Nice picture. lol. But if electrical impulses can be sent back in time, then I don't think it would need Bitcoin as it would be able to already install itself onto the servers of the world and control the world's finances already.

Great idea though.

You can add the e-coin one to the list. Cards available in USD, EUR or GBP. Card works everywhere you can see a Visa sign, in whichever country.

If you click this link you get a 25% discount on the card and I get free BTC from them for referral : https://www.e-coin.io/?ref=0859cfb4f69e4c95b4af2be532720320#sthash.qxWksMAq.dpuf

So, I have to ask... does anyone know the ballpark figure of how many regular Bitcoin users there are now?  It's not even close to how many wallets there are, so what number are we looking at?

So is Bitcoin. Tor must be still doing something right.


In other words, something that is illegal in China, which you've previously said is the problem with Tor.


So, you've taken Tor, an anonymous protocol - that works just fine with bridges for the truly paranoid - and made a 'wallet VPN' that another node uses as an 'identity' to enable a VPN, and 'identify' someone in a way that Tor doesn't.

In other words, if the wallet has some 'special' code in it (just like the Chinese version of Skype does) that backdoor can send lots of lovely information to the exact types of people that the people who would otherwise be using Tor are trying to avoid in China.

Interesting poll. Hope to see the final breakdown in a pie chart at some point. It is a poll in English though, so it kind of cuts out all those who don't speak/write English often. In other words, the poll itself will probably skew toward the native English speaking countries.

Is that true? Do you have some links? Because if it's so I'd definitely like to know and avoid it.

Hmm. Sounds a lot like another coin I've heard of called Bitcoin. I can't see what this does that Bitcoin effectively can't/won't now or in the future.

Which means it's not a blockchain, no? No matter Bitcoin or some other token, it needs a for a token transaction to 'imprint', so to speak. Without that, it's just consensus software and not a blockchain.

For dollars to be the token - and they would have to have some kind of token - they'd effectively have to earmark X amount of dollars and digitize them (ya, I make myself laugh by saying this bearing in mind many already are digitized and have never been 'incarnated' physically) and have them function as a token for the hashed blocks.

I'm not saying that some other consensus software can't/won't be developed, but it can't be called a blockchain in the Bitcoin definition of the word surely? And surely the Bitcoin definition of 'blockchain' should be the benchmark?

Hashing/Mining = Empty block + Tokens > Token + Transaction = filled blocks & Consensus = blockchain

If it's not as above, then I'll have to say I then have no idea what exactly a blockchain would be.

Ya, this.

I am interested to see what happens with Ethereum's platform though. Mist within it is interesting. I'm wondering what applications will be built with it in the future. If I'm being totally honest though, I just hope Counterparty keeps going and puts all the goodies onto the Bitcoin blockchain.

My hope which I think is fairly realistic, is that approx 25% of the world begins using it regularly. That twenty five percent will raise the value of Bitcoin and be just on the edge of mass adoption, making it still a possibility.

I don't wish for there to only be digital cash though, as I think that's a mistake.

Yes, but what they would have would be a an intranet ledger for their own use. And if it has no token of worth attached to it then it's simply the same as programming whatever you like into an intranet ledger. That's not really a blockchain. That's just a cheaper banking system (for them.)

It's not going to happen. More likely, the dollar will replace itself with 'Digital Dollar 2.0' that will somehow "solve" all the traditional dollars problems and make it more convenient for use (but still fiat.)

Coinbase really knows how to wave that banner though.

Payment received! Thanks a lot

I think Bitcoin will only gain major traction for payments when merchants give discount incentives for using it. But they don't. Why would anyone spend extra money to buy BTC only to be paying the same amount if they used a credit card or paypal?

It has to have consistent discounts in the first place for people to consider it valuable to by, and not just hold, but to actually use.

Since Bitcoin does save transaction money, then part of those savings should be given back to the consumer. Things should always be cheaper with BTC.

Ya, I can't see how anyone can judge what the eventual Ethers will be worth at this point. It's really a tough one as they've had such a huge crowdfunding and expectation build up.

I think the price will rise and then go down again to a couple of dollars. Still, no way of knowing that.

As to Counterparty taking the Etherium code, it shouldn't be forgotten that everyone else took the Bitcoin code for free first. Counterparty supports Bitcoin/blockchain, Etherium doesn't.

I am interested in Etherium though.

The problem they have is still not having enabled many methods of cashing out is that you may very well be able to cash out via your bank account (I haven't done this) but at what price?

The price when you perform the action, or at the price when it finally goes through? It's not like any form of bank transfers are instantaneous. They take days mostly. So the price may have gone down by that point and I lose money. They don't give too many details on the exactly 'whens and at what price'.

I really think/feel they are trying to steer clear of anyone using their platform for speculation. At this point I just get the impression they don't want you taking your money out, which makes sense from their business perspective currently, but not from mine as the customer.

Initially, if you were a US citizen you couldn't get/keep a bitgold account. Now, you can. This means/can only mean, that Bitgold now has to follow US financial rules and regulations which are draconian in the extreme. In other words, the rest of the world who has signed up to Bitgold and deposited money now has that added inconvenience and will have to jump through numerous hoops to withdraw too... which is probably why they are lagging in their implementation of the utility of being able to withdraw to a Bitcoin wallet, and making the debit card available.

I'd have to say much about where it is now. I think it'll be $4.50 - 5.50, but more on the five dollars side. I think it'll gradually climb though. Gradual is good.

Nice. A decentralized disruptive technology spawns a government regulated exchange, which then has a non-public private summit for bankers so they can learn how to make their own harmonious centralized private blockchains.

I assume Satan has been RSVP'd and is attending?

Amazing. It at least took the internet a good decade before corps started selling it out, but these assholes... geez.

Great story. Bank cards can have some bizarre actions in some countries and it's always good to have a back up. As someone who travels a lot, there's nothing worse than ending up in a country and you don't know anyone and barely have any money. It's a nightmare. So Bitcoin saving the day is great to hear.

'Bitcoin. Don't leave home without it.'

I think using BTC when travelling, or knowing you have access to some, is a great form of travel insurance almost. I'd like to see more stories like this, as it's definitely a valid use for Bitcoin. Lose your credit card abroad and it'll take days/sometimes weeks to come. Basically, your holiday is over before you get that card.

I've known many people have their credit cards stolen. If they had a BTC back up somewhere, then all they need is an internet connection.

Haha. I din't know you were 'that' guy. I see your videos all over the place when I'm looking into alt coins. I think it's always good for people to understand the risks and costs miners take, but I think perhaps you should have had the word 'miner/mining' in the title so the average person will know what they are going to be watching. Informative video though.

By the way, I'm still waiting for the Christmas video where that fireplace of yours is turned on.