Sebastian Sonntag, the new CEO of LocalBitcoins, and Mika Impola, software developer at LocalBitcoins, explain why the peer-to-peer bitcoin trading company has a new CEO, why it stopped cash trades and what kind of response they've received from the community about it. They describe how the service works, how it has changed over time, the range of payment options available amongst sellers on the site, and how peer-to-peer trading differs from country to country. Plus, we cover why it suspended buying in Iran, how regulation is changing the site in general, how it handles forks and what Sonngtag's plans are for the company.

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Episode links:

LocalBitcoins: https://localbitcoins.com/

LocalBitcoins blog: https://localbitcoins.com/blog/

LocalBitcoins names a new CEO: https://localbitcoins.com/blog/localbitcoins-names-a-new-ceo/

LocalBitcoins stops cash trades: https://www.coindesk.com/localbitcoins-removes-cash-for-crypto-trading-option

New Finnish AML regulations: https://localbitcoins.com/blog/aml-features-update/ 

LocalBitcoins’ new ID verification system: https://localbitcoins.com/blog/id-verification-update/ 

LocalBitcoins trading volume across countries: https://coin.dance/volume/localbitcoins

LocalBitcoins trading in Venezuela: https://coin.dance/volume/localbitcoins/VES/BTC

LocalBitcoins suspends buying in Iran: https://www.coindesk.com/localbitcoins-bans-bitcoin-buying-in-iran-in-blow-to-rising-crypto-commerce

Bitcoin Cash hard fork decision: https://localbitcoins.com/blog/bitcoin-bcash/

Bitcoin Maven: https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-bitcoin-sentencing-20180709-story.html

Hack on LocalBitcoins forums: https://www.coindesk.com/localbitcoins-reveals-security-breach-with-some-crypto-wallets-affected

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