update: Tidy up Cryptocurrency page and recommend places to buy Monero (#2823)

Signed-off-by: redoomed1 <161974310+redoomed1@users.noreply.github.com>
Signed-off-by: fria <138676274+friadev@users.noreply.github.com>
Signed-off-by: Daniel Gray <dngray@privacyguides.org>

docs/advanced/payments.md

@@ -3,33 +3,33 @@ title: Private Payments
 icon: material/hand-coin
 description: Your buying habits are the holy grail of ad targeting, but you still have plenty of options when it comes to making payments privately.
 ---
-There's a reason data about your buying habits is considered the holy grail of ad targeting: your purchases can leak a veritable treasure trove of data about you. Unfortunately, the current financial system is anti-privacy by design, enabling banks, other companies, and governments to easily trace transactions. Nevertheless, you have plenty of options when it comes to making payments privately.
+Data about your buying habits is considered the holy grail of ad targeting: your purchases can leak a veritable treasure trove of data about you. Unfortunately, the current financial system is anti-privacy by design, enabling banks, other companies, and governments to easily trace transactions. Nevertheless, you have plenty of options when it comes to making payments privately.
 
 ## Cash
 
-For centuries, **cash** has functioned as the primary form of private payment. Cash has excellent privacy properties in most cases, is widely accepted in most countries, and is **fungible**, meaning it is non-unique and completely interchangable.
+For centuries, **cash** has functioned as the primary form of private payment. Cash has excellent privacy properties in most cases, is widely accepted in most countries, and is **fungible**, meaning it is non-unique and completely interchangeable.
 
-Cash payment laws vary by country. In the United States, special disclosure is required for cash payments over $10,000 to the IRS on [Form 8300](https://irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/form-8300-and-reporting-cash-payments-of-over-10000). The receiving business is required to ID verify the payee’s name, address, occupation, date of birth, and Social Security Number or other TIN (with some exceptions). Lower limits without ID such as $3,000 or less exist for exchanges and money transmission. Cash also contains serial numbers. These are almost never tracked by merchants, but they can be used by law enforcement in targeted investigations.
+Cash payment laws vary by country. In the United States, special disclosure is required for cash payments over $10,000 to the IRS on [Form 8300](https://irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/form-8300-and-reporting-cash-payments-of-over-10000). The receiving business is required to ID verify the payee’s name, address, occupation, date of birth, and Social Security Number or other TIN (with some exceptions). Regulated exchanges, banks, and money services businesses must collect an ID for transactions exceeding $3,000. Cash contains serial numbers to assist law enforcement in targeted investigations.
 
-Despite this, it’s typically the best option.
+Despite the above, cash is typically the best option when available.
 
 ## Prepaid Cards & Gift Cards
 
-It’s relatively simple to purchase gift cards and prepaid cards at most grocery stores and convenience stores with cash. Gift cards usually don’t have a fee, though prepaid cards often do, so pay close attention to these fees and expiry dates. Some stores may ask to see your ID at checkout to reduce fraud.
+You can easily purchase gift cards and prepaid cards at most grocery stores and convenience stores with cash. Gift cards usually don’t have a fee, though prepaid cards often do, so pay close attention to these fees and expiry dates. Some stores may ask to see your ID at checkout in an effort to reduce fraud.
 
 Gift cards usually have limits of up to $200 per card, but some offer limits of up to $2,000 per card. Prepaid cards (e.g.: from Visa or Mastercard) usually have limits of up to $1,000 per card.
 
 Gift cards have the downside of being subject to merchant policies, which can have terrible terms and restrictions. For example, some merchants don’t accept payment in gift cards exclusively, or they may cancel the value of the card if they consider you to be a high-risk user. Once you have merchant credit, the merchant has a strong degree of control over this credit.
 
-Prepaid cards don’t allow cash withdrawals from ATMs or “peer-to-peer” payments in Venmo and similar apps.
+Prepaid cards usually don’t allow cash withdrawals from ATMs or “peer-to-peer” payments in Venmo and similar apps.
 
