How to Tumble Bitcoins: Best and Simplest Guide

In this guide, I will walk you through how to tumble Bitcoins.

All Bitcoin transactions are recorded on a public ledger, permanently. While the personal information about the identity of the parties involved remains anonymous on the ledger, the cryptocurrency transactions, amounts, and addresses remain available to the general public across the entire world.

Thus, by tracking the public address and amount of bitcoin of a particular transaction, the parties’ identities can be revealed, especially by the overzealous law enforcement agencies. Technology has caught up, and this is now possible. This is why Bitcoin tumbling services have become inevitable, especially for those who have a good reason to protect their digital privacy.

How tumbling works

Bitcoin tumblers, also known as Bitcoin mixers, are a suite of software programs and services designed to ensure that crypto transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain network remain anonymous.

The following are concealed through obfuscation:

• The wallet address – different Bitcoin addresses are used for the same transaction making it hard to track. Tumbler wallets such as the Wasabi wallet can generate multiple Bitcoin addresses.
• The amount – the amount of bitcoin of a given transaction is broken down into a smaller amount of coins making it harder to track the transaction based on the amounts.
• The Bitcoin address – different wallet addresses are used for the same transaction. This happens by breaking down a transaction into many single transactions thus increasing the difficulty of filtering, isolating, and tracking a particular transaction.
• Bitcoin wallet – anonymous wallets such as Zengo wallet are used making it hard to track the deposit address to the end recipient.
• Transaction time – on the Bitcoin network, a timestamp is used as a key element of a transaction record. Thus, it can be used as a filtering mechanism when tracking a transaction. When transaction time is obfuscated through a time delay mechanism, it becomes harder to use it as a filter. For example, investigators tracking a certain transaction from a bank account to the Bitcoin network will focus on transactions happening within a certain day. With millions of transactions taking place in a day, it will be difficult to go for a transaction whose timestamp indicates that it happened 3 days later.

 Cryptocurrency tumblers mix up the key elements of transaction details such that the final transaction cannot be traced back to the original owners. These key elements include the amount, wallet addresses, and transaction time.

The tumbling process

Traditional bitcoin tumblers used to be complex thus dissuading many bitcoins holders from tumbling. Modern tumblers have automated this mixer service into a very simple process that takes just a few minutes of your time.

A successful cryptocurrency tumbling process requires effective tools, the right steps, and a strong dose of precautions.

A simple Bitcoin mixing process has the following three key components:

1. The tools

To successfully tumble Bitcoin, you need the following tools:

• Privacy browser – Tor browser is the most preferred privacy browser as it is free, well-known, and easy to use. The Tor browser is used to obfuscate your IP address and lets you utilize the Tor network – a peer-to-peer private network. It is the most widely used browser for darknet markets where the cryptocurrency tumblers have their main domains.
• Multiple digital wallets – you will need at least 3 crypto wallets, including an anonymous Bitcoin wallet.
• The tumbler software – this is the most useful tool on this list. The tumbler software is provided as SaaS (Software-as-a-Service), by the Bitcoin tumbler service provider.
• Private email address – An email address is required for registration and verification of your account with a Bitcoin tumbler service provider. Don’t use public addresses such as Gmail, Outlook, etc.

2. The procedure

The following are the simplest possible step-by-step instructions used to tumble bitcoins:

1. Create a new wallet on the Clearnet (ordinary network). This is your first wallet.
2. Buy the amount of bitcoin that you desire and send to your first wallet
3. Create a second wallet over the Tor network. Transfer your bitcoins from the first wallet to the second wallet
4. On the same Tor network, create a third wallet and transfer your bitcoins to it from the second wallet. Ideally, go for a wallet that provides multiple addresses. A tumbler wallet is preferred.
5. On your chosen Bitcoin Tumbler service, use the third wallet address(es) to set up the transfer and mixing process. If you are using multiple addresses, set random time delays in transferring bitcoins to your mixer. After this mixing process, you will have new coins and a new address for each coin.
6. From the mixer, you can use your new bitcoins to buy items or make deals on the darknet. Otherwise, if you want to use your Bitcoin on the Clearnet, send your Bitcoins to an incognito wallet. An incognito wallet conceals your private keys.

