Amiss all of the scams, Ponzi schemes, fraud, deception, and trust based investments we all see here in the community we've come to be very weary with anything concerning our hard earned Bitcoins. Between using escrow, trusting only respected members, and even getting credit ratings from some members, there still is nothing to fall back on in the event you get burned.

What Bitcoin needs is an insurance company, that is able to access the risks and liability involved with any purchase, trade, or investment and is able to back that with coin.

In a thread concerning trusting Casascius due to the coins he holds, Casascius said this:

There is a reasonable likelihood that, as BTC price rises, that that risk could be made insurable.  As the value of BTC rises, the business case for someone to come along and pledge for a fee to make you whole if I scam you becomes more and more sensible.  That person or business entity may be in a position to satisfy themselves that such a loss will either be impossible or recoupable, and make a profit on that position.  If BTC rises x1000, those coins are going to be worth a hell of a lot more than 1BTC intact.

I understand that PatrickHarnett rates and insures sellers and investors, there is no one there in the case of a tangible object or other scam. I suggest that we as a community fill that hole.

Is there an interest for a service like this? Obviously, this could be very high risk to invest into and start, could it be done properly? I'm eager to see where this could go.

I'm nearing my 100th transaction, and would like to cross the barrier generously. First TWO people to post in this thread will get a small donation!

EDIT: First donation given to DirtyCat txid 1dc30cbb9033ed91b87c2ad091aaee2fc474c6b2c0a54406f8c71bc517991f9e
EDIT: Second Donation given to cyberlync txid 4e71c685da06e07ce2d62f7bab6a4d73da0579f3f03a578fbf5cc752e0ad3a16

What is up with this? Have I gone mad believing in something like this?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188091

With all of this wonderful hate, accusations, aimless babble being said about the Pirateat40 fiasco, I'm curious, is anyone still normal? I'm getting a kick out of all of this, it reminds me of the initial BFL discussions. Sure, I have some invested in my BitcoinMax account, but do I really want to sling hate at everyone?

This whole money thing is a game, really. If it is too good to be true, it probably is. Alternatively, people need to take risks to make it big. Everyone is just yelling depending on which side they are on.

Anyway, how are you 'normal' community members? I'm a little tired, but doing great, just got some popcorn.

The fan of my 5750 died a while back, and I refused to break down and buy a new fan. Instead, I re purposed some old cooling bits. It is still a work in progress, and beware, because this is the most jury rigged card I've ever seen. I wanted to make this post, but haven't gotten to test the card. Stock this guy got ~80 at full load.


Current revision of the cooler:

Anyone ever wanted to make virtual Bitcoin? (a virtual digital currency anyone?) Wanted to pretend you have a mining operation? Or try your hand at trading in the exchanges? Now you can!

The Bitcoin Video is under development! Currently, a small Python project, I plan to develop this into a full fledged simulation game!

Some things you will be able to do in the game:

Mine, with simulated farms.

Trade at exchanges, with REAL-TIME prices!

Expand your mining operation card by card, or rig by rig. Maybe even by FPGA's or ASIC's.

Compare your fortunes and scores online in a leader board.

Who knows what else? I feel like there is quite a bit in store for this game, and that there is a lot of potential.



Is there any interest in my awesome idea?
-The game is in early development stages, and will be released once something playable is finished. Source code will be released shortly after wards.-

Hey all, to much excite, I just 'un-castrated' my 6950. If you haven't heard, it is still possible on new cards.

I just wanted you all to know that it is possible to unlock the shaders. The shader clocks are still locked (As of now).

You need RBE and WinFlash. Using Winflash, acquire your 6950's bios. In RBE, edit it to unlock the shaders, and re download.

I've seen about a 20 mh/s increase, and may get more.

I logged onto Paypal a few minutes ago, and learned I had $25. I don't like Paypal holding my money, so I think now is a great time to buy some BTC. I'd really like to pay Gox market high, but all things considered, I will consider offers.

In relation to my other current thread: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=69250.0

I'm thinking about investing a great deal more into this all. I've been around for like 9 months. I learned about BTC just before the MyBTC ordeal (it was like mid June). I'm worried about the future of Bitcoin, from an investment standpoint. I'm still going to be here regardless of how profitable this is, but I won't throw money into a falling knife. Enough backstory blah.

With the Block Reward halving in December. Do people think GPU's are the way to go, or are the currently less profitable FPGA's going to dominate 2013?

