Bitcoin Forum

Other => Beginners & Help => Topic started by: GCInc. on July 23, 2011, 09:57:59 AM



Title: Why to NOT use old bitcoin addresses?
Post by: GCInc. on July 23, 2011, 09:57:59 AM
Another simple question, WHY is it recommended to use a new bitcoin address for different purposes, or even for every transaction? Is there some technological reason behind that, as it would be much clearer to use a single payment address to identify your "bitcoin account" to make it more like the old ways for transferring money that people are used to?

Thank you


Title: Re: Why to NOT use old bitcoin addresses?
Post by: spruce on July 23, 2011, 10:00:36 AM
It helps with anonymity. You can promote a single receive address if you want — Wikileaks does (http://twitter.com/#!/wikileaks/status/80774521350668288).


Title: Re: Why to NOT use old bitcoin addresses?
Post by: hsf_context on July 23, 2011, 10:03:36 AM
So it'll be hard for people to track how much bitcoins you have. Besides, the idea is anonymity. :D


Title: Re: Why to NOT use old bitcoin addresses?
Post by: GCInc. on July 23, 2011, 10:08:30 AM
Are there any risks for sender anonymity making repeated transfers if the receiver is using a static bitcoin address?


Title: Re: Why to NOT use old bitcoin addresses?
Post by: DrHaribo on July 23, 2011, 10:08:51 AM
If two people owe you 10 BTC each, and you give them separate addresses to use when paying, it's easy to tell who it was if only one of them payed.

If you only ever use the same address you just see 10 BTC arrived.


Title: Re: Why to NOT use old bitcoin addresses?
Post by: OmegaNemesis28 on July 23, 2011, 10:44:43 AM
If two people owe you 10 BTC each, and you give them separate addresses to use when paying, it's easy to tell who it was if only one of them payed.

If you only ever use the same address you just see 10 BTC arrived.


I hadn't thought of it like that even after reading all the different scenarios. Nice!


Title: Re: Why to NOT use old bitcoin addresses?
Post by: Weaver on July 23, 2011, 06:26:55 PM
Or you could just tell one person to send 10.0012 and the other to send 10.0013 btc :)


Title: Re: Why to NOT use old bitcoin addresses?
Post by: cAPSLOCK on July 23, 2011, 07:35:45 PM
Two addresses is easier and more foolproof.