<p>If you are only receiving funds then no, the merchant cannot link the addresses. The problem is if you are also sending them funds. With most wallet software when you create a transaction it doesn't ask you select the specific unspent outputs to spend so it could possibly spend from one of the addresses you are "not supposed" to be associated with. </p>

<p>So let's say <code>merchant</code> sends funds to <code>Alice</code> and <code>Bob</code>, but you're actually both when the merchant thinks you're two different people. If you then accidentally use unspent outputs for <code>Bob</code> when you are supposed to only be <code>Alice</code> (for example, later buying something from that merchant or issuing a refund) -- then the jig is up, the merchant now knows that <code>Alice</code> also has <code>Bob</code>'s key(s).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-28T09:52:47.437Z
These are not the only cases where the merchant can find out that Alice and Bob are the same person. Assuming the merchant is observing Alice's and Bob's unspent transaction outputs, then when the unspent transaction outputs from both Alice and Bob (who are the same person) are used as inputs to a new transaction, the merchant could conclude that with high probability Alice and Bob are the same person.
Bjarne Magnussen
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-28T02:02:37.800Z
2016-11-28T02:02:37.800Z
m1xolyd1an
<p>I would like to do business with a merchant (deposits and withdrawals) but do not want the merchant to know that I am one person making multiple transactions.</p>

<p>If I have multiple addresses in a wallet and only use each one once, will there be any way for the merchant to link those to addresses that I have previously done business with them at?</p>

<p>If so, what is the best way to stay anonymous as I have described?</p>

<privacy><merchants>
Can a merchant find my other bitcoin addresses in the same wallet if it sends me money to one?
user43655
# Can a merchant find my other bitcoin addresses in the same wallet if it sends me money to one?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-11-27)

I would like to do business with a merchant (deposits and withdrawals) but do not want the merchant to know that I am one person making multiple transactions.

If I have multiple addresses in a wallet and only use each one once, will there be any way for the merchant to link those to addresses that I have previously done business with them at?

If so, what is the best way to stay anonymous as I have described?

**Tags:** privacy, merchants


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-11-28. Score: 1

If you are only receiving funds then no, the merchant cannot link the addresses. The problem is if you are also sending them funds. With most wallet software when you create a transaction it doesn't ask you select the specific unspent outputs to spend so it could possibly spend from one of the addresses you are "not supposed" to be associated with.

So let's say `merchant` sends funds to `Alice` and `Bob`, but you're actually both when the merchant thinks you're two different people. If you then accidentally use unspent outputs for `Bob` when you are supposed to only be `Alice` (for example, later buying something from that merchant or issuing a refund) -- then the jig is up, the merchant now knows that `Alice` also has `Bob`'s key(s).

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: These are not the only cases where the merchant can find out that Alice and Bob are the same person. Assuming the merchant is observing Alice's and Bob's unspent transaction outputs, then when the unspent transaction outputs from both Alice and Bob (who are the same person) are used as inputs to a new transaction, the merchant could conclude that with high probability Alice and Bob are the same person.  

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