7. The story starts getting suspicious when you look at ChipMixer's expenditure. With zero revenue, ChipMixer paid out several large alpha tester bounties, bought ad space on the forum, and ran a large signature campaign, with expenses in the tens or hundreds of bitcoins.
First of all, I will like to state that I am in generality of the entire discussion neutral in all of the assumptions and conclusions of the OP on what ChipMixer is and is not..
However, the part I could above is the part I've always wondered about, ChipMixer is running the highest paying signature campaign this forum and also the longest running if I am not mistaken, I have always wondered to myself what or where their source of revenue is from, from my personal perspective or observations, not many people use mixing services, and even if there are many who do, can the fees generated from transactions cover the weekly payments of the signature campaigns and for such a long period of time?, this has always been my thought but then..
Whether they be probable honeypot of the CIA or which ever part of the government, it is non of my business, I will use ChipMixer services when I find a need to, so long I am not a criminal and having nothing to hide.