A few months ago, I wrote on here that US exchanges should be SEC-registered broker/dealers, like every stockbroker in the US. That means exams and audits and regulation by FINRA. It also means insurance. Brokers pay premiums to the Securities Investors Protection Corporation. When a broker goes bust, the SIPC pays customer losses up to $500,000 per customer. They paid off for Madoff customers, for example. (Mr. Madoff is now Prisoner Number #61727-054 at Butner Federal Correctional Institution.)
The "deregulation" fanboys on here hated that idea. They were wrong.
Bullshit. I lost a lot of BTC at gox, so you'd think I'd agree with you, but no, not at all. You see Bitcoin as an investment, just another financial instrument. But that's not what Bitcoin, or more accurately cryptocurrencies, are. Not by a long shot. When the WWW appeared in the mid-90's, were you one of the people who thought it was just a trendy way to buy stuff? Did you believe it was the end of the Internet when the dot com bubble burst? Also, consider what you're actually saying here. You'd rather trust some slimebag "regulators" than a cryptographic proof system? Exchanges can easily and costlessly publish proof-of-reserve data, which I'm pretty sure is going to happen after this MtGox fiasco. |
|
|
|
Anyone trading on mysterious documents and rumors is a fool and will soon be parted from their money. Honestly people, a guy named "two-bit idiot" produces a leaked internal draft that looks like a 3rd. grader made it, and it makes the NY Times! There are so many things wrong with this. - Who was it written for? It seems to be an internal document, but speaks to an external audience.
- It does not appear to me (untrained) to be consistent with the known writing of Mark K., so who wrote it?
- Why is it denominated in a foreign currency?
- Why is there a page that looks like a balance sheet but is completely redacted? Why include it?
I could go on. Oh well, your fear is someone's gain.
I agree, it doesn't pass the first smell test. Its writing style suggests non-English, maybe German or Russian. Although there are no obvious give-aways like incorrectly capitalized nouns, the tone and style is reminiscent of the mtgoxtakeover website. |
|
|
|
The title is inaccurate no matter what is going on with MtGox, because if anything, MtGox is insolvent, not bankrupt. Being on the run, i.e. living in fear, is not fun. Not even for an anonymous darknet marketplace admin would it be fun, when the chances of being found are minimal. For Karpeles, if indeed MtGox is insolvent due to theft, it makes more sense to be honest about what happened and declare bankruptcy. Man, how do you accidentally lose three-quarter million bitcoins and not notice. It's like sleeping through Hiroshima and not noticing anything different when you wake up.
If you're a cockroach... |
|
|
|
|
Did nobody notice that the document is written the same way (by a German) as the mtgoxtakeover website?
|
|
|
|
Drugs are not moral that's why they are illegal. There's a difference between what's moral and not moral and that's called LAW. don't like it, CHANGE IT AMERICA
You can't be serious... Who are you to pass that kind of general moral judgment, stating it as if fact? Law, as you are thinking of it (legislation), has nothing whatsoever to do with morality. Looks like you also believe that the "democratic process" is the only way to change things, how cute. |
|
|
|
This is was probably one of the most pointless dog-and-pony shows I've ever seen.
The CFR gets a person who is arguably the most technically qualified person in the entire world for an hour, who could've legitimately explained in tremendous depth what Bitcoin really is and how it works, but instead decided to waste everybody's time asking lay questions speculating about economics and political economy.
All the while the narcissist host insists on "pushing back", literally meaning "no matter what you have to say I have a prepared milquetoast rebuttal to what I assume you're going to say".
This. Was exactly my impression all throughout. Every time they asked a half-assed dumb or menial question, I thought of what Andreas Antonopoulos would have replied. Gavin was extremely soft on them, though that's not necessarily a bad thing. What are you? On F*^%$%g glue? Only a$$oles say stupid things like "Only the uneducated believe in conspiracy theories." I think the term 'conspiracy theory' is used to mock and denigrate now as any legitimate concern is mixed in with all the nonsense claims of aliens and Illuminati crap, but the NSA revelations were just a 'conspiracy theory' up until a short while ago. [image macro] you mad assorted.goods, if you truly believe your above-quoted statement, it means that you can be fooled into believing pretty much anything that comes from an authority figure. |
|
|
|
Is there no other consideration in your thinking? No morality, right or wrong, that kind of thing? Just what the government father figure says? Please answer this question, BCX.
