As regulated exchanges tightened controls on privacy-linked activity, many users moved to smaller marketplaces built around reputation, escrow, and open infrastructure instead of full KYC onboarding. RoboSats, Haveno, Agoradesk, and UnstoppableSwap became core examples of this second wave.[1][2][3][4]
These platforms did not try to mimic centralized exchange UX exactly. Instead, they focused on censorship resistance, low data retention, and community-operated liquidity paths that could survive policy shocks. That made them less convenient for some users, but more resilient for users who were repeatedly running into freezes, geoblocks, or intrusive source-of-funds reviews.
Robosats
RoboSats pairs Lightning-native trade flow with bond-backed escrow and Tor-only access, making it one of the most accessible privacy-first entry points for smaller BTC trades.[1] The robot identity model is intentionally disposable, so users can build short-term reputation without creating a long-lived personal profile.
Key operational traits include:
- Lightning-native escrow with onion messaging, avoiding on-chain fingerprints.
- Automated dispute resolution where moderators arbitrate based on signed chat logs.
- Telegram, Matrix, and Nostr mirrors to broadcast order-book health without revealing IPs.
Haveno
Haveno is a Monero-first Bisq-style network where trades run over Tor and settlement uses non-custodial multisig structures.[2] Its value proposition is straightforward: minimize centralized trust while keeping the system forkable if one team disappears.
Operators typically highlight:
- Built-in Monero wallets so users never expose xpubs to a third party.
- Public documentation on how to spin up new networks and testnets, ensuring anyone can fork the stack.
- Upcoming bridges to atomic swap daemons so wallets like Feather can route straight into Haveno.
Agoradesk
Agoradesk, which expanded from the LocalMonero model, kept the classic P2P classifieds workflow: makers posted offers, buyers selected payment rails, and escrow/moderation handled disputes.[3] It served users who preferred flexible fiat methods over order-book trading interfaces.
- Offered fiat rails in 200+ countries without storing passport scans—verification relied on trade history.
- Provided “problem coin” services where sellers accepted tainted BTC at a discount and routed it through mixes or swaps.
- Published transparency reports whenever accounts were seized or frozen.
In May 2024, the team announced both LocalMonero and Agoradesk would wind down by November 2024. The full timeline, market impact, and successor channels are covered in LocalMonero / Agoradesk Exit.
UnstoppableSwap
UnstoppableSwap (distributed today via eigenwallet tooling) automates BTC↔XMR atomic swaps through relays and watchtower coordination, avoiding custodial handoff risk.[4] For users and mixer operators alike, it acts as a bridge between Bitcoin-denominated flows and Monero liquidity without requiring centralized exchange accounts.
The project also documents relay operation on commodity hardware, which encourages network redundancy and lowers dependence on any single operator.[4]
Why These Platforms Matter
Despite different architectures, second-wave private exchanges tend to share the same strategic characteristics:
- Minimal data retention: No long-term storage of KYC files; disputes rely on ephemeral signatures, which platforms like RoboSats and Haveno explicitly document.[1][2]
- Open-source infrastructure: Communities can fork the code if founders disappear—mitigating single-operator risk.
- Mixer synergy: They advertise to the same users who need mixers, making it trivial to rebalance liquidity without touching banks.
In short, these services matter because they preserve optionality when regulated venues become unreliable for privacy-focused users.
Author
NotATether
Bitcoin privacy researcher and maintainer of BitMixList. Focused on mixer history, enforcement timelines, and practical privacy workflows for users operating in high-friction jurisdictions.
