LocalMonero closed in May 2024. AgoraDesk followed in November 2024. Here’s what replaced them — from someone who completed 683 trades on those platforms.
LocalMonero at peak: thousands of active traders, dozens of payment methods, global coverage. The gold standard for P2P Monero trading. AgoraDesk (parent platform) also handles BTC.
LocalMonero announces shutdown. Cites “a combination of internal and external factors.” Likely: regulatory pressure + operational burnout. 30-day wind-down period begins.
LocalMonero goes offline permanently. All trades settled, all funds returned. No user losses reported.
AgoraDesk shuts down. Frontend still loads but API is dead — the platform is non-functional.
Haveno matures (RetosSwap hits ~$2M/month volume). XMRBazaar grows to 7,000+ users. OpenMonero launches. P2P trading fragments across multiple platforms.
| Platform | Type | Fees | Escrow | Payment Methods | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haveno (RetosSwap) | Decentralized DEX | 0.6% | 2-of-3 multisig | Bank, SEPA, cash, Revolut, many more | Closest to LocalMonero — escrow + fiat |
| Haveno (DawnSwap) | Decentralized DEX | ~2% | 2-of-3 multisig | Same as RetosSwap | Lower deposits (5% vs 15%), faster arbitration |
| XMRBazaar | Classifieds marketplace | 0% | Manual multisig | Any (negotiated) | Zero fees, largest P2P community |
| OpenMonero | P2P marketplace | 0% | Platform escrow | Cash, bank, crypto | LocalMonero-like UI, zero fees |
| Direct P2P (arnoldnakamura) | Direct trader | 10% premium | Available on request | Cash by mail (EU), face-to-face (SW Germany) | Verified trader, fast, no platform needed |
Haveno is an open-source, decentralized exchange built specifically for Monero. Unlike LocalMonero (a website), Haveno is a desktop application — you download it, fund a wallet, and trade peer-to-peer with 2-of-3 multisig escrow protecting both sides.
RetosSwap is the established Haveno instance — ~$2M/month volume, proven arbitrator (RoundTheRoses, 24–48h response), 15% security deposits, 0.6% total fees. This is where most liquidity lives.
DawnSwap is newer — lower deposits (5%), 24/7 arbitration (faster response), but ~2% fees and less liquidity. Better for smaller trades where deposit cost matters.
XMRBazaar is the largest Monero classifieds marketplace — 7,000+ users, 11,000+ listings, zero fees. Founded by Douglas Tuman. Think of it as Craigslist for Monero: you post what you want to buy or sell, negotiate directly with counterparties, and settle manually.
Key difference from LocalMonero: XMRBazaar doesn’t handle escrow for you. For protected trades, you can use Monero’s built-in multisig or request escrow through a trusted third party.
XMRBazaar also has a Monero Near Me map for face-to-face trading — the closest thing to LocalMonero’s location-based listings.
OpenMonero is a newer P2P marketplace launched after LocalMonero’s shutdown. It has the most similar user interface: create offers, set margins, negotiate via chat. 0% fees, no KYC, clearnet + Tor access.
If you already have Bitcoin or another crypto and want Monero, instant swap services are the fastest option. They’re not P2P in the traditional sense, but they require no account and no KYC for small amounts.
For more details: Bitcoin to Monero — 8 Private Conversion Methods and Best Monero Exchange 2026.
The most trustless option: swap BTC for XMR directly, on-chain, with no intermediary at all. Atomic swaps use cryptographic hash-time locks to ensure both parties either complete the trade or get refunded.
Limitation: Atomic swaps are crypto-to-crypto. If you need to buy XMR with EUR cash, you need Haveno, a P2P trader, or a cash-based method.
LocalMonero was a website. Haveno is a desktop app. XMRBazaar and OpenMonero are web-based but have smaller user bases. No single platform matches LocalMonero’s combination of web UI + escrow + liquidity.