-Cash remains the best option for in-person purchases for most people. Gift cards can be useful for the savings they bring. Prepaid cards can be useful for places that don’t accept cash. Gift cards and prepaid cards are easier to use online than cash, and they are easier to acquire with cryptocurrencies than cash.
+Cash remains the best option for in-person purchases for most people. Gift cards are often sold at a discount, which make them attractive. Prepaid cards can be useful for places that don’t accept cash. Gift cards and prepaid cards are easier to use online than cash, and they are easier to acquire with cryptocurrencies than cash.
 
 ### Online Marketplaces
 
-If you have [cryptocurrency](../cryptocurrency.md), you can purchase gift cards with an online gift card marketplace. Some of these services offer ID verification options for higher limits, but they also allow accounts with just an email address. Basic limits start at $5,000-10,000 a day for basic accounts, and significantly higher limits for ID verified accounts (if offered).
+If you have [cryptocurrency](../cryptocurrency.md), you can purchase gift cards with an online gift card marketplace. Some of these services offer high limits (with ID verification), but they usually allow basic, low-limit accounts with just an email address. Expect limits under $10,000 for basic accounts and significantly higher limits for ID verified accounts (if offered).
 
-When buying gift cards online, there is usually a slight discount. Prepaid cards are usually sold online at face value or with a fee. If you buy prepaid cards and gift cards with cryptocurrencies, you should strongly prefer to pay with Monero which provides strong privacy, more on this below. Paying for a gift card with a traceable payment method negates the benefits a gift card can provide when purchased with cash or Monero.
+When buying gift cards online, there is usually a slight discount. Prepaid cards are usually sold online at face value or with a fee. If you buy prepaid cards and gift cards with cryptocurrencies, you should strongly prefer to pay with Monero which provides strong privacy (more on this below). Paying for a gift card with a traceable payment method negates the benefits a gift card can provide when purchased with cash or Monero.
 
 - [Online Gift Card Marketplaces :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](../financial-services.md#gift-card-marketplaces)
 
@@ -43,14 +43,14 @@ These tend to be good options for recurring/subscription payments online, while
 
 ## Cryptocurrency
 
-Cryptocurrencies are a digital form of currency designed to work without central authorities such as a government or bank. While *some* cryptocurrency projects can allow you to make private transactions online, many use a public blockchain which does not provide any transaction privacy. Cryptocurrencies also tend to be very volatile assets, meaning their value can change rapidly and significantly at any time. As such, we generally don't recommend using cryptocurrency as a long-term store of value. If you decide to use cryptocurrency online, make sure you have a full understanding of its privacy aspects beforehand, and only invest amounts which would not be disastrous to lose.
+Cryptocurrencies are a digital form of currency designed to work without central authorities such as a government or bank. While *some* cryptocurrency projects can allow you to make private transactions online, many use a transparent blockchain which does not provide any transaction privacy. Cryptocurrencies also tend to be very volatile assets, meaning their value can change rapidly and significantly. As such, we generally don't recommend using cryptocurrency as a long-term store of value. If you decide to use cryptocurrency online, make sure you have a full understanding of its privacy aspects beforehand, and only invest amounts which would not be disastrous to lose.
 
 <div class="admonition danger" markdown>
 <p class="admonition-title">Danger</p>
 
-The vast majority of cryptocurrencies operate on a **public** blockchain, meaning that every transaction is public knowledge. This includes even most well-known cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Transactions with these cryptocurrencies should not be considered private and will not protect your anonymity.
+The vast majority of cryptocurrencies operate on a **transparent** blockchain, meaning that every transaction's details are public knowledge. This includes most well-known cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Transactions with these cryptocurrencies should not be considered private and will not protect your anonymity.
 
