Bitcoin Forum

I'm been a lurker till now, don't have 50 posts, so can't post this in the main thread (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=63749.0), but it looks like Tradehill has been a victim (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=63749.msg746954#msg746954) of the California Money Transmission Act.  For anyone curious about the details, this Quora post (http://www.quora.com/Aaron-Greenspan/Posts/In-Fifty-Days-Payments-Innovation-Will-Stop-In-Silicon-Valley) from last year explains it.

TLDR:  Money transmission companies operating in CA now have to get licensed for domestic transfers (previously only for international).  Costs:
1.  $500,000+ (just in CA, not to mention 43+ other US states with similar laws)
2.  Requires background check, fingerprinting, the works.
3.  Jail for founders now a possibility under the PATRIOT Act for transmitting money illegally without a license.

That sucks hope not too many bitcoins where lost

Not with Tradehill, they're all available for withdrawal.

Better hope nothing bad happens to MtGox... considering that they're basically the BTC trading monolith now.

Here in comes the government; bending people over for the greater good since 1916.

you mean better hope nothing else bad happens to mtgox.

 :D lol that's why the whole world needs to adopt bitcoins asap so that there is no choice but to have the government make regulations to protect the currency rather than squash it!

People really need to stop using these centeralised services nad start using stuff like bitcoin-otc

Bitcoin-otc is too hard to use for most users. The best non-centralized exchanges I know are http://bitcoin.de and http://bitmarket.eu (used mostly by europeans like me).

Simple answer.  Don't live in or do business with the People's Republic of California.  

Before someone says "I am not moving" well that is how tyrrany happens. Granted the rest of US has the "money services business" regulations to deal with but they are far less punitive then CA.  If CA drives enough business out of the state and goes bankrupt maybe they won't be able to afford all that tyranny?

LMAO  :D

btw.: It's sad for TradeHill and I really hope that they're not in trouble or sth. - I really hope, that a few small exchanges are getting bigger, 'cause Mt. Gox is too big at the moment.

btw 2.: It would be great to see the source code of their platform, so someone else can start an exchange (outside the US)

My Dwolla transfer made it last night, went to try TradeHill for the first time... Just my luck.

Does anyone else notice the trend, of 'just my luck' moments, almost exclusively following US legislations' consequence on our freedom? Oh well, I've gotten used to the fact that we are screwed. Just wish everyone would see it for what it is.

That's unfortunate.  It's a shame that TH didn't just continue as-is, since they're in Chile, though I understand not wanting to go to jail.  The US has well demonstrated the length of their arms with the recent bust of the Megaupload founders in New Zealand.

Why not Intersango.com?

Now second largest bitcoin exchange, British registered business, 100% legal and regulation compliant(means no getting shut down).

Run by bitcoin core developers transparently.

Trade USD, GBP, EUR, and PLN. Only MtGox has more volume.

Second longest running, never compromised (they're often the ones to find breaches in other exchanges).

Best customer service in bitcoinland and lowest fees.

Transfer funds using Dwolla & SEPA outside the UK, one day transfers when in the UK.

How much did they pay you to say this :D ?

Kidding. They really are an excellent exchange but it needs more liquidity at times compared to gox and backup strategy if their account is closed.

28 pieces of silver?

Seriously though I can't sing their praises enough, when I was in China I was having some issues and they got everything sorted out for me. I've worked with genjix when I started GLBSE, sound bloke that.

Why would their account be closed? They're not some fly by night operation, when starting they actually went to the FSA(guys responsible for financial services in the UK) to get bitcoin catagorised and ensure they comply with all applicable legislation and regulations. It's doing shady stuff that gets your account shut down.

Besides, weren't you saying only a couple of posts ago how we need a decent alternative to MtGox? Well here you go.

Nefario.

If this starts becoming a problem im sure all the exchange sites will start hosting with providers such as PRQ

PRQ?

prq.se

a Swedish hosting company

Time to move to a real state..

first thoughts:

-need something like bitmarket on tor hidden service
-how much is the license 'fee' throughout the world? Where is cheapest? How much is chile.
-TH was based in chile, but why worry if all legit&regulated?
-licensing is easier to be justified but large fees soundike corrupt anticompetition for the industry