Comparison · facts checked October 18, 2026
Bisq and Monero (XMR): peer-to-peer trading vs a swap service
Bisq is open-source software for trading bitcoin peer to peer, and XMR is one of its altcoin markets. SilentXMR is a swap service. Here is how trading XMR on Bisq compares, using Bisq's own site and wiki.
The short version
- Bisq: a desktop app that runs over Tor, with no registration or ID. XMR trades only against BTC. Both traders post a security deposit of 15% to 50%, and the trade period for altcoins is one day.
- SilentXMR: no app and no deposit. Send BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC, LTC or SOL and get XMR at your address, at Kraken's price minus 0.5%.
- Pick Bisq for peer-to-peer trading with BTC and no operator. Pick SilentXMR for coins other than BTC, or a swap without installing anything.
Order
Send exactly
on the network to:
- You get (locked)
- Rate
- Your address
- Payout transaction
- Created
- Send the exact amount above from your wallet.
- We check the deposit wallet, and once your deposit confirms we send the amount quoted above to your address, even if the price has moved since.
- This page updates by itself. Keep your order ID to check later on the Track order page.
Questions? Email service@silentxmr.com with your order ID.
What Bisq is
Bisq describes itself as a way to buy and sell bitcoin for fiat or other cryptocurrencies using a peer-to-peer network and open-source desktop software. It needs no registration and no identity verification, and every Bisq node runs as a Tor hidden service. The current Bisq 1 release is v1.10.9, published on 1 October 2026, for Windows, macOS and Linux.
On Bisq 1, altcoins trade against BTC, and its wiki calls Monero one of the most active markets. Altcoin trades have a one-day trade period (one hour with an "Altcoins Instant" account), and an XMR seller must keep the transaction key and ID in case of a dispute. Both traders post a security deposit of 15% to 50% of the trade, at least 0.001 BTC. New altcoin accounts can trade up to 0.25 BTC right away.
Trading fees are set by the Bisq DAO. On 18 October 2026 its wiki listed 0.15% for makers and 1.15% for takers when paid in BTC, lower when paid in BSQ. Bisq 2 is the newer app. Its only trade protocol so far, Bisq Easy, trades BTC with no fees or deposits but caps trades at the equivalent of 600 USD.
SilentXMR vs Bisq
Facts about Bisq come from its own website, documents and announcements, checked on October 18, 2026. "Not published" means we could not find it stated there.
| Feature | SilentXMR | Bisq |
|---|---|---|
| Type of service | A single swap service for Monero. Every swap starts or ends in XMR. | Open-source peer-to-peer desktop app (Bisq 1). You trade with another person. |
| Monero (XMR) | Yes, on every pair, in both directions. | Yes, as an altcoin market against BTC. Its wiki calls it one of the most active markets. |
| Coins and networks | BTC, ETH, LTC, SOL, USDT (ERC-20, TRC-20, SPL) and USDC (ERC-20, SPL), each to and from XMR. | BTC against fiat and altcoins. New altcoins are on indefinite hold. |
| Account | None. | No registration. A local app with payment accounts. |
| ID checks (KYC) | No name, email address or ID requested. | "No Identity Verification" (Bisq home page). |
| Fees and pricing | Kraken's last price minus a 0.5% spread, shown before you send. You receive the quoted amount. | Set by the Bisq DAO: 0.15% maker and 1.15% taker in BTC on 18 October 2026, lower in BSQ. Price set by the offer. |
| Minimum and maximum | $50 worth. Above $50,000, contact support first. | New altcoin accounts can trade up to 0.25 BTC right away. |
| Rate | Locked when you create the order, with no expiry, even if the price moves before your deposit confirms. | Price set by the offer you take or make. |
| Who holds the coins during the swap | You send to the deposit address on your order and we send the payout to your address. You trust SilentXMR between the two. | Trade funds and security deposits (15% to 50%) are locked until the trade completes. |
| Fiat (bank, card, cash) | No. Crypto to crypto only. | Yes, for BTC trades. XMR trades settle against BTC. |
| How you receive the coins | Deposits are checked and payouts sent by hand after your deposit confirms. Follow it with your order ID. | The XMR seller sends XMR directly. One-day trade period for altcoins (one hour with Altcoins Instant). |
| What you need | A browser and the wallet you send from. | The Bisq desktop app (Windows, macOS, Linux) running over Tor, and BTC for the security deposit. |
Ready to swap? Lock your XMR rate now.