-Additionally, many if not most cryptocurrencies are scams. Make transactions carefully with only projects you trust.
+Additionally, many if not most cryptocurrencies are scams. Make transactions carefully with only projects you trust. Transactions are irreversible and do not include any consumer protections.
 
 </div>
 
@@ -60,23 +60,25 @@ There are a number of cryptocurrency projects which purport to provide privacy b
 
 - [Recommended Cryptocurrency :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](../cryptocurrency.md#monero)
 
-Privacy coins have been subject to increasing scrutiny by government agencies. In 2020, [the IRS published a $625,000 bounty](https://forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2020/09/14/irs-will-pay-up-to-625000-if-you-can-crack-monero-other-privacy-coins/?sh=2e9808a085cc) for tools which can break Bitcoin Lightning Network and/or Monero's transaction privacy. They ultimately [paid two companies](https://sam.gov/opp/5ab94eae1a8d422e88945b64181c6018/view) (Chainalysis and Integra Fec) a combined $1.25 million for tools which purport to do so (it is unknown which cryptocurrency network these tools target). Due to the secrecy surrounding tools like these, ==none of these methods of tracing cryptocurrencies have been independently confirmed.== However, it is quite likely that tools which assist targeted investigations into private coin transactions exist, and that privacy coins only succeed in thwarting mass surveillance.
+Privacy coins have been subject to increasing scrutiny by government agencies. In 2020, [the IRS published a $625,000 bounty](https://forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2020/09/14/irs-will-pay-up-to-625000-if-you-can-crack-monero-other-privacy-coins/?sh=2e9808a085cc) for tools which can trace (at least to some extent) Bitcoin Lightning Network and/or Monero transactions. They ultimately [paid two companies](https://sam.gov/opp/5ab94eae1a8d422e88945b64181c6018/view) (Chainalysis and Integra Fec) a combined $1.25 million to further develop tools to do so. Due to the secrecy surrounding tools like these, ==none of these methods of tracing cryptocurrencies have been independently confirmed.== However, it is quite likely that tools which assist targeted investigations into private coin transactions exist, and that privacy coins in their current form only succeed in thwarting mass surveillance.
 
 ### Other Coins (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.)
 
-The vast majority of cryptocurrency projects use a public blockchain, meaning that all transactions are both easily traceable and permanent. As such, we strongly discourage the use of most cryptocurrency for privacy-related reasons.
+The vast majority of cryptocurrency projects use a transparent blockchain, meaning that all transactions are both easily traceable and permanent. As such, we strongly discourage the use of most cryptocurrency for privacy-related reasons.
 
-Anonymous transactions on a public blockchain are *theoretically* possible, and the Bitcoin wiki [gives one example of a "completely anonymous" transaction](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Privacy#Example_-_A_perfectly_private_donation). However, doing so requires a complicated setup involving Tor and "solo-mining" a block to generate completely independent cryptocurrency, a practice which has not been practical for nearly any enthusiast for many years.
+Anonymous transactions on a transparent blockchain are *theoretically* possible, and the Bitcoin wiki [gives one example of a "completely anonymous" transaction](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Privacy#Example_-_A_perfectly_private_donation). However, this example requires a complicated setup involving Tor and "solo-mining" a block to generate completely independent cryptocurrency, a practice which has not been practical (even for enthusiasts) for many years.
 
 ==Your best option is to avoid these cryptocurrencies entirely and stick with one which provides privacy by default.== Attempting to use other cryptocurrency is outside the scope of this site and strongly discouraged.
 
