Quote from: Holliday on March 06, 2014, 06:56:36 PM

Quote from: amspir on March 06, 2014, 06:43:42 PM

After using an address, I usually destroy the private key (after several confirmations) and put the change at a new address.

Wow. I save every private key I've ever used. What if someone (or even you) accidentally sends funds to the corresponding public address? Unlikely, sure... but I would rather save a tiny file than beat myself up for not having the private key!

I destroy addresses and private keys to not keep evidence that I had coin there at one time. The only evidence that it was once my coin is any forensic evidence in the blockchain, or tracing originating node of the network for the transaction that sweeps the money out of that address. Otherwise, it is kinda like keeping a list of all the serial numbers and usage notes for all the physical currency bills that have passed through your wallet, information that most people with privacy concerns wouldn't want to have around to be possibly compromised.

If you send me money to an address that I give you, assume that I'm going to throw it away once the transaction is completed. If you want to send more coin later to that address that was not solicited, consider the coin permanently destroyed. After I've sweep the address and see 6 confirmations, I'm destroying the paper wallet. I'm not going to keep it around in hopes that you're gonna send a tip. When transacting BTC, you shouldn't let yourself think that an address is reusable, unless the receiver says so.