Lately I had the pleasure to onboard some relatives to bitcoin. In previous posts have shared tools helpful for noderunners looking for liquidity throught Lightning Service Providers (LSP) and the list of Bitcoin Swap providers (LN ←→ BTC + more) in case you want to swap your sats into savings or, the other way around, from on-chain to lightning.
Shared here because I thought it could be helpful for others to know about the available options today, but also a way for me to keep track of this fast changing innovative landscape. Not too long ago, to buy bitcoin no-kyc know another bitcoiner was a requirement, and trust he or she not gonna screw you with some magic trick.
Today we have many more platforms to buy bitcoin, especially via lighting, and it is a great honor to have seen such technologies grow.
I'll summarize below a quick comparison of the most common tools and platforms used today as on ramp to bitcoin using most common fiat (governmental) currencies.
| Logo | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | LNP2PBot | RoboSats | Mostro | Bisq2 | Peach |
| Website | lnp2pbot.com | learn.RoboSats.org | Mostro.network | Bisq.network | PeachBitcoin.com |
| Type | Telegram Bot | WebApp | WebApp + APK | Desktop App | Mobile App |
| Network | Lightning Network | Lightning Network + On-chain Bitcoin | Lightning Network | On-chain Bitcoin | On-chain Bitcoin |
| KYC Required | No | No | No | No | No |
| Privacy Level | Ok | Very High (Tor) | High (Nostr) | Very High (Tor) | Ok |
| Platforms | Telegram | Web, Android, Windows, MacOS, Linux | Nostr ecosystem | Windows, MacOS, Linux | Mobile (iOS/Android) |
| Custody | Non-custodial | Non-custodial | Non-custodial | Non-custodial | Non-custodial |
| Payment Methods | Various fiat methods | Various fiat methods | Various fiat methods | Various fiat methods | Bank transfers, gift cards |
| Supported Currencies | Multiple | Multiple | Multiple | 40+ currencies | EUR, GBP, CHF, USD |
| Fees | Low (~0.5%) | 0.025%-0.175% | Low | 0.05%-0.7% | 2% for buyers, 0% for sellers |
| Order Types | Buy/Sell | Buy/Sell | Buy/Sell | Buy/Sell | Buy/Sell |
| Security Deposit | Required | Required | Required | Optional (up to 0.01 BTC) | None |
| Dispute Resolution | Community-based | Automated/Community | Community-based | Community arbitration | Mediated by Peach Team |
| Liquidity | Growing | Great | Emerging | Great | Growing |
| User Experience | Chat-based | User-friendly GUI | Depends on client | Complex but powerful | Intuitive mobile app |
| Decentralization | Moderate | High | Very High | Very High | Moderate |
| Anonymity | High | Very High | Very High | Very High | High |
| Tor Support | No | Yes (required) | Optional | Yes | No |
| Multiple Identities | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Trade Limits | Variable | Variable | Variable | Up to 0.01 BTC without deposit | Variable |
| Speed | Fast (Lightning) | Fast (Lightning) | Fast (Lightning) | Slower (on-chain) | Slower (on-chain) |
Data is approximate and might change over time
Takeaways
- For Maximum Privacy: RoboSats or Mostro
- For Simplicity: Peach Bitcoin or LNP2PBot
- For Speed: RoboSats, LNP2PBot, or Mostro (Lightning Network)
- For Decentralization: Mostro or Bisq2
- For Mobile Users: Peach Bitcoin
- For Desktop Power Users: Bisq2
- For Telegram Users: LNP2PBot
- For Lowest Fees: RoboSats or Bisq2
A good way to keep track of all available offers, excluding Bisq, is the website P2P.band #967261. Have a look and DYOR!