Same question I have answered from quite a few war protesters here in the USA concerning my three paid vacations to Afghanistan and Iraq via the USMC. Sure on a micro person to person level there is that consideration, but over all there is a greater good and I am not the policy maker. I didn't particularly care for killing Muslims living in 7th century conditions, but I did and I lost no sleep over it. Now am I a saint?, hell no. I do things all the time that might be considered illegal or "victimless" crimes, but I do so knowing that I might pay the price if caught and I don't pretend it's ok just because I happen to disagree with the law. ~BCX~ OK, I understand you now. May I introduce you to Ken O'Keefe? He was a marine (and as the saying goes, he still is) just like you, but at some point had an epiphany, an awakening. He saw reality as it is, rather than how he was told it is. He regained his ability to think for himself. Also, to whoever thinks bitching about shit means you know what it means to 'stand up against DA MAN', kindly go fuck yourself. Hippies tried that shit and now they are in the dust bin of history along with those deluded communists and Das Kapital.
A grown man knows the world he lives in, and sees values as well as things that need changing. If crypto community is to grow and mature, you better start thinking outside of OP's persecution complex delusions and begin behaving like a professional. How can you be so sure you know the world you live in? Over 1 billion of us are starving, yet we have the resources and technology to easily feed and shelter every human being on the planet. If you still have the sense of compassion that you were born with, you'll know that this fact alone proves that there is something fundamentally awry in the system we are living within. |
|
|
|
The people in the suits that write things on paper have the "right" to kidnap you because they have more guns and weapons at their disposal than you do.
That is the only thing that matters. Absolutely. But these people have actually managed to convince us that their doing so is somehow legitimate/acceptable, simply by calling themselves "authority"! If I force you to do something at gunpoint, that's wrong, but if I'm "authorized" by other people who call themselves "government," then it's OK! Can someone who believes Shrem got what he deserved explain what he did wrong, morally? What Shrem deserve is up to a court of justice to decide, not me, you or anyone else. Moreover, he did not made anything morally wrong. This is not about his moral views, this is about the agreement he made with the authorities. He promised to comply with certain requirements and failed to keep up with the promise. In other words, he agreed to play by certain rules and was caught cheating. Now a court of justice will decide what punishment he will receive. I personally think he will not be jailed. He is going to be offered the opportunity to help the authorities collect evidence to build other cases. The authorities know that is much better having him around to help them rather than having he locked in a jail for the next decades. Your argument is premised in the idea that it's OK for "the authorities" (i.e. people who believe they have the right to initiate violent action against others who don't have that right) to kidnap anyone they want and THEN put them through a trial to decide their fate. Imagine that YOU were kidnapped for failure to comply with some bullshit regulation, and people then say "it's up to a court of justice to decide, not me, you or anyone else, what Augusto Croppo deserves." Also implicit in your argument is the idea of a fair trial in the American "justice system," a preposterous notion on numerous levels. If they allow him, Shrem will pay much of his earned money for his freedom. He'll probably accept a plea bargain rather than face 25 years in a cage. You seem to think they will turn Shrem into a rat, so that he can help them hurt other innocent people. I would hope Shrem has more integrity than that. If Nike shoes were illegal to purchase, then yes I would say hunt the "shoe buyers" down. But it isn't illegal.
Is there no other consideration in your thinking? No morality, right or wrong, that kind of thing? Just what the government father figure says? Please answer this question, BCX. I don't think any of us would say that Shrem wasn't being irresponsible by risking his company. He also could have avoided this. However, that's not to say that it's his FAULT this happened. If someone from the mafia comes and says you'll do what they say or die, and you disobey and are killed as a result, you could have avoided it. The point where you start being stupid is when you start praising the oppressor, basically saying he had it coming. Just because you're warned that doing something that harms absolutely no one will get you thrown in a rape cage for a long time does not make it okay that it's being done. +1 Shrem underestimated the evil of the system he was getting himself into, as can be seen by his unencrypted emails giving a pass to the activities of BTCKing. He could not have imagined facing 25 years in a cage for "failing to submit a suspicious activity report." |
|
|
|
Last twitter update for the day: After a less than perfect launch we're off for some much needed sleep. More improvements incoming tomorrow Was it benevolently "less than perfect" or was it more like this: how to scam v.1.0
>dont provide any working windows files
>use super complicated linux method to mine
>99% of people cant mine
>start premining with some lucky linux geeks who managed to get in
successful scam is successful.
