Why most services that want to protect user privacy. Also those on privacyguides, don’t have anonymous payment methods like cryptocurrencies? I pay for a few such services like email or cloud etc. but I don’t know if it makes sense if my bank knows I’m using it anyway so they can sell that info to advertisers, gov, etc. In EU services like mysudo or privacy.com are unavailabe so I can’t use masked cards. What is then the profit of using such services if I don’t pay for them with cryptocurrencies and they can be easily linked to me?

      • Showroom7561@lemmy.ca
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        6 months ago

        Monero

        I know of Monero, but haven’t used it. How are funds added to the Monero account?

          • Showroom7561@lemmy.ca
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            6 months ago

            After you install a wallet, you need to get some Monero. There are multiple ways to acquire some coins to spend, like mining or working in exchange for Monero, but the easiest way is to use an exchange and convert your fiat money into XMR. Many exchanges, centralized and decentralized, list Monero (XMR).

            This sounds crazy complex for most people.

            Cash -> Prepaid credit card (all still real money) is best, with the caveat that it may not be accepted everywhere. But then again, Monero is hardly accepted anywhere.

            • ᴅᴜᴋᴇᴛʜᴏʀɪᴏɴ@lemmy.world
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              6 months ago

              No more complex than opening a bank account, and finding a way to get cash to put in it, whether that’s getting a job, prostitution, selling things, etc.

              It sounds complex, but so is becoming a millionaire.

              • Showroom7561@lemmy.ca
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                6 months ago

                No more complex than opening a bank account, and finding a way to get cash to put in it, whether that’s getting a job, prostitution, selling things, etc.

                I don’t want to keep arguing, but I disagree. Even the most simple person in the world can open a bank account and put money in it. “Tap to pay” and e-transfers are as easy as they get, and cash withdrawal is something that anyone can do anywhere in the world.

                Talking about “fiat money” and “XMR” and “coins”, isolates like 99% of the population.

                Someone working at McDonalds can easily get paid and withdraw that money to use in a real store they can walk into. How does one even attempt any of that with Monero? Can you pay your mortgage or electrical bill with Monero? What about paying someone to fix drywall?

                Monero may be a fine option for some, but it’s nowhere close to being a mainstream option for ordinary people.

                  • Showroom7561@lemmy.ca
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                    6 months ago

                    Fair enough. I don’t know much about how money is added into Monero to say whether it can be traced or not. Cryptocurrency is pretty broad, so there may be exceptions to my original statement.

    • nnullzz@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      I used to use the prepaid approach a lot, but recently it seems like some companies are rejecting them. Mainly seeing it happen with subscription based services.

    • ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org
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      6 months ago

      Yeah, that’s true for most of them, they all are basically useless. It’s only worth to use private crypto, like Monero, that is designed actually with privacy in mind.