A practical 2025 guide to boosting privacy for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin, Ethereum and most other cryptocurrencies are transparent by design. Every transaction you make stays on the blockchain forever, and anyone can look it up. For people who want financial privacy, this is a real problem. Years ago, users tried to hide their activity by using mixers and tumblers, but those tools no longer work. Modern blockchain analysis can follow them easily, and exchanges now cooperate with investigators.
The most reliable way to protect your privacy today is simple. Move your coins into Monero and then, if needed, convert them back into the currency of your choice. Monero, or XMR, is built for privacy from the ground up and has consistently resisted tracing attempts from regulators, exchanges and blockchain analysis companies. With this method you can take a traceable cryptocurrency and make it private in about an hour, usually for less than one percent in cost.
This guide explains the process step by step in clear, simple language.
Step 1: Download and install Tor Browser
Tor Browser works like any regular web browser but helps hide your internet activity and allows you to access .onion websites. Using Tor adds an optional extra layer of privacy.
Visit the official Tor website, download the correct version for your system and install it.
Website: https://www.torproject.org/download/
You can still follow this guide without Tor, but many users prefer it for added protection.
Step 2: Create and back up your Monero wallet
Next, you need a Monero wallet. It works like any other crypto wallet but includes Monero’s built-in privacy features. Choose the option that fits your device:
Desktop: Feather Wallet
Web: MyMonero
Mobile: Cake Wallet
After creating your wallet, make sure to back it up safely. Then generate one or two receiving addresses. A Monero address is a long string of letters and numbers that starts with the number 8. You will use these addresses to receive your XMR.
STEP 3: Exchange your Bitcoin, Ether or other crypto for Monero
This is the most important step. Moving your transparent cryptocurrency into Monero breaks the visible link between your old coins and your new private coins.
Many swap services require registration or identity checks, and some do not work properly on Tor. For people who want privacy, this defeats the purpose.
A reliable option is GoblinSwap. It has high liquidity, low fees, no account requirements, works smoothly on Tor and offers fast support.
Open Tor Browser and visit the service using their onion address:
hc2xv2pnk3wuotnvva43rvv4doyfemyildy4f4uqfoxmncchckybetyd.onion
Choose the currency pair you want to swap. For this guide, we will use BTC to XMR since it is the most common route. Enter the amount you want to exchange and paste your Monero receiving address. The website will show the limits and the current rate. When everything looks correct, confirm the exchange.
Enter the approximate amount of Bitcoin you intend to exchange, enter your XMR receiving address and click ”Exchange”. The swap limit amount will be automatically calculated by the system based on available liquidity in reserves.
You will then see a payment page with the address where you must send your Bitcoin. Save or bookmark the order ID in case you ever need support. Send your Bitcoin to the address shown. After the transaction confirms, your Monero will usually arrive within a few minutes.
STEP 4: Move your Monero to a second address
Once your XMR arrives, send it again to one or more additional addresses in your own wallet. Dividing the amount into two or three random parts improves privacy even further. This extra step ensures your coins are fully separated from the original swap.
Step 5: Use your Monero privately or convert it back
At this point your Monero is fully private. The original source of the coins cannot be traced. You can now use your XMR however you want without worrying about the history attached to it.
If you want to switch back to Bitcoin, Ethereum or any other cryptocurrency, simply repeat the same swapping process in reverse. When the conversion is complete, the coins you receive will have no connection to your original ones. You can then send them to a centralized exchange or any other destination without exposing your previous activity.