Crypto Mixer is a service that improves the privacy of Bitcoin transactions by mixing your coins with those of other users. The mixer then withdraws the mixed funds to a new wallet address, obscuring any connection between your original transaction and the newly minted bitcoin. Mixers often charge a fee for their services.
The use of mixers is controversial, with authorities putting pressure on service providers to identify and report money laundering activity. However, there are many people who need or wish to use cryptocurrency without revealing their real-world identities. For example, a person may want to donate Ethereum to a hacktivist group but doesn’t want the donation to be traced back to their personal bank account. Similarly, an individual might want to buy goods or services on the Darknet without revealing their identity.
There are two types of Crypto Mixers: custodial and decentralized. Custodial mixers store user funds on a third-party server, which exposes them to the risk of a hack or the service accidentally disclosing their identity. Decentralized mixers use protocols such as CoinJoin to automatically obscure transactions using a peer-to-peer process.
The security of crypto mixers is still evolving, and it’s important to understand the risks before using them. Law enforcement has sophisticated tools to track cryptocurrency movements and can find evidence of illegal activity even if the mixer obfuscates the link between the wallets. Additionally, centralized mixers can be compromised and reveal user information in response to a data request from a government agency. Crypto Mixer