Can someone find out that you own bitcoin ?

[xtraelv]

I was following a thread and was amused by some of the answers. I'm interested to see how much people know.

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[hatshepsut93]

There are many ways you can be revealed as a Bitcoin user. If you don't use ToR or similar software, your ISP knows that you visit Bitcoin resources like this forum. People leave many breadcrumbs that can reveal them even without any chain analysis, they discuss Bitcoin openly on social media or even in private messages (sites like Facebook definitely read them), same goes for real life - one can mention Bitcoin a few times with friends and suddenly everyone knows that they are a Bitcoin user.

[flying_bit]

not just bitcoin but all cryptocurrency in general are pseudo anonymous. It's up to you and how you handle your transaction and how you keep your asset.
I believe transparency is key characteristic of blockchain and with now KYC for more exchanges I believe being anonymous is now just a history.

[BQ]

I would say, absolutely. but the method depends on who the someone is.. in theory, it's almost always possible?
Anyone who visits an exchange and registers their identity, can in theory be tracked easily unless they "tumble"(?) their bitcoin through some tumbler service?
But, when it comes to an ISP and not using a VPN, they can probably one way or another find out, not entirely sure -
I mean, using a wallet software, would that encrypt the broadcast of transfers? I don't think so?
while using https websites would in a sense be more protective

[pooya87]

your title and your poll are asking two different questions though. finding out whether someone has bitcoin or not can be a little different than finding how much and which coins.
for example when someone talks about bitcoin all the time, visits bitcoin related websites (bitcointalk, coinbase,...), has a bitcoin wallet installed then it is a safe assumption that they own bitcoin.
but knowing which address belongs to you and how much bitcoin you own is a much harder thing.

in any case multiple choices of that poll can be correct.

• Yes - it is pseudo anonymous so if you are not careful it can be revealed is the most obvious answer.
  
• Yes - through GPS in the bitcoin wallet code can be correct if you are using some unknown wallet that may have a backdoor not that there is any that i have seen so far!
  
• Yes - your identity is always revealed this depends on the type of wallet you are using. if you are using a WALLET like bitcoin core, armory, electrum,... then it is not. but if you are using a bitcoin ACCOUNT which they call wallet such as  coinbase then it is true.
  
• Yes - through the nodes this can also be true but not easy. basically you have to create a ton of nodes and connect to a ton of other nodes. then you select someone's node and connect to it and fill all its connection slots. each time that node sends a transaction you check to see whether you have seen this transaction before (if it is relaying it) or it is a new one (creating it). if it is new then he owns the coins.

[xtraelv]

• Yes - through GPS in the bitcoin wallet code can be correct if you are using some unknown wallet that may have a backdoor not that there is any that i have seen so far!
  

I haven't seen GPS in wallet code yet. Of course it would have to have GPS hardware to operate as well. Theoretically possible on a phone wallet.  

• Yes - your identity is always revealed this depends on the type of wallet you are using. if you are using a WALLET like bitcoin core, armory, electrum,... then it is not. but if you are using a bitcoin ACCOUNT which they call wallet such as  coinbase then it is true.
  

The key word in this answer would be "always". Rather than "in some cases".

• Yes - through the nodes this can also be true but not easy. basically you have to create a ton of nodes and connect to a ton of other nodes. then you select someone's node and connect to it and fill all its connection slots. each time that node sends a transaction you check to see whether you have seen this transaction before (if it is relaying it) or it is a new one (creating it). if it is new then he owns the coins.
  

> Can nodes tell which bitcoin addresses belong to which IP addresses?

No.

[mensha]

Although, the un-traceability is an inbuilt characteristic of Blockchain architecture, it will not be always un-traceable. If someone does not use an encrypted browsing mechanism like TOR, it is very simple to trace down a user of bitcoin. There can be many reverse engineering mechanisms to find out. Even though, if you use TOR, by analyzing public forums, documents or social media accounts, it will be possible to trace a bitcoin users.

[SHAWN-MIDWAYS]

I was following a thread and was amused by some of the answers. I'm interested to see how much people know.

Unless you use same address for every transaction.
Use blockchain.info and generate different address if you're worried about it and dealing with multiple parties.

[longwintershere]

there is no way to know only by you using blockchain, but they might find out when you decide to exchange crypto for fiat or possibly spend crypto, that's the vulnerability.