+2 LOL I am a long time miner and i even don't put 1 Kh/s on this ... I understood directly the "controlled mess" ... or how to premine legally under cover .. Welcome to the jungle I also wonder if http://max.1gh.com/ was their own operation... certainly seems like a scam. |
|
|
|
The 2nd time i ran maxcoind.exe it gave a few of these: 2014-02-06 20:22:53 hashmeter 331 khash/s after 12 seconds of running but nothing since. Anyone else getting any apparent solo mining? |
|
|
|
debug.log: 2014-02-06 20:43:07 trying connection 71.20.177.34:8668 lastseen=255.7hrs
2014-02-06 20:43:12 connection timeout
2014-02-06 20:43:12 trying connection 94.143.41.76:8668 lastseen=273.6hrs
2014-02-06 20:43:17 connection timeout
2014-02-06 20:43:18 trying connection 24.234.206.53:8668 lastseen=235.2hrs
2014-02-06 20:43:23 connection timeout
2014-02-06 20:43:23 trying connection 203.42.97.8:8668 lastseen=199.7hrs
2014-02-06 20:43:28 connection timeout
2014-02-06 20:43:29 trying connection 94.23.235.91:8668 lastseen=284.8hrs
2014-02-06 20:43:34 connection timeout
2014-02-06 20:43:34 trying connection 46.37.22.20:8668 lastseen=284.8hrs
2014-02-06 20:43:39 connection timeout
2014-02-06 20:43:40 trying connection 178.63.63.214:8668 lastseen=174.2hrs
2014-02-06 20:43:45 connection timeout
2014-02-06 20:43:45 trying connection 96.42.193.41:8668 lastseen=201.9hrs
2014-02-06 20:43:50 connection timeout
2014-02-06 20:43:51 trying connection 74.50.53.46:8668 lastseen=211.5hrs
2014-02-06 20:43:56 connection timeout
2014-02-06 20:43:56 trying connection 78.129.236.141:8668 lastseen=182.7hrs
2014-02-06 20:44:01 connection timeout
2014-02-06 20:44:02 trying connection 199.193.117.228:8668 lastseen=216.6hrs
2014-02-06 20:44:07 connection timeout
2014-02-06 20:44:07 trying connection 74.96.240.91:8668 lastseen=325.9hrs
2014-02-06 20:44:12 connection timeout
that's all i get |
|
|
|
Congratulations on being invited to speak at the CFR, it's an honor and a milestone for the bitcoin community. Really? How so, exactly? Is it because they are a powerful bunch? The Mafia is also a powerful group of people; if they invited Gavin to speak, would you consider that an "honor and a milestone for the bitcoin community"? Or is it because you believe they are nice, honest people? Please don't be so naive. Many of these think tanks you all despise actually do quality work, you don't need to agree with their politics to see that. Read a copy of Foreign Affairs sometime and you'll see that the analysis is professional and comprehensive, whatever the policy recommendations happen to be. It's an honor for Gavin to represent bitcoin at the CFR because it shows that some of the nation's top researchers take bitcoin seriously. Why else would they bother inviting him? Only the uneducated believe in conspiracy theories. Let's not forget that "think tank" can refer to almost any social-political research institution. It's actually quite the opposite: Only the uneducated use the term "conspiracy theory." I question your premises: Can you explain what exactly makes CFR members "some of the nation's top researchers"? Can you elucidate what exactly constitutes a "professional and comprehensive" analysis of geopolitics? Can you explain to me why you are holding these people as honorable authorities? I think you're the one who's being extremely naive. Can you show us an example of their "quality work"? Are you into empire building, war-mongering, grand-scale mass murder (aka war), creating Big Lies, wealth accumulation, resource stealing, predatory lending...? Is that what you're calling "quality work"? This level of cluelessness in a Bitcoin forum is surprising. |
|
|
|
Indeed, this is a KIDNAPPING, not an arrest. There is no difference between the two. The fact that some kidnappers wear costumes does not change their actions from kidnapping to something that isn't kidnapping. Clothing isn't magical. The difference is psychological, not physical. When you hear of someone being arrested, you react in a certain conditioned way (hmm, what did he do?). In contrast, hearing of someone being kidnapped sparks emotions like empathy. And if Shrem didn't engage in any moral wrong-doing, then it's more accurate to say that he was kidnapped, rather than arrested. You lost all credibility at the second word in your title.
Shrem consciously broke money laundering laws he agreed to get licensed.
Not only did he break the law, he documented it in email while instructing others to do the same thing.
Just because you don't happen to agree with the law doesn't invalidate that law as Shrem will find out sitting the next 20-30 years in a US federal prison.
