Silk Road forums

Discussion => Security => Topic started by: photonsounds on March 30, 2013, 01:44 am

Title: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: photonsounds on March 30, 2013, 01:44 am
Just curious as to whether anyone here knows the mods/admins over at bitinstant and whether they've been under pressure to crack down? I know they post on reddit somewhere, but I stay away from those parts of the internet, mostly.

Today I noticed things have changed up a bit. I haven't put money on SR for over a month. But the option to coinapult to email is no longer there...That was my strongest point for anonymity. An extra mechanism to protect my identity. Use a throwaway email[on proxy], send it to a throwaway blockchain.info wallet [on proxy,] fog it on it's way to SR [obviously on tor.] Well now my real identity could be tied to the blockchain wallet, which, although fogged, still was sent to an SR address.

Now, I understand I might be overreacting a bit. Maybe there's nothing wrong here? Can someone explain to me how the SR bitcoin addresses work? Like, do they only have a set amount? I click to get a new address after each time I send coins. Is the previous address reused by someone else or lost forever? Can someone [like the Feds] analyze the bitcoin transactions and associate the used address to SR?

Bitinstant was so easy too. I hope it's not compromised :/
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: SgtMaj75 on March 30, 2013, 02:07 am
I too hope it's not compromised as it was my main way of attaining bitcoins.
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: Green Camel on March 30, 2013, 02:28 am
https://blockchain.info/wallet/send-shared

Send the coins from BitInstant to blockchain.info mixer and the mixer will send them to SR. It's so simple, why make it complicated?
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: AllDayLong on March 30, 2013, 03:45 am
I've never had my ID checked at Wal-Mart. Use a fake name and number and pay cash right to a new address every time.
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: thumbprintfluff on March 30, 2013, 06:18 am
Bitcopia worked really good for me requiring no personal imfo considering you have a Wells Fargo bank nearby. I'm a newbie. Couldn't get bitinstant or any of the others I tried to work. So I was very happy with the ease, and helpful, prompt staff with bitcopia....
  I know this is off the subject, but just like to help when I can.
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: Green Camel on March 30, 2013, 01:09 pm
Bitcopia worked really good for me requiring no personal imfo considering you have a Wells Fargo bank nearby. I'm a newbie. Couldn't get bitinstant or any of the others I tried to work. So I was very happy with the ease, and helpful, prompt staff with bitcopia....
  I know this is off the subject, but just like to help when I can.
I've been recommending bitme.com to my US customers. I would assume it works the same way as Bitcopia, except you have to have a Chase bank branch nearby.
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: munkies on March 30, 2013, 01:42 pm
I just use bitstamp.net. Best choice for EU.
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: SgtMaj75 on March 30, 2013, 02:01 pm
https://blockchain.info/wallet/send-shared

Send the coins from BitInstant to blockchain.info mixer and the mixer will send them to SR. It's so simple, why make it complicated?

All I do is have it deposited directly to my SR wallet..Then go to a local CVS and "pay a bill".
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: blackend646 on March 30, 2013, 04:50 pm
Bitcopia worked really good for me requiring no personal imfo considering you have a Wells Fargo bank nearby. I'm a newbie. Couldn't get bitinstant or any of the others I tried to work. So I was very happy with the ease, and helpful, prompt staff with bitcopia....
  I know this is off the subject, but just like to help when I can.
I've been recommending bitme.com to my US customers. I would assume it works the same way as Bitcopia, except you have to have a Chase bank branch nearby.

Bitme is no longer accepting transactions, not sure if they are going out of business permanently or what but it's a shame because it was a great method. Bitfloor works just as well though so it's not the end of the world.
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: flwrchlds9 on March 30, 2013, 08:21 pm
We say a few time here that Bitinstant had been visited by the Feds awhile ago and agreed to do things for them to stay out of trouble etc.

Others have posted also. Look at when they had several day downtime, then when came back all new tx limits and new rules, figure out yourself if not believe what others posted. We get fanboy attack when try to keep other safe.

Be safe.
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: thelorax on March 31, 2013, 01:00 am
no
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: teqno on April 01, 2013, 01:11 am
People still use bitinstant? Quickest I find to get coins is Bitfloor, a tad more expensive because of the people who play market...Bitstamp I find is lovely if you can get cash in the account, easy to play the market to get coins, very cheap at certain times of the hour.