[btyco]

It depends on how cautious you are. It is all public knowledge on where the bitcoins move to and how much is in there. The part to keep secret is the final destination so if using a VPN then you'll be able to send / receive anonymously

[pooya87]

• Yes - through GPS in the bitcoin wallet code can be correct if you are using some unknown wallet that may have a backdoor not that there is any that i have seen so far!
  

I haven't seen GPS in wallet code yet. Of course it would have to have GPS hardware to operate as well. Theoretically possible on a phone wallet. 

• Yes - your identity is always revealed this depends on the type of wallet you are using. if you are using a WALLET like bitcoin core, armory, electrum,... then it is not. but if you are using a bitcoin ACCOUNT which they call wallet such as  coinbase then it is true.
  

The key word in this answer would be "always". Rather than "in some cases".

• Yes - through the nodes this can also be true but not easy. basically you have to create a ton of nodes and connect to a ton of other nodes. then you select someone's node and connect to it and fill all its connection slots. each time that node sends a transaction you check to see whether you have seen this transaction before (if it is relaying it) or it is a new one (creating it). if it is new then he owns the coins.
  

> Can nodes tell which bitcoin addresses belong to which IP addresses?

No.

i was pointing out the "special cases" of each of these situations where they may become true
for example satoshi is right nodes can't tell these things but there is a way of isolating a node that you want (like government performing these stuff with a lot of funds) and get the information you want out of it.
read the replies to this: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1581065.0;all

[cindygirl]

The majority of people won't be careful enough to completely hide the fact that they do own some bitcoin, they should however be careful enough in most cases that a specific wallet address cannot be linked back to their identity. Even still it's not uncommon for people to post their addresses in multiple locations so I'm sure if someone wanted to go through the effort of piecing things together they could.

All that being said, for most people they're very open about owning bitcoin and it's not really necessary to hide this fact.

[sakahayang]

There are many ways you can be revealed as a Bitcoin user. If you don't use ToR or similar software, your ISP knows that you visit Bitcoin resources like this forum. People leave many breadcrumbs that can reveal them even without any chain analysis, they discuss Bitcoin openly on social media or even in private messages (sites like Facebook definitely read them), same goes for real life - one can mention Bitcoin a few times with friends and suddenly everyone knows that they are a Bitcoin user.

I disagree with you, because somebody may talk about bitcoin but not use it. for example my friend, often talks about bitcoin but he is afraid to use bitcoin because the price is always changing.
bitcoin is often discussed because bitcoin is being talked about. so not necessarily what is discussed as a user

[galambo]

Securing your own crypto's is your personal job and if you don't want all the peoples to know that you earn a large sum of bitcoin just keep all the transactions and wallets hidden and use IP and VPN services which will protect you from getting tracked. If a person shares his transaction than all his other transactions can be tracked very easily. So, it up to you if you want to keep it anonymous you just need to take some measure and your balance will be hidden from everyone.

[athanz88]

Yes, someone can. I believe that others already mention you the cases on how people can find out about you and your relation with bitcoin.

I just want to add that, I guess it is hard to keep your privacy in this time, especially if you access internet. I believe once you enter your information in any website, either it is trusted website or not, the data can be achieved by someone or something.

[perla]

I was following a thread and was amused by some of the answers. I'm interested to see how much people know.

i think it is not, except if we told that someone about we have bitcoin. even there are transaction, it will not show who is the owner of the address. even in market you will need paper from law enforcer to get info from someone's account

[CryptOliver]

Cryptocurrency that is transparent in every transaction, 
that happens to make a lot of people who know how many bitcoin you have,
by knowing the name or know the Wallet Address you have.

[Bellator]

there is no way to know only by you using blockchain, but they might find out when you decide to exchange crypto for fiat or possibly spend crypto, that's the vulnerability.

We are all anonymous here,so as wallet address.I think you are right mate,there were exchanges that needs our complete details thats the time that our identity would be revealed.

[laiya94]

Yes, your Internet Service Provider can know you own bitcoins by tracking your websites, but they can never find how much bitcoin you have unless you reveal your wallet public key.

[sakahayang]

I was following a thread and was amused by some of the answers. I'm interested to see how much people know.

i think it is not, except if we told that someone about we have bitcoin. even there are transaction, it will not show who is the owner of the address. even in market you will need paper from law enforcer to get info from someone's account

Your opinion is the same as mine, it is impossible for a person's identity to be recognized just that he is talking about bitcoin. although visible address on the transaction I think it will be difficult to find the identity of the owner