3. The precautionary measures

Tumbling bitcoins is one thing. Staying anonymous is another thing. You must ask yourself why you want to tumble bitcoins. Of course, the main intention is to keep your identity private – and this necessitates the desire to conceal the transactions.

This intention can only be achieved by cultivating a habit of caution. Tumbling is a mechanical process. Staying anonymous is a mental process. Thus, taking precautionary measures is part of that mental process and is best achieved when keeping yourself anonymous becomes your habit. Understanding this is extremely important.

What are these precautionary measures? Well, they vary depending on your unique circumstances. Nonetheless, the following are the general ones:

(a) Exchange your bitcoins anonymously

Avoid any exchange mechanism that requires you to provide your private information such as National ID, biometric identification, verified phone number, and verified email address.

The following won’t require such details:

• Decentralized crypto exchanges – decentralized exchanges (DEX) don’t intrude into your privacy. It is unheard of for a DEX to ask you for a national ID or biometric identification. Some may ask for a verified email or phone number during account opening. You can easily deal with that.
• Peer-to-peer exchanges – these are a form of decentralized exchanges whereby buyers and sellers of bitcoins and other crypto assets interact directly. Buyers and sellers are not interested in each other’s personal information but in getting their value in exchange.
• Anonymous swappers – most swappers just require you to provide the private keys and wallet address during swapping. It is not their business to keep personal information.
• Bitcoin ATMs – you don’t require a wallet address to buy bitcoins via Bitcoin ATMs. Most Bitcoin ATMs have a provision for a paper wallet address.
• Brokers – you may ask a broker to execute bitcoin transactions on your behalf. This may include buying bitcoins on your behalf, making bitcoin payments on your behalf, etc.

Using these means in addition to, or as part of the tumbling process can enhance your privacy and anonymity.

(b) Conceal your Bitcoin transaction trail

There are two main ways by which you can conceal your BTC transaction trail:

(i) Obfuscate your transaction trail

Obfuscation is about leaving no traceable details. The following are means by which you can obfuscate your transaction trail:

• Use anonymous wallets – anonymous wallets do not require you to provide personal information to use them. Such wallets include the Zengo Wallet, Incognito Wallet, and Mercury Wallet.
• Avoid public networks – don’t use public WiFi. Public networks often capture your personal details without your knowledge.
• Take advantage of temporary facilities – when required to use email, phone number, or debit/credit cards, use temporary ones that do not require you to provide your personal identification details.
• Mask your IP address – we’ve seen how you can use the Tor browser to mask your IP address. In addition, you can use a VPN to mask your IP address.
• Avoid using smartphones to transact – smartphones can be easily compromised. If you’ve got to use a smartphone, make sure it is not registered, hasn’t used sim cards and doesn’t have them, and is specifically for crypto transactions. Only install apps for crypto transactions. In addition, if you’ve got to use a smartphone, make sure that you’ve employed the above-mentioned obfuscation methods.

(ii) Deliberately break your transaction trail

To break your transaction trail is to create gaps within the transaction flow in such a way that it is difficult to fill them. This way, those who are following your transaction trail will reach a breaking point where they cannot go further. The following are ways to break your transaction trail:

• Mask your bitcoins using anonymous altcoins – Monero and Zcash are two prominent privacy coins. Monero is the most preferred. You can break your Bitcoin trail by anonymously swapping your bitcoins into Monero (and back to bitcoins, if necessary).
• Use cash to mask your transaction – you can convert your tumbled bitcoins (either directly or through masked altcoin) into cash. You can then use cash to finalize the transaction, that is if that transaction doesn’t require you to provide your personal identification details.  

(c) Store your bitcoins in a tight vault

A tight vault is that which cannot be accessed without your permission or authority. Apart from nefarious characters who might want to carry out phishing operations, government entities can confiscate your storage devices to forcefully access your data and crypto assets.

