Following bitcoin from transaction to transaction is factual; claims about owners or which input paid which output are assumptions. Learn to read a trace.
The facts
These are recorded on-chain and verifiable by anyone:
- Transaction X spent output Y.
- Output Y paid amount Z to a script/address.
- The transaction was confirmed in block N.
The assumptions
Within one transaction, inputs are pooled. Bitcoin doesn't record that "input 0 paid output 1". Any claim like that is a model, such as:
- FIFO (first in, first out),
- proportional (each output takes a share of every input),
- haircut or taint methods.
Different models can give different answers for the same transactions.
Ownership is inference
Saying "these addresses belong to the same person" relies on heuristics, which can be wrong (for example with CoinJoin or payjoin). Linking an address to a real identity needs off-chain data, like exchange records.
How MyBitcoinExplorer presents traces
- Every edge in the graph is a real outpoint with an exact amount in sats, read from our own node and index.
- No ownership, change or identity guesses are added, and no input is matched to a specific output.
- Limits are stated, not hidden: a free trace covers one address hop and up to 100 nodes; graphs that hit a limit are marked partial.
Run a trace on MyBitcoinExplorer
Signed-in users can trace from any Bitcoin address in the tracing workspace. Free accounts get one distinct starting address per month. Each trace shows the real spending connections around the address: every edge is an exact outpoint and amount, verified against Bitcoin’s confirmed chain.
Questions to ask about any trace
- Which facts are on-chain, and which are claims?
- What model links inputs to outputs, if any?
- Which heuristics grouped addresses, and could CoinJoin or payjoin break them?
- Where did the trace stop, and why?
Key takeaways
- Spending relationships between outputs are facts.
- Which input funded which output is a modelling choice.
- Ownership and identity are inferences that can be wrong.
Common questions
Can stolen bitcoin be traced?
Its movements can be followed on-chain. Identifying who controls it usually needs off-chain information, such as exchange records.
Is tracing reliable enough for court?
Courts weigh it with other evidence. The methodology and assumptions need to be stated clearly.
Can MyBitcoinExplorer tell me who owns an address?
No. We show factual connections only and never guess identities or common ownership.
How many hops can a free trace go?
One address hop with up to 100 nodes; larger graphs are planned for paid plans.