Bitcoin Forum

So just to speculate on that. Let's say we'll see massive electronics failure due to extreme solar activity.Would there be any point to make a paper backup of my wallet.dat before the ~21st of December? Can magnetic storms corrupt digitally stored binary data? Maybe it would be smart to print out the bitcoin's protocol or the source code just in case?

I'm just curious what are your thoughts on this end of the world scenario. I think it either doesn't bring us back to the stone age or if it does bitcoin would be the last thing to worry about.

This topic interests me.

We had an extensive discussion on Bitcoins survival in the event of blackout during our last meetup.

Few theories were discussed such as QR code drop points, Mesh Networks, etc.

But all seem a wee bit unrealistic in the event of an Apocalypse.

Any type of magnetic storage without sufficient shielding would be vulnerable to a large enough CME.  Optical storage should be fine.  In such an event (on the scale of the Carrington event or larger) a large amount of electronics and infrastructure will be damaged, but there is enough hardened equipment out there to keep things running while we replace what got fried.

Long story short, backup your private keys on CD/DVD and it wouldn't hurt to archive the blockchain and source code too if you don't want to rely on others to do it for you.

For forecasts of solar activity as well as close asteroid flybys I highly recommend www.spaceweather.com.

^ This still depends on the bitcoin network being secure and available.

You might want to have a look at this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cEHBNqHfCI

I don't know where to get lead but I guess tin foil would serve the same purpose. I'm going to buy a shit load of tin foil and make a full mask out of it. also maybe would be good idea to surround my pc and laptop with it.

the only thing that concerns me is the induction heating - I wouldn't want to have that foil burning my skin when the magnetic storms break loose.

In case of such event bitcoins will be our last concern  ???

You still need to be able to verify no one has spent the private keys when someone hands you a physical coin. If the network is down/unavailable by whatever means you are back to having to trust the person who gave you the coin.

The Apocalypse won't be anytime soon, if it was then it wouldn't be the Apocalypse.

In the event some magnetic solar surge hits, bitcoin will survive as long as the internet does.

no

Word!  :D

The server rack here should function as a good faraday cage.. Metal panels on the sides, mesh on the front and back. Even if the electronics themselves fry because of the power cords, ethernet, and coax passing into the rack, the magnetic media within the hard drives will be recoverable.

Server farm in Urcos.

Anything big enough to cause problems we will see coming and we can simply turn most things off to protect them.  Anything big enough to still cause problems is likely to be devastating enough that your bitcoins aren't going to matter as cockroaches inherit the earth...

I have something interesting planned.............

Either there is going to be real trouble, or potentially... it may make Bitcoin more profitable.

Apocalypse means Total Devastation (in this->context;)
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/apocalypse

btw, I think it's a win:win situation because if everything goes down, banksters go down too and I believe bitcoin is easier to re-establish than centrals banks.

I'll make backup of the block chain, wallets and source code.. Just send me your wallet.dat file, I'll keep it safe on a DVD for you, withtout charges. ;)

Just kidding, dec 21st will be an ordinary day, like each other day.. except if I receive an asic at my door step, then i'll be parting :)

I bet some foolish naive peoples will makes things they will regret before of on dec 21st..

Anyone know a bet on BetsOfBitco.in (http://BetsOfBitco.in) about this Dec 21st stuff ?

Yes, cockroaches will use bitcoin to make deals.

Here you go:

http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/2012-the-end-of-the-world/

Summary: No problem, make your new year's eve plans, x-mas will occur as scheduled.