Will the market readjust to the halved reward? What about the affect of the crazy solominer 88.6.216.9?

Thanks all

Lou

In reference to my other live thread: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=69252.msg807456
While looking to invest much more into the community and cryptocurrency I've come to know and love, I wonder: Is it really worth it?

With the block reward halving in December, well before any rigs become profitable, what do people anticipate happening? Will the market stay the same, leaving the miner's to pack up and head home? Or will the market readjust, causing prices to go up and balance everything out?

The things that worry me greatly are:

• SoloMiner  88.6.216.9, who is greatly effecting the difficulty, a worry of him flooding the markets with his collected coins, and etc
• The GPU vs FPGA deal. With GPU's becoming less inefficient than a FPGA, which will turn out to be the more profitable way to go?
• Again, my worries on the reward halving. I think the FPGA vs GPU problem will pretty much reside on the results of this. If the market adjusts, then FPGA won't be the way to go as of now

Thanks for everything

Lou

PS-I'd call this market speculation, but I'll move it if it is more mining related.

[Guys, I'm getting ready to finalize the list and start sending out payments. I plan on doing it anywhere from 7-8 PM EST today. Please make sure that you are happy with the numbers!]

Guys, I'm getting ready to finalize the list and start sending out payments. I plan on doing it anywhere from 7-8 PM EST today. Please make sure that you are happy with the numbers!

I also want to be sure of the following:

• My math is correct, both for totals and to P2Pool
• All miners who wish to speak up, and get part of the donations, have done so.
• I can't stress this enough, but I want to make sure that the numbers are right!
• Make sure that you have posted your address in THIS thread, or PM'd it to me.

For all miner's that were scammed by A1Bitcoin Pool, people have decided to save the day.

Raize has donated 37 BTC on behalf of p2pool to help our cause.
Goat is willing to help our cause.
Clipse has offered up to ten BTC to aid the miners.

Currently, PPS miners are the only miners to be compensated. I'm beginning to work on Prop Miners!
If you see any edits that need to be done, obviously let me know.

The current list of people who will receive the donation:

PPS

Bulanula - .93 BTC
martychubbs- 18.5K shares * 0.00004588 - .84878BTC
DirtyCat - 60,161 shares * 0.00004588 - 2.76018668BTC*
AniceInovation - 200k shares * 0.00004588 - 9.176BTC
someone703 - 20K shares * .00004588=.9176BTCBTC
JWU42 - 20000*.00004588=.9176
rTech - 7k*.00004588=.32116 BTC (half to P2Pool)
notme - 1294 * .00004588 - .05936872BTC*
xxaudioxx - 25000 * .00004588= 1.147BTC*


Currently, there is 16.1476954 claimed BTC
of which, 4.1271354 BTC will go to P2Pool

Prop
Me - 100+ shares on prop (1.25 BTC)
heinz - 500k+ shares  (5.25 BTC)
P4man - 129,484 shares on Prop* (1.5623 BTC)
Icanhazhash (rjk) - 30000 Prop (.375 BTC)*
Sweetsnelda - 360000 prop (4.5 BTC)
simonk93 - 20000 (.25BTC)*
someone703 - 125000 (1.5625BTC)
AniceInovation(2) - 400000 (5BTC)*

Total Prop claimed 12.6123BTC
Of which 7.1873 BTC will go to P2Pool


11.3144354 BTC was donated to P2Pool @ Address 1L4cabqBvApcMPDjyeD2mkPRB466UWfzY8 so far!

My request is that everyone who was scammed honor my donation here by mining on P2Pool and to encourage all future miners mine on P2Pool instead of these obscure pools that attempt to scam you. This is for the betterment of Bitcoin as a whole, thanks.

Late additions:
Crosby - 30000*.00004588 (PPS)=1.3764
rastapool - 100000 (Prop) 1.25


*To be donated to P2Pool

EDIT: I am running out of funds to allocate. If we run out, I will send them in the order they were requested. Meaning the earlier I put you on the list, the earlier you will be paid.

Update: I am still not able to contact Sweetsnelda for the 4.5 BTC. If anyone knows who was using Sweetsnelda on A1B, please let me know!
Payments have otherwise been sent!

Currently there is BTC left to send to be sent if 'Sweetsnelda' contacts me or if anyone else can prove proof of work.

