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Marketplace + Trading

The Marketplace + Currency exchange boards let you sell physical goods for BTC, buy/sell BTC for local cash, or arbitrage between exchanges. They work — for users who follow the protocols. They eat naive newcomers alive.

What gets sold

  • Hardware — mining gear, hardware wallets, computers, tech
  • Collectibles — coins, books, art
  • Services priced as goods — VPN access, hosting, gift cards
  • Currency exchange — BTC ↔ USD/EUR/local cash via various rails
  • Other crypto — BTC ↔ altcoins (use escrow!)

The protocol

For any non-trivial transaction:

  1. Public thread or PM negotiation
  2. Both parties agree to use a named escrow agent
  3. Buyer deposits with escrow
  4. Seller ships / delivers
  5. Buyer confirms + releases
  6. Both parties leave trust feedback

Skip any step → high chance of loss.

Currency exchange specifics

When selling BTC for local cash:

  • Use established methods. Bank transfers, in-person cash, established P2P platforms
  • Verify identity to your comfort level. Larger trades = more verification
  • Be aware of local KYC + tax law. This is your responsibility
  • Beware of chargeback rails. PayPal/credit-card payments can be reversed; BTC sent cannot

Common scams

Do

  • +Use escrow for every trade above small dollar amounts
  • +Read the counterparty's trust history before agreeing
  • +Insist on a public trade thread for high-value trades
  • +Document every step (screenshots of agreement, shipping, delivery)

Don't

  • −Accept reversible payment methods for irreversible BTC
  • −Ship before escrow confirms deposit
  • −Trust a new account with high-value trades
  • −Skip escrow because 'it's only $50' — that's how repeat scammers work

High-risk patterns

  • Buyer asks to skip escrow because of 'fees' — they intend to chargeback
  • Seller of hardware refuses tracking number — package isn't real
  • Counterparty has positive trust but only from accounts that all give each other trust — sock puppet ring
  • Urgent / time-pressured trade — manufactured to skip due diligence

Building marketplace reputation

Same as services: small clean trades first, document everything, request feedback. After 10-20 documented positive trades, you can transact larger amounts with less friction.

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