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Bitcoin users warned not to enter wallet addresses in explorers
The warning points to how hosted explorers can collect IP and URL request metadata, and WalletExplorer says such visitor data is shared with Chainalysis business lines.
A warning posted on X on Aug. 5 urged Bitcoin users to avoid entering their own wallet addresses into public block explorers, arguing that doing so can expose connection details tied to the address.
The post says hosted explorers can technically log a visitor's internet protocol address and the requested URL, creating off-chain metadata around an on-chain record. It added that the privacy impact depends on each operator's linkage approach, how long logs are retained, and who receives the information.
The article highlights that published privacy policies for explorers can differ materially. WalletExplorer’s policy describes automatic recording of a requesting user’s IP address and the requested URL, which may include a wallet name, wallet ID, or Bitcoin address, and it states the visitor information is shared with other Chainalysis business lines.
It also notes that WalletExplorer’s disclosure language covers possible sharing in response to law enforcement requests, court orders, and other legal processes, without setting a numeric limit on retention in the notice. CryptoSlate references CoinDesk reporting in 2021 about leaked documents involving WalletExplorer IP data tied to Bitcoin addresses used to generate leads for law enforcement.
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