Question about anonymity

[LogicalUnit]

Hello, quick query: If I use funds in my personal wallet, A, to transfer funds to another wallet, B, can the funds be traced back to me? Under what circumstances could this happen?

[cypherdoc]

Hello, quick query: If I use funds in my personal wallet, A, to transfer funds to another wallet, B, can the funds be traced back to me? Under what circumstances could this happen?

only if you voluntarily link your identity to A publicly.

[LogicalUnit]

Thank you, cypherdoc. So if I were to post my wallet address A to this forum (for tips/donations/whatever), and I sent BTC from A to B they could trace the funds back to me?

[Prophet]

Yup, I recommend just making a paper wallet and save it for a big purchase then discard the wallet.

[cypherdoc]

Thank you, cypherdoc. So if I were to post my wallet address A to this forum (for tips/donations/whatever), and I sent BTC from A to B they could trace the funds back to me?

They could trace them back to LogicalUnit,  whoever that is.

They'd then have to get a warrant to get Bitcointalk to hand over ip addresses and then trace back to you through your isp.

But they'd have to have a strong reason or suspicion to go through the trouble.

They'd never know who B is if you don't tell them or if there are no records.

[Kazimir]

Thank you, cypherdoc. So if I were to post my wallet address A to this forum (for tips/donations/whatever), and I sent BTC from A to B they could trace the funds back to me?

Well yeah, 'they' (that is, anyone) can see that the funds in B originate from A. Transactions are public. However they can't tell if B is also your address or someone else's.

So yes, they can trace back the funds to 'you' (if they know A is yours) but they can't tell for sure if you still own the coins or if you paid them to someone else.

But there are ways around this, like coin mixing services etc.