Click Here 62. How a mathematician and an entrepreneur helped law enforcement take a bite out of crypto crime
Apr 11, 2023
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Sarah's Bitcoin Shopping Experiment
- Sarah Micheljohn bought various items with Bitcoin to track transactions back to specific wallets and markets.
- These purchases, including a Boston CD and Guy Fox mask, helped reveal that Bitcoin transactions were traceable, not anonymous.
Bitcoin Transparency Revealed
- Bitcoin's blockchain is transparent, revealing every transaction publicly and permanently.
- Its perceived anonymity disappears when transactions interact with real-world exchanges or vendors.
Physical Evidence of Bitcoin Tracing
- Sarah bought dozens of items across many payment platforms to connect Bitcoin wallets to real-world identities.
- Stefan Savage keeps many physical artifacts from her purchases as evidence of this research.