<p>I think the confusion here lies in the (unfortunate) naming of the word &quot;address&quot;, which implies that it is somehow a fixed, permanent identity.</p>
<p>Bitcoin addresses are nothing like that. Typically a new address is constructed for every separate incoming payment, and then used exactly once (when the funds are spent). A wallet is a continuously-growing collection of addresses, and while the amounts sent to every address individually are public, it is not public which addresses belong to whom, or even which addresses belong together.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-04T19:11:22.440Z
2021-08-04T19:11:22.440Z
Pieter Wuille
<p>Per my understanding, in a blockchain system, all transactions are recorded on an immutable ledger.</p>
<p>Given this, if you know your friend's public address, wouldn't it be possible to figure out the collective total of their holdings? Isn't that a violation of privacy?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-07T19:13:56.640Z
Monero as well uses a blockchain, but you can't see transacted amounts that aren't relevant to you
MCCCS
<blockchain><privacy>
Does the concept of a blockchain introduce a violation of privacy?
nz_21
# Does the concept of a blockchain introduce a violation of privacy?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-03-07)

Per my understanding, in a blockchain system, all transactions are recorded on an immutable ledger.

Given this, if you know your friend's public address, wouldn't it be possible to figure out the collective total of their holdings? Isn't that a violation of privacy?

**Tags:** blockchain, privacy

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Monero as well uses a blockchain, but you can't see transacted amounts that aren't relevant to you  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-08-04. Score: 2

I think the confusion here lies in the (unfortunate) naming of the word "address", which implies that it is somehow a fixed, permanent identity.

Bitcoin addresses are nothing like that. Typically a new address is constructed for every separate incoming payment, and then used exactly once (when the funds are spent). A wallet is a continuously-growing collection of addresses, and while the amounts sent to every address individually are public, it is not public which addresses belong to whom, or even which addresses belong together.


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