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Bitcoin privacy

The practices and protocol properties that limit unwanted linkage of identities, balances and transactions.

The practices and protocol properties that limit unwanted linkage of identities, balances and transactions.

Bitcoin privacy is best understood as part of a system rather than as an isolated definition. Its related coordinates show the mechanisms, incentives and historical records that give the term practical meaning.

Bitcoin privacy should be evaluated against a concrete threat model: what is protected, from whom, for how long and at what operational cost. A design may remove one dependency while introducing another, so custody, privacy and verification must be judged as a complete system.

Understanding Bitcoin privacy helps distinguish a verifiable Bitcoin mechanism or historical record from slogans, products and market narratives.

For the clearest picture, read this entry together with Pseudonymity, CoinJoin, Coin control, Know Your Customer. The reverse links also lead from Coin control, Extended public key, CoinJoin, Pseudonymity.

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Linked to related atlas coordinates

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Grounded in a source record

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Explains function and trade-offs

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Part of the open Bitcoin knowledge graph

DOC · 001Bitcoin.org — Protect your privacyDocumentation
Reviewed 25 July 2026Source-first · No investment advice