Public ledger vs privacy
A public blockchain can expose transaction activity to anyone while still representing users through addresses rather than automatically revealing their real-world identities.
✦ Key Insight
Public visibility makes blockchain verification possible but can also create significant privacy risks.
✕ Common Misconceptions
Public blockchains should not automatically be described as anonymous. Pseudonymous activity can sometimes be traced to identities.
Detailed Explanation
In Practice
Dig Deeper
Address
An address is a public identifier used to specify a destination or account on a blockchain network.
Mixer
A cryptocurrency mixer is a service or mechanism designed to make it harder to trace the direct relationship between incoming and outgoing transactions.
Pseudonymity
Pseudonymity means activity is represented by an identifier such as a blockchain address rather than directly by a person's real-world identity.