Bitcoin Forum

Russia: Telegram Ban Failure Shows Banning Bitcoin is Impossible
The ‘solution’ to the seemingly impossible task of stopping Russian users accessing the encrypted messenger app underscores the crude reality of censoring global (and decentralized) networks.
http://bitcoinist.com/ban-bitcoin-russia-proves-telegram-ban-calls-desperate-impossible-measures/

I think it can still ban the same if the Russian government shuts down everything that has to do with the internet partnered with stringent monitoring as to any stealth connections there is.

Although it shows a red flag that Telegram can hardly be banned, this gives Bitcoin investors more edge to continue doing it- mining, trading, gambling, among others- because they know there are no real repercussions of it considering the fact that even social networking sites can hardly be stopped brought about by the existence of the internet. And as we all know, Bitcoin mainly exists because there is internet as well. So from here, we can deduce that when something's existence is dependent on the internet, it can never be completely stopped as long as there is internet connection in any parts of the world.

But bitcoin's transparent blockchain and its traceability are weaknesses that should be fixed or mitigated. Mixers, which are centralized and require trust, will not be enough as more bans will take place, I reckon.

The world's citizens should be free to make an internet transaction anywhere in the world, privately and safely without government interference.

The situation in Russia with the banning of social networks of telegrams is quite interesting. In fact, this can be regarded as a rehearsal before the prohibition of crypto currency in Russia, because I do not rule out such an opportunity. On the example of the Telegrams, we can see, although in general terms, whether it will be possible to prohibit bitcoin and what will come of it. The Russian authorities are unlikely to back away from their decision and at the same time see whether the Russians are still able to defend their rights or the aatoritarian government is so strong there that it will be strong to suppress any protests in the bud and massively throw people into jails only for participating in protest actions.

The funny part of learning about this Russian telegram banning is that, I first read it on an advertisement in Facebook. The Hotspot Shield is offering its VPN to counter this regulation, as telegram announced that they won’t comply on giving Russia the encryption to messages of users for terrorising act.

Technology now won’t give one option for users, it gives you 100 solution to one problem that’s why Russian government will hardly implement this banning toward each crypto enthusiast without killing the internet totally which is impossible.

Russian has always been confused when it comes to banning something. They have changed their stand over cryptocurrency banning multiple time. Now this Telegram ban over the allegation of terrorism spreading didn't make any sense. There are many anonymous and also decentralized messengers out there which can very well be used in these activities. In the times of VPN, no ban over internet can be effective. Cryptocurrencies that aren't even centralized can never be actually banned unless internet is disrupted.