<p>The network doesn't require proven ownership to make an address valid, otherwise one would never be able to send bitcoins to a new address. Any address in the address space can receive a transaction at any time. Also see here: 
<a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/13225/5406">At what point is a new wallet known by the Bitcoin network?</a></p>

<p>Creating a great number of addresses is possible, but impractical, because the address space is simply too big for anyone to even store a significant portion of the addresses. See a more thorough explanation here:<br>
<a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/22/5406">Is it possible to brute force bitcoin address creation in order to steal money?</a></p>

<p>Assuming the "That distributed DB" refers to the Blockchain, the Blockchain stores every transaction ever made on the Bitcoin network. See <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/168/5406">What is the “blockchain”?</a> and <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/1600/5406">Where are the user's bitcoins actually stored?</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-11T22:47:11.627Z
2015-04-11T22:47:11.627Z
2017-04-13T12:47:33.660Z
Murch
<p>Is there a function or mechanism in the bitcoin protocol that prevents someone from creating millions or billions of bitcoin addresses and just sitting on them? Do the addresses need a minimum balance of outputs? or Does that distributed DB save each address? (And if it is saved....what is saved?  The base58 address or the full Public Key? I am also familiar with the ecdsa algorithm.)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-11T22:52:29.907Z
Hi raoa, it is customary here to ask only about one topic per question, as our system works best with narrow topics that may be linked to similar questions. I've tried to provide a short answer below and added some links for further reading. As I think all your questions have answers on Bitcoin.SE already, I have closed your question as a duplicate of a question that appears to answer your main query. If you are interested in finding out more about our site, please check out our short and vivid **[tour]**.
Murch
<bitcoind><address>
Is there A Mechanism In Place that Prevent Address 'Squatting'?
raoa
# Is there A Mechanism In Place that Prevent Address 'Squatting'?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-04-11)

Is there a function or mechanism in the bitcoin protocol that prevents someone from creating millions or billions of bitcoin addresses and just sitting on them? Do the addresses need a minimum balance of outputs? or Does that distributed DB save each address? (And if it is saved....what is saved? The base58 address or the full Public Key? I am also familiar with the ecdsa algorithm.)

**Tags:** bitcoind, address

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Hi username_0, it is customary here to ask only about one topic per question, as our system works best with narrow topics that may be linked to similar questions. I've tried to provide a short answer below and added some links for further reading. As I think all your questions have answers on Bitcoin.SE already, I have closed your question as a duplicate of a question that appears to answer your main query. If you are interested in finding out more about our site, please check out our short and vivid **[tour]**.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-04-11. Score: 2

The network doesn't require proven ownership to make an address valid, otherwise one would never be able to send bitcoins to a new address. Any address in the address space can receive a transaction at any time. Also see here:
[At what point is a new wallet known by the Bitcoin network?](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/13225/5406)

Creating a great number of addresses is possible, but impractical, because the address space is simply too big for anyone to even store a significant portion of the addresses. See a more thorough explanation here:  
[Is it possible to brute force bitcoin address creation in order to steal money?](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/22/5406)

Assuming the "That distributed DB" refers to the Blockchain, the Blockchain stores every transaction ever made on the Bitcoin network. See [What is the “blockchain”?](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/168/5406) and [Where are the user's bitcoins actually stored?](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/1600/5406).


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