[NEW] The Bitcoin Block, full block reward from BTCC Mint

[coin@coin]

sounds very thourough, but i can only imagine how difficult it would be to wipe/destroy the harddrive at the end knowing it has everything you need to access thousands of bitcoins. even to keep it safely hidden in secret for 20 years could make you redonkulously wealthy if/when you decided to access even just a few of the keys.

can a buyer submit thier own address (ideally BIP32), or allow you to produce the BIP32 address for them? it would eliminate the risk of theft by BTCC or after-sales theft from wherever the buyer keeps his block

Thing is some of the buyers are going to re-sell the BTTC blocks, many will keep them I'm sure. As a potential new buyer who is to be trusted more: BTCC (which is a publicly known company) or some private who created their own address and private key? For your own cold storage being the only one who has the private digits makes sense. However as we have seen with Casascius 25 BTC coins these things eventually sell out and they become more valuable than they originally cost, so it is very tempting to want to sell. What if in the future (after BTCC allows people to use their own addresses) there are some cases of theft, how is that going to reflect on BTTC and on the physical bitcoin market in general?

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[Zepher]

sounds very thourough, but i can only imagine how difficult it would be to wipe/destroy the harddrive at the end knowing it has everything you need to access thousands of bitcoins. even to keep it safely hidden in secret for 20 years could make you redonkulously wealthy if/when you decided to access even just a few of the keys.

can a buyer submit thier own address (ideally BIP32), or allow you to produce the BIP32 address for them? it would eliminate the risk of theft by BTCC or after-sales theft from wherever the buyer keeps his block

Thing is some of the buyers are going to re-sell the BTTC blocks, many will keep them I'm sure. As a potential new buyer who is to be trusted more: BTCC (which is a publicly known company) or some private who created their own address and private key?

You've got a very good point.

[coin@coin]

sounds very thourough, but i can only imagine how difficult it would be to wipe/destroy the harddrive at the end knowing it has everything you need to access thousands of bitcoins. even to keep it safely hidden in secret for 20 years could make you redonkulously wealthy if/when you decided to access even just a few of the keys.

can a buyer submit thier own address (ideally BIP32), or allow you to produce the BIP32 address for them? it would eliminate the risk of theft by BTCC or after-sales theft from wherever the buyer keeps his block

Thing is some of the buyers are going to re-sell the BTTC blocks, many will keep them I'm sure. As a potential new buyer who is to be trusted more: BTCC (which is a publicly known company) or some private who created their own address and private key?

You've got a very good point.

LOL I have edited the post... I always hit twice!

[klondike_bar]

sounds very thourough, but i can only imagine how difficult it would be to wipe/destroy the harddrive at the end knowing it has everything you need to access thousands of bitcoins. even to keep it safely hidden in secret for 20 years could make you redonkulously wealthy if/when you decided to access even just a few of the keys.

can a buyer submit thier own address (ideally BIP32), or allow you to produce the BIP32 address for them? it would eliminate the risk of theft by BTCC or after-sales theft from wherever the buyer keeps his block

Thing is some of the buyers are going to re-sell the BTTC blocks, many will keep them I'm sure. As a potential new buyer who is to be trusted more: BTCC (which is a publicly known company) or some private who created their own address and private key? For your own cold storage being the only one who has the private digits makes sense. However as we have seen with Casascius 25 BTC coins these things eventually sell out and they become more valuable than they originally cost, so it is very tempting to want to sell. What if in the future (after BTCC allows people to use their own addresses) there are some cases of theft, how is that going to reflect on BTTC and on the physical bitcoin market in general?

fair enough, but i see the block as something id love to preserve (hologram and all) even if/when i spend the funds. using a bip32 method would make it insecure for resale and I would probably need something included in the engraved message to that extent.

[Michail1]

If you want to make your own cold storage or coin or storage device, I am sure they would entertain the idea of mining directly to a public key you provide.  It may be expensive and it also may require a very very large deposit in the case such as someone making a mistake of using an abnormally high transaction fee.

[peterengy]

This is great,

I've always wanted to have a full block on a physical metal. The ecosystem just wasn't mature enough for it back when it was 50BTC reward. Small miners had no financial ability to manufacture these things.

Buying these means that the buyer will have to align their interest with BTCC and continue their survival. The way I see it from the business stand point is that there are no bad consequence of keeping the private key without destroying them. The only potential bad outcome is if Chinese government decides to raid BTCC and found the private keys. Remember that Mike of Casacius coin got a visit from FBI as well, so if he had kept the keys back then, I am very sure that the FBI has access to those and all of them should've ended up in Mark Force's secret wallet by now.

