Bisq vs Pocket

Bisq is a decentralized, open‑source desktop app created by Manfred Karrer for buying and selling bitcoin directly with other people. It routes all traffic over Tor, uses a built‑in non‑custodial wallet and has no sign‑ups or KYC. Trades span many national currencies and payment rails, and the project is funded and governed through a community DAO with the BSQ token rather than a company.

What separates Bisq is its security and incentive design for fiat‑to‑BTC P2P. Each trade locks both sides’ refundable security deposits in a 2‑of‑2 multisig escrow. Account‑age and signing rules gradually raise per‑trade limits to reduce chargeback risk, and a small amount of bitcoin is required up front to cover fees and deposits. Trading fees are transparent and lower if paid in BSQ. It’s desktop‑first by design; the mobile app is for notifications.

User feedback highlights Bisq’s strengths in privacy, censorship resistance and self‑custody, along with clear, step‑by‑step trade flows and a multi‑stage dispute process if things go wrong.

The trade‑offs are thinner liquidity depending on region, wider spreads than convenience brokers, the need to already have a little bitcoin, and settlement times tied to the chosen fiat method and counterparties’ availability. Some users note that disputes can take time, and that desktop performance varies by setup.

Bisq’s target audience is privacy‑minded bitcoiners and anyone who needs a resilient, non‑custodial fiat ramp. The roadmap is to keep the marketplace permissionless while improving UX and resilience: Bisq 2 introduces a simpler “Bisq Easy” path alongside the familiar multisig protocol, support for multiple privacy networks, and optional use of Liquid for faster, lower‑fee settlement.

Pocket Bitcoin stands out with its non-custodial model, sending Bitcoin directly to your wallet without holding funds, and a no-account, KYC-light approach for daily buys up to €1,000 | 0.01 BTC | 0.01 BTC, prioritizing privacy. It offers one-off or recurring buys via bank transfer, with a 1.5% fee and no withdrawal fees, supporting select hardware wallets like Trezor and Ledger with message signing.

Pocket's mission is to make Bitcoin ownership frictionless and private, promoting self-custody without complexity and with a vision to expand to a dozen more European countries and enhance wallet integrations.

The mobile app, and the web portal for managing orders and wallet settings, are praised for their simple interface and fast transactions, but some find the fees slightly high.