 ### Wallet Custody
 
-With cryptocurrency there are two forms of wallets: custodial wallets and noncustodial wallets. Custodial wallets are operated by centralized companies/exchanges, where the private key for your wallet is held by that company, and you can access them anywhere typically with a regular username and password. Noncustodial wallets are wallets where you control and manage the private keys to access it. Assuming you keep your wallet's private keys secured and backed up, noncustodial wallets provide greater security and censorship-resistance over custodial wallets, because your cryptocurrency can't be stolen or frozen by a company with custody over your private keys. Key custody is especially important when it comes to privacy coins: Custodial wallets grant the operating company the ability to view your transactions, negating the privacy benefits of those cryptocurrencies.
+With cryptocurrency there are two forms of wallets: custodial wallets and self-custody wallets. Custodial wallets are operated by centralized companies/exchanges, where the private key for your wallet is held by that company, and you can access them anywhere typically with a regular username and password. Self-custody wallets are wallets where you control and manage the private keys to access it. Assuming you keep your wallet's private keys secured and backed up, self-custody wallets provide greater security and censorship-resistance over custodial wallets, because your cryptocurrency can't be stolen or frozen by a company with custody over your private keys. Key custody is especially important when it comes to privacy coins: Custodial wallets grant the operating company the ability to view your transactions, negating the privacy benefits of those cryptocurrencies.
 
 ### Acquisition
 
-Acquiring [cryptocurrencies](../cryptocurrency.md) like Monero privately can be difficult. P2P marketplaces, platforms which facilitate trades between people, are one option that can be used. If using an exchange which requires KYC is an acceptable risk for you as long as subsequent transactions can't be traced, a much easier option is to purchase Monero on an exchange like [Kraken](https://kraken.com), or purchase Bitcoin/Litecoin from a KYC exchange which can then be swapped for Monero. Then, you can withdraw the purchased Monero to your own noncustodial wallet to use privately from that point forward.
+Acquiring [cryptocurrencies](../cryptocurrency.md) like Monero privately can be difficult. P2P marketplaces (platforms which facilitate trades between people) are one option, though the user experience typically suffers. If using an exchange which requires KYC is acceptable for you as long as subsequent transactions can't be traced, it's much easier to purchase Monero on a centralized exchange or purchase Bitcoin/Litecoin from a KYC exchange which can then be swapped for Monero. Then, you can withdraw the purchased Monero to your own self-custody wallet to use privately from that point forward.
+
+[Recommended places to buy Monero](../cryptocurrency.md#buying-monero){ .md-button }
 
 If you go this route, make sure to purchase Monero at different times and in different amounts than where you will spend it. If you purchase $5000 of Monero at an exchange and make a $5000 purchase in Monero an hour later, those actions could potentially be correlated by an outside observer regardless of which path the Monero took. Staggering purchases and purchasing larger amounts of Monero in advance to later spend on multiple smaller transactions can avoid this pitfall.
 
@@ -85,3 +87,10 @@ If you go this route, make sure to purchase Monero at different times and in dif
 When you're making a payment in-person with cash, make sure to keep your in-person privacy in mind. Security cameras are ubiquitous. Consider wearing non-distinct clothing and a face mask (such as a surgical mask or N95). Don’t sign up for rewards programs or provide any other information about yourself.
 
 When purchasing online, ideally you should do so over [Tor](tor-overview.md). However, many merchants don’t allow purchases with Tor. You can consider using a [recommended VPN](../vpn.md) (paid for with cash, gift card, or Monero), or making the purchase from a coffee shop or library with free Wi-Fi. If you are ordering a physical item that needs to be delivered, you will need to provide a delivery address. You should consider using a PO box, private mailbox, or work address.
+
+<div class="admonition tip" markdown>
+<p class="admonition-title">Important notices</p>
+
+The content here is not legal or financial advice. We do not endorse or encourage illicit activities, and we do not endorse or encourage anything which violates a company's terms of service. Check with a professional to confirm that these recommendations are legal and available in your jurisdiction. [See all notices](../about/notices.md).
+
+</div>

docs/cryptocurrency.md

@@ -40,15 +40,8 @@ Many if not most cryptocurrency projects are scams. Make transactions carefully
 
 With Monero, outside observers cannot decipher addresses trading Monero, transaction amounts, address balances, or transaction histories.
 
