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Listen to Bitcoin

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Re: Listen to Bitcoin

#23

Is this actually representative of all bitcoin transactions?

Original creator here, it plots all the transactions it receives from Blockchain.info. It's more or less pulling from the same recent transaction feed that you get if you go to Blockchain.info's homepage. I'd like to think this includes all transactions on the network :)

Re: Listen to Bitcoin

#25
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bitcoin clients usually try to diffuse coin ownership by always sending two amounts with one transaction, one (normally smaller) amount is to the receiver, the second amount is to a new address of the sender. So your coins diffuse out over tons of addresses this way, and the true number of coins transferred between individuals is much less than it appears. It can also be extremely unhelpful, for example to this chap…

Wow I can't follow that at all! Now I'm scared to ever spend my bitcoins!

He only got into that situation because he was using the software in a non-standard way, and he inadvertently deleted the "change-wallet" that had automatically been created for him.

As long as you use the software in a relatively standard way and don't ever delete your wallet files, you'll be fine.

Re: Listen to Bitcoin

#29
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bitcoin clients usually try to diffuse coin ownership by always sending two amounts with one transaction, one (normally smaller) amount is to the receiver, the second amount is to a new address of the sender. So your coins diffuse out over tons of addresses this way, and the true number of coins transferred between individuals is much less than it appears. It can also be extremely unhelpful, for example to this chap…

Wow I can't follow that at all! Now I'm scared to ever spend my bitcoins!

Just make sure you understand the software you are using. This mechanism isn't good for the user since you negate the efficiency of backups if your coins constantly move from older addresses to freshly created (unprotected until next backup) addresses.

Some bitcoin clients fix this by using a deterministic generation of new addresses for the wallet.

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