Pure business wise, the reason why Bobby will not use the private keys for his own gain is because if he does, the reputation hit to BTCC will be too great. Which means that their financials will have to be so bad that they need the cash flow from these blocks to tide over the year.

I look at bitcoin the same way I looked at the old roman empire when they started minting their coins with composite metal instead of pure gold and pure silver. What happened was that the pure ones gets taken out of circulation and hoarded while the newer composites gets used in daily transactions. When the shit hit the fan, the pure old coins can always get melted down and converted to the next currency while the newer composite with no precious metal content is worthless.

There's more and more debate about taint and colored coins. What we need to understand is that a newly minted coin that has never been passed around can always be trusted as something pure, that's never been used for nefarious purposes. The court cannot argue that it is used in drug trades if it is a minted block that's never been used.

As for BTCC, I have a request for these blocks. Can you also send a certificate of ownership chain like what Mike did to his customers?

[Chainsaw]

...However as we have seen with Casascius 25 BTC coins these things eventually sell out and they become more valuable than they originally cost, so it is very tempting to want to sell. What if in the future (after BTCC allows people to use their own addresses) there are some cases of theft, how is that going to reflect on BTTC and on the physical bitcoin market in general?

We can look at the timeframe between the last rally and the present to get a pretty good guess of the impact to the physical bitcoin market.
As soon as prices rise, market demand increases multiple-fold. However, this demand is not equal across all pieces.
The number of people that could afford a 100 BTC bar at $20 Bitcoin ($2,000 spot value) is very different than the number of market participants that can afford it at $350 BTC ($35,000 spot value).

So we have two competing forces:
a) The demand-increasing effect being exerted on the market as a whole.
b) The demand-shifting effect from higher-spot pieces to lower-spot pieces as price increases.

Right now (and for the past 3 years), this has left the premium physical collectible market in a gap - it needs to cross the chasm. Once HNWIs begin to consider premium cryptocurrencies as belonging in their portfolio of safe-haven assets, I expect the same violent price increase we see in the lower-cost collectibles to be applied to the higher end items.  This first spike will vary from all other price changes in the future, as it reflects the first 'filling in' of market demand in a still infantile market.

While I've held the above market theory for years, it has never been clear precisely what the catalyst would be which would generate that burst of demand and trust at the high-value piece level.

I maintain that the emergence of BTCC offering new, trusted pieces at both the average investor level as well as the premium level, alongside already strongly positive Bitcoin fundamentals, will serve as precisely the catalyst that is needed to reawaken the market.

There is yet another effect which tends to have a net-positive price effect on premium items. They are the first to be sold. Just look at the ratios of Redeemed pieces go up as the spot value goes up:
http://www.spotcoins.com/bitcoin/casascius

This makes sense. As price keeps going up, eventually divesting from the physical pieces becomes necessary, as they are not divisible.  If you hold a 25 BTC bar and it is your only Bitcoin left, this creates immense selling pressure, as we are still in the chasm. Once a few high-end pieces are publicly snapped up (the stealth acquisition has been going on for years), I expect valuations for high end pieces to appreciate significantly and rapidly.  There is a lot going on behind the scenes; I would not be surprised to see a few high-profile sales within the next few months.

[peterengy]

Getting message from scammer about a gold based block. Buyers beware.

[BTCC_Official]

This is great,

I've always wanted to have a full block on a physical metal. The ecosystem just wasn't mature enough for it back when it was 50BTC reward. Small miners had no financial ability to manufacture these things.

Buying these means that the buyer will have to align their interest with BTCC and continue their survival. The way I see it from the business stand point is that there are no bad consequence of keeping the private key without destroying them. The only potential bad outcome is if Chinese government decides to raid BTCC and found the private keys. Remember that Mike of Casacius coin got a visit from FBI as well, so if he had kept the keys back then, I am very sure that the FBI has access to those and all of them should've ended up in Mark Force's secret wallet by now.

Pure business wise, the reason why Bobby will not use the private keys for his own gain is because if he does, the reputation hit to BTCC will be too great. Which means that their financials will have to be so bad that they need the cash flow from these blocks to tide over the year.

