|
So basically the bitcoin equivalent of writing down the serial numbers of a suitcase full of USD bank notes and handing it to a drug cartel. More "see, it's not anonymous!" fud.
Remember the early days of ecommerce on the web? It took 5-10 years before people were comfortable using credit cards online because of all of the trumped up scary stories about card info being stolen on "the internet". I read a report once that Visa never had even a single instance of card info having been stolen by intercepted TCP/IP communication - which was the big scare at the time.
|
|
|
|
|
More like an 'infomercial' for bitcoin really. The pros clearly far outweigh any cons in that video.
In light of the crackdown on bitcoin sellers the past few days on Ebay (UK) - it looks like Ebay is sitting on the fence on how to go forward with their uneasy relationship with bitcoin. Bitcoin could be the thing to challenge the Ebay/Paypal monopoly - if a good bitcoin-based alternative comes along.
Well, at least they're soliciting customer input.
|
|
|
|
http://www.cnbc.com/id/100971898"We should have competition in the production of money. I have long been a proponent of Friedrich August von Hayek scheme to denationalize money. Bitcoins are a first step in this direction,"said Frank Schaeffler, a member of the German parliament's Finance Committee, who has pushed for legal classification of bitcoins. "Sooner or later, depending on the success of private currencies, authorities will feel the urge to ban or regulate private currency. A free country should resist and not intervene in citizen's private choice of money. In my opinion the production of money is none of the government's business," Schaeffler said. Wow x 2. Quite a stark contrast to the US stance to date.
|
|
|
|
|
A major aspect of Germany's stance on bitcoin is that there is no capital gains tax at all (0%) on bitcoin specifically - as long as mined coins they're held for one year prior to selling. This is in sharp contrast to almost anywhere else where capital gains tax would apply to any financial instrument by default, including bitcoin, metals, or anything else bought (or "mined") and resold later for profit.
While not too significant in the current mining environment, germany may become very attractive for early bitcoin adopters with large btc holdings.
A large part of what made the US so attractive for investors in the early days of the internet was the pro-innovation/pro-business business regulatory and tax environment at the time. Much has changed since then.
|
|
|
|
|
Germany should attract a lot of start-up capital and associated bitcoin innovation if this legal framework is indicative of future attitudes toward bitcoin by the German gov't.
A sharp contast to the litigious, heavy-handed actions to date from the multitude of regulatory agencies in the US.
|
|
|
|
|
It is often said that bitcoin isn't backed by anyone, when in reality bitcoin is backed by everyone who uses it and sees value in using it.
The important distinction is that bitcoin's perceptual "backing" is entirely distributed and decentralized, and ultimately far more robust than that of a currency backed by any single political entity. In this respect bitcoin is much more like gold or silver than a national currency.
|
|
|
|
|
The Sea Shepherd Society does. Great org.
There's a thread on here with the idea to name their next ship the "Satoshi Nakamoto".. if forum members could generate a sizable donation...
|
|
|
|
Quantum computing = the "hydrogen-powered car" of computer research. Always "just around the corner", lots of hype and FUD, but never quite moving beyond a technical curiosity. The only way quantum computing could generate more baseless hype is if someone ports the litecoin client to run on a D-Wave box  Quantum computing will be big for many things, but cracking bitcoin keys - or running Windows 8 - are probably not two of them. |
|
|
|
Argentina's economics now is exactly what European Union will become over the next few years.
Stick to your bitcoins, guys...
The ECB has already shown that it will not hesitate to do whatever it takes to keep the wheels from falling off the euro as it careens ever faster toward the brick wall of fiscal reality. Things are about to get interesting, for sure. |
|
|
|
Banks remain disinterested or wary of Bitcoin but there is a growing acknowledgement that the digital currency’s popularity cannot be overlooked indefinitely, if a recent gathering of the faithful is anything to go by. From trade to settlement, Bitcoin offers plenty of opportunities – and threats – for banks.
Meanwhile, here in North America banks may appear disinterested - but regularly close business accounts related to any commercial bitcoin activity. |
|
|
|
|
Excellent. I can't think of a better choice to take on the task of bitcoin advocacy.
Jon has done great work in raising bitcoin awareness and legitimacy within the mainstream business and investment communities and will no doubt continue to so at the helm of the Bitcoin Foundation.
|
|
|
|
The key to keeping bitcoins legal, is to work with governments and respect their regulations. As I have stated many times before just cause we have the power to not pay taxes, or not follow regulations, doesn't mean we should. We should only execute that power in critical situations. Currently working with the government to help them understand what and how bitcoin works, is the best thing we can do.
you couldnt pay taxes on bitcoins even if you wanted to. i have 495349 coins in my wallet, what address do I send my 30% to pay for taxes? Until you convert them into USD or some other tangible asset, they're not considered any more taxable than a pile of chuck-e-cheese tokens would be - unless of course you received them in exchange for some kind of goods or service, then they would be income at whatever the rate was when you accepted them. |
|
|
|
Bitcoins become nonexistent when everyone unplugs all the computers
Actually, they only become nonexistent when the very last copy of the blockchain is non-recoverably erased from the very last hard drive of the very last bitcoin node. As long as a single copy exists somewhere in the world, the bitcoin network will reconfigure itself automatically as nodes are reconnected. It is as resilient as the internet itself. Making bitcoins illegal in any given jurisdiction would be about as pointless as making TCP/IP or electrons illegal. Bitcoin just don't care. |
|
|
|
|
It is very good news. The EFF is more important than ever in light of recent government actions.
Just imagine what they could have done with the rest of the bitcoins they foolishly squandered by giving them away. Expensive mistake!
|
|
|
|
I am not Muslim, yet I think this is a wonderful idea....
faith-based banking. lol. |
|
|
|
|
Show Posts
