comparison · P2P exchanges

Bisq vs Haveno

Both are listed in P2P exchanges. The table below pulls directly from each service’s data sheet; see each entry for sourcing.

Bisq — summary

Bisq is the canonical decentralized P2P exchange for Bitcoin.

• + No accounts, no registration, no central operator able to freeze funds.
• + Wide payment-method list including cash by mail and SEPA.
• + Open source, auditable, and Tor-routed by default.
• − Liquidity is thinner than custodial alternatives; spreads are wider on less-common payment methods.
• − Security-deposit escrow requires you to lock collateral while a trade is open.
• − Dispute resolution is mediated by Bisq arbitrators, not an exchange — read the trade protocol before using it for large amounts.

Full entry → Bisq

Haveno — summary

Haveno is the decentralized Monero-native P2P exchange — Bisq's design rebuilt for XMR rather than BTC.

• + The Monero-native equivalent of Bisq — no central operator, multisig escrow, no accounts.
• + Several independent federations (Haveno-Reto, Mons.haveno, etc.) run their own arbitrators.
• + Direct Monero P2P liquidity that does not require a custodial intermediary.
• − Federation matters — each independent Haveno deployment has different fees, arbitrators, and liquidity.
• − Desktop-app workflow; the learning curve approaches Bisq's.
• − Facts need re-verification by operator (last seeded 2026-01).

Full entry → Haveno

When to choose which

Treat this section as heuristic. Privacy properties depend on how you use the service, not just which one you pick.

• Choose Bisq if no accounts, no registration, no central operator able to freeze funds..
• Choose Haveno if the monero-native equivalent of bisq — no central operator, multisig escrow, no accounts..
• Either way, re-check the entry’s last verified date — the P2P exchanges category churns.

Mentioned in (combined)

Pages on the site that reference Bisq, Haveno, or both.

Compared as of Jan 1, 2026.