Bitcoin

[FelixO]

Thank You!

[DannyHamilton]

Is it possible to trace bitcoins, not via sending/receiving adresses but the the coins themselves?

There is no such thing as a bitcoin, so there is nothing to trace.

There are only transactions.  Transactions spend previously unspent transaction outputs and create new unspent outputs.  For the standard transaction, an output is essentially an address and a value.

I reckon the smallest denomination (a satoshi) would have to be represented by a unique code in the blockchain to prevent double spending and other issues, is my assumption correct?

No, your assumption is not correct.  I suggest that you read the Bitcoin Whitepaper published by Satoshi Nakamoto before you try to guess how bitcoin works.

How would I be able to trace coins?

Since they don't exist...  No.

[DannyHamilton]

I will definitely read it, as soon as I can find the time.

Thank you for your reply.

It is 8 pages long with wide margins and lots of pictures.  It doesn't take very long to read.

[tysat]

https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf  in case you don't know where to find it!

[R0yalAir]

https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf  in case you don't know where to find it!

These nine pages are very helpful.

[DeathAndTaxes]

https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf  in case you don't know where to find it!

These nine pages are very helpful.

These nine pages should be mandatory reading.  For bonus point read it again a couple months later.  Bitcoin is like an onion, lots of layers.  The more you learn, the more you realize you have more to learn.

[BurtW]

The more you learn, the more you realize you have more to learn.

I learn something new at least weekly and I have been here for years.  BTW I have learned a lot from this guy ^^^ so pay attention to his posts!

Here is a great example of exactly what I am talking about:  https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=529395.msg5882513#msg5882513

I want to personally thank D&T for his work on these forums.

[MiningSZ]

read satoshis paper

[tysat]

https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf  in case you don't know where to find it!

These nine pages are very helpful.

These nine pages should be mandatory reading.  For bonus point read it again a couple months later.  Bitcoin is like an onion, lots of layers.  The more you learn, the more you realize you have more to learn.

+1 for onion status, I first read it in 2011 and have re-read it multiple times.  It takes a long time to fully understand Bitcoin!

[durrrr]

so bitcoins are traceable back to you? like if i spend coins to soemone they are always going to be recorded as i sent xx coins to this address?

[cp1]

so bitcoins are traceable back to you? like if i spend coins to soemone they are always going to be recorded as i sent xx coins to this address?

Yes, unless the blockchain is cut down to save space at some point.

[DannyHamilton]

so bitcoins are traceable back to you? like if i spend coins to soemone they are always going to be recorded as i sent xx coins to this address?

They are traceable back to the transactions that previously held that value. They are only traceable to you if the bitcoin address that you used to receive the bitcoins is publicly known.