Bitcoin Forum
September 22, 2025, 03:37:47 PM *
News: Latest Bitcoin Core release: 29.0 [Torrent]
 
  Home Help Search Login Register More  
  Show Posts
Pages: [1]
1  Bitcoin / Development & Technical Discussion / Re: So how much privacy do we really need? on: November 01, 2017, 12:07:36 AM
So far I have seen some people arguing for 100% privacy, and some for (pseudo)privacy as it is now in bitcoin. (It is pseudo-privacy and not privacy, you can't be 100% anonymous with your transactions on a public blockchain free for anyone to view, no matter what tricks you use like Tor, mixers etc - if you are still not convinced there are several articles/academic papers out there that show exactly that).

I would suggest that to concisely answer the question, you have to look at the big picture, not yourself as an individual.

Let's say I am using fiat money. I get paid my salary to my bank account, I pay my bills, my doctor, I buy my vacation and my sex toys.
Q: Do I have the right to keep these transactions private?
A: Of course I do!  I don't anyone to be able to take a picture of my entire life just by looking at these transactions (not my friend, my neighbor, my employer or the government). Nor do I want to advertise my savings amounts to the entire world.
Q: Does bitcoin (as it is today) help me keep these transactions private?
A: No (see above). => Bitcoin as it is today can not be used as a total fiat currency replacement.

Now let's say I am an illegal materials/goods trader (drugs? child pornography? human trafficker?) or I am otherwise engaged in some criminal activity (money laundering? blackmailing? scamming?)
Q: Do I have the right to keep these transactions private?
A: NO. Authorities will have to suspend your privacy rights if you are suspect of taking part into illegal activities.
Q: Should authorities "unmask" your private transactions in such cases?
A: Yes. If you are part of an organized and lawful society you should think the same. If not, go find a place to live in some anarchist country on in the jungle with the monkeys.
Q: Can a 100% private - anonymous cryptocurrency (Zcash?) be auditable and accountable for such illegal transactions?
A: No. => Such a currency can not be used as a total fiat currency replacement.

Now you might argue that Bitcoin (or some other cryptocurrency) might not totally replace our fiat currencies but could somehow be a global-"subcurrency" that could be used for some types of transactions (e.g. capital transfer across countries). Such thing might be a possibility.
But those who dream ourselves living our lives only with cryptocurrencies, I think that a cryptocurrency that satisfies the properties "anonymous" and "accountable" will have to be invented first.

I added a poll to this post to see what your opinions are.

This is very interesting.
I have to agree with you all the way.

However, even conceptually, it's difficult to see how we can have regulatory entities audit transactions, that are completely "anonymous" for everyone else, without being a central authority. This might require some form of zero knowledge proofs, in a zkSNARKs fashion. If you could prove to your legal authority that you did NOT do what they say you did (transaction wise), without compromising your anonymity, that would be a good first step.
2  Other / Off-topic / Re: Some things to consider before starting a business on: October 31, 2017, 09:02:47 PM
The hardest thing is to be your own boss. Every one has a different work style, but if you want to start a business, a provider for emploings then you must know in what you are going to step in because everybody involved depends on you.

I have to agree.
Starting a business means taking responsibility for other peoples' bread and butter, making sure they can eat at the end of the month.

If you cannot manage yourself and be your own boss, good luck managing a business.
3  Alternate cryptocurrencies / Altcoin Discussion / Re: Should I invest in a new ICO or just buy BTC on: October 31, 2017, 08:10:44 PM
The answer to your question really depends on your risk tolerance, and how you balance it with the potential to make money.

Let me give you an analogy that you might find interesting, between the crypto world and the financial world:
  • Bitcoin would be gold.
  • Previous successful ICOs are like the stocks on the stock market (except you cannot buy shares), existing businesses with an ongoing project.
  • New ICOs are like businesses raising VC money.

Investing in the ICO stage of a new [Suspicious link removed]pany can be risky, like angel/VC investing can be. However, returns can be huge.
Buying tokens of existing blockchain projects, like buying shares of a specific company, is less risky, but still contains your investment inside a single entity. Possibility of huge returns is decreased by a lot.
At last, buying bitcoins, much like buying gold, is even less risky. Forget about any huge returns, but keeping for a long time might be an interesting investment strategy.

Of course, this analogy presents its own limits and should be taken with a grain of salt.
4  Alternate cryptocurrencies / Altcoin Discussion / Re: Is it safe to participate in ICO's? on: October 31, 2017, 07:56:29 PM
ICOs are like traditional investments, except they are not regulated.
You should treat it like you would treat any other investment, i.e. by doing your due diligence.

I think you should not invest in a stock without studying its mechanics, management team, market, etc beforehand. Same applies with ICOs.
Pages: [1]
Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.19 | SMF © 2006-2009, Simple Machines Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!