Topic: How to properly use a Mixer? (Read 235 times)

Just be careful using a Bitcoin mixer from the Google search. Most of the mixers are just scams. Even online review could be manipulated as well, so if you just see a few positive reviews over the internet doesn't mean they are trusted. Since you already made the post here means you are in the right place from where you may go in the right direction.

A few well-known trusted mixers around the forum as already thread link has provided above. But I believe Chipmixer would be the best choice, they have good reviews and a reputation on the forum. So you might trust it.

The main point of using a mixing service is that you want to break the link between your past transaction history and your future transaction history. So, to make your mixing in a proper way, you should learn (1) some useful techniques that might help to protect your privacy, such as coin control (UTXO management) and (2) basic heuristics used in blockchain analysis. In other words, you should train your skills of correct usage of the capabilities of the bitcoin network so that you can preserve your privacy during the whole mixing process, which includes pre-mix and post-mix periods. Otherwise, your effort in breaking the connection between your sending addresses and your receiving addresses will fail.

Quick tips:

1) Never use exchanges to deposit to or withdraw from a mixing service. Instead, use your own wallet over which you have full control. Not your keys, not your bitcoin, remember. Ideally, your wallet is connected to your own bitcoin full node, all connections to the network are via Tor.

2) Concerning coin control, UTXO, and address management. When you are sending to a mixer you should avoid at all costs merging your KYCed coins with non-KYCed coins. You don't want a blockchain analyst or other unwanted observer to know that you have other coins besides those that are already linked to your real identity. Ideally, UTXO shouldn't be merged ever, even if they aren't explicitly connected to your identity. Send them separately, one by one, avoiding the creation of unnecessary change.

3) If a mixer of your choice doesn't support connection via Tor or requires you to have JavaScript enabled, don't use it. Ideally, use a mixer that has already proven its credibility.

4) Use all possible capabilities of a mixer, for example sending to multiple addresses, time delays, etc.

5) After your mixing is done, you got multiple private keys from the mixer and sent coins to your own wallet, the job can finally be considered done. However, you should remember that coin control is important even after you have broken the link, especially, if there is a change left from your previous transactions. Do not merge your change output with any of the mixed outputs because it will make your mixing useless.

I used a mixer and it was a nice experience but I think it suits only those who make big transactions and depends on mixers that you are gonna use because some of them are not reliable. I think someone already listed and rated the best mixers out there. I happened to try one when some mixer site in the services section offered some payment for the one who can give an honest review with their mixing service.

I also suggest you read the FAQ first. I've used Chipmixer and, in case you want to play with it, I also recommend you use it through the Tor browser and the Tor v3 link as posted in the ANN thread.

One more word of advice: whatever mixer you want to, try to get to their bitcointalk ANN topic first and get the link from there. Google search results use to be full of fake clones that may steal your money.

 Chipmixer, As you can see from signatures they mostly endorse by high rank members in this forum, so you can trust this website if you are unsure the legitimacy using other mixers, just a suggestion if you are new using this kind of service to avoid mistakes, try small amount first.   

I have tried the chipmixer just as an experiment, the site is really reliable and easy to use and very popular here in the forum, too many bitcoin mixers but not all of them are on the same level in terms of quality and reliability as there are many of them scam so you have to search well and choose the mixer very carefully because you may lose your money if the mixer scams.

You'll get flagged easily if you use a mixer that doesn't really protect you from being linked to their main deposit address. If that's the case maybe it's better to find another service to use, or use coinjoin as mentioned above to cover your track (but some exchange also flag coinjoin tx as malicious, so that's that).

Just be carrefour with mixing. I hear a lot of rumours that mixed coins very often trigger red light on crypto exchanges or other companies that provide financial services. So it is possible that you will mix your coins to withdraw them from ATMs anonymously but because of them being mixed you will be asked for KYC.

I suggest to use chipmixer. Its the biggest player means the best reputation, safety and quality of mixing.

For decentralized mixing, you may try CoinJoin.

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/CoinJoin

AFAIK, non-custodial wallet wasabiwallet.io supports it.

https://blog.wasabiwallet.io/what-is-a-coinjoin/

I used Chipmixer website and it is very simple to use with clear instruction anyone can understand, but I would suggest that you only use it with Tor browser and .onion address that is much safer.
Before mixing anything make sure you are using correct page and read FAQ page, everything is well explained there.

I've used several mixers, but I won't write them. (It may be considered as an affiliation)

Instead, I'll leave you a link for a thread full of trusted Bitcoin mixers: 2021 List Bitcoin Mixers Bitcoin Tumblers Websites. It provides some info about each mixer too, such as the onion link, the announcement thread, the minimum amount to deposit etc.

Does anyone have any reliable resources regarding properly/safely mixing BTC?

This is not for any nefarious reasons, I am just interested in trying the service.

I have tried to find some reliable service providers online however I get a lot of scam reports when I look into the services a bit deeper.

Are there any services you folks have used?