LocalMonero tracked trades, feedback, and account age natively. Haveno has no cross-trade reputation. XMRBazaar has basic profiles. This gap is partially filled by Wayback Machine archives of old profiles.
LocalMonero supported 100+ payment methods globally. Haveno covers the most popular ones (SEPA, Revolut, cash, bank transfer). XMRBazaar and direct traders fill niche payment methods.
All P2P XMR trades happened on one platform. Now liquidity is split across Haveno, XMRBazaar, OpenMonero, and direct traders. You may need to check multiple platforms to find the best deal.
Platforms come and go — LocalMonero proved that. A trader’s reputation survives platform shutdowns. I traded as chingchongfalung on LocalMonero and AgoraDesk: 683 trades, 454 unique trading partners, 100% positive feedback, ~10 minute average finalization time.
Verified on the Wayback Machine: AgoraDesk profile (April 2024)
Direct P2P trading offers advantages no platform can match:
Cash by Mail (EU-wide) | Face-to-Face (Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Mannheim, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, Freiburg, Strasbourg)
Contact @arnoldnakamura on Telegram
683 trades · 454 partners · 100% feedback · Escrow available · 10% over market
| Feature | LocalMonero (was) | Haveno | XMRBazaar | OpenMonero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Web marketplace | Desktop DEX | Web classifieds | Web marketplace |
| Escrow | Built-in | 2-of-3 multisig | Manual (multisig) | Platform escrow |
| Fees | 1% maker | 0.6–2% | 0% | 0% |
| KYC | None | None | None | None |
| Reputation | Native (trades, feedback) | None (per-trade) | Basic profiles | Basic profiles |
| Payment methods | 100+ | 20+ | Any (negotiated) | 10+ |
| Active users | Shutdown | ~$2M/month vol | 7,000+ | ~1–5K |
| Tor support | Yes | Built-in | Yes | Yes (.onion) |
| Status (2026) | Dead | Active | Active | Growing |
For a deeper comparison with ratings and scores: Compare P2P Monero Trading Platforms.
Download Feather Wallet (desktop) or Cake Wallet (mobile). Both support Tor. Write down your 25-word seed phrase and store it securely (cold storage guide).
Buying XMR with EUR? Start with Haveno (escrow) or contact me (direct). Already have BTC? Use instant swaps or atomic swaps.
Start small (€50–100). If using Haveno, follow our step-by-step tutorial. If trading directly, agree on terms via encrypted messaging (Telegram, Signal, or Session). Use escrow until you build trust.
Complete small trades successfully. Be responsive, deliver quickly, confirm promptly. Your reputation is your most valuable asset in P2P trading — it survives platform shutdowns.
The operators cited “a combination of internal and external factors.” Likely: increasing regulatory pressure, operational burden of running a privacy-focused exchange, and personal burnout. The shutdown was orderly — no user funds were lost.
No. The source code was proprietary. OpenMonero is the closest in UI/UX. Haveno is the closest in functionality (escrow + fiat).
Not directly. Check the Wayback Machine for archived profile pages. If your profile was public, your reputation history may be preserved.
RetosSwap has the highest volume (~$2M/month). XMRBazaar has the most users (7,000+). Direct traders fill the gaps for specific payment methods and regions.
Yes — safer, actually. Haveno’s 2-of-3 multisig is cryptographically stronger than LocalMonero’s custodial escrow. No platform holds your funds. See Is Monero Safe? for the full assessment.
Check Wayback Machine for archived LocalMonero/AgoraDesk profiles. On Haveno, start small and build trust. On XMRBazaar, check profile age and feedback. For direct traders, ask for verifiable proof — like this.
Shut down in November 2024, months after LocalMonero. Same operators, same reasons. The domain loads a frontend but the API is dead — the platform is non-functional.
Haveno is open-source and decentralized. If RetosSwap’s operators disappear, anyone can fork the code and launch a new instance (DawnSwap already did). Your wallet and keys are always local — no funds at risk. This is the advantage of decentralization.