No doubt there are better ways. If there were no useful data points (e.g. stolen then mixed via CoinJoin, traded atomically to another chain with less traceability then back again) then maybe it would be helpful. But then again, if it was a sophisticated user they probably wouldn't propagate the tx from their own IP. I brought it up only because it would be slightly more expensive then some other attacks.
Regardless, you are right. Absolute anonymity is not possible in Bitcoin at the moment. If offline transactions become more adept, then perhaps. But for now... not quite.
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Good post.
No doubt there are better ways. If there were no useful data points (e.g. stolen then mixed via CoinJoin, traded atomically to another chain with less traceability then back again) then maybe it would be helpful. But then again, if it was a sophisticated user they probably wouldn't propagate the tx from their own IP. I brought it up only because it would be slightly more expensive then some other attacks.
Regardless, you are right. Absolute anonymity is not possible in Bitcoin at the moment. If offline transactions become more adept, then perhaps. But for now... not quite.