Q: Okay, Paxful is gone. Is LocalCoinSwap REALLY safe? Like, my-coins-won\’t-vanish safe?

A> \”Safe\” is relative, right? Tech-wise, LocalCoinSwap\’s non-custodial setup with multi-sig escrow is fundamentally better than Paxful\’s model. Your coins never enter their control. So, vanishing act? Highly unlikely in the Paxful-sense. BUT. It\’s a smaller platform. Lower volume means potentially slower trades or finding the exact deal you want. And smaller platforms can be more vulnerable to determined attacks or just… fading away due to lack of users. It feels technically safer for coin custody, but carries different ecosystem risks. I use it, but only for amounts I\’m okay waiting on.

Q: Bybit P2P is fast, but custodial? Explain like I\’m paranoid (because I am).

A> You should be paranoid! During the trade, Bybit holds both the crypto and the fiat in their escrow. You trust them completely to release the correct asset when conditions are met. If Bybit gets hacked, has internal issues, or decides your trade looks \”suspicious\” (their definition, not yours), your funds are stuck in their system. The speed comes from centralized control. It\’s efficient, but it\’s the opposite of \”not your keys, not your coins\” during that window. I use it only when speed is critical and for amounts that wouldn\’t wreck me if temporarily frozen. That paranoia? Keep it. It\’s useful.

Q: Bisq sounds like a headache. Is it actually worth the setup nightmare?

A> Worth it? Depends on your threat model. If your primary fear is platform collapse, censorship, or excessive KYC, then YES, absolutely worth the headache. It\’s the most resilient P2P option. It runs on your machine, no central server to take down. BUT. The setup IS a pain (security deposits, bonding small amounts of BTC, understanding arbitration). Liquidity is low. Trades are slow. Finding offers requires patience. It\’s not for daily quick trades. Think of it as infrastructure – building your own decentralized trading outpost. Essential for sovereignty, terrible for convenience. I slogged through setup because knowing I have that option reduces my anxiety about the others.

Q: All this KYC is insane now. Are there ANY truly anonymous options left?

A> Truly anonymous? On regulated P2P platforms? Basically extinct. Even LocalCoinSwap requires some ID verification for higher tiers or certain dispute scenarios. Bisq is the closest – no KYC mandated by the protocol itself. However, your payment method (bank transfer, etc.) likely leaves a trail your bank or payment provider can see. True anonymity requires using non-KYC acquired crypto and fully anonymous payment methods (cash in person, specific privacy-focused vouchers – rare and often risky). The era of easy, anonymous online P2P trading is largely over. It sucks, but it\’s the regulatory reality. Platforms forcing KYC aren\’t being evil (mostly), they\’re trying to survive.

Q: I keep hearing about \”exit scams\” on P2P. How do I not get ripped off?

A> Constant vigilance. ALWAYS use the platform\’s escrow. Never go \”off-platform\” for a \”better deal\” – that\’s scammer bait 101. Check the trader\’s history thoroughly – completion rate, length of time active, reviews. Favor established traders. For large amounts, split into smaller trades. Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true (they are). Understand the specific escrow release process for the platform you\’re using. Communicate clearly on the platform. If something feels off, cancel the trade. Trust your gut. Scammers rely on urgency and greed. Slow down, check everything. Lost count of how many \”urgent amazing offers\” I\’ve walked away from that screamed scam.