Bitcoin Forum

http://www.libertariannews.org/2011/08/30/bitcoin-fbi-admits-to-engaging-in-infiltration-disruption-and-dismantling-of-competing-currencies/

Thoughts? We need to make bitcoin more anonymous - eg built in coins mixer protocol.

This is year old speculation based on the Liberty Dollar situation. The law they prosecuted Bernhard von Nothaus under doesn't apply to bitcoin at all. Since the time of this article, an FBI analysis concerning bitcoin has been leaked, and it is far from actively antagonistic.

All that being said, I agree that a larger degree of network hardening and redundant exchange mechanisms, etc. can only benefit bitcoin in the long run.

FUD - hearsay - old news (spring 2011)

the links refer to liberty dollars which used the symbol $. the guy got found guilty for the simplified terms of counterfeiting the US dollar.

it has nothing to do with bitcoin nor does bitcoin come anywhere close to american counterfeit laws. i would highlight that the use of the thailand Baht symbol for bitcoin does put bitcoin into a sticky situation with thai authorities though.

although bitcoin never calls its coin a baht. so its less of a problem then the liberty Dollars had.

I couldn't agree more with your point of view.  Buillt-in mixing is a must-have feature, if for no other reason than to improve fungibility.

A good start for now would be clear step-by-step guidelines on anonymous use. I've seen random thoughts posted here and there but never any well defined brief rules to follow. It's not even as simple as just mixing because you can slip up and associate real world info quite easily if you are not aware of how it all works and then careful about using it.

The US cannot even keep drugs out of prisons and they are going to take out bitcoin?

While I like the idea of alternative currencies, the Liberty Dollar was not much different then just printing your own US dollars.  They were pegged to the US dollar yet not backed up on a dollar for dollar basis.  They were competing much more directly with the Dollar then bitcoin is. 

I wouldn't say they've officially gone that route yet, this is just one of those silly articles that get posted up in order to make people jump to daft conclusions.

I agree completely. My point was that not only are the source material's claims completely baseless but that the underlying premise is itself absurd.

What are you saying?  You're just making things up.  The Liberty Dollar wasn't pegged to the dollar.  It was 100% backed by silver and gold.


The source material is a press release from the US Dept. of Justice.  But, yes, I do agree that the premise is absurd.  Unfortunately that doesn't change the fact that it's the opinion of a US Attorney.

Also (and I just noticed this a few weeks ago) please notice that the case in question was heard before Judge Richard Voorhees.

Any relation to any Bitcoin users we know?

Yes. It could be a baseless claim from a US Attorney or a baseless claim by the Pope, baseless is baseless. It still smells like a skunk.

+1