[ANN] Bitcoin Foundation

[kjj]

The industry pricing suggests that it is intended for "bitcoin industry", rather than "industry that happens to accept payment in bitcoin".  Considering the structure of the organization, the distinction seems like a reasonable one to make.

[greyhawk]

The industry pricing suggests that it is intended for "bitcoin industry", rather than "industry that happens to accept payment in bitcoin".  Considering the structure of the organization, the distinction seems like a reasonable one to make.

Exactly. Which is a good thing.

[Gabi]

Great job!

[Grouver (BtcBalance)]

This:

Q: How do we know you won't just take our bitcoins and run?

We won't. The initial Foundation board members are all people with well established reputations using their real names.

remembers me of this:

#7

Why is your Internet Honor/ forum rep worth 10,000btc to you? Or, to clarify, Why wouldn't you cut and run if you lose?..we are talking about a shitload of money on a gamble with strangers.

I have holdings and deep involvement in too many businesses in bitcoin to ever walk away. I'm long. Uber long. It's about much more than a forum rep, and I've never even attempted to be anonymous. Do the math.

[HostFat]

Mark currently serves as CEO of Mt.Gox, one of the oldest Bitcoin businesses in operation today. He is the mastermind who created the current trade engine and the multi-currency platform for Mt.Gox.

False.
Jed Mccaleb createt it ( even if we can debate on the "current" word )

[Andreas Schildbach]

Hopefully, the Bitcoin Foundation takes care of the various trademarks that have already occupied the name "Bitcoin".

Otherwise, it may have to rename itself soon...

[grishnakh]

Cool stuff. For sure very good news for bitcoin in general.

[Bitcoin Oz]

Great news. Hope to support this in future.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=80019.0  is the bitcoin testing project still happening ?

[BkkCoins]

This feels like the beginning of the end to me. A good 'ol boys club where only the Bitcoin rich get influence. How else can they justify paying large dues? How is this foundation going to respond to government pressure to change the code, to regulate and control who uses Bitcoin and how? It seems like we're going from what was a decentralized system to one where the developers are directly under the influence of the major dues payers and will be, whatever they say now not withstanding, under direct government control.

Bitcoin is inherently different than Linux and one thing that brought many users together in using Bitcoin was that it had no central nexxus for control.

[elux]

The Bitcoin Foundation is modeled on the Linux Foundation.

Two questions:

Do we get "elux@bitcoin.org" vanity addresses like with the Linux Foundation? (I'd like that.)

Do you plan to leak user data, like the Linux Foundation?

"Attention Linux.com and LinuxFoundation.org users,

"We are writing you because you have an account on Linux.com, LinuxFoundation.org, or one of the subdomains associated with these domains. On September 8, 2011, we discovered a security breach that may have compromised your username, password, email address and other information you have given to us. We believe this breach was connected to the intrusion on kernel.org.

"As with any intrusion and as a matter of caution, you should consider the passwords and SSH keys that you have used on these sites compromised. If you have reused these passwords on other sites, please change them immediately. We are currently auditing all systems and will update public statements when we have more information.

"We have taken all Linux Foundation servers offline to do complete re-installs. Linux Foundation services will be put back up as they become available. We are working around the clock to expedite this process and are working with authorities in the United States and in Europe to assist with the investigation.

"The Linux Foundation takes the security of its infrastructure and that of its members extremely seriously and are pursuing all avenues to investigate this attack and prevent future ones. We apologize for this inconvenience and will communicate updates as we have them.

"Please contact us at info@linuxfoundation.org with questions about this matter.

"The Linux Foundation"

Please take extra special care.

[EhVedadoOAnonimato]

Is this project going in the direction of a bitcoin centralization?

I can't avoid seeing it from this angle too.

First of all, you shouldn't have chosen such name. You're not the foundation of Bitcoin. The foundation of Bitcoin is Satoshi's code, not this organization. At least in other "foundations", the organization was created by the founders of the respective project, AFAIK.

Plus, there's no "E-mail Foundation" and look how popular the technology got, without such centralization.

Anyways... maybe I'm being over paranoid.

By curiosity, is at least a single member of the board not a statist?
Jon Matonis seems to be quite liberty-oriented, but I don't know until which point.

[Severian]

Joined. This is a step in the right direction. Thanks, Gavin.

[EhVedadoOAnonimato]

How is this foundation going to respond to government pressure to change the code, to regulate and control who uses Bitcoin and how? It seems like we're going from what was a decentralized system to one where the developers are directly under the influence of the major dues payers and will be, whatever they say now not withstanding, under direct government control.

I share your feelings.

Bitcoin is inherently different than Linux and one thing that brought many users together in using Bitcoin was that it had no central nexxus for control.

Agreed.

I understand it remains open source and we may always fork etc. But still. If this organization starts centralizing development, it may represent some danger.
I'd appreciate if core developers didn't get involved with it, but it's the "lead developer" himself who creates it...  

[Jointops420]

+1 Joined as well, much needed.

[ElectricMucus]

Is this project going in the direction of a bitcoin centralization?

I can't avoid seeing it from this angle too.

First of all, you shouldn't have chosen such name. You're not the foundation of Bitcoin. The foundation of Bitcoin is Satoshi's code, not this organization. At least in other "foundations", the organization was created by the founders of the respective project, AFAIK.

That's just wordplay. The code is the basis and this is an organization. Added to that as you can see the Bitcoin Foundation will concern itself with much more than developing the software.

Plus, there's no "E-mail Foundation" and look how popular the technology got, without such centralization.

That is not a valid analogy. Bitcoin is much more than just a protocol.
If it would contain just the mechanism to establish a cryptocurrency and the creation of a blockchain would be left to individual users that could be the case - it's not. Bitcoin is no protocol it's already contains the concrete implementation, that's why we are here.

One good anology would be wikimedia foundation, they are developing the mediawiki software and at the same time are responsible for wikipedia.

[adamas]

Is this project going in the direction of a bitcoin centralization?

I can't avoid seeing it from this angle too.

First of all, you shouldn't have chosen such name. You're not the foundation of Bitcoin. The foundation of Bitcoin is Satoshi's code, not this organization. At least in other "foundations", the organization was created by the founders of the respective project, AFAIK.
Plus, there's no "E-mail Foundation" and look how popular the technology got, without such centralization.

+1

How is this foundation going to respond to government pressure to change the code, to regulate and control who uses Bitcoin and how? It seems like we're going from what was a decentralized system to one where the developers are directly under the influence of the major dues payers and will be, whatever they say now not withstanding, under direct government control.

I share your feelings.

+1

[BitcoinBug]

Great news, and a big thank you to all board members for their continued effort in Bitcoin universe.

[S3052]

This is great.

[HorseRider]

Thank you. This is a great milestone for us.

[Bitcoin Oz]

Is this project going in the direction of a bitcoin centralization?

I can't avoid seeing it from this angle too.

First of all, you shouldn't have chosen such name. You're not the foundation of Bitcoin. The foundation of Bitcoin is Satoshi's code, not this organization. At least in other "foundations", the organization was created by the founders of the respective project, AFAIK.

Plus, there's no "E-mail Foundation" and look how popular the technology got, without such centralization.

Anyways... maybe I'm being over paranoid.

By curiosity, is at least a single member of the board not a statist?
Jon Matonis seems to be quite liberty-oriented, but I don't know until which point.

If satoshi = Gavin then the point is moot