-For optimal privacy, make sure to use a noncustodial wallet where the view key stays on the device. This means that only you will have the ability to spend your funds and see incoming and outgoing transactions. If you use a custodial wallet, the provider can see **everything** you do; if you use a “lightweight” wallet where the provider retains your private view key, the provider can see almost everything you do. Some noncustodial wallets include:
+<details class="info" markdown>
-
+<summary>Monero's resilience to mass surveillance</summary>
-- [Official Monero client](https://getmonero.org/downloads) (Desktop)
-- [Cake Wallet](https://cakewallet.com) (iOS, Android, macOS)
-    - Cake Wallet supports multiple cryptocurrencies. A Monero-only version of Cake Wallet for iOS and Android is available at [Monero.com](https://monero.com).
-- [Feather Wallet](https://featherwallet.org) (Desktop)
-- [Monerujo](https://monerujo.io) (Android)
-
-For maximum privacy (even with a noncustodial wallet), you should run your own Monero node. Using another person’s node will expose some information to them, such as the IP address that you connect to it from, the timestamps that you sync your wallet, and the transactions that you send from your wallet (though no other details about those transactions). Alternatively, you can connect to someone else’s Monero node over Tor or [I2P](alternative-networks.md#i2p-the-invisible-internet-project).
 
 In August 2021, CipherTrace [announced](https://web.archive.org/web/20240223224846/https://ciphertrace.com/enhanced-monero-tracing) enhanced Monero tracing capabilities for government agencies. Public postings show that the US Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network [licensed](https://sam.gov/opp/d12cbe9afbb94ca68006d0f006d355ac/view) CipherTrace's "Monero Module" in late 2022.
 
@@ -56,8 +49,45 @@ Monero transaction graph privacy is limited by its relatively small ring signatu
 
 Ultimately, Monero is the strongest contender for a privacy-friendly cryptocurrency, but its privacy claims have **not** been definitively proven one way or the other. More time and research is needed to assess whether Monero is resilient enough to attacks to always provide adequate privacy.
 
+</details>
+
+### Monero wallets
+
+For optimal privacy, make sure to use a self-custody wallet where the [view key](https://www.getmonero.org/resources/moneropedia/viewkey.html) stays on the device. This means that only you will have the ability to spend your funds and see incoming and outgoing transactions. If you use a custodial wallet, the provider can see **everything** you do; if you use a “lightweight” wallet where the provider retains your view key, the provider can see almost everything you do (but not spend your funds). Some self-custody wallets where the view key does not leave your device include:
+
+- [Official Monero client](https://getmonero.org/downloads) (Desktop)
+- [Cake Wallet](https://cakewallet.com) (iOS, Android, Desktop)
+    - Cake Wallet supports multiple cryptocurrencies. A Monero-only version of Cake Wallet for iOS and Android is available at [Monero.com](https://monero.com).
+- [Feather Wallet](https://featherwallet.org) (Desktop)
+- [Monerujo](https://monerujo.io) (Android)
+
+### Monero nodes
+
+For maximum privacy (even with a self-custody wallet), you should run your own Monero node called the [Monero daemon](https://getmonero.org/downloads/#cli). Using another person’s node will expose some information to them, such as the IP address that you connect to it from, the timestamps that you sync your wallet, and the transactions that you send from your wallet (though no other details about those transactions). Alternatively, you can connect to someone else’s Monero node over Tor, [I2P](alternative-networks.md#i2p-the-invisible-internet-project), or a VPN.
+
+### Buying Monero
+
+[General tips for acquiring Monero](advanced/payments.md#acquisition){ .md-button }
+
+There are numerous centralized exchanges (CEX) as well as P2P marketplaces where you can buy and sell Monero. Some of them require identifying yourself (KYC) to comply with anti-money laundering regulations. However, due to Monero's privacy features, the only thing known to the seller is _that_ you bought Monero, but not how much you own or where you spend it (after it leaves the exchange). Some reputable places to buy Monero include:
+
+- [Kraken](https://kraken.com): A well-known CEX. Registration and KYC are mandatory. Card payments and bank transfers accepted. Make sure not to leave your newly purchased Monero on Kraken's platform after the purchase; withdraw them to a self-custody wallet. Monero is not available in all jurisdictions that Kraken operates in.[^1]
+- [Cake Wallet](https://cakewallet.com): A self-custody cross-platform wallet for Monero and other cryptocurrencies. You can buy Monero directly in the app using card payments or bank transfers (through third-party providers such as [Guardarian](https://guardarian.com) or [DFX](https://dfx.swiss)).[^2] KYC is usually not required, but it depends on your country and the amount you are purchasing. In countries where directly purchasing Monero is not possible, you can also use a provider within Cake Wallet to first buy another cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, or Litecoin and then exchange it to Monero in-app.
+    - [Monero.com](https://monero.com) is an associated website where you can buy Monero and other cryptocurrencies without having to download an app. The funds will simply be sent to the wallet address of your choice.
+- [RetoSwap](https://retoswap.com) (formerly known as Haveno-Reto) is a self-custody, decentralized P2P exchange platform based on the [Haveno](https://haveno.exchange) project which is available for Linux, Windows, and macOS. Monero can be bought and sold with maximum privacy, since most trading counterparties do not require KYC, trades are made directly between users (P2P), and all connections run through the Tor network. It is possible to buy Monero via bank transfer, Paypal, or even by paying in cash (meeting in person or sending by mail). Arbitrators can step in to resolve disputes between buyer and seller, but be careful when sharing your bank account or other sensitive information with your trading counterparty. Trading with some accounts may be against those accounts' terms of service. Please note that you can only buy Monero on RetoSwap if you already own a small amount of Monero (currently a minimum of 0.11 XMR) in order to fund security deposits, although there are ongoing efforts to drop this requirement in the future.
+
 ## Criteria
 
