Bitcoin Forum

Under current law, is there any way to force the US government to accept and secure a private key. 

they already have a bitcoin client and private key. they moved the silk road funds to it.

but i still wonder what your actually asking..

1. you want government to own bitcoins?
2. you want to make a random donation to them?

i thought they already had enough funds with fiat. why give away bitcoin to them, its rare remember. you might aswell give all your gold and silver jewelry to them for no reason. i would also say your house, but the way mortgages work, they already own your house.

I don't think bitcoin is in the law yet.  :)

1. no
2. no

I am interested if i can force them to be a party to a 2 of 3 transaction.

You can mail somebody the key, but you can't force somebody to use it.

Highly doubt it. For what purpose? What makes you think this is remotely feasible ?

I assume OP wants to make the USGvmt complicit in a bitcoin transaction in some sort of preemptive strategy.

I can't think of any other reason to think up this scheme.

Send it through the mail to a general delivery address is the closest I can think of.

you will then see a rise in anonymous crypto currencies

the govt cant really force you to use a number against your will

they may be able to brainwash your kids starting in k12 that bitcoins is bad...

Force? no.

Coerce? Yes, and we will.

Game theory will coerce all governments to melt all their fiat for crypto, sooner or later.

The laws are so convoluted I shouldn't be surprised to find some idiotic statute to exploit with a decent (expensive, connected) lawyer.

Without knowing what the endgame is, I'm only commenting for my own amusement. Depending on the purpose, social engineering sounds like it would be involved at least a little. Strictly speaking, they own the men with guns, so no one forces the government to do anything. You'd have to convince them to do it somehow, unless you possess such a disproportionate credible threat of force as to move the might of the US to acquiesce. Coercion via blackmail or even sheer trickery is usually effective.

Honestly, it's just 3 AM and I'm taking a 10-minute break from work, so BCT amuses me. I no longer come here for serious discussions, because of things like this (which is far from the most absurd thing around here anymore). Feel free to add details that explain how this is a question that actually merits response. I figure you're a few bong hits too deep into that ever-so-profound contemplative stage where you muse over obscure string theory trivia and consider its applications if the world were really all inside a wardrobe, only to arrive at the conclusion that if everyone would just become elves, we'd have world peace.

It is legally possible to force the US government to do things against its will, for example look into a Freedom of Information Act request.  They are also legally obligated to do certain things under certain circumstances, for example keeping juvenile criminal records from becoming public.  It is more an example of the second type I was looking for: some existing method I could use to send them a key they were then obligated to keep, and keep privately.

And Seriouscoin?  You need to get out more...

I understand what you're saying but that would kind of function would most likely exist far outside the realm of any kind of cryptocurrency or even financial sector (i.e. the state has to release assets only to someone identified in a will etc)

no

It depends on the US Government policies that what could be taken step about this.

The main idea of creating cryptocurrency was independence. But I don't think people are ready for that. There are always those who want legalization. Why do you need cryptocurrency then. Use Fiat. It's legalized. Every user of cryptocurrency should be able to take responsibility for their lives and the assistance of the state in this I do not need.

Same questions on my mind why such question been asked ;D Which is total crappy yet why would forced them to secure a private key?

It turns out that you are putting a gun in your own head when you do such thing. Giving out free money which it shouldnt really be done. This is why most people do love crypto because of this matter. Once you hold the keys you are on the full control of your holdings and no other will able to take it from you.