The blockchain technology  can exist without cryptocurrency but cryptocurrency (in its original meaning and structure) may not be functioning without the blockchain. This means that one can use the blockchain technology since it is available to all, modify it to suit one's needs and goals and not necessarily establishing the cryptocurrency part. In fact, many countries and companies are already experiencing with this and many projects are in the implementing phases. In China, though the government is not into Bitcoin, they pour a lot of resources for research and manpower towards using the blockchain technology for different areas and concerns.

No wonder some governments like those in Latin America who understand the impact blockchain may have on their own countries are now looking at how to get the benefits but without the need to also launch their own cryptocurrency. And this is in fact the reason why Satoshi Nakamoto made this technology open to all regardless of race and economic status. Of course, there are still those who don't fully get it and still harboring many misconceptions on the blockchain and cryptocurrency and actually we could not fault them because there is no centralized organization with Bitcoin that has the money to spend on educating people and let them understand the positive implications of this technology.

The answer to that is human nature. Ordinarily, we can't think and be concern with everything happening in this world. And expecting that all people can be interested with something is insane...that is not how we humans work. With the explosion of knowledge like we have now, people's attention and focused have become like a commodity and there are so many entities fighting just for seconds and minutes of people's attention...and this is happening everyday. No wonder some will be interested with Bitcoin and some will not. Not to mention that we all have our own biases, leanings and different convictions. And of course, not all have the money saved for investing with Bitcoin. The most important thing is that there are already many who are into Bitcoin and maybe some more can be coming in the next few years, even if Bitcoin has no advertising and promotional budget of its own.

Right now, we are not seeing stablecoins as threats to the dominance of Bitcoin. In fact, I read weeks ago an article which stated that Libra as a stablecoin can in fact be helping Bitcoin be more valuable. Well, I am hoping that it can be that case if we find Libra will be operational already after battling it out with many opposing regulators and politicians. A week ago, there was this another article which posited the idea that  a certain stablecoin actually propped up the value of Bitcoin. In trading, we know that there seems to have a mutual relationship between stablecoins and Bitcoin. However, stablecoins are considered to be threats to the global economy, says some regulators and this has become the basis for their strong stance against Libra.

Since the very President of  this country is very friendly and strongly supporting Bitcoin, then we can already be sure that soon Bitcoin can be recognized either as a currency, an asset or even both in Ukraine. I heard many things on Ukraine actually and how the government is very open to things related to cryptocurrency and blockchain in there. Now, I am hoping that economic activities can be stimulated in Ukraine because of their openness to Bitcoin and therefore can be helping a lot in their fledgling economy. With its population of 43,914,374, Ukraine is not another small island state and definitely has one of the best potential to be a key player in the Bitcoin marketplace. Will Ukraine be using Bitcoin as one of its central bank's reserve assets? I certainly hope for that too.

The idea of printing more and more money is one of the reason why we have Bitcoin which has a limited supply making it the opposite of inflationary which is one characteristic of the fiat money. Now, I think, the jest of your post here is why do we have so many other cryptocurrencies competing with Bitcoin and why not remove the competition so that maybe Bitcoin can go as high as we wanted it to be. right? I actually ask that same question before because I now see that we are getting to be a very overcrowded industry and many platforms are just killing each other and many crypto leaders are turning into anti-Bitcoin themselves. Aside from many cryptos have different uses and targeted niche markets, we could not get away competition from this industry no matter we wish otherwise. Besides, these altcoins once traded maybe converted to Bitcoin so there can also be a mutual relationship in here. On the other hand, please don't feel that you are already aging as 40 is the new 20, as they say. I am actually older than you but you know what getting involved with Bitcoin and cryptocurrency can refresh your mind and make you feel younger...because here in crypto we are always riding a big roller-coaster as if in a carnival. And that can be a small secret to the fountain of youth!

You guys got many wild ideas here but some suggestions can be doable over a period of time, the main ingredients here are: one, finding the guy that can be the MrBitcoin and two, of course, getting the money or sponsorship. And let us not forget there is a need for someone or a group to coordinate this whole thing as we can never have a body without the head.

As to John McAfee, I do agree that in today's online and social media crazy era, a single person can be a huge influence over a huge number of the population and with the help of the mainstream and crypto-focused media as well as YouTube. We are seeing that now with different popular and rich celebrities. Now speaking of celebrities, I think that is where we should be picking up our MrBitcoin.

Almost all centralized and business-oriented platforms have their own marketing departments overseeing the brand names and the promotions of the products and they can be spending millions of dollars just to convince people to get engaged and buy. As a decentralized platform, we don't have that in Bitcoin.

So is USA then joining the China on this aspect? Well, I think this has been suggested to them before but the reaction is just lukewarm but with the coming of Libra the idea is getting its new life. I am sure that the Fed will not be considering this idea seriously as they see no need to make a digital version of the dollar for now, maybe not until they can see China successful on this regard. I am not in favor of centralized cryptocurrency as there is no advantage of it except being, well, digital.



