Bitcoin Forum

Right now, the steps to upload messages, pictures, and files directly to the blockchain is too complex for the non-tech types. How would you feel about a simple service that did all the hard work for you and uploaded anything you wanted to the blockchain for you? Would you use it it?

Are you talking about the actual public blockchain? Assuming it's possible, what's the point of doing such thing? What good would it do?

It's more than possible, it's happening. There are wikileaks files stored in the blockchain. Pictures of Nelson Mandela, etc. Most people put messages/articles in the blockchain for proof, and to be time stamped. Others put things in the blockchain for public access. Another point of putting something in the blockchain is that it can't be removed. So, if you are a writer in a highly censored country, if you put something in the blockchain, the government can't remove it. Although, the writer may still get punished, the content can't be removed. And other miscellaneous reasons drive people to put things in the blockchain.

The day when a judge will consider something timestamped in the blockchain a legal proof I thing that the need for this kind of service will explode.

Not that I want bitcoin regulated, but if it ever is regulated, I think they would have to acknowledge the timestamp of transactions.

What would you be doing differently than http://www.btproof.com (http://www.btproof.com) ?

I'd much prefer an altcoin chain to used. The blockchain is only going to get more and more bloated to the point where you need a huge disk array just to download the entire chain.

luke I got a untrusted connection from that link you gave me, why is it doing that if its suppose to be a secure website

There's an expired server certificate.

The cert expired literally 10 days ago. Honestly, the whole PKI industry is a giant load of crap at this point. Root CAs paying Mozillia, Microsoft, and Google to be 'trusted' by default. Root CAs charging customers tons of money for a service that quite literally is almost self-substaining. I mean, really -- have you ever ran your own CA? It takes very, very little skill. Create your root CA, create a few subordinate CAs, create a few under those, lock up the root (never let that to be directly accessed), lock down those 2nd level CAs, and send out keys using the 3rd level CAs. If anything gets compromised, it's a pretty easy fix. But who targets it?

Anyway, enough of my rambling -- a certificate doesn't say the site is 100% legit or not. It could have been compromised ages ago for all we know.

Oh. You still believe the altcoins will survive longterm? Haven't heard that in a while... But I'm not here to argue.

Even if most alts survive though, or just the 10 most useful alts survive, and you manage to choose it correctly somehow, and even if you managed to convince your customers that you have picked the right chain... Why would anyone want to save their important data on a "somewhat secure" network when stashing their hash on the most secure network in the world is free?


Good question, the cert is expired or has been replaced with a bad one; I can verify this wasn't a problem a few weeks ago so it's less likely but still possible a hack has taken place here.

That would be amazing i say, i haven't heard this thing before but sure be ready to look out in future

What's to say that bitcoin will survive longer than all the other altcoins? Personally, I'd be more interested in a service using litecoin's blockchain (as the information is uploaded a bit more cheaply, still on a trusted chain, and it's uploaded a lot quicker).


The certification just expired. Check the information on it. It was issued by a trusted CA.

Is there an easy way to view the files stored on the blockchain? If people can see what is hidden inside, there will be more interest in putting files there.

So you are out to destroy the block chain?
Absolutely the last thing that bitcoin needs is 7 billion ass clowns loading up the blockchain with pictures of their dog.

Oh… but wait…… What if some sick fuck uploads  kiddie porn onto the blockchain and then the  sickos start using it as a distribution network for kiddie porn as a guaranteed way to ensure distribution with  ZERO TRACEABILITY ,…. now……. every copy of the block chain held independently would be:

1. An excuse for WHY kiddie porn was on your computer. ( sorry officer , I was only using bitcoin)
2. An excuse for law enforcement to totally destroy the Crypto currency due to its association with the most vile of human beings.

Yep well you did not think of that did you?

Then the  Bitcoin Programming team would be forced to counteract the stupidity, but wait… how to remove the filth already in the confirmed blockchain…..


So no I think it is a very stupid Idea, but certainly an excellent way to destroy some of the other 'crypto-crap' out there.


RF

I dont get how there is enough space to store a picture.  Surely you mean post the link to the file hosted somewhere.

I thought namecoin or something would be covering this kind of thing and building up alternate dns to handle all sorts of traffic?

If you are asking us if its valid, sometimes people dont know till they try it.   Sounds like a document that the author wants to be published and kept distributed is the most likely use.
Timestamping would be recognised in a trial if it was somehow vital to the case, I dont think things become law just as one judge accepts but I doubt anyone goes to the chair for lack of a court recognising bitcoin timestamp is valid independant acknowledgement

tl;dr: nothing wrong with imgur

As the others have pointed out, I'm not able to view the regular site. But I did look at the cache site. btproof.com, to me, seemed to be very techy. Meaning that you have to kinda know how to code some. And, it wasn't user friendly. I may be wrong, but thats the impression I got. What I plan on having is a site where you will be able to upload images, messages, and files with a single click. No need to "hash", no need to import/export addresses wallets, etc. Its going to be so user friendly. You would be able to see photos, messages, and files other have uploaded. You can do this because the bitcoin is public. The transactions are all public.

 It has already happened. There are pictures of Nelson Mandela. I'm talking jpeg images, not links. Quotes, files, programs, and somethings in there that I don't want to mention exists in the blockchain. Satoshi himself put a message in the first block ever mined.

Thats a great question, PolarPoint. Is there an "easy" way to view the files at this time? For the average person, imo, no. I don't believe the average person has the skills to view images and files on the blockchain directly. Of course, I plan on making it super easy to view files, images, messages that are already on the blockchain.



@RF
While you bring up some interesting points, allow me to address them.

No. Destroying the blockchain is not my intention. Might this test the blockchain a little? Maybe. Maybe not. Did Satoshi dice and other bitcoin based application "destroy" the blockchain? No.

Imagine if 7 billion people trusted bitcoin? 7 billion people relied on the bitcoin blockchain? 7 billion people USING THE BLOCKCHAIN. With a transition to the mainstream, people must be able to use it, with ease. Search it with ease. View it with ease. As you can tell from this thread, some didn't know about the ability to store pictures, and files in the blockchain. If bitcoin wants to become more mainstream, people must understand it and be able to use it. I will make this seamless transition for many to use the blockchain without knowing one line of code. Of course, everything will be verifiable IF you know how to code and view the blockchain.



Unfortunately, this stuff is already on the blockchain. And with or without this service, more is being put on the blockchain. And, of course, by the decentralization of bitcoin's nature, nobody owns bitcoin and everybody owns bitcoin. So, like guns, or technology, it can be used for good and/or for evil. Of course, I will do all I can to prevent evil, but I can only do so much. And once the service is available, I'd like your suggestions on how to prevent such activities. I want this service to be used for the good, not the evil.