Bitcoin Forum

Who are the people who have the https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/badges/expert.png Bitcoin expert https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/badges/expert.png badges?
What does this mean? I mean precisely, not just they're Bitcoin experts

I found etotheipi and Mike Hearn

There is no given definition that everyone uses I think. I guess being termed a 'bitcoin expert' is mainly determined by three factors. (this is my opinion.)

1) How Long You've Been With The Project: It's very hard to become an expert after working with the project for only 1 week.
2) Knowledge: This one is obvious. It's based on how much you know about bitcoins.
3) Creations: A good way to become a bitcoin expert is by creating something useful for everyone such as cgminer or something like that.

I'm sorry I wasn't clear enough: I meant the people who have the 'Bitcoin expert' badge under their name. OP edited
Look under etotheipi's name: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=88208.msg2122701#msg2122701

Those are three possible conditions though

Theymos assigns it on a whim to his friends.

FTFY

Also, I believe they only show up in a few sub-forums.

Can be both at the same time :D

I think it adds unneeded distinction. "Experts" have being wrong before (including Gavin on trivial things, for example thinking the difficulty cannot go down), and I'd hate for opinions or things to be folded away because someone is not an "expert".

They're Bitcoin experts because they have thorough knowledge of the code and protocols. This doesn't mean they can never be wrong. Everyone is human...

Only on the Development and Technical Discussion sub-forum as far as I can see (but not on the Alternative Clients Child Boards).

Seems like a good way for people to figure out who knows what theyre talking about when they read those sub-forums.

I don't see any downside to it.