What are Bitcoin Mixers and how do they work?

Bitcoin mixing is a technology that enhances the level of anonymity that may be achieved with Bitcoin transactions. One can choose between custodial and non-custodial crypto mixers, both of which have the potential to confound the public blockchain’s transaction history. As a result, crypto mixers are an excellent choice for adding an extra layer of protection when it comes to the transfer of funds. On the other hand, the fact that some of these protocols may be accessed without the need for authorization makes them susceptible to being used for the laundering of illegal cryptographic assets.

In the following discussion, we are going to dive into the fascinating world of bitcoin mixing. First, we will discuss the meaning of the terms ``bitcoin mixing” as well as the operation of these various services. In addition, we will discuss the many kinds of bitcoin mixers that are currently on the market, as well as the numerous business strategies that accompany them.

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What actually is a Bitcoin Mixer

A Bitcoin mixer is a software program (or a service) that receives Bitcoin from several users, mixes the Bitcoins in such a way that it is impossible to determine who supplied how much bitcoin, and then transfers separate bitcoins to their respective destinations.

If you were to examine such a transaction on an explorer, rather than finding a Bitcoin address as the receiver, you would discover the address of the mixer listed instead. This is the case in the event that the transaction originated from your wallet. In the same manner, if you were to type in the address of the beneficiary of a transaction and then check to see where the coins originated, the only address you would discover would be that of the tumbler.

It is referred to as a “mixer” due to the fact that it combines your coins with those of other holders to the extent that none of the coins can be traced back to their original wallet addresses.

Therefore, if you take advantage of this option, you will be able to send and receive bitcoins while maintaining your total anonymity. There may be fees associated with these anonymous transactions. There are Bitcoin tumblers available, some of which demand you to pay a service charge in order to mix your coins.

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Working of Bitcoin mixers

Tumblers function generally by gathering Bitcoin from numerous users, merging their transactions, or, to use a metaphor, “putting all the money in one huge box and mixing them” so you can’t track their origin, and then delivering the funds to their various destinations.

After discussing the two types of mixers, let’s delve into the mechanics of how each technique operates. We’ll describe using a somewhat condensed version of the actual procedure.

Types of Mixers

There are two types of mixtures

Centralized Mixers

Privately held software or services known as centralized Bitcoin mixers combine your funds for you. One of the most well-liked centralized Bitcoin mixers is Blender.io. Instead of sending your Bitcoin straight to your receiver, you transfer it to a predetermined address (the mixer’s address) to employ a centralized Bitcoin tumbling service.

Such tumblers typically have a form that you complete to enter the recipient’s wallet address or your destination address. Your bitcoins are added to a pool and mixed with those of other users once you submit Bitcoin to the mixer and pay their service charge. Then they provide brand-new coins to the specified addresses.

Decentralized Mixers

For decentralized Bitcoin tumblers to complete a single sizable transaction, numerous users must participate. Decentralized mixers are permissionless and borderless since they use a peer-to-peer protocol.

The tumbling of Bitcoin in this case happens automatically. On certain platforms, it is implemented using protocols like CoinJoin. Two of the most well-known decentralized mixers are Wasabi Wallet (which has a built-in CoinJoin) and Samourai Wallet.

When you use a decentralized mixer to conduct a transaction, it joins a bigger transaction in which several participants transmit their bitcoins to different addresses. Of course, this blends the currency of all parties. After a predetermined amount of time, the same number of bitcoins will transfer to your destination wallet, but it’s extremely unlikely that you’ll get the exact same amount that you sent.

Utilizing decentralized Bitcoin mixers has the benefit of often resulting in reduced service fees (since the mixing process is automated). For instance, Wasabi Wallet charges a service price of 0.3% for mixing more than 0.01 BTC, but the service fee of centralized mixer Blender ranges from 0.6% to 2.5% of each operation (mixing less than 0.01 BTC requires no service fee).

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Are crypto-mixers legal?

Depending on where you live, employing coin mixing services may or may not be against the law. Are Bitcoin mixers also required? Or is falling cryptocurrency acceptable? Depending on the objectives you have for using these services.

According to former US Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski, using mixers to mask crypto transactions is illegal. For instance, privacy, not anonymity, is Bitcoin’s fundamental feature, which means that while your identity is not always exposed, your transactions may be audited to look into any wrongdoing.

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network classifies bitcoin mixers as money transmitters (FinCEN). As a result, they must register with FinCEN and submit an application for a state-by-state operating license. An Ohio resident who operated a Bitcoin mixing service on the dark web was jailed in 2021 on suspicion of conspiring to launder money. Despite the FinCEN’s necessary licensing requirements, the service functioned as an unregistered money transmitting firm and carried out money transmission without a license.

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