This is quite expected. And that is why we in the cryptocurrency community should be expressing our disgust and opposition to the idea of the Fed making its own cryptocurrency. However, China will soon be launching the digital yuan (or whatever name they might call it) to the big Chinese market and let's see how viable it can be especially in international eCommerce transactions. I am sure that once China can be good with this, there will be an avalanche of many other countries doing the same. Finally, we are entering the death of the physical fiat money replaced by the digital fiat ones. Ouch!

You must be kidding a little. You mean to say that kids are not really that smart that they can't adapt to the use of Bitcoin using their smartphones and gadgets? Hey, our new kids can even be more techie than their parents (that's us) and so using Bitcoin can be as a walk-in-the-park for them, just scan the code and you are free to go, baby! The only big problem is when they might not have any Bitcoin left in their wallet to spend. In fact, spending money digitally is more convenient than bringing cash or even bringing the plastic card.

With Bitcoin, you can be bringing a million dollars worth in your online wallet and nobody will know...just try bringing that in fiat money and I am sure that you will not have a peace of mind. We are already in a different era where things digital are transforming the many traditional things we are doing. Again, kids these days are technologically savvier than us. Just believe me.

I don't have any good data but it is safe to say that cryptocurrency industry has one of the most scams around, no wonder some people are assuming that this industry is a big scam by itself. Then the government has no choice but to act because of many complaints from the scam victims. Of course, this is not the fault of crypto industry but by the scammers big and small. The government can intervene because they must do so and not doing anything is a big dereliction of their duty.

We can say that the government is just using escape goats so they can regulate the cryptocurrency industry according to their point of view. But is there an ordinary guys like us can do if the government will decide to do it one day? NOTHING...as under the law the mandate is not on us but on them to pass laws on anything and implement them. We can, of course, make some protests like what is happening in Hong Kong right now but are we willing to face the risks involved? I think we are not ready for that.

We should however make it clear that it is not Bitcoin per se that will be regulated because technically that is impossible as it is a decentralized platform but they can easily regulate activities and businesses involve with and surrounding Bitcoin. And we are now seeing that in many cryptocurrency exchanges. The problem with the people in this industry is that we are fully developing its potential focusing on the P2P feature and so we rely too much on third-party infrastructure because it is more convenient for us. 

They just mean one thing: The environment is always ready for Bitcoin to make a good run soon. When people are feeling jittery about any development, they can be seeking safe haven for their wealth and they will be looking at gold and Bitcoin. Old gold fans may not be agreeing with Bitcoin that much but younger population may consider Bitcoin as a very viable digital asset that has similarities to gold but differs in some aspects. The trade wars and quantitative easing are not good for the economy, generally speaking though politicians can say otherwise. Gold is expected to rise in price especially in 2020, just in time for the possible bull run of Bitcoin. Can we say then that Bitcoin is the new digital gold? You bet.

The answer to that is that Craig Wright is not the real Satoshi Nakamoto and he is a proven liar by the court. That is why he never logged into this forum and he never will. I am not sure though if Craig Wright made a claim that he is also the owner of the account we ascribed here to its founder Satoshi Nakamoto. Anyway, this man has been a big joke and the only person who believes that he is serious and very credible is himself and the surrounding people who got benefited with his generosity. Well, why don't we invite the man to have an account here and answer directly our many insinuations and allegations...it would have been an open-for-all circus.

Okay, I have to admit that I am an art-inclined guy but I could never let this opportunity pass without participating by submitting something in celebration of Bitcointalk's 10-year anniversary. A big shame it would be if I would not take a time to do something so here it is, ladies and gentlemen...



Now, I am not expecting to win anything, being one of the participants can be enough for me but here is my wallet address anyway: 32cnhYpP8S6Fo1NvHAMXQijfjeB7DRb2PG. So good luck to all of us. Cheers!

Honesty and accountability can best be addressed by the blockchain technology and we are already seeing many platforms and projects getting into this concern. Now, with Bitcoin, I think the route taken by gold will also be possible with this when we are trying to entice institutional money into it...and Bakkt can be the start for this trend. Right now, gold is rising and there is a big chance that it can be pumping months from now. With Bitcoin, there remains the issue of volatility which gold already addressed successfully.




Yes, crazy for now but we just don't  know what can be years from now. Certainly, there is that bigger chance that Bitcoin will be growing in the years to come in terms of price and adoption. We just know yet the developments that can influence for Bitcoin to reach that level you mentioned. Will Bitcoin be able to overtake the marketcap of gold? I am hoping so but definitely this is never an easy ride. Maybe if some central banks start to hoard Bitcoin then it can be the catalyst for the rise of Bitcoin to a different level...a level enjoyed by gold.