~BCX~
So you're saying that just because you don't happen to agree with the law against eating chicken, that doesn't invalidate that law? Why would you take an abstract idea like a piece of legislation as the authority over your own moral reasoning? Are you unconsciously surrendering your sovereignty and freedom to a piece of paper written by some self-serving weasel in a suit? Or am I reading you wrong? Can someone who believes Shrem got what he deserved explain what he did wrong, morally? |
|
|
|
|
A valid point if true, though you forgot the "allegedly."
But did he really "turn around and break the rules he agreed to play by"? Or did he simply not do anything (negligence) because he felt that there was nothing wrong with what was happening? That seems to be the case with charges 1 and 3 (conspiracy to commit money laundering, failing to file a suspicious activity report).
Remember to separate legal "wrong-doing" from moral wrong-doing.
So, can you elucidate in which way he "turned around and broke the rules he agreed to play by"?
|
|
|
|
As Rick Falkvinge points out: It becomes increasingly clear that the arrest of BitInstant CEO Charlie Shrem is a harassment arrest, intended to spread chilling effects, an arrest that has no judicial basis whatsoever but to demonstrate wielding of power by a repressive police system. Indeed, this is a KIDNAPPING, not an arrest. The funny thing is that even IF it were a genuine money laundering charge, Shrem would still be morally innocent, because the money was (allegedly) used to buy drugs, not to steal or murder or otherwise cause harm to someone. If some guy in a suit who calls himself a "lawmaker" writes on a piece of paper that it is "unlawful" to eat chicken, and you are "caught" eating chicken and forcibly taken away from your home -- would you call that an "arrest" or a kidnapping? Nobody is harmed by you eating chicken. Nobody was harmed by what Charlie Shrem is alleged to have done by people believing themselves to be "authority." If we assume the charges against Sherm are true, who exactly was harmed? The answer is obviously nobody. (The charges are: one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, and one count of wilfully failing to file a suspicious activity report.) As much as I like CoinDesk, they ran an article by a clueless/spineless Daniel Cawrey, who writes: The reality is, it is Shrem’s alleged negligence, not the government’s actions, that got him into his current precarious position. Really? So if I tell you that I'm the authority and you have to do as I say but you don't, and I then kidnap (arrest) you, it's your negligence, not my actions, that got you into such a precarious position? Who exactly grants me or people who say they are "the government" such "authority"? Cawrey hints at the answer a bit longer down the article: "The [Bank Secrecy Act] gives FinCEN the authority under the auspices of the US Treasury to “determine emerging trends and methods in money laundering and other financial crimes”, according to the FinCEN website." - Oh, so a piece of paper, entitled Bank Secrecy Act, written by some self-serving "lawmakers," is what gives some people the right to initiate violent action against people who don't have that right. I see. Cawrey continues: Bitcoin has a long way to go to reach credibility to a mainstream audience. As a result, Shrem’s alleged crimes are a detriment to everyone who is trying to build positive rapport within the cryptocurrency space. The detriment is the slavish behavior too many in the community are displaying, as exemplified by this journalistic travesty by Cawrey. If all it takes is an accusation of some abstract victimless "crime" to take down one of our own, then we have already lost. You might as well sell all your bitcoins right now for some safe dollars. As a commenter to that article points out: Extreme wrongdoing? Which part? The part where people are voluntarily and knowingly trading substances (which may or may not be mind-altering -- like thousands of products and drugs you can buy at your local pharmacy)? Or the part where people were smoking dope?
Or wait, the worst part -- the "extreme wrongdoing" -- is the guy who traded one currency unit for another currency unit to avoid being caught in the other aforementioned "wrongdoing"... Those are the bastards we gotta worry about!
This FUD subscribes to the same status-quo load of crap, all of the State's made-up, phony "crimes". Viewed by their "laws," everyone's doing something "illegal" everyday, and anyone the "authorities" don't like will be found to have mud on his shoes and be accused of "extreme wrongdoing".
