[alexmat]

Stores have cameras and Visa cards have unique numbers. Not too hard to put the two together.

Bitcoin let's you transact without having to interact in physical space to acquire or spend them.

[Spivak]

And just how are you going to do a dollar <-> bitcoin exchange without revealing any information about your identity?

[alexmat]

You don't have to trade for dollars. You can use one or more intermediaries such as gift cards and high resale value goods, just like using proxies to distance yourself. The more hops, the harder it is to connect.

[HNNoLikey]

Bitcoin mixers would serve you well in this instance. Just buy BTC normally and clean via a mixer.

[RcouF1uZ4gsC]

And how do you know that that the Bitcoin mixer you decided to use is not actually operated by the FBI and that they are actually keeping a private log tying bitcoins in with bitcoins out?

[ringaroundthetx]

Monero.

This whole argument is stuck in 2012. Lean not on your own understanding and look at the technology thats out there.

[HNNoLikey]

Had similar questions yesterday and some hackers responded here:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15016338

[e12e]

That doesn't seem to address hostile mixers? Running dark-net bazaars, bitcoin mixers and "hacker"(cracker) forums seems like trivial intel basics. Just like running "anonymous" [ed:remailers,[1]] and tor nodes.

[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixmaster_anonymous_remailer

[HNNoLikey]

I actually think it would suffice to payout at random times with an insanely high number of bitcoin addresses (all autogenerated via a script) for high number of users (the more the better). It would be virtually impossible to know who got how much BTC out (may be in, but not out).

As for the hostile mixers, I'm afraid I can't offer any solution other than to rely on reputation. That said, it is rather telling that bitmixer.io is closing [https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14843373]. It may not be safe to run a mixer; the feds may come after you.