Are online exchanges effectively bitcoin mixers?

[Possum577]

Are online exchange wallets effectively bitcoin mixers?

Any wallet a Joe Bitcoiner has with an online exchange is a bitcoin mixer, right? Bitcoin hits the wallet address, record of the amount owed on that wallet is made, and then the Bitcoin is routed to the online exchanges master wallet for facilitating transactions. At this point Joe Bitcoiner's funds are mixed with everyone else's.

If someone were to follow the transaction trail on the blockchain they'd get lost in the process and never be able to link the incoming funds for Joe Bitcoiner with where those funds are held or further spent.

I suppose the only thing that makes this untrue is if the online exchange exposes the transaction records for Joe Bitcoiner's account - yes? (Unless Joe Bitcoiner is using https://torwallet.com/)

[mjglqw]

I mean, maybe yea in some way crypto exchanges can be used as mixers.

Im not very sure about this, but this is just what I think right now:
The difference is probably when attempting multiple 'mixes', since with exchanges you only deposit onto one wallet address, and that that specific address is tied to your account (with your email and stuff) whereas you dont need to input your info on some or most mixers (I think, personally havent tried using one).

[Possum577]

I mean, maybe yea in some way crypto exchanges can be used as mixers.

Im not very sure about this, but this is just what I think right now:
The difference is probably when attempting multiple 'mixes', since with exchanges you only deposit onto one wallet address, and that that specific address is tied to your account (with your email and stuff) whereas you dont need to input your info on some or most mixers (I think, personally havent tried using one).

To be clear I'm talking about exchanges that are also wallets - i guess every exchange has a wallet, no? But I'm not 100% sure.

I just know my experience using online wallet with exchanges...if I track incoming transactions on the blockchain the payment hits my online wallet address and then the balance remains at zero as the funds are routed to the online wallet's master account.

[mjglqw]

I mean, maybe yea in some way crypto exchanges can be used as mixers.

Im not very sure about this, but this is just what I think right now:
The difference is probably when attempting multiple 'mixes', since with exchanges you only deposit onto one wallet address, and that that specific address is tied to your account (with your email and stuff) whereas you dont need to input your info on some or most mixers (I think, personally havent tried using one).

To be clear I'm talking about exchanges that are also wallets - i guess every exchange has a wallet, no? But I'm not 100% sure.

I just no my experience using online wallet with exchanges...if I track incoming transactions on the blockchain the payment hits my online wallet address and then the balance remains at zero as the funds are routed to the online wallet's master account.

Oh. You're probably right since I'm really not sure. But if I would really want to make my mix untraceable I'd still probably go with mixers + tor or something. I always prefer sites that doesn't need my email and stuff. But thats just me. Lol

[BitcoinNewsMagazine]

You would need an exchange that lets you register anonymously and sends withdrawals from a shared wallet not linked to your deposit address. AFAIK only btce still does this.

You are still taking a chance that chainanalysis software could track your bitcoin through the exchange. Mixers are no longer effective and the only definite way to break the audit trail is to hop to an anonymous blockchain like Monero and back.

[Rmcdermott927]

They can and often are used as mixers. There is a chance however that the coins from your old output could potentially be sent back to you though.

True mixers usually have a system in place to make sure the coins you send are not the ones you receive.

[Possum577]

Mixers are no longer effective and the only definite way to break the audit trail is to hop to an anonymous blockchain like Monero and back.

Interesting, that gives Monero an incredible competitive advantage.

They can and often are used as mixers. There is a chance however that the coins from your old output could potentially be sent back to you though.

True mixers usually have a system in place to make sure the coins you send are not the ones you receive.

How can you know if you're getting coins back that were previously owned by you, the coins are divisible but unregulated/uncontrolled intervals down to the satoshi.

Apologies for my lack of knowledge here if this is more common knowledge. Thanks.

[katepagava]

They r usually used as mixers actually, so probably yes)