Table of penalties

On this page

• Trade Penalties
• Penalties Applicable to Either Trader
• Penalties Applicable Specifically to the BTC Buyer
• Penalties Applicable Specifically to the BTC Seller

Penalties help enforce the Bisq Trading Rules, ensuring the process is as safe and fair as possible. The penalties detailed on this page apply specifically to trading protocols that utilize security deposits as their primary security mechanism. Protocols that do not use security deposits, like Bisq Easy which relies on Reputation, will have different consequences or mechanisms for handling rule violations.

Penalties are calculated as a percentage of the trade amount and are deducted primarily from the offending peer's security deposit. During the dispute resolution process, this amount may be offered as compensation to the counterparty. (Note: See below regarding 100% penalties potentially affecting the trade amount as well).

Important Notes:

• The actual penalty applied is up to the maximum percentage listed below, considering the security deposit size and the Mediator's discretion.
• 100% penalties represent serious violations and usually mean losing the entire security deposit and potentially the trade amount itself.
• Penalties are not cumulative; if multiple violations occur, the single highest applicable penalty percentage is typically used.
• Peers experiencing issues are encouraged to communicate via trader chat. If mutually agreed, they can suggest a specific penalty amount to the Mediator.
• To incentivize resolution via mediation, any penalty proposal will generally leave the penalized peer with at least 5% of the trade amount (deducted from the deposit), encouraging acceptance over costly arbitration.

Trade Penalties

Penalties Applicable to Either Trader

These penalties can apply to either the BTC Buyer or the BTC Seller, depending on who commits the violation in a protocol using security deposits.

Max Penalty (%)	Violation Description
100	Fraud attempt (e.g., unauthorized debiting of peer's account, malicious code tampering).
50	Attempting to solicit off-platform communication by including contact information in offer details (e.g., in 'additional information' field for Cash by Mail or Face-to-Face offers).
25	Not responding to Mediator inquiries within 48 hours during an active dispute resolution process.
25	Contacting trading peer outside of Bisq trader chat without prior consent or a clear, necessary reason related to completing the payment.
20	Cancelling an accepted trade without a valid reason according to Trading Rules.
20	Requesting payment be sent to, or insisting on paying from, a different account/name than agreed in the trade details, without Mediator approval.
10	Requiring excessive personal data from the counterparty beyond what is strictly necessary for the chosen payment method (e.g., demanding ID copies, proof of address unless intrinsic to the method like Cash by Mail).
10	Abusive or disrespectful behavior towards the trading peer, Mediator, or Arbitrator during the dispute process.

Original table source

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%;"
|-
! style="width: 15%;" | Max Penalty (%) !! style="width: 85%;" | Violation Description
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 100 || Fraud attempt (e.g., unauthorized debiting of peer's account, malicious code tampering).
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 50 || Attempting to solicit off-platform communication by including contact information in offer details (e.g., in 'additional information' field for [[Cash by mail|Cash by Mail]] or [[Face-to-face (payment method)|Face-to-Face]] offers).
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 25 || Not responding to [[Mediator]] inquiries within 48 hours during an active dispute resolution process.
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 25 || Contacting trading peer outside of Bisq [[Dispute_Resolution_in_Bisq_1|trader chat]] without prior consent or a clear, necessary reason related to completing the payment.
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 20 || Cancelling an accepted trade without a valid reason according to [[Trading_rules|Trading Rules]].
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 20 || Requesting payment be sent to, or insisting on paying from, a different account/name than agreed in the trade details, without [[Mediator]] approval.
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 10 || Requiring excessive personal data from the counterparty beyond what is strictly necessary for the chosen payment method (e.g., demanding ID copies, proof of address unless intrinsic to the method like [[Cash by mail|Cash by Mail]]).
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 10 || Abusive or disrespectful behavior towards the trading peer, [[Mediator]], or [[Arbitration|Arbitrator]] during the dispute process.
|}

Penalties Applicable Specifically to the BTC Buyer

These penalties apply only to the trader buying BTC (sending fiat or altcoins) in a protocol using security deposits.

Max Penalty (%)	Violation Description
100	Payment chargeback after trade completion.
25	Using Bitcoin-related terms (e.g., "BTC", "Bisq", "Bitcoin") in payment references/notes.
25	Paying from an account with a significantly different name (indicating a likely third party). Note: Seller may cancel trade without penalty.
20	Payment sent is 72+ hours late (beyond the trade period).
15	Payment sent is 48-72 hours late.
15	Paying from an account with the correct name but different account details (e.g., wrong bank/account number) than specified for the payment method. Note: Seller may cancel trade without penalty.
10	Payment sent is 24-48 hours late.
10	Using a similar but incorrect payment method that causes issues (e.g., sending via standard SWIFT when SEPA was agreed).
10	Paying the wrong fiat amount. Note: Buyer usually has the option to correct the amount within the trade window. Seller may cancel trade without penalty if not corrected promptly.
10	Using an unagreed payment reference/memo, including potentially problematic neutral terms or the Trade ID itself.
10	Delayed altcoin payment due to Buyer choosing an extremely low network fee. Note: Penalty may be reduced if Buyer uses transaction acceleration techniques (RBF, CPFP).
5	Payment sent is up to 24 hours late.

Original table source

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%;"
|-
! style="width: 15%;" | Max Penalty (%) !! style="width: 85%;" | Violation Description
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 100 || Payment chargeback after trade completion.
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 25 || Using Bitcoin-related terms (e.g., "BTC", "Bisq", "Bitcoin") in payment references/notes.
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 25 || Paying from an account with a significantly different name (indicating a likely third party). ''Note: Seller may cancel trade without penalty.''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 20 || Payment sent is 72+ hours late (beyond the trade period).
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 15 || Payment sent is 48-72 hours late.
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 15 || Paying from an account with the correct name but different account details (e.g., wrong bank/account number) than specified for the payment method. ''Note: Seller may cancel trade without penalty.''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 10 || Payment sent is 24-48 hours late.
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 10 || Using a similar but incorrect payment method that causes issues (e.g., sending via standard SWIFT when SEPA was agreed).
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 10 || Paying the wrong fiat amount. ''Note: Buyer usually has the option to correct the amount within the trade window. Seller may cancel trade without penalty if not corrected promptly.''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 10 || Using an unagreed payment reference/memo, including potentially problematic neutral terms or the Trade ID itself.
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 10 || Delayed altcoin payment due to Buyer choosing an extremely low network fee. ''Note: Penalty may be reduced if Buyer uses transaction acceleration techniques (RBF, CPFP).''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 5 || Payment sent is up to 24 hours late.
|}

Penalties Applicable Specifically to the BTC Seller

These penalties apply only to the trader selling BTC (receiving fiat or altcoins) in a protocol using security deposits.

Max Penalty (%)	Violation Description
25	Incorrect data in fiat account setup, used as-is by the buyer, causes buyer's bank to intervene (penalty amount depends on the nature of the bank's intervention)
15	BTC is released significantly outside the expected timeframe after payment confirmation, without valid reason.

Original table source

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%;"
|-
! style="width: 15%;" | Max Penalty (%) !! style="width: 85%;" | Violation Description
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 25 || Incorrect data in fiat account setup, used as-is by the buyer, causes buyer's bank to intervene (penalty amount depends on the nature of the bank's intervention)
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 15 || BTC is released significantly outside the expected timeframe after payment confirmation, without valid reason.
|}