Original Title: Staying Private in Crypto & Web3: Simple, Practical Tips That Actually Work

Original Author: Vladimir S. | Officer's Notes, Threat Researcher

Original Compilation: Deep Tide TechFlow

Initially, cryptocurrencies were created to pursue privacy and freedom, but today everything is tracked, linked, and sold. Blockchain is a permanently public ledger, trading platforms require identity information (KYC), and analytics firms earn millions by associating your wallet with your real identity.

The good news is that, with conscious effort, you can still largely preserve your privacy. You don’t need to become an extreme privacy advocate who wears a tinfoil hat; simply adopting some basic habits will suffice. Below are practical privacy protection tips that actually work in 2025:

1. Stop reusing wallet addresses

Every time you use the same address to receive funds, you are essentially exposing your transaction history to the entire world. Therefore, generate a new address each time you transact, or at least use different addresses for different relationships (for example, one for salary income, one for trading, one for DeFi, and one for entertainment). Today, most quality wallets support the feature of automatically generating new addresses—ensure that you have enabled this function.

2. Separate your identities like an ex-partner, and use different wallets for different aspects of your life:

· A “public” wallet for connecting to Twitter/Discord (expect that this wallet may eventually be exposed);

· A “high-value assets” cold wallet, which should never be connected to the internet or decentralized applications (dApps);

· One or two "daily-use" hot wallets for trading or DeFi, replenishing funds only when necessary;

Never transfer funds directly on-chain. If a transfer is unavoidable, use a no-KYC (no identity verification required) exchange platform or Monero as a bridge.

3. Avoid using KYC exchanges in situations where privacy is required.

If you have completed KYC (identity verification) on exchanges such as Binance, Coinbase, or Kraken, the wallet will forever be tied to your real name. Use these platforms as channels for fiat deposits/withdrawals only when there are no other options, and immediately transfer assets to a private wallet after completing transactions. Ensure that assets are not transferred back to the same address.

Better choices for 2025 include:

· Bisq, Haveno (dedicated to Monero), LocalMonero (use it while it's still available);

· NoOnes, Hodl Hodl, Peach Bitcoin (for Bitcoin);

· SimpleSwap, ChangeNOW, FixedFloat (no-KYC exchange tools).

4. Use Monero for truly private transactions.

Bitcoin is not private, and neither is Ethereum. However, Monero genuinely achieves privacy (through ring signatures, stealth addresses, and RingCT technology). If you need to sever the on-chain connection between sender and recipient, convert your assets into XMR, complete the transaction, and then convert them back. Yes, fees can sometimes be high, and liquidity may not be perfect, but compared to other options, this remains the most effective method.

5. Bitcoin Privacy: Proper Use of CoinJoin

When using Bitcoin, ensure the correct application of CoinJoin technology. For instance, utilize Wasabi Wallet in conjunction with CoinJoin or JoinMarket. Due to related arrests in 2024, the Whirlpool feature of Samourai Wallet has been discontinued, making Wasabi nearly the primary tool for Bitcoin privacy protection at present. It is recommended to perform coin mixing operations after consolidating UTXOs or purchasing Bitcoin. Avoid conducting only a single small transaction – multiple rounds of mixing are advised to ensure privacy.

6. Ethereum Privacy: Utilize Privacy L2 or Mixing Tools (Proceed with Caution)

Tornado Cash remains under U.S. sanctions, posing risks for users in that region. Below are better alternatives currently available:

· Railgun: Supports privacy balances on Ethereum, Arbitrum, Polygon, and BSC;

· Aztec: A complete privacy solution on Ethereum L2;

· Nightfall: Polygon’s privacy chain, which is still operational.

If you have extremely high privacy requirements, it is advisable to use a new wallet + VPN for each transaction and destroy the wallet after one round of transactions.

7. Always Use a High-Quality VPN or Tor

Your IP address can reveal all information. Never connect your wallet without a VPN. It is recommended to use paid VPN services where you control the keys, such as Mullvad, IVPN, and Proton. Avoid free VPNs and those well-known but log-keeping services (e.g., Express, Nord, Surfshark, all of which have been found guilty of false advertising). If you require extreme privacy, you may choose Tor with bridges or i2p, but be aware that these methods are very slow during transactions.

8. Browser usage habits are more important than you might think.

· Create a separate browser profile (or simply use a dedicated browser) for cryptocurrency operations;

· Use Brave or Firefox, and install the uBlock Origin and ClearURLs extensions;

· Disable WebRTC functionality;

· Never log into Google, Discord, or Twitter using the same browser profile;

· Use temporary containers (the Multi-Account Containers extension for Firefox is highly recommended as it is an excellent tool).

9. Use hardware wallets + isolated operations whenever possible.

Hardware wallets such as Ledger, Trezor, Keystone, or GridPlus Lattice are recommended. Sign transactions offline and never input your mnemonic phrase on any website. If a website asks for your private key or mnemonic phrase, without a doubt, it is a scam.

10. Do not flaunt on social media.

Seriously, do not show off. Every post showcasing your portfolio screenshots, ENS names, or NFT brags becomes a data point for on-chain analytics companies. For example, when you tweet "Just went all-in with 50 ETH to buy $PEPE" from your real-name account, you have already exposed yourself.

Additional Insights — Emerging Privacy Technologies in 2025:

· Stealth Addresses are coming to the Ethereum mainnet (ERC-5564 and ERC-6538): Start using wallets that support these standards, as they will significantly enhance privacy.

· PayJoin (P2EP) for Bitcoin payments: Even without using CoinJoin, it makes on-chain surveillance more difficult.

You don’t need to follow all the recommendations to achieve privacy protection. Just focus on #1 (stop reusing wallet addresses), #2 (separate your identity), #3 (avoid KYC exchanges), and #7 (use a VPN or Tor), and you’ll accomplish 90% of your privacy goals.

Remember, “perfect is the enemy of good.” Start with the basics, and as you become more proficient, gradually add more layers of privacy protection.