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Topic: Is stealing Bitcoin illegal? - page 42. (Read 39503 times)

sr. member
Activity: 462
Merit: 250
July 19, 2016, 01:10:20 PM
Let's say I generate a new address and by some miracle it has Bitcoin already in it belonging to somebody else. Is it legal to just take it? I understand those odds are very low, no need to lecture me, I'm just interested.
ok so even this came true, i don't think this will be considered illegal as you have just tried to generate new bitcoin address rather than trying to find out private key of already exist bitcoin address.

Let's be clear about this.
Morally it is wrong, but yes you already knew that.
Legally this seems something that needs law making, but let's face it, every judge will punish you if it went to court...
legendary
Activity: 1862
Merit: 1505
July 19, 2016, 11:43:20 AM
I'm hoping that you are not going to try that... The probability of you finding any thing like that is almost negligible. You should not try it nor use the bitcoin if you find any public key carrying bitcoin.
sr. member
Activity: 252
Merit: 250
July 19, 2016, 11:35:24 AM
Of stealing Bitcoin is illegal because you are stealing that means that it does not belong to you to it is illegal if you do it.
The thing is that most people can get away with it which is a real problem if you ask me.
yes that  is a fact stealing of anything is illegal either it is bitcon or bitcoin wallet or some thing else but we will consider it as a stealing in real life. so it s morally not good to steal.
legendary
Activity: 994
Merit: 1000
July 19, 2016, 10:48:36 AM
Let's say I generate a new address and by some miracle it has Bitcoin already in it belonging to somebody else. Is it legal to just take it? I understand those odds are very low, no need to lecture me, I'm just interested.
ok so even this came true, i don't think this will be considered illegal as you have just tried to generate new bitcoin address rather than trying to find out private key of already exist bitcoin address.
hero member
Activity: 1470
Merit: 655
July 19, 2016, 10:47:41 AM
Yeah you the topics says it already, stealing Bitcoin is illegal because it does not belong to you when you are stealing it.
But because it is online and Bitcoin is anonymous I am not sure if they are able to prevent it.
i think stealing of every thing is illegal. but if you got it by chance then certainly it is not your fault but still you have to return it if you know the owner of the bitcoin who sent it by fault.

If you hack someone's account and steal it then its illegal but if someone mistakenly sends you then its not your fault and you can always return them if you find the right owner.

that is all technically true. but OP is not technically asking about stealing bitcoin or sending it by mistake. his choice of title for his question was wrong. as it was explained before he is asking about something called collision which has such a low chance that it will never happen.
legendary
Activity: 1344
Merit: 1006
July 19, 2016, 10:42:18 AM
Stealing is stealing, regardless of what was stolen (Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Physical Coin etc) so no need to elaborate if stealling Bitcoin is illegal and I cant recall a certain country that legalizes stealing, is there such?
hero member
Activity: 546
Merit: 500
July 19, 2016, 10:33:36 AM
Of stealing Bitcoin is illegal because you are stealing that means that it does not belong to you to it is illegal if you do it.
The thing is that most people can get away with it which is a real problem if you ask me.
legendary
Activity: 2604
Merit: 1036
July 18, 2016, 04:07:16 PM
Well if you happen to miraculously end up with someone else's coins in your own Bitcoin wallet I guess the Bitcoins will be pretty much yours to keep as long as you don't attempt to exchange them because the original owner might trace them to the Bitcoin exchange and contact them as to halt the withdrawal. Stealing is outlawed everywhere but because Bitcoinland is the Wild West right now you can just keep the coins unless your conscience says otherwise.
hero member
Activity: 910
Merit: 1000
July 18, 2016, 04:06:05 PM
Yeah you the topics says it already, stealing Bitcoin is illegal because it does not belong to you when you are stealing it.
But because it is online and Bitcoin is anonymous I am not sure if they are able to prevent it.
i think stealing of every thing is illegal. but if you got it by chance then certainly it is not your fault but still you have to return it if you know the owner of the bitcoin who sent it by fault.

If you hack someone's account and steal it then its illegal but if someone mistakenly sends you then its not your fault and you can always return them if you find the right owner.
hero member
Activity: 672
Merit: 500
July 18, 2016, 03:58:16 PM
If the word stealing comes then it is illegal and in many religions it is sin, but if you are talking about bitcoin which are automatically in your bitcoin which you generate for yourself then it is not stealing but it is there by mistake and you will be honorable that you return that amount to those who is its owners.
member
Activity: 84
Merit: 10
July 18, 2016, 03:29:57 PM
Yeah you the topics says it already, stealing Bitcoin is illegal because it does not belong to you when you are stealing it.
But because it is online and Bitcoin is anonymous I am not sure if they are able to prevent it.
i think stealing of every thing is illegal. but if you got it by chance then certainly it is not your fault but still you have to return it if you know the owner of the bitcoin who sent it by fault.

