The conclusion of a study by researchers at a university in Qatar may worry many people: "We have shown that by using Bitcoin as a payment method for Tor-type services, there is leakage of information that can be used to reveal the identity of users ". may mean that anyone who has used Silk Road services - even if it has been out of business since 2013 - can be traced and identified.
Pseudo-anonymity
According to the study, published on January 23, the possibility of identification is due to Bitcoin's pseudo-anonymity model. "By investigating the transaction history in Blockchain, people can link users who post their Bitcoin addresses to social networks with anonymous services, who in turn share those addresses on their own landing pages."
In the experiment, the researchers were able to find several anonymous users, including WikiLeaks, Silk Road and Pirate Bay, through profiles on Twitter and the Bitcoin Talk forum. "By using public profile information, we have been able to showcase concrete case studies where the anonymity has been broken," the paper said.
Suspicious Transactions
In more than 100 cases, scientists in the Arab country have been able to relate suspicious transactions in the block chain with non-anonymous public profiles. In addition, in 20 cases, individuals made payments to anonymous Tor services, including Silk Road and Pirate Bay.
Researchers say they have used methods available to everyone. They found Bitcoin's addresses and then looked for their owners. The case refers to the very nature of criptomoeda, which is its advantage and disadvantage: it is not controlled by anyone, but the block chain functions as an open cash register that records any and all transactions - forever.