Author

Topic: How can I tell the source of a Bitcoin (Read 802 times)

newbie
Activity: 28
Merit: 0
May 24, 2013, 02:05:41 PM
#7
Hi,

I am newish to Bitcoins and have been receiving some etc...  I notice that some Bitcoins show in the 'from' field as coming from multiple address while some come from just 1 address.

I am looking to see how i could let users identify themselves to me so I know who sent it...in case I receive Bitcoins of the same amount around the same time from multiple users.

I presume the Bitcoins that have multiple addresses are those that come from exchanges ie.e mtgox from the user rather than say a users blockchain wallet (do blockchain bitcoins show up as 'from' the Bitcoin address that the user receives Bitcoins into).  Is there a way I can get users to identify themselves or have their exchange bitcoins coming from 1 address?

Thanks for any help?



Hi Kieran!

Usually, the fact that you see an incoming payment as deriving from multiple addresses can be explained like this: Imagine you had to receive a payment from me of 1BTC.
I might have in my wallet exactly 1BTC: in this case you will see a single address as the origin;
I might have 3 bitcoins in just one address: in this case you will see a single address as the origin (plus a second output of 2BTC coming back to me)
I might have 0.7 BTC in on address and 0.7 in another one:  in this case you will see two originating addresses as the origin (plus a second output of 0.4BTC coming back to me).

Does that help?

It is like with real money. Instead of 1 BTC take a 10$-Bill. You have 10$ in your pocket and have to pay 10$? Then the transaction has a single input (your 10$) and a single output (the 10$ to the receiver). But if you have to pay only 7$, you get back some chance money. You have one input, and two outputs (the receivers 7$, and your 3$). So when you have to pay 15$, you can use the 10$ bill and 5$ of your credit card.

The difference is, that you have less addresses in real life. You don't put the chance money in a different pocket, you just have one pocket with you. And because it is not efficient (and therefore expansive) you don't pay to one seller with cash and credit money.

What??
hero member
Activity: 546
Merit: 500
hm
Hi,

I am newish to Bitcoins and have been receiving some etc...  I notice that some Bitcoins show in the 'from' field as coming from multiple address while some come from just 1 address.

I am looking to see how i could let users identify themselves to me so I know who sent it...in case I receive Bitcoins of the same amount around the same time from multiple users.

I presume the Bitcoins that have multiple addresses are those that come from exchanges ie.e mtgox from the user rather than say a users blockchain wallet (do blockchain bitcoins show up as 'from' the Bitcoin address that the user receives Bitcoins into).  Is there a way I can get users to identify themselves or have their exchange bitcoins coming from 1 address?

Thanks for any help?



Hi Kieran!

Usually, the fact that you see an incoming payment as deriving from multiple addresses can be explained like this: Imagine you had to receive a payment from me of 1BTC.
I might have in my wallet exactly 1BTC: in this case you will see a single address as the origin;
I might have 3 bitcoins in just one address: in this case you will see a single address as the origin (plus a second output of 2BTC coming back to me)
I might have 0.7 BTC in on address and 0.7 in another one:  in this case you will see two originating addresses as the origin (plus a second output of 0.4BTC coming back to me).

Does that help?

It is like with real money. Instead of 1 BTC take a 10$-Bill. You have 10$ in your pocket and have to pay 10$? Then the transaction has a single input (your 10$) and a single output (the 10$ to the receiver). But if you have to pay only 7$, you get back some chance money. You have one input, and two outputs (the receivers 7$, and your 3$). So when you have to pay 15$, you can use the 10$ bill and 5$ of your credit card.

The difference is, that you have less addresses in real life. You don't put the chance money in a different pocket, you just have one pocket with you. And because it is not efficient (and therefore expansive) you don't pay to one seller with cash and credit money.
hero member
Activity: 593
Merit: 505
Wherever I may roam

cheers for replies...good to know info!!

You welcome, happy to help!  Smiley
newbie
Activity: 16
Merit: 0

cheers for replies...good to know info!!
hero member
Activity: 593
Merit: 505
Wherever I may roam
Hi,

I am newish to Bitcoins and have been receiving some etc...  I notice that some Bitcoins show in the 'from' field as coming from multiple address while some come from just 1 address.

I am looking to see how i could let users identify themselves to me so I know who sent it...in case I receive Bitcoins of the same amount around the same time from multiple users.

I presume the Bitcoins that have multiple addresses are those that come from exchanges ie.e mtgox from the user rather than say a users blockchain wallet (do blockchain bitcoins show up as 'from' the Bitcoin address that the user receives Bitcoins into).  Is there a way I can get users to identify themselves or have their exchange bitcoins coming from 1 address?

Thanks for any help?



Hi Kieran!

Usually, the fact that you see an incoming payment as deriving from multiple addresses can be explained like this: Imagine you had to receive a payment from me of 1BTC.
I might have in my wallet exactly 1BTC: in this case you will see a single address as the origin;
I might have 3 bitcoins in just one address: in this case you will see a single address as the origin (plus a second output of 2BTC coming back to me)
I might have 0.7 BTC in on address and 0.7 in another one:  in this case you will see two originating addresses as the origin (plus a second output of 0.4BTC coming back to me).

Does that help?
legendary
Activity: 1148
Merit: 1008
If you want to walk on water, get out of the boat
Give them a new address for every transaction so you know who sent money to that address
newbie
Activity: 16
Merit: 0
Hi,

I am newish to Bitcoins and have been receiving some etc...  I notice that some Bitcoins show in the 'from' field as coming from multiple address while some come from just 1 address.

I am looking to see how i could let users identify themselves to me so I know who sent it...in case I receive Bitcoins of the same amount around the same time from multiple users.

I presume the Bitcoins that have multiple addresses are those that come from exchanges ie.e mtgox from the user rather than say a users blockchain wallet (do blockchain bitcoins show up as 'from' the Bitcoin address that the user receives Bitcoins into).  Is there a way I can get users to identify themselves or have their exchange bitcoins coming from 1 address?

Thanks for any help?

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