So if I post an address on a website and multiple people sent bitcoin to it I'll be OK? I'll get all the coin?
100 addresses? That's insane. That's like going to the bank and them giving you 100 checking account numbers. WTF? I thought it was safe to post and use an address?
Yes, it's fine to use a single address if that's easier. The reason people use multiple addresses, however, is because all Bitcoin transactions are entirely public and recorded and so using a different address for each transaction is a good way to retain privacy.
I don't know about you guys but I personally enjoy giving out a new address for every receiving transaction...so fresh and clean. You also reveal less information about yourself. It's like using a seatbelt, yes you can drive without it but why not take advantage of it?
Exactly. That obsession with single address is so noobish, I remember when I've was first using the wallet was so pissed-off that change was not sent back to sending address, was even trying hard to find out if Bitcoin-QT can be set to do that. Even payed transaction fee to send it all back manually to vanity addy from time to time. Now I understand that default behaviour should not be allowed to be changed, but it took time for me to figure that out.
We seem to be trained to use only one address for some reason, maybe because we don't change street, email addresses, or bank accounts so often, or because it is such a large string. It takes time to get used to the fact that's just another key, used now and never again. I guess every new Bitcoin noob has to learn that himself.
I disagree, really a lot of people just *don't care* about being anonymous. In the same moment 99% of members of this forum talk about it. Hence the misunderstanding. The OP did say nothing about anonymity, he simply wants to receive money. Using many receive addresses scare off beginners. Why not tell them, that "yes - you can use one address, but if you want to improve your anonymity, better use a lot of them?".
Although many addresses only ends up giving an illusion of privacy, eventually your coins will mix unless you're so rich you don't have to combine them.
Also the privacy issue is huge for companies, I talked to the son of a billionaire about this, and they investigated the use of Bitcoin but concluded it would be too easy for their competitors to watch their monetary movements, in fact they were surprised people were so foolish to use such an open system. That kind of spurred my own research into anonymity systems and that is why I have been advocating for the use of the alt currency Monero.
The user has just one address and can keep track of payments with a payment ID, thus the user does not have to manage many addresses. Under the hood Monero has many one times addresses, but the user never sees this mechanic.