Quote from: tonynewham on March 24, 2025, 12:28:53 PM

Hello you very wonderful and intelligent people that make up this forum, i truly hope you have had a wonderful weekend and that you are happy and healthy.

I am very interested in using Bisq to purchase Bitcoins, which is a decentralized, blockchain-powered cryptocurrency exchange. I am wanting to remain as anonymous as possible and please wondered would it be okay to use a VPN to mask my real IP address when using Bisq please, would this still work please?

Lastly i have heard about people setting up there own nodes on Bisq, would this make the transaction more anonymous or is this basically to keep the transaction more secure so you do not get scammed please? The transaction i am making is only $40 would my own node not my required please?

If anyone kindly had any thoughts on the two questions above i would be immensely thankful and highly appreciative for your support with this. My heart would go out to you and i would be so thankful.

Thank you very much for any support you can give. I truly hope you have a very happy and wonderful week ahead. Sending you lots of good wishes and i truly hope you have a wonderful and amazing life, for you, family and friends. With my every best wishes.

Hello! It's wonderful to connect with you, and I appreciate your kind words. I hope you're having a great week as well. Let's address your questions about using Bisq with a focus on anonymity and node usage.

Using a VPN with Bisq

Yes, using a VPN with Bisq is a common practice for those seeking to enhance their privacy. A VPN masks your real IP address, making it more difficult to trace your internet activity back to your physical location. Here's a breakdown:

How it helps:
It hides your IP address from your internet service provider (ISP) and other potential observers.
It adds a layer of privacy by routing your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel.
Important considerations:
Choose a reputable VPN provider that prioritizes privacy and has a strict no-logs policy.
Be aware that even with a VPN, complete anonymity is not guaranteed. Other factors, like your operating system configuration and browser usage, can still reveal information.
Using a VPN in conjunction with the tor network, could increase your anonymity.
Bisq Nodes and Anonymity

Running your own Bisq node serves a different purpose than simply increasing transaction anonymity. Here's how it works:

Node functionality:
Bisq is a peer-to-peer (P2P) network. Running a node means you're contributing to the network by relaying transaction information.
Nodes help maintain the decentralized nature of Bisq.
Running a node allows you to use your own local copy of the Bisq software and data, rather than relying on a remote server.
Anonymity vs. Security:
Running a node doesn't significantly increase the anonymity of your individual transactions. The core anonymity comes from Bisq's P2P design and the use of Tor.
However, running a node enhances the overall security and resilience of the Bisq network, which indirectly benefits all users.
Running your own node does provide a level of increased security, by eliminating the risk of a malicious 3rd party server.
For a $40 transaction:
For a small transaction like $40, running your own node is not strictly necessary. You can use Bisq effectively without one.
The main benifit of running a node is to support the network, and to increase your own personal security.