The notion that Bitcoin is completely anonymous is a widespread one. It is also incorrect even though transactions involving Bitcoin do not involve the transmission of personal information.
It is possible for Bitcoin owners to protect their identity to a certain extent, but not completely.
An individual can spend Bitcoin without using their name but their transactions can be connected to the addresses whereby they receive Bitcoins. When those addresses are ever tied to their personal identity, all the transactions associated with them will be tied to their identity as well.
It is widely recommended that Bitcoin owners use a new address for each transaction. While this method does help with anonymity, it is flawed.
For a better understanding of why Bitcoin cannot be truly anonymous, it is important to know how the cryptocurrency works.
Bitcoin Overview
Each Bitcoin transaction involves inputs and outputs with inputs being the addresses from which Bitcoin is sent. Each of the addresses has a private key and the Bitcoin can only be transferred using the private key from the address. The outputs are the addresses that receive the Bitcoin. Usually, a transaction requires Bitcoin to be moved from one or more inputs to one or more outputs.
Most transactions involve the merging several smaller inputs and outputs.
If an individual controls two inputs of one Bitcoin each and they want to buy an item for 1.5 Bitcoin, then those inputs will be merged to make up one transaction. The transaction will also involve multiple outputs since a change address will be necessary. In the above example, the extra 0.5 Bitcoin will be sent to the buyer’s change address.
Ways in Which Bitcoin Anonymity Can be Compromised
Connecting Nodes
The Bitcoin peer-to-peer network is not completely secure. It may be possible for attackers to connect multiple nodes and thus discover the origin of a transaction.
Using Personal Identity
If a Bitcoin owner uses their personal identity in a Bitcoin transaction, this can also result in a loss of anonymity.
For example, a delivery address for something ordered in an online store could connect the buyer’s name and home address to their Bitcoin.
If any of the input addresses in the aforementioned Bitcoin transaction are tied to the buyer’s identity, all of the other addresses will be as well.
The Transaction Ledger
Bitcoin transactions are open to all, which means that addresses can be traced.
This allows for a group of different Bitcoin addresses to be tied to a particular user.
If just one address is tied to an individual’s identity then the others in that group can also be tied to their identity.
How to Enhance Bitcoin Anonymity
Use More than One Wallet
Having multiple wallets can be compared to having several identities. There is software that Bitcoin owners can use to control several wallets from the same interface.
Use One of the Mixing Services
Mixing services blend users’ Bitcoins together.
They send them out randomly to make it impossible to figure out the connections between inputs and outputs.
While this works, it also requires Bitcoin owners to place a significant amount of trust in the mixing service. There is nothing to stop them from recording the transactions or absconding with all the Bitcoin.
Use Online Wallets
Since these services store all the Bitcoin that has been entrusted to them together, it is possible to hide the original owners. This can only work if the wallet service is very active.
The Future of Blockchain Technology
Many believe the future of Bitcoin to be inevitable and that it will bring in a new era of privacy that has, in recent years, been swept aside as the digital revolution of our world has pushed forward. Yet, privacy is not a fact of Bitcoin, blockchain by design is open and not anonymous and there remain enormous security challenges to be overcome.
As Bitcoin evolves, it is expected that there will be upgrades to improve anonymity. These upgrades include ways to keep addresses from being connected during a transaction. Researchers are also working on methods of combining random transactions as a means of enhancing privacy.