I look at bitcoin the same way I looked at the old roman empire when they started minting their coins with composite metal instead of pure gold and pure silver. What happened was that the pure ones gets taken out of circulation and hoarded while the newer composites gets used in daily transactions. When the shit hit the fan, the pure old coins can always get melted down and converted to the next currency while the newer composite with no precious metal content is worthless.

There's more and more debate about taint and colored coins. What we need to understand is that a newly minted coin that has never been passed around can always be trusted as something pure, that's never been used for nefarious purposes. The court cannot argue that it is used in drug trades if it is a minted block that's never been used.

As for BTCC, I have a request for these blocks. Can you also send a certificate of ownership chain like what Mike did to his customers?

Thanks peterengy.

Go ahead and order your Bitcoin Block.  Even though you can no longer customize the Forever message for these BTC25+ blocks, you can, however, choose from the list of blocks available:
https://store.btcc.com/products/2016-n-series-bitcoin-block

It also comes with its own unique custom certificate of ownership.

Let us all know how you like it!

thanks,
Bobby

[BTCC_Official]

We have shipped our Bitcoin Blocks!  They went out via DHL on Friday, July 15.
They should arrive at your doorsteps early this week.  

Please note that we have requested that the purchaser directly signs for the package!
The customs value was declared at USD $100.

For all of you interested in some official mintage statistics of our BTCC Mint Bitcoin Block:

As the block halving is now over, we have finished making all pre-halving "2-star" blocks:
That's it!  It's done.  No more can be made of the 2-star ones!

Bitcoin Block, 2016 N Series (2-star):
- 93 Titanium blocks
- of which 8 pairs are sequential blocks, sold as "Doubles" (rest of 77 are regular "Singles")
- 1 Error block, double funding (blocks 418419 and 418427)
Total made: 94

Late last year in December 2015, in anticipation of our launch of the Bitcoin Block, we mined a bunch of newly-generated coins into special addresses made exclusively for the Bitcoin Block.  Here are the stats for the 2015 version of the 2-star:

Bitcoin Block, 2015 N Series (2-star):
- These were all mined in December of 2015, and made into Bitcoin Blocks now
Total made: 16


Will someone post some nice unboxing photos please?

thanks,
Bobby

[BTCC_Official]

We have shipped our Bitcoin Blocks!  They went out via DHL on Friday, July 15.
They should arrive at your doorsteps early this week.  

Please note that we have requested that the purchaser directly signs for the package!
The customs value was declared at USD $100.

For all of you interested in some official mintage statistics of our BTCC Mint Bitcoin Block:

As the block halving is now over, we have finished making all pre-halving "2-star" blocks:
That's it!  It's done.  No more can be made of the 2-star ones!

Bitcoin Block, 2016 N Series (2-star):
- 93 Titanium blocks
- of which 8 pairs are sequential blocks, sold as "Doubles" (rest of 77 are regular "Singles")
- 1 Error block, double funding (blocks 418419 and 418427)
Total made: 94

Late last year in December 2015, in anticipation of our launch of the Bitcoin Block, we mined a bunch of newly-generated coins into special addresses made exclusively for the Bitcoin Block.  Here are the stats for the 2015 version of the 2-star:

Bitcoin Block, 2015 N Series (2-star):
- These were all mined in December of 2015, and made into Bitcoin Blocks now
Total made: 16


Will someone post some nice unboxing photos please?

thanks,
Bobby

An official update from BTCC Mint:

The 2015 Bitcoin Blocks (with 25+ BTC block rewards) will come online for sale shortly, within the next 24 hours.  There are only a total of 16 of these ever made.  Get yours soon if you really want one!

By the way, the 2016 pre-halving Bitcoin Blocks are almost all sold out now!  We only have 3 remaining for sale, out of the 94 total.

Please check the store:
https://store.btcc.com/

The post-halving 12.5 BTC blocks will come on sale on August 8, along with a new surprise "888" product.  Stay tuned!
(Yes, the new blocks can be custom-ordered with Forever messages & engraving.)

thanks,
Bobby

[wheelz1200]

Quick question, whats the count for 1btc and 5 btc coins left of the pre halving coins?  Thanks.

[BTCC_Official]

Quick question, whats the count for 1btc and 5 btc coins left of the pre halving coins?  Thanks.

Sure. For all of you interested in some official mintage statistics of our BTCC Mint coins:

As the block halving is now over, we have finished making all pre-halving 2016 "2-star" coins.
That's it!  It's done.  No more can be made!