Just have the word "stealing" confirms it; taking something from someone without their permission or consent. Is stealing illegal? Ofcourse it is; though its may be hard to track down Bitcoin scammers and thieves its is by no way legal to do so. I bet you wouldnt want your money just taken by someone for free surely you would want it back right?
full member
Activity: 238
Merit: 100
July 18, 2016, 03:21:03 PM
Yeah you the topics says it already, stealing Bitcoin is illegal because it does not belong to you when you are stealing it.
But because it is online and Bitcoin is anonymous I am not sure if they are able to prevent it.
i think stealing of every thing is illegal. but if you got it by chance then certainly it is not your fault but still you have to return it if you know the owner of the bitcoin who sent it by fault.
full member
Activity: 161
Merit: 100
July 18, 2016, 01:48:01 PM
Yeah you the topics says it already, stealing Bitcoin is illegal because it does not belong to you when you are stealing it.
But because it is online and Bitcoin is anonymous I am not sure if they are able to prevent it.

What would make him the owner though? I generated the address, I had no intention of stealing Bitcoin but now because of the Bitcoin Core application I own an address with BTC in it. Not sure how that's stealing. Others have already posted a better answer saying it's not legal or illegal since there are no laws governing it. If I breach a website and steal private keys that is illegal I know, but if I generate an address with BTC in it who knows the person who deposited that BTC didn't generate the address after another person already had, making him not the owner. The owner is not decided by who generates the address first. All you can do is try to be secure as possible.
legendary
Activity: 2632
Merit: 1094
July 18, 2016, 12:34:43 PM
You would never get to create an address that isn't already created and if you get access to an already created address, it means you might have hacked that address or gained the private keys or bought it. Everytime we create a new wallet, we get a newly generated address that's brand new else it would be the case where 2 people get access to the same wallet.
sr. member
Activity: 434
Merit: 250
July 18, 2016, 12:27:35 PM
Yeah you the topics says it already, stealing Bitcoin is illegal because it does not belong to you when you are stealing it.
But because it is online and Bitcoin is anonymous I am not sure if they are able to prevent it.
copper member
Activity: 1386
Merit: 1000
July 18, 2016, 12:06:29 PM
Let's say I generate a new address and by some miracle it has Bitcoin already in it belonging to somebody else. Is it legal to just take it? I understand those odds are very low, no need to lecture me, I'm just interested.

lol its 100% legal because site gave you that btc itself, and if the previous owner reported that there may be a chance that they will refund those coins themselves from your wallet if thats possible. And yes if you have generated that address from an exchange it will be possible because they have control over it.
full member
Activity: 161
Merit: 100
July 18, 2016, 12:03:11 PM
You guys need to learn how to read the thread, not just the title. Please go back and read it before you say thinks like "obviously yes it r illegal m8". I know stealing Bitcoin is illegal but that wasn't my full question, as I wouldn't be able to fit it into the title in such a way it would make sense. So actually read the thread fully before you post.
hero member
Activity: 924
Merit: 506
July 18, 2016, 01:44:21 AM
there is no way in hell you can "generate" an already generated address to have the same private key I mean there is a reason addresses are 34 words and numbers and if you want to generate an address that has the same private keys as some other one then simply
Take 1 and put 33 0s in front of it that many you need to consider wasting your time on.

And of course it is illegal to steal anything whatsoever.
sr. member
Activity: 448
Merit: 250
BetcoinRakeback.com
July 18, 2016, 12:35:19 AM
I don't think it's illegal and even if it is, how would you enforce it? It is unethical I'll say that much. The odds of this happening is so unlikely though directory.io illustrates this problem pretty accurately
legendary
Activity: 1386
Merit: 1020
DGbet.fun - Crypto Sportsbook
July 17, 2016, 10:14:46 PM
This question requires commensense. Grin Its definitely yes, stealing is illegal whatever things that has value and dont have permission to the owner to get such possesion.
Stealing is a very bad manner especially to those who cant stop stealing unto others this may lead to imprisonment or even killed if have been caught.
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