing service is not necessarily illegal. It is an online service that allows users to disguise the origin and destination of cryptocurrencies. With this service, cryptocurrencies are mixed with other users' cryptocurrencies for a fee. Because these transactions are kept in a public record (known as a blockchain), without using a mixer, the origin of the cryptocurrency can be traced using blockchain analytics. For this reason, some users, including criminals, choose to employ a mixer to disguise the origin of their cryptocurrency. Mixing criminal assets and concealing the origin of criminal funds is a criminal offense. In the case of Sinbad.io, more than 50 percent of all mixed cryptocurrencies were found to have a criminal origin. In the case of Sinbad. io, there are no measures in place to implement and enforce a Know Your Customer (KYC) or Know Your Transaction (KYT) policy.

So we can suppose that the government of the Netherlands sees the difference between mixing bitcoins for own security and safety and mixing bitcoins for some criminal purposes.

So , what is in bold shows that there are on the one side criminal funds and on the other side their exit liquidity from "privacy seekers" .
Good luck to the second group proving who they actually are and that they've done this just to enhance their privacy . By anonymizing transactions you just flush to the toilet any evidence you have to prove your innocence .  
legendary
Activity: 4270
Merit: 4534
Well, with the recent events with Sinbad mixer, we've got a statement of the Fiscal Information and Investigation Service of the Netherlands in which they supported what is written in a topic title: Bitcoin mixing is not a criminal activity per se:

Quote
Cryptocurrency mixing
A cryptocurrency mixing service is not necessarily illegal. It is an online service that allows users to disguise the origin and destination of cryptocurrencies. With this service, cryptocurrencies are mixed with other users' cryptocurrencies for a fee. Because these transactions are kept in a public record (known as a blockchain), without using a mixer, the origin of the cryptocurrency can be traced using blockchain analytics. For this reason, some users, including criminals, choose to employ a mixer to disguise the origin of their cryptocurrency. Mixing criminal assets and concealing the origin of criminal funds is a criminal offense. In the case of Sinbad.io, more than 50 percent of all mixed cryptocurrencies were found to have a criminal origin. In the case of Sinbad. io, there are no measures in place to implement and enforce a Know Your Customer (KYC) or Know Your Transaction (KYT) policy.

So we can suppose that the government of the Netherlands sees the difference between mixing bitcoins for own security and safety and mixing bitcoins for some criminal purposes.
you quoted a section to make it look like mixing is fine.. but you missed a crucial part


they also said
Quote
Dutch investigative agencies such as the FIOD will continue to crack down on this. This action aimed at Sinbad.io is a heavy blow to organized crime and also also serves as an example and warning to founders and users of users similar services.
legendary
Activity: 1974
Merit: 3049
Well, with the recent events with Sinbad mixer, we've got a statement of the Fiscal Information and Investigation Service of the Netherlands in which they supported what is written in a topic title: Bitcoin mixing is not a criminal activity per se:

Quote
Cryptocurrency mixing
A cryptocurrency mixing service is not necessarily illegal. It is an online service that allows users to disguise the origin and destination of cryptocurrencies. With this service, cryptocurrencies are mixed with other users' cryptocurrencies for a fee. Because these transactions are kept in a public record (known as a blockchain), without using a mixer, the origin of the cryptocurrency can be traced using blockchain analytics. For this reason, some users, including criminals, choose to employ a mixer to disguise the origin of their cryptocurrency. Mixing criminal assets and concealing the origin of criminal funds is a criminal offense. In the case of Sinbad.io, more than 50 percent of all mixed cryptocurrencies were found to have a criminal origin. In the case of Sinbad. io, there are no measures in place to implement and enforce a Know Your Customer (KYC) or Know Your Transaction (KYT) policy.

So we can suppose that the government of the Netherlands sees the difference between mixing bitcoins for own security and safety and mixing bitcoins for some criminal purposes.
sr. member
Activity: 658
Merit: 283
Hire Bitcointalk Camp. Manager @ r7promotions.com
This is not part of what we are discussing, but why Wikipedia is referring gambling as an illegal activity? If gambling is not legalized in some countries, that does not mean that many countries do not support gambling. In fact, there are some countries that see bitcoin and other crypto to be illegal, but that does not mean cryptocurrencies are not legal. Most countries support Bitcoin and many countries are supporting gambling. Gambling is legal.
The first thing is that Wikipedia is not an authentic source of information because every person can upload their suggestion or views on Wikipedia and that does not mean that a thing that is prohibited for them would be illegal for all the persons and in every state. There is a religion where gambling is prohibited but it's only for the belivers of that religion,  the rest can do it.

Quote
That is why some criminals that know about mixers are using it. But the point is that not only criminals are using mixers. Even some people that are using mixers took their bitcoin from a platform that is centralized and mix it before sending it to their wallet. Some people may prefer to use a mixer after dust attack. There are also several good reasons people are using mixers. Some people do not just take their privacy to play. Some people do not play with privacy because they see it as a way of having full freedom.
This is a mentality that shows how much they are in opposition to Bitcoin. Bitcoin mixing is a tool that some people use just to hide their identity. There are some illegal activities but that does not mean that it is spreading allowing criminal activities.  The ratio of money laundering and bitcoin mixing is like 3/100 which is very rare and more activities are occurring in government affairs than this money laundering using bitcoin,  but the Thing is that they want to find a route to ban bitcoin on the wish of the elite classes bankers.
legendary
Activity: 1974
Merit: 3049
if these promoters actually cared about REAL PRIVACY they would actually want to read the regulations. learn what is and isnt described and think outside the box for solutions not even using the word "mixer" "obfuscation" "anonymity" and instead be creative with a new service that gives the privacy end result but in a way thats not stipulated in regulations

its like uber doesnt call itself a taxi service, to get around taxicab regulations
its how homoeopaths and nutritionists get to play doctor selling snake oil without needing a doctorate, because they are creative with the description of their service
its how supplements can get away with health claims without needing FDA approval, because they are creative

if even now after so much time of mixers knowing their service is on a list. if they just continue as they are just trying to promote they are mixers. they dont care about their customers privacy they just want the commission

Main problem is, as I said, that you can't be sure that you'll get no problems if you'll try to stay in unclear boundaries. Detecting mixing usage is a matter of probability: maybe some transaction is a result of mixing and maybe not. You can think that you reduce your risks in interacting with a centralized service and in fact they will react the opposite. If the rules and criteria were clear, it probably helped real criminals, but it could ease the life for law-abiding users as well. But many who get blocked accounts sometimes for a single p2p transaction or payment in address of some small shop, show that any interaction with a centralized financial (and not only) service is risky. Any. And everyone should think by himself how to reduce his own risks.

Saying that you didn't interact with some exact names of services probably can help if you'll get to the court, but I guess you'll can provide all data in there to show you have nothing illegal in your transactions. But many problems with centralized services appear when you have no plans on spending your time to go to court. And they don't really care... They use other criteria, which they don't disclose to us.

if privacy service operators want to stay in business and not cause issues for their customer. they need to become more creative or find out that they and their customers get blacklisted at best or banned from other services at worse

Improving service for the benefit of a customer is always good, I see no reason to dispute that. Smiley
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