One Bitcoin, 2016 V Series (2-star):
- 100 Artists Proofs, of which 97 are Gold-plated alloy, and 3 are Titanium (blocks 394051, 394111, 405240, and 405251)
- 1,350 Regular Titanium coins
- 25 Titanium coins, in "Twins" (double-funded by sequential blocks 413851 and 413852)
Total made: 1,475

Five Bitcoin, 2016 V Series (2-star):
- 5 Artists Proofs, "Baby" sized 43mm Titanium (block 416067)
- 500 Standard 50mm Titanium coins
- of which only 21 of the 5-set were made, where all 5 coins in the set are mined from the same block
Total made: 505

thanks,
Bobby

[statdude]

Quick question, whats the count for 1btc and 5 btc coins left of the pre halving coins?  Thanks.

Sure. For all of you interested in some official mintage statistics of our BTCC Mint coins:

As the block halving is now over, we have finished making all pre-halving 2016 "2-star" coins.
That's it!  It's done.  No more can be made!

One Bitcoin, 2016 V Series (2-star):
- 100 Artists Proofs, of which 97 are Gold-plated alloy, and 3 are Titanium (blocks 394051, 394111, 405240, and 405251)
- 1,350 Regular Titanium coins
- 25 Titanium coins, in "Twins" (double-funded by sequential blocks 413851 and 413852)
Total made: 1,475

Five Bitcoin, 2016 V Series (2-star):
- 5 Artists Proofs, "Baby" sized 43mm Titanium (block 416067)
- 500 Standard 50mm Titanium coins
- of which only 21 of the 5-set were made, where all 5 coins in the set are mined from the same block
Total made: 505

thanks,
Bobby

Has anyone purchased these coins? Can vouch for quality?

Are they tracked on blockchain explorer in any cool way like Mike's coins?

[wheelz1200]

Quick question, whats the count for 1btc and 5 btc coins left of the pre halving coins?  Thanks.

Sure. For all of you interested in some official mintage statistics of our BTCC Mint coins:

As the block halving is now over, we have finished making all pre-halving 2016 "2-star" coins.
That's it!  It's done.  No more can be made!

One Bitcoin, 2016 V Series (2-star):
- 100 Artists Proofs, of which 97 are Gold-plated alloy, and 3 are Titanium (blocks 394051, 394111, 405240, and 405251)
- 1,350 Regular Titanium coins
- 25 Titanium coins, in "Twins" (double-funded by sequential blocks 413851 and 413852)
Total made: 1,475

Five Bitcoin, 2016 V Series (2-star):
- 5 Artists Proofs, "Baby" sized 43mm Titanium (block 416067)
- 500 Standard 50mm Titanium coins
- of which only 21 of the 5-set were made, where all 5 coins in the set are mined from the same block
Total made: 505

thanks,
Bobby

Has anyone purchased these coins? Can vouch for quality?

Are they tracked on blockchain explorer in any cool way like Mike's coins?

Yes singles and halves.  They are nicely done.  I havent personally seen the other products of higher denominations.  And there is a tracker that i believe anduck made.  Cant find the link but in sure someone here has it

[bitenvy]

Quick question, whats the count for 1btc and 5 btc coins left of the pre halving coins?  Thanks.

Sure. For all of you interested in some official mintage statistics of our BTCC Mint coins:

As the block halving is now over, we have finished making all pre-halving 2016 "2-star" coins.
That's it!  It's done.  No more can be made!

One Bitcoin, 2016 V Series (2-star):
- 100 Artists Proofs, of which 97 are Gold-plated alloy, and 3 are Titanium (blocks 394051, 394111, 405240, and 405251)
- 1,350 Regular Titanium coins
- 25 Titanium coins, in "Twins" (double-funded by sequential blocks 413851 and 413852)
Total made: 1,475

Five Bitcoin, 2016 V Series (2-star):
- 5 Artists Proofs, "Baby" sized 43mm Titanium (block 416067)
- 500 Standard 50mm Titanium coins
- of which only 21 of the 5-set were made, where all 5 coins in the set are mined from the same block
Total made: 505

thanks,
Bobby

Has anyone purchased these coins? Can vouch for quality?

Are they tracked on blockchain explorer in any cool way like Mike's coins?

Yes singles and halves.  They are nicely done.  I havent personally seen the other products of higher denominations.  And there is a tracker that i believe anduck made.  Cant find the link but in sure someone here has it

https://anduck.net/bitcoin/btcc_coins.html