Why LocalBitcoins Stopped Cash Trades and Has a New CEO - Ep.136

Sebastian Sonntag, the new CEO of LocalBitcoins, and Mika Impola, software developer at LocalBitcoins, explain why the peer-to-peer bitcoin trading company has a new CEO, why it stopped cash trades and what kind of response they've received from the community about it. They describe how the service works, how it has changed over time, the range of payment options available amongst sellers on the site, and how peer-to-peer trading differs from country to country. Plus, we cover why it suspended buying in Iran, how regulation is changing the site in general, how it handles forks and what Sonngtag's plans are for the company.
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Episode links:
LocalBitcoins: https://localbitcoins.com/
LocalBitcoins blog: https://localbitcoins.com/blog/
LocalBitcoins names a new CEO: https://localbitcoins.com/blog/localbitcoins-names-a-new-ceo/
LocalBitcoins stops cash trades: https://www.coindesk.com/localbitcoins-removes-cash-for-crypto-trading-option
New Finnish AML regulations: https://localbitcoins.com/blog/aml-features-update/
LocalBitcoins’ new ID verification system: https://localbitcoins.com/blog/id-verification-update/
LocalBitcoins trading volume across countries: https://coin.dance/volume/localbitcoins
LocalBitcoins trading in Venezuela: https://coin.dance/volume/localbitcoins/VES/BTC
LocalBitcoins suspends buying in Iran: https://www.coindesk.com/localbitcoins-bans-bitcoin-buying-in-iran-in-blow-to-rising-crypto-commerce
Bitcoin Cash hard fork decision: https://localbitcoins.com/blog/bitcoin-bcash/
Bitcoin Maven: https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-bitcoin-sentencing-20180709-story.html
Hack on LocalBitcoins forums: https://www.coindesk.com/localbitcoins-reveals-security-breach-with-some-crypto-wallets-affected