 **Please note we are not affiliated with any of the projects we recommend.** In addition to [our standard criteria](about/criteria.md), we have developed a clear set of requirements to allow us to provide objective recommendations. We suggest you familiarize yourself with this list before choosing to use a project, and conduct your own research to ensure it's the right choice for you.
 
 - Cryptocurrency must provide private/untraceable transactions by default.
+
+<div class="admonition tip" markdown>
+<p class="admonition-title">Important notices</p>
+
+The content here is not legal or financial advice. We do not endorse or encourage illicit activities, and we do not endorse or encourage anything which violates a company's terms of service. Check with a professional to confirm that these recommendations are legal and available in your jurisdiction. [See all notices](about/notices.md).
+
+</div>
+
+[^1]: You may refer to the following pages for up-to-date information on countries in which Kraken does **not** allow the purchase of Monero: [Where is Kraken licensed or regulated?](https://support.kraken.com/hc/en-us/articles/where-is-kraken-licensed-or-regulated) and [Support for Monero (XMR) in Europe](https://support.kraken.com/hc/en-us/articles/support-for-monero-xmr-in-europe).
+[^2]: You may refer to the following pages for up-to-date information on countries in which Cake Wallet and Monero.com **only** allow the direct purchase of Monero (through third-party providers): [Which countries are served by DFX?](https://docs.dfx.swiss/en/faq.html#which-countries-are-served-by-dfx) and [What are the supported countries/regions? (Guardarian)](https://guardarian.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/80001151826-what-are-the-supported-countries-regions).

docs/financial-services.md

@@ -102,3 +102,10 @@ These services allow you to purchase gift cards for a variety of merchants onlin
 
 - Accepts payment in [a recommended cryptocurrency](cryptocurrency.md).
 - No ID requirement.
+
+<div class="admonition tip" markdown>
+<p class="admonition-title">Important notices</p>
+
+The content here is not legal or financial advice. We do not endorse or encourage illicit activities, and we do not endorse or encourage anything which violates a company's terms of service. Check with a professional to confirm that these recommendations are legal and available in your jurisdiction. [See all notices](about/notices.md).
+
+</div>