Are Transactions on a Public Blockchain Anonymous?

Transactions on a public blockchain are pseudonymous, not anonymous. While a user's real-world identity is not directly tied to their wallet address, all transactions are publicly visible on the ledger.

Anyone can see the flow of funds between addresses. With advanced analytics and by linking an address to a transaction at a regulated exchange, it is often possible to trace the identity of the person controlling a wallet.

Therefore, a high degree of transparency exists, but not true anonymity.

What Are Privacy Coins?
Explain the Concept of “Hashing” and Its Role in Creating a Public Address
Explain the Relationship between a Private Key, Public Key, and Wallet Address
What Is the Role of a ‘Stealth Address’ in Conjunction with Ring Signatures?
Are Crypto Block Trades Ever Publicly Reported?
Why Might a CDS Contract Not Cover Certain Types of Government Intervention or Bailouts?
What Are the Challenges of Cross-Market Surveillance in a Fragmented Crypto Ecosystem?
How Does a Stealth Address Prevent ‘Address Linkage’?

Glossar