Reputation

Reputation in Bisq Easy

Reputation is a cornerstone of the security model in Bisq Easy, a Bisq 2 trade protocol. As buyers send their fiat payment before receiving Bitcoin, the seller's reputation provides the trust needed for the buyer to proceed confidently.

The main Reputation section can be found under 'User Options' in the Bisq 2 left-hand menu.

Why Reputation Matters

• For Buyers: Carefully review a seller's reputation (shown as stars) before accepting an offer. Choosing sellers with a higher reputation is crucial for minimizing trade risks.
• For Sellers: Building and maintaining a high reputation is essential. It increases buyer trust, makes your offers more competitive leading to more trades, and allows you to offer larger trade amounts (see rules below). Maximizing reputation is key to success as a seller on Bisq Easy. There is expected to be competition among sellers to achieve higher reputation scores.

Reputation & Trade Rules (Version 2.1.1 and Later)

Starting with Bisq 2 version 2.1.1, several important rules directly link reputation to trading activity:

• Seller's Maximum Trade Amount: The maximum amount a seller can offer in a single trade now directly depends on their reputation score. Higher reputation allows sellers to create offers for larger amounts.
• System Trade Limits: While a seller's maximum depends on their reputation, the overall limits for any Bisq Easy trade are fixed between the fiat equivalent of 6 USD (minimum) and 600 USD (maximum). This avoids issues with Bitcoin price swings. (Note: Before v2.1.1, limits were 0.0001 - 0.01 BTC).
• Enhanced BSQ Value: To reward commitment and long-term participation, BSQ that is burned or bonded for reputation now contributes double its initial value to the score over the course of the first year (the score increases linearly during that year). This allows sellers to increase their eligible trade limits more quickly.
• Minimum Score Setting Removed: The previous option for buyers to set a specific minimum required reputation score for sellers (formerly defaulted to 30000) was removed in v2.1.1. The system now relies on the direct link between reputation and the allowed trade amount as a better way to handle risk.

General Bisq Easy trade limits are 6 USD to 600 USD (or fiat equivalent). A seller's specific maximum offer size within this range depends on their reputation.

Previously, Bisq warned if trading below a set minimum score; this setting was removed in v2.1.1.

Understanding Reputation Stars

To make reputation easy to compare quickly, Bisq Easy displays scores using a simple 0 to 5 star system.

The star system (0-5) provides an easy comparison of seller reputation based on their current rank among active users. 5 stars indicate the highest relative reputation.

• How it Works (Relative Ranking): Your star rating shows how your reputation compares to all other *active* users on the Bisq network at that moment. It's your current rank, not a fixed score. The highest-ranked active sellers get 5 stars, the lowest get 0 stars.
• Why Stars Change (Dynamic): Because it's a relative system based on active users, your star rating can change even if your score hasn't:

   * User Inactivity: If a user is inactive for two weeks, their profile is temporarily excluded from the ranking calculation. If a high-ranked user becomes inactive, others might see their star ratings go up.
   * User Reactivation: When an inactive user returns, their reputation is factored back in, potentially shifting star ratings again.

In short: Stars give you a quick, dynamic view of a seller's current reputation rank compared to their active peers. The star display will change over time based on both your own score changes and the changing scores of other active users.

How to Build Reputation

You can build your reputation score in Bisq Easy using four methods. Your total reputation score is calculated as the sum of the points gained from all methods you use. This total score determines your reputation rank (stars) and your maximum trade offer size.

Reputation scores can change over time: points from BSQ Bonds are lost when unlocked, but you can burn or bond BSQ repeatedly. You can also import account age or signed account age, potentially replacing previous imported scores if the new import source is older.

Access the four reputation-building methods via 'User Options' > 'Reputation' in Bisq 2.

Method 1: Burning BSQ

You permanently burn BSQ tokens to gain reputation. This represents a strong, long-term commitment to the network, akin to a proof of work.

• Scoring:

   * Initial Score: 100 points per BSQ burned.
   * 12-Month Bonus: The score doubles over the first year (increasing linearly from 100 to 200 points per BSQ burned). This rewards long-term sellers.
   * Persistence: Reputation from burning BSQ is permanent for that profile (unless the profile is banned).
   * Cumulative: You can burn BSQ multiple times; scores accumulate.

• Minimum Burn: 5.46 BSQ (dust limit).
• Oracle Publishing: Data about burned BSQ is automatically published by the oracle.
• How To Burn BSQ for Reputation:

   # In Bisq 2: Go to 'User Options' > 'Reputation'. Select your profile and copy the Profile ID.
   # In Bisq 1: Go to 'DAO' > 'PROOF OF BURN'.
   # Paste the Bisq 2 Profile ID into the pre-image field.
   # Enter the amount of BSQ you want to burn.
   # Click 'Publish Burn BSQ transaction'.
   # After blockchain confirmation, the reputation will appear on your Bisq 2 profile.

Burning BSQ in Bisq 1 requires your Bisq 2 Profile ID as the 'pre-image'.

Method 2: Bonding BSQ

You lock up BSQ tokens for a set period (minimum ~1 year) to gain reputation. This is refundable, but shows commitment for the lock duration. Like burning, regular bonding can represent user activity.

• Scoring:

   * Initial Score: 10 points per BSQ bonded.
   * 12-Month Bonus: The score doubles over the first year (increasing linearly from 10 to 20 points per BSQ bonded during the lock period).
   * Persistence: Reputation lasts only while the BSQ remains bonded. You lose these points when you unlock the bond.
   * Cumulative: You can create multiple bonds; scores add up while active.

