Topic: World War III and BTC - page 3. (Read 4054 times)

It was already shown that someone could put together a small 20 person coup to overthrow a government via Bitcoin.

Reporter at Gizmodo went through the simulated steps of trying to put together such an operation with much success:
http://gizmodo.com/5927379/the-secret-online-weapons-store-thatll-sell-anyone-anything

If such an event occurred anytime soon or the near future (highly unlikely IMO), I can only see Bitcoin crash and/or stall in development.

This is assuming that Bitcoin's umbilical cord is to the US dollar (and I think it a fair assumption, no?). As a nation, Bitcoin would only harm US interest in wartime, and drastic measures to severe Bitcoin and communication networks with enemy nations would be supported. Would it be effective? At least somewhat, possibly greatly effective.

In other words, it would be very suspicious and difficult for private citizens to argue their freedom for pursuing, maintaining and developing BTC during wartime - for any nation. Internet & BTC = Global Interest (as a whole). World War = Nation Interest (specific/particular).


Yes, but only if Bitcoin's value were stable and applicable across many currencies and cultures. As of now, only private BTC wealthy interests could supply smaller armies with guns, food, and supplies; but it would be those small armies that would have trouble getting guns, food and supplies with Bitcoin, or the private interest would need to deal only with other believers in BTC who could supply. Bitcoin doesn't have any real power right now - regardless how you define 'power' - only potential.


Far future, and if BTC is established, global and independent? Then yes, very effective for funding resistance. And it could transcend any nation's fiat if the internet and personal electronics are seen just as strong and independent.

I can see Bitcoin being used for small bands of operatives coordinating anonymously online via encrypted messages, paying for military grade weapons via the anonymous Tor gun site and the group being able to amass an army better equipped than some small nations.

So essentially, a small group of people could use Bitcoin to take over a nation.

As far as its effects on a world war. Think the French resistance but being funded completely with Bitcoin.

if, for instance, global conflict got underway, and the internet remained relatively unaffected, or people found ways to get it up and running or splintered off from the govt controlled web, and keep it going, then bitcoin could be really interesting, for instance it could be possible to continue to do business with "the enemy" when cash or fiat bank accounts would be otherwise frozen to this activty

A few nations have already blocked Internet at time of crisis. If other nation did this too, this time western ones. Or mandated only government traffic were to be allowed would be bad. Internet is rather fragile thing in some parts. I'm not sure if it would survive in good condition if the cyber wars were really to start...

If nukes are used (and I assume they are in a worldwide conflict) we'll lose a bit more than the internet.

Bad. If internet is cut-out and re-routing is stopped there might be drastic effects on network.

So WW3 might be really bad for network and lead to multiple forks, which might be an issue or not...

About the latter

Is this a debate about whether WWIII is imminent or not, or is this more of a thought experiment about how Bitcoin affects or would be affected during a world-wide conflict? I think the latter is far more interesting.

We'll all die and all of this, and anything else that humanity ever did will cease to matter.

There is no reason to think World War 3 is more likely now that it was in the 1960s or any time since.

The interesting question is why you would want to believe in it.  Does the feeling that the good life can't last fulfil some kind of psychic need in you?

Christian propaganda by the sounds of it.  Book of Revelation.

Wars will always happen.  There is no Utopia.

I think you will find that wars have been raging somewhere in the world, continuously, since Julius Caesar sat in the Roman Senate.

Edit: remembered seeing this:
http://kottke.org/12/09/1000-years-of-war-in-5-minutes

There are rumors of war everywhere as you guys know...

I can write a whole book showing evidence for WWIII coming really soon... and my question for you is.. What kind of influence do you think such a war would have on Bitcoin?

P.S
I started a very nice discussion on this subject on another section of the forum, and I thought we should continue it where the main guys are hanging, I.E here...
Here's a link to the original post:
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.2191792