You have an amazing story with the help of Bitcoin leading you towards financial independence. And I am so happy for you as this is another proof how Bitcoin can be changing one's life at least financially speaking. While reading your story, the two biggest factors for you are: one, you receive your salary being a part affiliate marketing with Bitcoin because had it been the usual dollar via PayPal then you might not have started your Bitcoin journey and two, you got involved yourself with Bitcoin trading so it opened up for you many good opportunities to make more money. As for me, I bought my first Bitcoin while the value was just around $600 way back in 2016 and though I lost some to many revenue-sharing programs back then, I still able to make some good profits which I eventually used to do some online and offline business. I am  hoping that others can also have similar positive stories like you do.

Plus there is no way we can reach Satoshi Nakamoto so that he can approve of this swap coin proposal and endorse the move. I am sure this idea has been discussed before and the consensus is that this can be a dangerous path to thread on. I myself will not be supporting it. As to speeding up the transactions, I would like to think there are now many good solutions for that just waiting for full implementation and eventually scalability can be solved as part of Bitcoin's evolution.

Indeed, it is true, the cost of Bitcoin mining like electricity expense forms part of the reason why Bitcoin has good value because had it been mined at a very minimal cost then it can take a lot of decades before it can rise in price. This is one reason, among many other factors, why Bitcoin is not worthless. Still, thanks to OP for showing a lot of interest in the health of Bitcoin and for suggesting something like that here. Zooming out from the politics of cryptocurrency, we need people who are always attentive and have that desire to be a big part of the community.

What indigenous people need and want are the things that can help them survive and not cryptocurrency. In fact, giving them "fish" may not be helping a lot we need to teach them how to "fish" so they will not, one day, be extinct. Of course, these people are survivors so if left on their one they can eventually make it...it is even us who are used to the urban dwellings that may have a big problem if there will be conflagration and disasters along the way. Aside from basic education, these people need a systematic and adept healthcare system and this can be provided by the government and non-government efforts.

Education is the key so investing with their young people can go a long, long way in preparation for their next generation who are already learned and can easily integrate with the mainstream society without losing their culture and identity. Now, I still have to know where is the role of cryptocurrency here. We are even having a hard time convincing the mainstream population to adopt cryptocurrency and here we are planning to make cryptocurrency the in thing for the indigenous people...sorry I have to say that this idea is not my cup of tea. I have a 10th blood of a native based on my family history and I once worked in an NGO focusing on native people so I know what I am saying, at least in my POV.

Of course, giving these people cryptocurrency won't hurt them so make your day...it is not my money anyway!

You can protect your offline wallet by not exposing it to any online platform. I am sure that your friend somehow shared his offline wallet on Facebook or maybe he connected that offline wallet in there that is why someone was able to hooked and hacked into it. Anyway, I am hoping my guess is right otherwise it would be good if you can supply me and the rest here some details on how the incident happened. Nobody can ever be too careful, as the saying goes. There are now many ways, means, strategies and technologies that scammers and hackers are utilizing to trick us and steal our kept digital assets and I know the feeling when we realized we have become a part of the victim statistics. As the scamming and hacking industry is expanding at every turn, making sure that we are protected is a paramount concern.

Naturally, when we transfer all of our alts we are holding into Bitcoin then it can tremendously increase the demand and possibly influence the price higher. Now, the only problem is how to tell and how to convince all people holding alts to do this suggestion. The market is getting bigger and the people in crypto is steadily increasing. And, of course, people are also looking at the risks involved. When they think that Bitcoin's bearish mood has not yet bottomed out then entering at this stage may not be the best idea. I am sure though that we can eventually weather this temporary station where Bitcoin is at so let's just relax, continue watching the market while maybe drinking some beer or for some coffee or tea.

Cold storage is a great option which some exchanges are using to protect their digital assets and those entrusted to them and I think so far they are the safest platforms and as for others they should start praying that hackers will not be interested with what they are holding otherwise it can be a hell of an experience and can even put the death certificate into one's business. This is one of the biggest challenge I see in the world of cryptocurrency. Now, if big banks can be subjected to successful hacking, much more with small platforms who can not afford the highest and the most effective security technology. No wonder there are some people who are staying away from cryptocurrency as they are aware of the risks including getting hacked. For individuals, the best way is to use hardware wallets just don't forget the keys.



I read somewhere that one big beneficiaries with hacking and ransomware are the insurance companies providing their services to different platforms who are looking for some protection and assurance that if something can happen they can still recoup even part of what they lost. Actually, this is going to be a booming business and the market can be big. Just another business is born because of this problem.

I have a good level of interest with this development because I am concerned that China is the dominant single leader when it comes to Bitcoin mining (ironically its government does not like Bitcoin, in the first place) which is not good if we have to talk about decentralization of power and influence. Good to see that Layer1 is coming up with this ambitious and grand plan of becoming a big player in the Bitcoin mining industry with the hope of reducing the leadership of China.

At the same time, its plan to be using renewable and green power is quite admirable. In case they will open up the project for crowdfunding, I would certainly be supporting this one. However, the bottom line here, just like any other business, is profitability and sustainability. Let's see how they can make it a very competitive platform that can hopefully rival that of China.

Go go go Layer1...we are all behind you all the way!