#数字资产市场动态 Do you really think Bitcoin is anonymous?

Many people have been fooled by this claim when entering the space — that cryptocurrencies are a privacy paradise, capable of evading all surveillance. But this myth has long been shattered.

**Blockchain is much more "transparent" than you think**

In Satoshi Nakamoto's 2008 white paper, it was indeed stated that participants could remain anonymous, which ignited the imagination of a generation. Silk Road is the best example — starting in 2011, using Bitcoin to sell illegal goods, accumulating hundreds of billions in transaction volume. Its founder, Ross Ulbricht, thought he was invincible. But this is a huge misunderstanding — every transaction on the blockchain is permanently recorded, and all fund flows form a complete chain. This is completely different from cash transactions — cash has no digital footprint, but every Bitcoin transaction can be traced back.

**How people get caught**

In 2013, cryptographer Sarah Meiklejohn conducted a study, analyzing blockchain data to track thousands of transactions. She not only traced the flow of funds from Silk Road but also revealed vulnerabilities in mixing services — seemingly chaotic transaction patterns can actually be identified through algorithms to reveal real identities. Ultimately, the FBI used this evidence to arrest Ulbricht.

Fast forward to 2022, after the FTX collapse, investigators also tracked billions of dollars in misappropriated funds via blockchain, directly leading to SBF's conviction.

**What is the truth?**

Why does the industry still hype up anonymity? In reality, it’s to attract those who dislike traditional finance, while concealing that law enforcement agencies like the FBI have already invested hundreds of millions of dollars in tracking technology. These techniques are generally not publicized because once they become widespread, illegal use would decrease, and the appeal for legitimate use would diminish.

Ironically, the biggest selling point of crypto — privacy — has long been invalid. Yet many people are still being misled by this outdated narrative.