Hey guys,

I'm trying to understand the two concepts better. Can someone explain to me what is the fundamental difference between a torrent network and a block chain? What's the difference between sending a bitcoin and sending a music file in a peer to peer network? It may be a complex and rather open ended question, but I am prepared for a complex answer as well. Thanks in advance!

It is my understanding that bitcoin wallets are created through a hash table with 64 bits of alphanumeric characters. What happens when all wallets are completely used up? What happens then? Just a curiosity question.

Does this mean that there will be more decentralization? Maybe?

So I came across this thread while googling about Mesh Networks: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=666425.0

For those who don't know what a Mesh Network is, here is a youtube video to get you up to speed on what the idea is and why it's important: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tEkyLOh-tY
An interesting idea I had while reading this is not so much a means of global reach so much as talking about the problem of SuperNodes that would allow for the necessary efficient transcontinental travel in a mesh network.

This could be possibly achieved by creating a new ISP by a Mesh Network foundation that would take on the sunk costs of establishing infrastructure for the project (most likely in a city as that is the area where ISPs actually can maintain some semblance of competition), that would make a superNode that takes information from any anonymous node that had theoretically been passed by some user deep off in the mesh network. The ISP then recoups its costs by charging larger fees on a packet of data to transmit across a continent/large area, or it could take the google model and divvy it out for free on the basis that the user reciprocates some data about themselves in exchange for the service.

Thinking about this with the mindset of this particular project in mind that utilizes a cryptocurrency like protocol to incentivize the relaying of information across the network
 http://www.openlibernet.org/

The pros of this as I see it are that users would see lower costs due to less need to travel to a large node as the main route and correct me if I'm wrong but the ISP would also therefore be easier to establish and maintain. Not sure if there would be increases in speed or efficiency of data packet travel.

The cons as I see it are that we have to use a ISP still. However, this is mitigated by the option to do it in an encrypted fashion and still potentially get it for free.

Again, this is meant mainly to take on the concept of supernodes in a practical way and to discuss the potential flaws and benefits of going about this route. Discuss.

Hey guys. I'm a double major in computer science and economics. For my summer economics course, I have to write a 10-15 page research paper. The paper has to have a much more analytical feel to it. They appear to be looking for a cause and effect kind of paper (what effect does X have on Y? What would X look like if we Y?) And I wanted to do a paper on bitcoin/cryptocurrencies in general. Problem is, I can't think of any topics that would be doable with the current data available online. Any suggestions?

Hey guys,

For the longest time I've been absolutely fascinated by cryptocurrencies and have been formulating ideas for how to make my own coins with fundamentally different features.

But I figured that if I'm going to make one, I might as well learn how to use one first. That brings me to the first coin I've begun mining. That would be BCN. So far it's been a relatively good experience, though I've had some complications solo mining (minergate seems to work fine though).

Question though. What can I spend these BCN on besides other cryptos? Is there any market at all for them? Nothing in the deep web?