Topic: Will bitcoins become illegal? - page 3. (Read 5671 times)
Bitcoin itself won't become illegal. But governments will nickel and dime to death any business openly accepting Bitcoin as payment.
I think a better question is, what are we going to do to combat/counteract government regulation? We're clearly wading into those waters with each passing day.
That is, to me, what the struggle over the block size and 'off-chain transaction solutions' is all about.
I and other 'minimalists' have some theories about how the attacks might go down and how to attempt to thwart them. Other people have other theories. It's hard to know who is right or how much time we have to figure it out.
I'm quite confident that in a general sense, 'distributed crypto-currencies' are here to stay and as they evolve they will adapt to whatever environment they find themselves in. I think that there is every likelihood of a pretty bumpy ride though.
I think a better question is, what are we going to do to combat/counteract government regulation? We're clearly wading into those waters with each passing day.
Bitcoins specifically likely won't, but I can see all alternative "digital currencies" becoming illegal in the next 2 years.
I believe this was to be expected though.
I believe this was to be expected though.
If governments could make it illegal, they would have many years ago. It's only the above-ground businesses that they can target at the moment, and they are doing so as we type. The only way I can imagine governments outlawing Bitcoin would be to fundamentally seize control of the internet itself. This seizure has been in the works for over a decade now, so I guess it's not too far beyond the realm of possibility...
I'd point out that a cat does not normally make her move as the gazelle approaches the watering hole. She waits until her prey has become comfortable enough to drop it's head for a drink. That is, of course, when the prey is most vulnerable and the attack is most likely to result in a kill.
My thinking as well....
A girl knowing Tor? That's too much for me, you're definitely a guy a his basement
You download and open... Come say hi tonight on MFC
I don't have any money for this kind of things anyway
I mean the fact of the matter is there is very slim difference between a Neopoint to a Bitcoin, but I feel like a physical Bitcoin probably could get you in trouble in the future.
If governments could make it illegal, they would have many years ago. It's only the above-ground businesses that they can target at the moment, and they are doing so as we type. The only way I can imagine governments outlawing Bitcoin would be to fundamentally seize control of the internet itself. This seizure has been in the works for over a decade now, so I guess it's not too far beyond the realm of possibility...
I'd point out that a cat does not normally make her move as the gazelle approaches the watering hole. She waits until her prey has become comfortable enough to drop it's head for a drink. That is, of course, when the prey is most vulnerable and the attack is most likely to result in a kill.
They could require a stamp to purchase bitcoins as part of AML laws and then not issue said stamp.
A country could require its citizens to report their assets, and mandate that one's bitcoins be included at current market value even though still in bitcoin form and not yet converted to fiat or spent on goods or services. And make it a criminal offence to falsify one's asset report.
Later, if one's visible assets are not commensurate with one's reports, one might have a problem.
Later, if one's visible assets are not commensurate with one's reports, one might have a problem.
I'd bet bitcoin is already illegal in North Korea, because people cannot freely access the Internet there. In the free world, some government could say that bitcoin is used for terrorism and money laundering (*), but as long as there are regular businesses using it, this will guard any government from trying to make bitcoin illegal.
(*) You forgot kiddy porn
I'd bet bitcoin is already illegal in North Korea, because people cannot freely access the Internet there. In the free world, some government could say that bitcoin is used for terrorism and money laundering, but as long as there are regular businesses using it, this will guard any government from trying to make bitcoin illegal.
I'm not sure what they can make illegal.
The word 'bitcoin' is just a made up word, so that won't work.
The rest is just mathematics - I don't know if there is a precedent on illegal mathematics.
The word 'bitcoin' is just a made up word, so that won't work.
The rest is just mathematics - I don't know if there is a precedent on illegal mathematics.
Actually there is. The US has export laws on encryption past a certain strength.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Export_of_cryptography_in_the_United_States
However, your first thoughts on the subject are more relevant. As has been mentioned before Bitcoin doesn't encrypt any transfer of information. Everything is public and broadcast in the clear. So "bitcoin" as you point out being an arbitrary word is really just information. Indeed, it's possible to use a brain wallet to store your private key and carry an unlimited amount of bitcoins in your head.
So making "bitcoin" illegal is nearly synonymous with making information, or thoughts illegal.
Good luck with that.
I'm not sure what they can make illegal.
The word 'bitcoin' is just a made up word, so that won't work.
The rest is just mathematics - I don't know if there is a precedent on illegal mathematics.
The word 'bitcoin' is just a made up word, so that won't work.
The rest is just mathematics - I don't know if there is a precedent on illegal mathematics.
Actually there is. The US has export laws on encryption past a certain strength.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Export_of_cryptography_in_the_United_States
However, your first thoughts on the subject are more relevant. As has been mentioned before Bitcoin doesn't encrypt any transfer of information. Everything is public and broadcast in the clear. So "bitcoin" as you point out being an arbitrary word is really just information. Indeed, it's possible to use a brain wallet to store your private key and carry an unlimited amount of bitcoins in your head.
So making "bitcoin" illegal is nearly synonymous with making information, or thoughts illegal.
Good luck with that.
What country are you talking about?
Well guys this question shares the same answer as ravin tavins question :
Will ravin tavin get in bed with you ?
Will ravin tavin get in bed with you ?
I'm not sure what they can make illegal.
The word 'bitcoin' is just a made up word, so that won't work.
The rest is just mathematics - I don't know if there is a precedent on illegal mathematics.
The word 'bitcoin' is just a made up word, so that won't work.
The rest is just mathematics - I don't know if there is a precedent on illegal mathematics.
also,
lol.
Why should bitcoin become illegal? There is no reason for it to become illegal to begin with? So, no it wont...
lol.
If governments could make it illegal, they would have many years ago. It's only the above-ground businesses that they can target at the moment, and they are doing so as we type. The only way I can imagine governments outlawing Bitcoin would be to fundamentally seize control of the internet itself. This seizure has been in the works for over a decade now, so I guess it's not too far beyond the realm of possibility...
Yay or Nay?
Illegal we do immediately, unconstitutional takes longer
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