We may have to live in a world (for the time being) where people continue to believe in witches, but (luckily) we don't have to pretend to believe in witches with them. Exactly. Continue to believe in witches if you'd like, but the simple and obvious truth is that a man, innocent of any moral wrong-doing, has been unjustly kidnapped and is being threatened with 25 years in a cage. The fact that the people responsible call themselves "government" has no bearing on the facts. If it was the Mafia doing it nobody would find it acceptable. As another commenter points out: Shrem made the mistake of trying to have a business in America. The America Land of the Free as we once knew it is gone. Having any business in the United States today is risky if not an outright stupid endeavor. There are thousands of government workers getting paid to shut you down, harrass you, spy on you, bankrupt you, and lock you in a cage. The Winklevoss twins, who invested in Shrem's BitInstant, had this to say upon learning of Shrem's arrest: We were passive investors in BitInstant and will do everything we can to help law enforcement officials. We fully support any and all governmental efforts to ensure that money laundering requirements are enforced, and look forward to clearer regulation being implemented on the purchase and sale of bitcoins. It's one thing to state "we have no connection to Sherm's alleged illegal activities" but it's another to unthinkingly pander to the oppressor. Should the public faces of Bitcoin be opportunists who worship at the altar of the state? I don't think so. Bitcoin is the most disruptive technology of our time, more disruptive than the Internet, as Andreas Antonopoulos and Stefan Molyneux eloquently explain from differing perspectives. It's people like these who should be the public faces of Bitcoin, not unthinking, cowardly, profit-driven weasels who support oppression if under the umbrella of "government." The Bitcoin Foundation, a group that ostensibly aims to represent the interests of the Bitcoin community, offers no comment on the facts of the matter, choosing instead to distance itself from its now former member, implicitly making the ridiculous assumption that this kidnapping of one of their members has nothing to do with an attack on Bitcoin. They -- the control freaks who believe they have authority over other people (exclusive rights) -- are obviously paying a lot more attention to Bitcoin now, this kidnapping happening about the same time as the NY hearings and Gavin's CFR meeting. What all thinking people of conscience should be doing is vocally supporting Shrem, not assuming he's "guilty as charged" and a "bad apple" in the Bitcoin community. If we blindly accept the oppressive "laws" of the system whose greatest threat is cryptocurrencies, rather than guide ourselves by morality and natural law, then they have a chance of destroying/controlling Bitcoin. If we unthinkingly act this way, then it's only a matter of time before they kidnap the next top Bitcoin person. As Falkvinge says: This is a harassment arrest apparently intended to intimidate and associate “bitcoin”, “silk road”, “drugs”, and “money laundering” with each other, and the community should take exactly none of this nonsense and this repression. At this point, it’s important to stand up for the bitcoin community and for Shrem against a harassment arrest. If we don't stand up for Shrem, we are complete idiots waiting for the next blow. |
|
|
|
Congratulations on being invited to speak at the CFR, it's an honor and a milestone for the bitcoin community. Really? How so, exactly? Is it because they are a powerful bunch? The Mafia is also a powerful group of people; if they invited Gavin to speak, would you consider that an "honor and a milestone for the bitcoin community"? Or is it because you believe they are nice, honest people? |
|
|
|
I gave 1 Bitcoin to each of my nieces and nephews this year, fortunately the last nephew had his birthday last week so I am done for the year. When I bought the first one for $45 it wasn't that big of a deal. The last one being over $800 was a big gift.
What I did was created a word document with a birthday card template with the usual birthday greeting followed by
You have 1 Bitcoin
Public key:
1SUSIE9sdfj033jassjelk3j3li2jndfisuosdkjasdfaj
Private key:
5asdf8asdojer8ua0sd9fua0sdfa0s9dfu0a9sduf0a9sdu
I sent them the card and then e-mailed their parents the blockchain link pointing to their Bitcoin with a link to the blockchain wallet telling them that they can import the public and private key in order to spend the bitcoin.
I also included a few links to sites where they could spend them.
When I gave one to my nephew when it was worth $45 I mentioned that the current price was $45 but I suggested he keep it for a while because I thought it would be worth around $100 within the year.
My sister told me, "neat, we'll have to look into this Bitcoin thing". By Christmas the whole family was talking about the kids bitcoins.
Awesome! You got your whole family talking about it, and I bet some of the younger ones will join the community soon. I also like the personalized address (1SUSIE), which works well for anyone with a short first name. This is really crazy.
A piece of paper is a lousy gift, no matter that it's worth $1000
If I had no idea about what's bitcoin and you give me 1 bitcoin as a gift, i would be extremely disappointed, I won't understand that you paid $1000 for that
Really? Would a $1000 bill be a lousy gift? Most people would consider that extremely generous for a birthday gift. You won't understand that it's worth $1000 if it's not explained to you, but obviously the explanation is part of the gift. |
|
|
|
|
Great point! Paper wallets are another possibility, and can more easily be presented as a riddle. Using an exchange just makes it easier for them.
|
|
|
|
|
And it's more original than the usual sweater... or even some alpaca socks!
|
|
|
|
|
Show Posts