- Kraken's live price minus 0.5%. You see exactly what you get before you send.
- Your rate is locked the moment you create the order. No countdown, no re-quote.
- BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC, LTC or SOL in, XMR out to your address. Or the other way round.
When Bisq may suit you better
- You hold or want BTC and prefer to trade XMR/BTC peer to peer, with no operator in the middle.
- You want to buy BTC with fiat in the same app.
- You want to set your own price with an offer.
- You don't mind installing a desktop app, posting a deposit and waiting for a counterparty.
When SilentXMR may suit you better
- You hold ETH, USDT, USDC, LTC or SOL. Bisq trades XMR only against BTC.
- You do not want to install software or lock a security deposit.
- You want a quote up front, Kraken's price minus 0.5%, rather than finding an offer.
- You want to send from a phone wallet or an exchange account.
Getting XMR without a peer-to-peer trade
If you hold crypto and just want XMR, a swap skips the offer book, the deposit and the waiting for a counterparty. Send the coin to the deposit address on your order and receive XMR at your own address.
The trade-off is trust: between your deposit and the payout, you rely on SilentXMR to send what was quoted. Payouts are sent by hand after your deposit confirms. For an XMR-focused peer-to-peer app, see also Haveno vs a swap service.
Pick a coin and amount
The estimate updates from Kraken's live price as you type.
Add your receiving address
For XMR, paste the receive address from Feather, Cake or any Monero wallet.
Send and track
Send to the deposit address on your order. Your order page shows when we've received it and when your coins are on their way.
Swap pairs
Get Monero in your own wallet. No account, no ID.
- Kraken's live price minus 0.5%. You see exactly what you get before you send.
- Your rate is locked the moment you create the order. No countdown, no re-quote.
- BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC, LTC or SOL in, XMR out to your address. Or the other way round.
Questions
Can I trade Monero on Bisq?
Yes. On Bisq 1, XMR is an altcoin market traded against BTC, and the wiki calls it one of the most active markets. Bisq 2 currently trades BTC only, through Bisq Easy.
Does Bisq require KYC?
No. Bisq says there is no identity verification and no registration. When you trade BTC against fiat, your trade partner sees the payment details for that method.
What are the fees on Bisq?
They are set by the Bisq DAO. On 18 October 2026 the wiki's fee page listed 0.15% for makers and 1.15% for takers when paid in BTC, and less in BSQ. Both sides also lock a security deposit. SilentXMR uses a 0.5% spread on Kraken's last price, with no deposit.
How long does an XMR trade on Bisq take?
Altcoin trades on Bisq have a one-day trade period, or one hour with an "Altcoins Instant" account. On SilentXMR, payouts are sent by hand after your deposit confirms.
What is the difference between Bisq and Haveno?
Haveno is a fork of Bisq built around Monero: every Haveno trade is against XMR, with 2-of-3 multisig on Monero. On Bisq 1, XMR is one altcoin traded against BTC.
Can I swap ETH or USDT to XMR on Bisq?
Not directly: XMR trades against BTC on Bisq. On SilentXMR you can swap ETH, USDT, USDC, LTC, SOL or BTC to XMR without an account. Questions go to service@silentxmr.com.
Sources
The Bisq pages we checked on October 18, 2026. Services change their terms, so check the current version before you rely on a detail.
- Bisq: home page bisq.network
- Bisq: getting started bisq.network/getting-started
- Bisq wiki: trading Monero bisq.wiki/Trading_Monero
- Bisq wiki: security deposit bisq.wiki/Security_deposit
- Bisq wiki: account limits bisq.wiki/Account_limits
- Bisq wiki: trading fees bisq.wiki/Trading_fees
- Bisq wiki: Bisq 2 bisq.wiki/Bisq_2
- Bisq wiki: Bisq Easy bisq.wiki/Bisq_Easy
- Bisq on GitHub: releases github.com/bisq-network/bisq/releases
SilentXMR is not affiliated with Bisq. Its name is used only to identify the service being compared.