The popular belief that bitcoin transactions are completely anonymous is only partially correct. In truth, bitcoin addresses are traceable and may be connected to actual persons (to a degree). As a result, under some conditions, investors risk having their data exposed and their account transaction logs linked back to them. Bitcoin mixers (Bitcoin tumblers) aim to assist overcome this problem by ensuring total anonymity and user privacy.

What exactly is a Bitcoin Mixer?
Bitcoin mixers, sometimes known as “Bitcoin Tumblers,” are services that allow users to mix their coins with those of other users while maintaining their privacy. Because Bitcoin and most other cryptocurrencies may be easily traced, a Bitcoin mixer protects users’ identities by masking the links between their bitcoin addresses and real-world identities, making it more anonymous and private. Furthermore, user logs are immediately and permanently removed within 24 hours of successful mixing.

Bitcoin Mixers, Both Centralized and Decentralized
Mixers are classified into two types: centralised mixers and decentralised mixers. The key distinction between the two is that centralised mixers have access to the user’s log and IP address, which does not provide total data privacy. Decentralized mixers, on the other hand, cut all links.

What Is the Process of Using a Bitcoin Mixer?

The mixers’ algorithm is based on a simple method in which users transfer their cryptocurrency to a mixer’s address that is unique to each user. The algorithm combines the money with other people’s transactions and distributes them among numerous mixer wallets. At the completion of the procedure, crypto is returned to the pre-determined storage location, which is either the sender or the new owner.

The method of spreading cryptocurrency among several wallets improves privacy by breaking the transaction trace. This is due to the fact that the senders and recipients cannot be connected. As a result, all electronic traces have been severed.

Best Crypto and Bitcoin Mixers
Blender.io
Wasabi Wallet
Samourai Wallet
Smart Mix
Mixer Money
PrivCoin
Bitcoin Laundry
BTC Blender

What are the various mixing methods and services available?
Mixing methods range from totally centralised (where all users trust a mixer) to decentralised (where users do not need to trust anyone) to Bitcoin tumblers like CoinJoin.

Centralized mixers have a large supply of coins that are combined with the coins of their users, resulting in a shared pool. However, because the Bitcoin mixer knows who is involved in the transaction, it may re-establish the ownership trail. The CoinJoin mechanism, on the other hand, is dependent on a big number of users cooperating and acting concurrently.

Furthermore, privacy currencies such as Monero and Zcash serve as an intermediary phase in the bitcoin mixing process.

What Is the Process of Bitcoin Mixing?
Users must provide the address to which they want the “clean” mixed bitcoins to be sent, much like on an exchange site. Users can continue the mixing process after determining the service cost, which impacts transaction speed. Mixer owners impose a transaction fee ranging from 0.5 percent to 3 percent for their services. The freshly established address, to which users wish to transact, is only valid for 24 hours. It will no longer be able to be processed after that.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Bitcoin and Crypto Mixers
The Benefits of Coin Mixing: Bitcoin mixers provide total anonymity by removing the link between the user’s transaction log and their identities, lowering the dangers presented by companies or owners of big quantities of cryptocurrency.
It prohibits any government agency or other party from tracking a user’s money, including the amount held or used.
Users of any cryptocurrency, particularly Bitcoin, are guaranteed total privacy and anonymity.

The Drawbacks of Coin Mixing
Because coin mixers combine coins using patterns, the pattern may be identified, operations can be examined, and transactions can be traced. Centralized exchanges have the ability to flag and block transactions for no apparent reason.
Coin mixers have been used for illegal operations like as money laundering since it is simpler for criminals to remain anonymous because the destination address is nearly difficult to discover.
Coin mixers are operated by third parties, and consumers may become victims of theft or frauds if the mixer owner does not return cleaned coins.