What I mean is that while the credit card system can be used anonymously, it is not easy to do so. By default, most casual users of credit cards should assume

What I mean is that while the credit card system can be used anonymously, it is not easy to do so. By default, most casual users of credit cards should assume they are certainly not anonymous. And most people with credit cards know this. Now, if you google for it, you will find people out there that are very careful about their privacy, and so go through great lengths to acquire and use credit cards that are not bound to their identity. I can't speculate why they do this. My point is really that you wouldn't say 'the credit card system is anonymous' even though it can, with great care, probably be used anonymously. Equally, people shouldn't say 'Bitcoin is anonymous', if the case is that it can be anonymous if used with care, but when used casually, it also leaves information that can be used to link user accounts. People should not think of it like cash.