Public keys as identities
To carry out a Bitcoin transaction, each counterparty must be identifiable by means of a unique Bitcoin address, associated with the respective public key. This unique identifier is necessary to identify and distinguish the individual transactions registered in the ledger. Although the real identities of the holders of Bitcoin addresses are not registered within the blockchain, it is possible to trace them indirectly. In fact, it is sufficient for anyone who knows the real identity of a counterparty in a transaction to reveal (even involuntarily) this identity publicly, so as to put an end to anonymity.
The public keys used as Bitcoin addresses are therefore able to hide the real identity of their owners as long ...
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