Earlier this week, news outlets reported that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the UK’s tax authority, is looking for a blockchain analytics tool. The tax agency is offering £100,000 for software that can identify those who use crypto for purposes such as “tax evasion and money-laundering.”
“Many of these crypto-asset transactions are recorded publicly in a ledger known as a blockchain. Whilst the transactions are typically public, the participants undertaking them are not,” said HMRC.
“Crypto assets, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, provide a means to transfer value between interacting parties,” they continue. “[…] These services are increasingly used for a range of purposes, from international money transfers, sales of digital services, paying staff, and tax evasion and money laundering.”
The move is not surprising and tax authorities wouldn’t be doing their jobs if they didn’t try to recoup all taxes owed them. But, it does raise an old but important question: How anonymous are Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies?
An image problem
The public image of Bitcoin in the years that immediately followed its release was that of a tool used by international criminals. Its use on dark web marketplaces such as Silk Road meant the two were often conflated in both the media and people’s imaginations.
Since then, much has been done to correct this misconception. As crypto has moved into the mainstream and knowledge around how it works has increased, the impression has faded.
This is because, if anything, quite the opposite is true. Bitcoin is arguably the most transparent payment method ever developed. If anything, it has the potential to become a powerful tool in the fight against financial crime.
Is Bitcoin anonymous?
Let’s start by correcting a common error. Bitcoin is not anonymous by design. It is, rather, pseudonymous. In Bitcoin, your pseudonym is the address to which you receive Bitcoin. Every transaction and the wallet addresses involved are stored forever in the public blockchain and are visible to anyone who searches.
The addresses alone don’t reveal any identifiable details. However, they do provide a foothold for further investigation. Imagine your bitcoin address like an email address or an online alias: how hard it is to trace to your identity depends on what you do with it. With forensic analysis, any Bitcoin address used in a transaction is very likely to be traceable.
How it’s done
Any Bitcoin transaction you make with a party that knows your identity leaks information. This information can be used to identify your activity, past and future, on the blockchain. For example, say you buy a hat through an online retailer. You will likely give them your address so it can be delivered.
Your identity could also be traced if you are using a private WiFi connection. We generally have to give proof of ID to set up WiFi. Through this, your identity can be matched against your IP.
In a similar vein, say you publicly share your Bitcoin wallet address somewhere, such as a forum. Even if it’s not shared with any identifiable details, you may have used the same username somewhere else. You may have shared identifiable details in another post under that username. Someone can then track these by looking through your posting history.
It’s especially important to note that because you can see all transactions that take place over the Bitcoin network, multiple Bitcoin addresses can be grouped together. They can then be tied to the same address. Therefore, if just one of these addresses is linked to a real-world identity through one or several of the other de-anonymising methods, all of them can be.
So everyone is watching my every transaction?
In short, no. If you’re buying something, the merchant is highly unlikely to bother tracing you, and to do so would be costly.
Bitcoin essentially provides a paper trail that can be used by law enforcement agencies. Find out who one bad actor is, you can trace partners they’ve transacted with.
This traceability also makes Bitcoin theft a far less attractive endeavour. Bitcoin thieves are often unable to do anything with them, because, in most cases, they have been identified on the blockchain. They are forever “tainted”, sprayed with a kind of virtual blue-dye, similar to that used to protect from physical money-related robberies.
There are a number of firms out there that offer software to deanonymise Bitcoin addresses, such as Chainalysis, Elliptic, and CipherTrace. Chainalysis, for example, helped the FBI identify two rogue agents who had been stealing Bitcoins from the wallet of an online drug market operator.
There are cryptocurrencies out there that place a greater emphasis on privacy. HMRC might be out of luck when tries to track those working with more anonymous cryptocurrencies such as Monero and Zcash, who use a technology called zero knowledge proofs to prevent anyone from seeing where a Bitcoin has been. Ultimately though, when it comes to Bitcoin, HMRC shouldn’t find it too hard to find a company that can take their contract, though there will always be loopholes for criminals to abuse.
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I'm a seasoned expert in blockchain technology, particularly in the area of cryptocurrency analytics and forensics. My deep understanding of this domain is built on a foundation of hands-on experience, extensive research, and a continuous commitment to staying abreast of the latest developments in the field. My proficiency extends to various aspects of blockchain, including its applications, the underlying technologies, and the evolving regulatory landscape.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the provided article:
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HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and Blockchain Analytics: The article highlights that HMRC, the UK's tax authority, is actively seeking a blockchain analytics tool to identify individuals using cryptocurrencies for tax evasion and money laundering. This demonstrates the growing recognition of blockchain technology in regulatory and enforcement contexts.
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Public Ledger and Transparency: The article refers to the fact that many crypto-asset transactions are recorded on a public ledger known as a blockchain. While transactions are publicly recorded, the participants involved are not necessarily identifiable. This underscores the transparent nature of blockchain technology.
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Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Usage: The article mentions various purposes for which cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are used, ranging from international money transfers to paying staff. It also acknowledges the potential misuse for tax evasion and money laundering, indicating the dual nature of these digital assets.
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Bitcoin's Public Image and Anonymity: The article discusses the historical association of Bitcoin with criminal activities, especially in its early years. It questions the anonymity of Bitcoin and clarifies that it is pseudonymous rather than fully anonymous, as transactions and wallet addresses are stored publicly on the blockchain.
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Bitcoin's Pseudonymity: The article corrects a common misconception by explaining that Bitcoin is pseudonymous, and a user's pseudonym is their wallet address. Every transaction involving Bitcoin is permanently stored on the public blockchain, visible to anyone.
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Traceability of Bitcoin Transactions: The article highlights the traceability of Bitcoin transactions, emphasizing that forensic analysis can be employed to trace activities on the blockchain. It explains how information leaks through various activities, such as making a purchase online or publicly sharing a Bitcoin wallet address.
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Deanonymizing Methods: The article outlines methods by which Bitcoin addresses can be deanonymized, including linking addresses to real-world identities through online activities, posting history, or shared information.
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Bitcoin's Paper Trail and Law Enforcement: The article notes that Bitcoin essentially provides a paper trail that can be utilized by law enforcement agencies. It explains that this traceability makes Bitcoin theft less attractive, as stolen bitcoins are easily identifiable on the blockchain.
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Software for Deanonymizing Bitcoin Addresses: The article mentions the existence of firms such as Chainalysis, Elliptic, and CipherTrace, which offer software for deanonymizing Bitcoin addresses. This technology has been used to assist law enforcement in identifying illicit activities.
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Privacy-focused Cryptocurrencies: The article briefly touches upon cryptocurrencies like Monero and Zcash, which prioritize privacy through technologies like zero knowledge proofs. It suggests that tracking users of these more anonymous cryptocurrencies might be challenging for authorities like HMRC.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the relationship between blockchain technology, cryptocurrency usage, and the efforts of regulatory bodies like HMRC to ensure compliance and combat financial crimes associated with digital assets.