You can always send them to me if you don't want them, there is not really a way to know where they came from (as in a specific person)

I don't buy, I only mine...

Could they be your mining payouts?

Well, assuming you've told us everything there is to know, then someone has picked the wrong address to send to. Have you given the Bitcoin address that's receiving the funds to anyone?

Theoretically, you could have an address collision, where two people manage to generate the same address, but that's astronomically unlikely.

It could be a collision problem, if the random generation function is flawed. 

If you want to help the Bitcoin developers correct issues with the software (assuming this is an issue with the software), then I think the best thing to do is to create another wallet, and "pay almost all of them" from your current wallet to your new wallet.  Document the transaction here (how much, when, and to which Bitcoin address you paid).

Also, state what version of the software you used to generate your original wallet, as well as the specific hardware platform.


Hopefully, the rightful owner will step forward and complain.  Then the software can be be examined for flaws in the algorithm.
If someone steps forward, have THEM pay the remainder of the coins to another wallet (to prove that they are the rightful owner), before you give them their money back.


Don't believe other people's claims that it's their money, unless they can prove control of the wallet through spending.

I'd figure out how to get it back. You could eventually be sued for keeping it, not to mention it just isn't nice.

If you don't want to keep the BTC, I say you should spend it to help support the community.  Buy lots of stuff off the forum to support fellow members.  Donate some to people's sig addresses when they say something useful.  Try a few of the gambling websites.  Just spread them around, have fun doing it, and get some cool stuff.

Perhaps someone is confident that they can have your wallet.dat at will and is trying to 'launder' value through your identity.  That would be a method I might employ if I had need to cover my tracks. (I would probably leave you with your initial balance since I am not a thief...though it could be argued that using your existence in this way would be a form of theft.)

Note that this is a _hypothesis_ and nothing more.  Many people get confused on the meaning of that word.

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