Mixer / tumbler
Definition
A service that pools cryptocurrency from multiple users, exchanges it, and returns equivalent amounts to different addresses, intentionally breaking the transaction graph. CoinJoin is the non-custodial Bitcoin variant. Mixers are used to obscure fund flows and are a primary counter-tracing technique investigators must recognise and work around.
Related terms
- Address clustering
- A technique that groups blockchain addresses likely controlled by the same entity. The most common method uses the common-input-ownership heuristic: all input...
- Blockchain explorer
- A web interface or API that indexes a blockchain and allows queries by address, transaction hash, or block. Examples: Blockstream.info for Bitcoin,...
- KYC (Know Your Customer)
- The identity verification process that regulated exchanges and virtual asset service providers (VASPs) are legally required to perform before allowing users to...
- UTXO (Unspent Transaction Output)
- The fundamental accounting unit of the Bitcoin protocol. Each transaction consumes previous UTXOs as inputs and creates new UTXOs as outputs. The...
- VASP (Virtual Asset Service Provider)
- The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) term for businesses that exchange, transfer, or custody cryptocurrency on behalf of customers. VASPs are subject...
Explained in
- Cryptocurrency Tracing and Blockchain AnalysisA service that pools cryptocurrency from multiple users, exchanges it, and returns equivalent amounts to different addresses, intentionally breaking the transa...