Is there a way to have blocks solved in seconds instead of hours?

[don giovanni]

Why does it take so long?

[os2sam]

Why does it take so long?

Difficulty is automatically adjusted every 2016 blocks to target a block solve every 10 minutes.

Edit:  That doesn't seem too long.

[don giovanni]

Why does it take so long?

Difficulty is automatically adjusted every 2016 blocks to target a block solve every 10 minutes.

Edit:  That doesn't seem too long.

Lets say bitcoin becomes adopted by physical retail stores and POS terminals for them are made, would you wait 10 minutes at the register?

What exactly is keeping transactions from being processed in seconds? Is it a computational impossibility or a self imposed one?

[os2sam]

Why does it take so long?

Difficulty is automatically adjusted every 2016 blocks to target a block solve every 10 minutes.

Edit:  That doesn't seem too long.

Lets say bitcoin becomes adopted by physical retail stores and POS terminals for them are made, would you wait 10 minutes at the register?

What exactly is keeping transactions from being processed in seconds? Is it a computational impossibility or a self imposed one?

Maybe you should take a few minutes and read the Bitcoin white paper.  These questions are treated somewhat in that document.

[Bitsaurus]

I think that is one of the main selling points of alternative currencies where block turnover is faster.