Deposit with former Tradehill lost? | Bitcointalksearch.org

optimator

sr. member

Activity: 351

Merit: 250

Quote from: GabrielZ on April 06, 2013, 02:16:12 PM

Thanks for sharing the insights!

So I'm facing 2 problems:
1. I don't know the public address of my bitcoins;
2. I don't have a private key - or do I?

If you don't know #1 it's doubtful you have #2....

Give TradeHill a call and ask. They seem to have a nice web site.

GabrielZ

newbie

Activity: 28

Merit: 0

Thanks for sharing the insights!

So I'm facing 2 problems:
1. I don't know the public address of my bitcoins;
2. I don't have a private key - or do I?

optimator

sr. member

Activity: 351

Merit: 250

Quote from: GabrielZ on April 06, 2013, 11:30:22 AM

So, I have another question - it seems like I don't understand exactly how bitcoins are stored.

I thought, once a bit coin has been created, it can never be destroyed, because it is stored in a peer-to-peer-like network.

Is that wrong?

You are correct. The blockchain (the peer-to-peer network) stores a public address. If you know the public address (we say bitcoin address) you could look on the blockchain and see your funds. However, to spend those funds you need a private key that is associated with the bitcoin address.

GabrielZ

newbie

Activity: 28

Merit: 0

So, I have another question - it seems like I don't understand exactly how bitcoins are stored.

I thought, once a bit coin has been created, it can never be destroyed, because it is stored in a peer-to-peer-like network.

Is that wrong?

clanie

newbie

Activity: 54

Merit: 0

Must be lost, I'm afraid Sad

GabrielZ

newbie

Activity: 28

Merit: 0

In 2011, I had deposited some money with Tradehill.
As far as I can tell, they did not refund it when they shut down.
(I have checked my bank statements.)

So my question is: do I still own the bitcoins they bought for me? or are they lost?

Best regards,
Gabriel.

Topic: Deposit with former Tradehill lost? (Read 443 times)