In the Bitcoin communities everyone suggests that the best way to buy and accumulate BTC is to do it by avoiding exchanges, which by 2025 are extremely regulated and report all transactions, so hodlers are somewhat responsible for reporting their holdings to the government, even if it is held in cold storage later.
I have tried going to BTC meet ups in Barcelona, where I currently live, and buy some with cash, but the guys I met were just like me, scared of exchanging euros for their BTC.
One way that worked out for me was to buy the BTC that a friend has received for a freelance job and I paid her in Euros and all the transaction was made in a safe space and I trusted that the transfer was going to be done.
That wouldn’t be the case with a stranger, it would be hard to trust someone that you meet online or even on a meet-up to give them cash and wait for the BTC transaction to be over.
What are you guys’ strategy to buy peer-to-peer?
Check out #7424
P2P is the best there is but I Robosats is good for online without an ID. Not sure of payment methods in BCN though.
The friend method is good.
I also use it. I earn in BTC and I do not have anymore any bank ccount.
So giving my sats to a friend willing to pay some bills is the perfect way to start the bitcoin circular economy. In this way you do not give the sats to "Saylors".
Another option you could use Robosats.
Nice, thanks for sharing your experience. What is the Robotsats?
https://learn.robosats.com/
Do you not have duckduckgo?
https://next.laseca.net/
https://www.meetup.com/bitcoin-barcelona/
This happens regularly without troubles. I've witnessed hundreds of trades in meetups and other similar gatherings, never an issue.
I contact the P2P through SimpleX Chat and ask them to send a voice message (since I'm already familiar with their voice from elsewhere) to confirm their identity. I receive a PDF with a bank invoice to print, and I pay in cash using it at an ATM. Once they verify the payment, I send them my address to receive it. Right now, I'm considering using PGP keys, but I'm still reading up on them. And of course, all of it without KYC requirements.
For me, the easiest way to buy P2P is using the LNP2PBOT on Telegram.
Also, if you live in Barcelona, you
shouldMUST go to the events organised by the Barcelona Bitcoin Only Community, on the events you can connect face to face with sellers.Here is a link to the BCN Communities:
https://2140meetups.com/comunidad/5573/ https://2140meetups.com/comunidad/7480/
Most of the events are in english!
Cheers
I am happy about that you've figured out a way that works for you.
In general many p2p platforms have closed due to regulatory pressue.
But Bitcoin needs them because they provide certain scales. It's been a while since I last checked Bisq. It should be working still. Another option is HodlHodl.
It is probably not a good idea to use EU bank transfers to buy btcs even from friends.
using robosats is best, imo
Local meetups should be easiest. Otherwise there are some p2p platforms like Robosats, Hodlhodl, Peach and Bisq.
Ask around the people you know with some discretion and you will almost certainly find several OG hodlers with a stack they might be happy to sell down kyc free.
I did it and was amazed by how much was available within one or two degrees of my real world social network...and I am certainly no social butterfly.
If that fails try meetups.
Ideally start with small transactions and build up trust over time.