• Minimum Lock Time: 50,000 Bitcoin blocks (approximately 1 year). After this period, the bond can be unlocked and the BSQ becomes available again.
• Confiscation Risk: In severe cases (like proven scamming), the Bisq DAO can vote to confiscate (destroy) a user's bond. Confiscating requires high voter turnout (quorum) in the DAO, making it somewhat difficult but possible.
• Oracle Publishing: Data about bonded BSQ is automatically published by the oracle.
• How To Bond BSQ for Reputation:

   # In Bisq 2: Go to 'User Options' > 'Reputation'. Select your profile and copy the Profile ID.
   # In Bisq 1: Go to 'DAO' > 'BONDING' > 'BONDED REPUTATION'.
   # Paste the Bisq 2 Profile ID into the salt field.
   # Enter the BSQ amount and set lock time to at least 50000 blocks.
   # Click 'Publish lockup transaction'.
   # After blockchain confirmation, the reputation appears on your Bisq 2 profile.

Bonding BSQ in Bisq 1 uses your Bisq 2 Profile ID as the 'salt'.

Method 3: Importing Bisq 1 Account Age

Leverage the history of your fiat accounts from Bisq 1. The older the account, the more trustworthy the user is assumed to be.

• Scoring:

   * Score: 2.5 points per day of the account's age.
   * Maximum: Capped at 5,000 points (for accounts ~2000 days old or older).
   * Which Account: Uses the age of your single oldest Bisq 1 fiat account. Scores from multiple accounts are not added together. If you import again from an even older account later, it can replace the previous score from this method.
   * Limitation: Account age alone is usually not enough for significant reputation; combine with other methods.

• How To Import Account Age:

   # In Bisq 2: Go to 'User Options' > 'Reputation' > 'Account Age'. Select profile, copy Profile ID.
   # In Bisq 1: Go to 'ACCOUNT' > 'NATIONAL CURRENCY ACCOUNTS'.
   # Select your oldest account and click Export Account.
   # Copy the generated signature/proof.
   # In Bisq 2: Paste the signature/proof into the 'Account Age' section.
   # Click 'Request authorization'.

Importing account age requires exporting proof from your oldest Bisq 1 account.

Method 4: Importing Bisq 1 Signed Account Age

Similar to account age, but uses the age of fiat accounts that completed the older signing process in Bisq 1. The older the signed account, the more trustworthy the user is assumed to be.

• Scoring:

   * Score: 5 points per day of the signed account's age.
   * Maximum: Capped at 10,000 points (for signed accounts ~2000 days old or older).
   * Which Account: Uses the age of your single oldest Bisq 1 signed fiat account. Scores are not cumulative across multiple signed accounts. Importing from an older signed account later can replace a previous score from this method.
   * Limitation: Signed account age alone may not be enough for higher reputation tiers; combine with other methods.

• How To Import Signed Account Age:

   # In Bisq 2: Go to 'User Options' > 'Reputation' > 'Signed Account Age'. Select profile, copy Profile ID.
   # In Bisq 1: Go to 'ACCOUNT' > 'NATIONAL CURRENCY ACCOUNTS'.
   # Select your oldest signed account and click Export Account.
   # Copy the generated signature/proof.
   # In Bisq 2: Paste the signature/proof into the 'Signed Account Age' section.
   # Click 'Request authorization'.

Importing signed account age uses proof from your oldest signed Bisq 1 account.

Reputation Simulation Tool

Deciding how much BSQ to burn or bond can be complex. Bisq 2 provides a simulation tool to help sellers estimate the reputation score impact of these actions.

Find this tool within the 'Reputation' section ('User Options' > 'Reputation'). It helps visualize the immediate score increase and the potential score after the first year's doubling effect.

Simulating the reputation gained from burning BSQ, showing the 12-month potential score doubling.

Simulating the reputation gained from bonding BSQ, also showing the 12-month doubling potential.

What Happens if a Profile is Banned?

If a user's profile ID (which contains a public key hash tied to reputation) is banned by moderators for severe or repeated violations of Bisq trade protocols, all reputation associated with that specific profile ID is permanently lost. The score will no longer be visible or count towards rankings. Banning may also trigger consequences in Bisq 1 (e.g., onion address ban, BSQ bond confiscation proposal via the DAO).

Note on Backward Compatibility (Interacting with Versions Before 2.1.1)

While upgrading is highly recommended, be aware of these edge cases if interacting with users on older versions:

• Taking Old Offers (v2.1.1+ User): You might be able to take offers created by pre-v2.1.1 users for small amounts (up to ~25 USD) even if their reputation doesn't meet the new standards, as requirements are relaxed for these small legacy trades.
• Rejecting Takes on Old Offers (Pre-v2.1.1 Maker): If you created an offer using a pre-v2.1.1 version and set a specific minimum reputation score in your old settings, and a taker with insufficient reputation (but allowed by the ~25 USD relaxation) takes it, you (the maker) can potentially reject the trade without penalty. Mediators can assist in cases of doubt.
• Taking New Offers (Pre-v2.1.1 Seller): Buy offers created with v2.1.1+ implicitly require a high reputation from the seller (equivalent to the old 30000 score default, as the buyer setting was removed). If you are a seller using a version older than 2.1.1, you will need at least this score level to be able to take offers created by newer clients.

Upgrading to the latest Bisq 2 version ensures access to all features and the intended security model.