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I know each user has a public key and private key. The users signs the transaction with his private key and sends it to a Bitcoin address. What prevents me from claiming his coins? I read something about verification with the private key but I didn't really understand. How does Bitcoin ensure that only the eligible person can spend the bitcoin? More specifically I didn't understand the verify and sign part in Satoshi's paper in the diagram on page 2.

Also from this diagram, how is it that a secret key can act as a key to lock a lock, but the public key can open the lock only but can't lock it back? How is this implemented technically?

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Read about Public-key cryptography and Digital signature.

For bitcoins you need the private key to spend (by signing) the coins that were "sent" to the address associated with a public key.

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  • Thats what I was looking for. Public key cryptography
    – Enthusiast
    May 29, 2013 at 15:58

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