To prevent unauthorized access:

• Encrypt your software storage medium – if you are storing your crypto assets on a PC, encrypt the storage medium such as the files, folders, and disk partitions. Create a hidden disk partition that is fully encrypted. You can use encryption software such as Cryptomator, TrueCrypt, or Veracrypt.
• Use a hardware wallet – go for a hardware wallet that has multiple wallet addresses. If it has a built-in tumbler, the better. Ledger Wallet is one of the best hardware wallets since it allows you to create multiple wallet addresses.
• Use an encrypted paper wallet – this should only be used as secondary storage for backup purposes. The advantage of a paper wallet is that it is not only portable but can also be duplicated into multiple copies for various storage locations.

The best bitcoin tumblers

The following are the top 5 best Bitcoin tumblers that you should consider:

1. CryptoMixer

Ranking as the most reputable Bitcoin tumbler is CryptoMixer. The following features make it stand out:

• Tor support
• No-logs policy
• Mixing code
• Letter of guarantee
• A maximum of 5 output addresses
• Referral program

2. Blender

The ease of use makes Blender a very popular bitcoin mixer. The following features make it a popular choice:

• Tor support
• No-logs policy
• Mixing code
• Letter of guarantee
• A maximum of 8 output addresses
• Up to 20 sets of variable time delay

3. Yomix

If you are looking for a Bitcoin tumbler that supports all major address protocols, Yomix is your choice. It brags of the following features:

• Tor support
• Zero-logs policy
• Letter of guarantee
• A maximum of 5 output addresses
• Multi-transactions – breaks a transaction into several transactions with varying amounts
• Multiple address protocols – segwit, legacy, taproot, betch32

4. Unijoin

For those who are seeking flexibility, Unijoin is a great choice. It employs the Conjoin technology. The following features make it desirable:

• Tor support
• No-logs policy
• Letter of guarantee
•  A maximum of 8 output addresses
• Randomized addresses
• Pay as You Wish
• No registration

5. PrivCoin

What makes PrivCoin stand out from the rest is its multi-coin swapping feature. The following are its core features:

• Tor support
• No-logs policy
• Mixing code
• Letter of guarantee
• A maximum of 10 output addresses
• Multi-coin swapper
• User-controlled time delay
• Referral program

What to look for in a bitcoin tumbler

Each Bitcoin mixing service potentially has different features. The following are the must-have features to look for in a good bitcoin mixing service:

• Tor support – the tumbler should support the Tor network for IP masking and privacy.
• No-logs policy – the tumbler should not permanently keep transaction logs. This minimizes the risk of your transaction trails falling into the wrong hands
• Mixing code – the tumbler should provide a mixing code. A mixing code ensures that every mixing is unique.
• Letter of guarantee – this guarantees that you will get back clean bitcoins.
• At least 5 output addresses – multiple addresses reduce the chances of being tracked based on a wallet address. This can hoodwink trackers from thinking that the transactions are coming from different sources. The more the output addresses the better. This way a BTC transaction from a single participant can appear to be coming from several different users.
• Variable time delay – this makes it hard to be tracked based on timestamp
• Variable amounts – this makes it hard to be tracked based on transactional amounts.

A combination of multiple output addresses, variable time delays, and variable amounts optimizes the mixing effect. They are the very important things to look out for in such services.

Why tumbling could be your best choice

Illegal activity on the Bitcoin blockchain is on the rise. Thus, nefarious characters are using the Bitcoin exchange to carry out Bitcoin laundering. However, law enforcement agencies are using the pretext of tracking and preventing money laundering to achieve other objectives that are contrary to the interests of law-abiding cryptocurrency users on the Bitcoin network.

Most users opt to tumble Bitcoin not because they want to conceal illicit activities but because of privacy concerns. Very few will contend with their privacy being infringed without their permission or justifiable reasons. The birth of the Bitcoin network and the use of cryptocurrencies arose out of the desire to keep privacy and be free from fiat bureaucracy.

If you value your right to keep your personal information private and the desire to enjoy the benefits of financial freedom, then, tumbling Bitcoin is a primary necessity. Governments should not infringe on your privacy on the pretext of enforcing regulatory requirements or preventing illicit activity.  

Up Next

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