These are not decentralized? We must use your website to get the btc out?
Chaang Noi, we created a closed system to address the security concerns with buying other physical bitcoins like Casascius coins from private parties. Because it's relatively easy to both hack and counterfeit, there's no good way to know if the private key has been compromised on standard Casascius coins. Our solution for now is to offer Coin registration. The coin can't be redeemed without access to the email address that is currently tied to the coin. When a coin is sold, the new owner can change the email address to one they have exclusive access to, and the coin's value is protected.
This is a service for those that want it or who don't necessarily know enough about bitcoins to understand how to keep their wallet truly secure. I fight for decentralization myself, and we'll be offering coins with the private key included shortly. We're also working on other solutions to the two-factor authentication issue and I'd love to have input from valued members of the community like yourself.
Thanks for the reply. I do agree that that there is both the hacking and counterfeit risk with Casascius coins. Do not get me wrong I have over 1,500 BTC stored on Casascius coins, have met Mike in person and think over all it is an awesome product but there is always room for improvement. You can see from my sig that I myself am working on a physical coin and have my own (now secret) solution to the Casascius "hack".
Your two-factor solution is interesting but what happens if your website goes down, gets hacked or god forbid you guys die. I have my Casasicus coins because I know in 100 years they will be as good as they are now and I bought directly from Mike. To hold a lot of your coins with this sort of 2fa I would have to be very sure in your guys back up plans.
I like your pick of cupernickle over brass. It is a really strong alloy that also looks good. Most Thai coins are made of this. This stuff is almost resistant to saltwater as well (not that it will really matter here).
Anyway I plan to buy one of each type of your coins and maybe more in the future.
Edit: As I read more about this, the coins does not hold any BTC but only a key that lets me get one in the future? Is that correct?
@DobZombie Grow up little boy and quit begging in all the goods threads asking for free stuff for your "collection". Asking how things work is not trolling esp when OP said
please ask anything you like here.
Both the coins that have a private key under the hologram and the ones that use our 2-factor authentication system have BTC stored at an address, waiting to be redeemed. For coins with 2 Factor Authentication, they are redeemed through our website.
There was some confusion in the other thread. We're NOT operating a fractional reserve as some have asked or suggested. At any time, you can verify that your coin has its BTC backing by looking at its address on the blockchain. Just scan the QR code on the back of the coin to view its status page.