Woo Hoo here's cheers, I could be very rich now if I played right but I am more comfortable than ever for a few years and some folk got some cheap coins.

Mackay Qld here, been into Bitcoin since May 2011 had a motherboard running 5 6950s for not long enough. Just a basic PC hobbiest but Bitcoin passionate, puts hand up for numbers.

A few bucks on a dremaltool(sp) to engrave it yourself.

All coops cost to set up, its the hows that need to be addressed. Whether by member joining fees or donations that can be paid back over time. I dont know, just tossing something in for the mix of discussions.

I have been tossing the idea of a cooperative based exchange run and owned by the community. There is alot of talent here and finance as well. I really am not a business person but it could be a way to pave a new path.

Heres a link to that may get some ideas flowing.
http://opensource.com/business/10/7/cooperative-success-understanding-co-op-business-model

At least if it is run and owned as a coop some hurdles we are facing these days towards centralisation points of business maybe made better.

I am not a programmer just a computer enthusiast nor converse in trading or business practice.

Edit to add.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooperative

Co-op" redirects here. For other uses, see Co-op (disambiguation).
A cooperative ("coop"), co-operative ("co-op"), or coöperative ("coöp") is an autonomous association of persons who voluntarily cooperate for their mutual, social, economic, and cultural benefit.[1] Cooperatives include non-profit community organizations and businesses that are owned and managed by the people who use its services (a consumer cooperative) or by the people who work there (a worker cooperative) or by the people who live there (a housing cooperative), hybrids such as worker cooperatives that are also consumer cooperatives or credit unions, multi-stakeholder cooperatives such as those that bring together civil society and local actors to deliver community needs, and second and third tier cooperatives whose members are other cooperatives.

In the United States, the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) serves as the sector's national membership association. It is dedicated to ensuring that cooperative businesses have the same opportunities as other businesses operating the country and that consumers have access to cooperatives in the marketplace.

I am so glad I didnt wake up through my price alarm.

How can we as a community create an exchange that works in all areas needed?
Gox has had enough time and fuck ups to be totally flushed down the toilet now. I am so mad at their couldnt give a fuck attitude, and to think they are supposed to be the major entry for new folk to get their coins.

Jeebers's arsehole how fucking mad I am at them. Not that that matters as this post will get the cursory scroll through.

I feel for all the new people who have been burnt by this.

The way Bitcoin is going I vote for the cheetah for one.

Looked at supporting the US economy by buying a new Harley, does anyone know a dealer who takes BTC?

I have been here since June 2011 and its been a hell of a ride, I love bitcoin and how its changed my life. Grats everyone.

Stored Bitcoins requires permanent Energy consumption to be maintained: Asic's over Gpu?
Stored Gold requires no consumption to be maintained: All those hired guns and infrastructure needed to maintain security?

Eventually the blockchain could be powered by clothes that generate electricity from your everyday movement.
disclaimer: I dont know whats going to happen but the old way of doing things will have to move over.

I live in country Australia where people are not overly interested in Internet things, at least the people I know. It has been easy for me to get money in and out of Gox, its the constant lagging they have that worries me. As far as other exchanges go I worry some about them from the hacks and losses of the last 2 years, Gox seems to have got their act together.
Good luck with getting your BTC, hope it all works out for you, I cant give advice on how to's in the States.

I cant understand how gox has not done anything to fix this ancient lag problem, jeebers H the amount of money they are loosing by not fixing the problem has to be massive. What a joke they are (i have used them because they have the liquidity I need, I am now waiting for better before I trade again).
I hope someone comes along soon and takes the market off them with all the trimmings a big exchange needs for the upcoming big players, Trade Hill maybe?

Win7 x64, all good but only a couple of transactions done. I leave the client open a fair bit with no drama.

I have not had any drama with gox apart from the lag and connectivity. I am truly amazed that they have left the mobile apps broken for so long and same with the lag drama. They have the potential to take their business to the sky but I wonder how many big fish are not coming to play because of this.


Its not like there is a shortage of people in the community to fix their problems.

Bring on competition, Trade Hill 2 maybe they will get enough momentum.

Edit to add: Plus the communication in general sucks big time when folks have so much invested through them.

I paid for some advice recently on tax for BTC in Aust, the basic run down was tax only applies when you cash back to fiat then the first 50% is not taxed and you are taxed on the other 50% depending on your circumstances of how you are set up.
This advice was not given as concrete either. I  am either going to set a company up and buy all that I need that way (real estate) so its a company problem tax wise and not personal income which should make any tax liability smaller if done right, I have paid shit loads of tax through my life already.
Disclaimer I am in no way knowing in these matters and just trying to work out the best deal I can get for myself if it comes to actually needing fiat from my BTC.

I asked this question some time back and was told to give them the details of the last three trades I made with them and all would be good. Though I have not tried it.

WTF

No doubt it can be frustrating for you folk waiting and getting standard cut and paste answers, hopefully bitcoin will eventually get to the point of not being needed to swap in and out of fiats on exchanges as much as it is today.

I spend some, I save some just like I have done with fiat, so no, saving will not doom bitcoin. Saving is necessary if I wish to purchase things of great value at a later date, like a house or car.
When I get paid fiat I dont feel the need to instantly spend it all so why should bitcoin be any different?

I had some thousands transferred within 24hrs to my bank account the other day in Australia from Gox, they have been quick every time that I have used them. The problem lies with the banking system not Gox.