The latest casualty of one of the worst crypto downturns in history is LocalBitcoins, a popular P2P crypto exchange service. The company announced it will suspend new sign-ups and halt trading and wallet services.
To prevent scams, LocalBitcoins requires all users to be verified. This involves providing identity information and proof of address to its KYC partner, Onfido.
Getting Started on LocalBitcoins
LocalBitcoins is a decentralized P2P crypto exchange service that connects buyers and sellers in a safe environment. The platform only requires users to register and get verified, making it quick and easy to get started. Once the verification process is complete, traders can search for offers to buy or sell bitcoins and place trades.
The site uses a reputation system that lets you check the credibility of both your potential buyers and sellers. In addition, it offers escrow protection for all trades. This means that the exchange keeps your coins until you confirm that the other party received your payment, and releases them when they do.
You can also use the website to advertise your trades, so other users can find them. This allows you to get more exposure and increase your sales. However, you will be required to pay a 1% fee for advertising your campaigns.
Once you have registered with LocalBitcoins, you can begin searching for trades to buy or sell bitcoins. The platform offers a variety of filters to help you find the perfect deal, including location and sum. In addition, you can find out more about the seller’s reputation, rating, and experience.
To make a sale on LocalBitcoins, you need to set a price and terms for your sale. Once the buyer agrees to your terms, you can start the transaction. The amount of time it takes for a trade to complete depends on the speed of communication between the two parties.
Then, you can send the payment information directly to the buyer’s address. This is done by sending a message to the seller’s username. The buyer should then reply to the message. This ensures that the transaction is secure and protects the buyer from any scams.
If the buyer does not respond, you can block the user. This will also prevent them from accessing your account.
You can also check whether the other party has any complaints by looking in the platform’s forum. You can also leave feedback whenever you complete a trade. This can be a great way to warn other users of scams or malicious activity, as well as alert them to any problems.
Account Verification
LocalBitcoins is a peer-to-peer crypto exchange that allows you to buy and sell Bitcoins on a geographical basis. Founded in 2012, it is one of the most popular P2P crypto exchanges available today.
Before you can use LocalBitcoins, however, you need to verify your identity. This is to ensure that you are not trying to launder money through the platform.
For this reason, the company has been partnering with identity verification and authentication provider Onfido to secure the identities of customers signing up for and transacting on LocalBitcoins globally. Onfido’s AI-powered identity verification technology will be layered onto the LocalBitcoins exchange to fight fraud and ID theft on the market.
To begin the process of verification, you need to create a LocalBitcoins account and provide your identity details. This includes a valid email address and phone number. Once you’re registered, you will receive a verification code via email that needs to be entered into the LocalBitcoins app before you can start trading.
When you have completed the verification process, your LocalBitcoins account will appear on the site and you will be able to trade with other users. You can buy and sell Bitcoins as well as reply to other user’s advertisements or send transactions to a receiving wallet address on the platform.
After you’ve passed the verification process, your LocalBitcoins accounts will fall into one of four different account verification tiers: T0, T1, T2 and T3. All tiers allow you to use all LocalBitcoins services but only those deemed safe by the company.
The tiers are based on your incoming trade and transaction volume. This is calculated using the data on buy trades and received Bitcoin transactions that have been credited to your account within the past 12 months.
You can check your current tier and incoming trade and transaction volume in the Verification tab of the LocalBitcoins "Account settings" page. You will be pushed to the next tier once your account’s incoming trade and transaction volume reaches the current limit.
You will need to provide the required identity verification if you intend to purchase or receive a total amount of bitcoins in LocalBitcoins exceeding 1000EUR annually*. You will also need to do so if you want to create ads or receive a receiving wallet address in LocalBitcoins.
Trading Fees
LocalBitcoins is a P2P crypto exchange service that allows investors to buy or sell cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more. The exchange also offers a variety of payment methods and provides secure transactions. The exchange does not charge trading fees but does charge a small transaction fee when users send funds between their wallets and other wallets.
The fee is not a fixed amount and varies depending on the user’s wallet size and the amount being sent. In addition to the trading fee, there are network transaction fees and a merchant invoicing fee. These are not included in the trading fee and can vary based on the number of transactions per hour and the time of day.
Users are required to verify their email address and mobile number for security purposes. This is done to ensure the user is who they say they are, and to prevent identity theft or unauthorized account activity. This process also allows the platform to keep their client’s personal information private.
The exchange also uses a patented security algorithm to validate user identities and prevent unauthorized access. It also ensures that all users are logged in to the same web browser. The service does not share customer details with other exchanges or wallets.
According to the announcement, the shutdown is due to challenges associated with “the ongoing very crypto winter,” a reference to the chaotic 2022 period that saw the collapse of several high-profile cryptocurrency firms. The company will suspend new signups on February 9, and suspend trading and wallet services on February 16.
In its statement, LocalBitcoins noted that the exchange’s efforts to weather the crypto bear market have been unsuccessful. This is the latest casualty of one of the world’s most difficult crypto downturns, and it comes as a result of compliance burdens that have weighed down on P2P merchants and individual sellers.
Founded in June 2012, LocalBitcoins was the first peer-to-peer crypto exchange and a major player in the heyday of P2P trading. The service was once a hotbed of cryptocurrency trading, with more than 100 million weekly transactions and over $1 billion in daily volume. However, the recent increase in regulatory scrutiny has led to a significant drop in the volume of trading on the service. Despite this, the exchange remains important to crypto enthusiasts who want to trade anonymously and avoid government scrutiny.
Customer Support
LocalBitcoins is one of the most popular P2P crypto exchange services in the world. Founded in 2012, the company has been a major player in the online trading of Bitcoins.
The platform offers a variety of security features, such as an escrow service for all transactions and reputation ratings for users. It also has a support team that is always ready to assist customers with any problems that they may encounter while using the platform.
In order to use LocalBitcoins, you need to register an account and provide some basic information, such as your name and contact details. Once you’ve completed this, you can start trading.
You can use the site to buy and sell Bitcoins as well as other cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum, USDT, and USDC. In addition, you can purchase a wide range of assets with other currencies.
Before you begin trading, it’s important to ensure that your account is secure. You can use two-factor authentication to ensure that no one else can access your account and steal your funds. It’s also a good idea to use a separate e-mail address for your LocalBitcoins account that isn’t used for anything else.
Having a secure account is an important aspect of online safety, especially when you’re trading cryptos. There are a number of different ways you can protect your account, but the most effective is to enable two-factor authentication and never give out your password or the backup code for it.
A secure wallet is a key component to your overall digital security, and it’s also important to keep your Private Key safe. To ensure that no one can access your Private Key, make sure you backup it on a secure website or in a safe place.
Another important thing to note is that not all countries are able to use LocalBitcoins, so you need to check the country that you live in before you register. For example, clients from Cuba, North Korea, Iran, and Syria will not be able to use the service.
If you’re a first-time buyer, it’s a good idea to read the terms of service carefully before beginning a trade. This will help you avoid any pitfalls and avoid getting ripped off.
The above references an opinion and is for information purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a duly licensed professional for investment advice.