Author

Topic: Why six confirmations? (Read 549 times)

legendary
Activity: 2324
Merit: 1125
September 22, 2013, 03:57:35 PM
#9
I usually trust a transaction after 1 confirmation (zero when the amount is low).


Same.
Did anyone see any double spent transactions?

http://blockchain.info/double-spends
newbie
Activity: 47
Merit: 0
September 22, 2013, 03:56:42 PM
#8
I usually trust a transaction after 1 confirmation (zero when the amount is low).


Same.
Did anyone see any double spent transactions?
sr. member
Activity: 364
Merit: 250
September 22, 2013, 03:55:19 PM
#7
I only wait for 1 or two confirmations before considered the funds in my pocket.  Is this a stupid idea?

It's alright. If it's a really high sum, you might wanna wait for some more confirmations, just in case.
legendary
Activity: 2324
Merit: 1125
legendary
Activity: 1540
Merit: 1002
September 22, 2013, 03:39:38 PM
#5
i think the only reason they still use 6 confirmations is because before the network was secured with a mass amount of mining hardware it would be easy to undo a transaction but to undo a block these days your talking atleast 60Th worth of mining power so its unlikely
sr. member
Activity: 252
Merit: 250
September 22, 2013, 03:35:47 PM
#4
Ok, that's what I thought.  With physical goods that I have to ship, it's not an issue because it won't go out till the next truck leaves.  But for digital goods (like a voucher or Gift card) I just feel very silly sitting around and waiting for an hour for $20 to confirm so I usually send it after 1 or 2 confirmations.

But right now, I'm witting here waiting for a $5 gift card to confirm from bitmit and their "instant" delivery is waiting for 6 confirmations and it just feels really, really stupid...  Good thing I don't need all these GC's until Thursday!
legendary
Activity: 2324
Merit: 1125
September 22, 2013, 03:33:28 PM
#3
I usually trust a transaction after 1 confirmation (zero when the amount is low).
legendary
Activity: 1540
Merit: 1002
September 22, 2013, 03:31:21 PM
#2
not at all i do the same 1 confirmation is enough to make it very hard for most people to undo the transaction...
even miners with extreme amounts of power will find it hard to undo the transactions.. after 2 blocks its pretty much sealed on the chain it would probably take 2 or 3 of the big pools to do a correction..
sr. member
Activity: 252
Merit: 250
September 22, 2013, 03:25:45 PM
#1
My understanding is that with the current ecosystem the way it is the 6 number is pretty arbitrarily chosen (for 10% of the hashrate).  If elethria or Luke wanted to attack, 6 isn't enough.  But if any casual person wanted to attack, even 1 or 2 would be pretty hard to do.

I only wait for 1 or two confirmations before considered the funds in my pocket.  Is this a stupid idea?
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