A bitcoin mixer is a service that can help you keep your Bitcoin transactions private and anonymous by breaking the link between your source address and your destination address. This obfuscates your transactional history and prevents blockchain analysis, making it much harder for anyone to uncover your financial activities.
There are two types of bitcoin mixers – decentralized and centralized. Centralized mixers are operated by a third-party company that charges a fee for the service. Users send their Bitcoin to the mixer which then mixes it with the coins of other users before returning them back to the original user. This type of mixer is highly effective but comes with the risk that a centralized third-party could share your information with government agencies or blockchain forensic experts.
A decentralized mixer combines your coins with the coins of other users using a randomized crypto protocol such as CoinJoin. It is possible for someone to discover your involvement in a bitcoin mix, but it would take a great deal of effort to piece together the web of transactions.
When choosing a mixer, be sure to consider the number of hops your coins will take before being returned to you and the fee structure. Some mixers charge a percentage-based fee while others charge a flat fee. Choose one that suits your needs and budget. Also, be aware that even the best Bitcoin mixers are not 100% foolproof. With enough time and resources, a determined adversary can still trace your Bitcoin transactions.