Lately it's been easier just to find your favorite vendor and cash him out on coins.. 50/50 on wu mg fee's it's a win/win situation.
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: lelmeriodici on April 01, 2013, 04:33 am
I think all Bitcoin exchanges and related services are under more pressure and scrutiny to comply with AML laws these days.  I do miss the coins to email feature.  I noticed the other day that CVS requires IDs for MoneyGram transactions, while Wal-Mart still does not to my knowledge.  Is this a recent change?
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: Euphoric on April 01, 2013, 10:46 am
I just use bitstamp.net. Best choice for EU.

I hear this is a good option for people in the US too. Just sign up with bitstamp.net via TOR using fake info and tormail email and send your coins there. Bitinstant > Bitstamp.net all via TOR is what I recommend to anyone.

Bitinstant charges 3.99%
Deposit fee location is usually $3-4
Bitstamp fee is less than 1% I think

As far as I know there is no ID required for any part of the process.
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: bandeto962 on April 01, 2013, 12:46 pm
I use Bitinstant. Just use fake info, go to Wal Mart where they don't ask for ID, pay with cash. Never had an issue and the coins are there within the hour. I also deposit straight to SR account. I really don't see how a Bitinstant "Crackdown" could cause any real trouble with all the anonymity, and plus the necessary work for an investigation would be wasteful for us who only make small occasional order.
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: finally55 on April 01, 2013, 02:58 pm
I use Bitinstant. Just use fake info, go to Wal Mart where they don't ask for ID, pay with cash. Never had an issue and the coins are there within the hour. I also deposit straight to SR account. I really don't see how a Bitinstant "Crackdown" could cause any real trouble with all the anonymity, and plus the necessary work for an investigation would be wasteful for us who only make small occasional order.

^^^ THIS

This has been my go-to method in the USA for getting my BTC. The only thing is, from time to time, the option to deposit to a Bitcoin Address will go away temporarily.
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: aj414i on April 01, 2013, 10:34 pm
you guys still using bitinstant, what kind of limits are you restricted too before needing an id if any?

Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: lelmeriodici on April 01, 2013, 10:57 pm
aj414i, I can speak to CVS and Wal-Mart.  CVS checks IDs for all MoneyGram transaction (BitInstant processes transactions through ZipZap with MoneyGram), Wal-Mart does not.  There is no dollar amount that triggers an ID check.
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: aj414i on April 01, 2013, 11:06 pm
i thought MG an WU are the same. I can't send a wu/mg in any amount above 1k in the places i been they all want id.. make this route a bitch for me having to travel all around town :'(
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: lelmeriodici on April 01, 2013, 11:19 pm
No, they're entirely separate competitors.

Get a fake if it's that much of a hassle.  Or if you have a BOA nearby, use Bitfloor.

lelmeriodici
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: photonsounds on April 05, 2013, 01:08 am
No, they're entirely separate competitors.

Get a fake if it's that much of a hassle.  Or if you have a BOA nearby, use Bitfloor.

lelmeriodici

BOA as in Bank of America? If anything, wouldn't that tie your identity to your BTC activity directly and more than any other method? I'm still going to look into it as it would be a super easy way of shuffling money around. Might have to fog the shit out of my btc.
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: smokecrack on April 05, 2013, 01:51 am
No, they're entirely separate competitors.

Get a fake if it's that much of a hassle.  Or if you have a BOA nearby, use Bitfloor.

lelmeriodici

BOA as in Bank of America? If anything, wouldn't that tie your identity to your BTC activity directly and more than any other method? I'm still going to look into it as it would be a super easy way of shuffling money around. Might have to fog the shit out of my btc.
a lot of people use BOA and i forget the couple others. theres a few big exchangers that take boa deposits. you dont need id ;)
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: zerik on April 05, 2013, 02:24 am
No, they're entirely separate competitors.

Get a fake if it's that much of a hassle.  Or if you have a BOA nearby, use Bitfloor.

lelmeriodici

BOA as in Bank of America? If anything, wouldn't that tie your identity to your BTC activity directly and more than any other method? I'm still going to look into it as it would be a super easy way of shuffling money around. Might have to fog the shit out of my btc.

No you don't need Id for bitinstant. Some people have a problem with some CVS locations but that is just CVS. It has nothing do do with bitinstant.

Every one always thinks they have to be supper sneaky to buy bit coins. You don't because they are legal to own.
Title: Re: is Bitinstant cracking down?
Post by: photonsounds on April 05, 2013, 04:58 am
Also I have never had to show ID for Moneygram and BitInstant. Have used it at numerous places except Walmart.