BTC sent (use this, as I'm tired of updating the upper portions): 34.9468954
BTC yet to be sent: 4.5 BTC (to sweetsnelda)

Hey everybody! Quick question, my 6950 is about 63C clocked 817 Core and 935 Memory with the fan @45%.

It's lower than my old cards, but I'm new to the 6000 series. Are the temps OK? Do I have room for growth?

Thanks!

I remember speculation as to whether we were a blip on the radar, or a noticeable chunk of market.

http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/7000/7970/Pages/radeon-7970.aspx

5th bullet down.

I've been thinking about upgrading not only my mining power, but also my gaming power. I'm having trouble deciding what to do (for my budget).

Right now I'm stuck between
2x these http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161317(Fired for gaming effect.)

Or one of these
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161393

I think I'd get better hashing with two cards, probably not fired. But better gaming performance with the 6870. Anyone have thoughts?

Hey everyone! I'm just thinking about ways to help out the community. I was thinking, that there are quite a few generous people on here, yet there are also people who may struggle to hit a bill payment or something. Aside from a loan, I can't think of a way to really help this individual get out of this bind. This is what I suggest:

A full fledged donation site! You would get to create essentially a 'want' add, stating why you need the coins, and such. I'm also thinking that other coinage measures, and maybe even like a respect system (even rewards or something if it takes off). I'm hoping it would be a mutual, "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours," type of deal. The site would serve no intervention in the funds transferred.

I'm just curious, what would the interest of this site be (before I get to coding)?
Also, I'm not sure where to have posted this, so if there are any complaints on that, I'll move it.
Oh and if there is already a site like this, I didn't know, so let me know!

Thanks!

Well I've seriously been contemplating the actual effectiveness of the Proportional Payout mode on Deepbit. Who uses it? How much do you get paid per M/Hash (or another comparable figure)? Is it really worth it for the little guys, such as >1Gh/s?

Thanks!

Did I just watch Gox BTC prices fall into the last real wall before a plummet? Are we (As a community) scared?

[Tickets]

Okay everyone, I'd like to hold my first Lottery. I'm also going to do this as simply as possible.

I'd like to consider this auction LIVE on 11/15/2011, and the drawing will go down 11/30/2011, or share 500, whichever comes first. This adds a lot of room for a HUGE pot.

Tickets A share will cost .01 BTC. Each share will essentially be a ticket, for each share, you will get a share number. Share numbers will be PM'd after a payment is received (obviously, you must tell me your address). There is no share limit, so if you really want, you could buy all 500 shares, if you really chose to. Send payments to the Lottery Address

Drawing I will do the drawing on November 30th 2011, or share 500, whichever comes first. I'm going to do a random.org drawing, and it will choose the share number that wins. As far as I'm aware random.org is open source, and legit. The drawing will be FILMED and uploaded, as proof. Exact time of drawing TBD, mostly because of upload times on the video clip.

Winnings As for the winner, one of your shares must be the one chosen, and your winnings will be paid out approximately on 11/30-11/31, to the Address of your choice.

Just to address the obvious, "What if he's lying, cheating, etc?" Well it's only a .01 per ticket, and with a 5BTC max pot, what could you lose in my trial run?
For my first auction, I'm not putting ANY fees on. It's merely to see the communities reception.
If you have any questions, comments, complaints, suggestions, etc. Contact me.

Lottery address: 1EfhfY1V6bf16FJ5f6pfcYkCAS5WQgvxvi

I just want you all to know, this "Bitcoin Black Tuesday" thing is nothing to worry about. The more coins you sell, the worse the economy is going to get. Please just calm down and hold your own. It's best for you, and best for the community. In my time typing this, the MT.GOX price has rise .30 USD.

Remember the basic economy fact, supply and demand. By putting up all of your available BTC, you are driving funds up. Look at this as a great time for investment.

Currently the Gox price is 6.57 6.57202 USD, which is higher than it was a year ago. Bitcoin is only a baby, we must feed and nurture it.

You can't forget that the price is only relevant to miners. Investors should look at BTC as any stock/asset investment, meaning low means buy. The lower price of today is only relevant to miner's as it isn't as profitable to mine as it was yesterday, but that doesn't mean that tomorrow the value won't be $50 a coin.


I will update the price as often as possible.

I've been mining on Slush's pool lately, but I'm beginning to feel I'm being cheated, as my payouts are drastically lower than I estimate. I'm just curious as to which pools you use, and how they have been working out for you.