Is stealing Bitcoin illegal?

[LoyceV]

Stealing is illegal. Period.

Let's say I generate a new address and by some miracle it has Bitcoin already in it belonging to somebody else. Is it legal to just take it? I understand those odds are very low, no need to lecture me, I'm just interested.

The fact that you ask the question means you need to be lectured on the odds
The odds are designed in such a way that it will not happen. I mean never ever!

So change the question: what if you manage to copy someone's private key, is it illegal to take the money? Yes of course! But posession of a private key is also the only way to prove ownership. It makes me curious what will happen when two people were to claim the same ownership in front of a judge.

[Wandering Soul~]

Taking someone's property is considered wrong and at the same time illegal. We all know that earning bitcoins is not easy. It takea effort and our time that is why if you're planning to then stop it now. Well for some countries, they do not acknowledge bitcoin as a currency but stealing to get bitcoins is not good

[TGD]

Let's say I generate a new address and by some miracle it has Bitcoin already in it belonging to somebody else. Is it legal to just take it? I understand those odds are very low, no need to lecture me, I'm just interested.

Stealing money in all country is illegal even its bitcoin it's still money so yes it's illegal,but if you had it accidentally you can't call them it's stealing maybe you get it with the purpose, so you only decide if you want to give it back or not.

[Farma]

Of course. stealing is illegal, even if you steal drugs or weapons. you certainly will be blamed if you do it. it might be better to look for your bitcoin with your own way, because it will make you more independent and better in life. looking for a bitcoin was not as difficult as you think and not as easy as you think 

[yenxz]

Stealing money is illegal . and steals bitcoin is illegal but if one sends the address was not illegal. that you are not wrong because you do not realize it. so all in all not one of you if you do not take or steal . a lot of people who want that to happen to their bitcoin address but only a few people accept bitcoin in their bitcoin wallet and they do not know where it came from .

[ebookscreator]

Its illegal stealing bitcoin is not prohibited and if you trace by someone you will be in the jail and arrest by NBI..
Better to dont expect and learn stealing better to look for other way to have bitcoins.

[X-ray]

Its illegal stealing bitcoin is not prohibited and if you trace by someone you will be in the jail and arrest by NBI..
Better to dont expect and learn stealing better to look for other way to have bitcoins.

huh that's not going to happen, if the problem were the same as OP,it's clearly the sender's mistake,and there's no reason to get the one who receive bitcoin jailed,no strong evidence because the receiver don't know what's going on and don't even touching the bitcoin before was sent

[Wapinter]

Let's say I generate a new address and by some miracle it has Bitcoin already in it belonging to somebody else. Is it legal to just take it? I understand those odds are very low, no need to lecture me, I'm just interested.

First off it is not stealing because you didn't steal them but you found them by chance.So it is not illegal but it is ethically Wrong and if you are religious it amounts to sin to use someone else's coins.If such rare thing happens,You should delete the address because finding thd real owner is almost impossible

[iv4n]

In your case it sounds like you found it, and who found it can keep it! But that doesn't mean that you can't try to find the real owner and return coins. Stealing is when you take something from someone, no matter what, and that is not nice thing to do.
Finding things like money or something that worth is just luck. But like someone said, chances to find wallet with money inside is like you are waiting money to fall from the sky. Almost impossible!

[ebookscreator]

Its illegal stealing bitcoin is not prohibited and if you trace by someone you will be in the jail and arrest by NBI..
Better to dont expect and learn stealing better to look for other way to have bitcoins.

huh that's not going to happen, if the problem were the same as OP,it's clearly the sender's mistake,and there's no reason to get the one who receive bitcoin jailed,no strong evidence because the receiver don't know what's going on and don't even touching the bitcoin before was sent

I think he is relaying on that title not in op said that he generate a address with bitcoins already.
But honestly its not stealling bitcoin for someone else because he just receive it or generated withnew address that you didnt know that has already a bitcoin inside..

[Jeremycoin]

Let's say I generate a new address and by some miracle it has Bitcoin already in it belonging to somebody else. Is it legal to just take it? I understand those odds are very low, no need to lecture me, I'm just interested.

Of course, what country in this earth who doesn't regard that stealing is wrong? And I don't even know if that method is even possible?

[Hide_ip112]

Let's say I generate a new address and by some miracle it has Bitcoin already in it belonging to somebody else. Is it legal to just take it? I understand those odds are very low, no need to lecture me, I'm just interested.

Of course, what country in this earth who doesn't regard that stealing is wrong? And I don't even know if that method is even possible?

I think he has to say is do not impersonate on theft. Because he said that while getting a new address he has a bitcoin. Nah mean he has no intent to steal or he gets the luck of making a new address

[shinratensei_]

Let's say I generate a new address and by some miracle it has Bitcoin already in it belonging to somebody else. Is it legal to just take it? I understand those odds are very low, no need to lecture me, I'm just interested.

Of course, what country in this earth who doesn't regard that stealing is wrong? And I don't even know if that method is even possible?

I think he has to say is do not impersonate on theft. Because he said that while getting a new address he has a bitcoin. Nah mean he has no intent to steal or him gets the luck of making a new address

Maybe you can underline about the senteces,the bold sentences are means about takings anythings it's not their right, but the strike through sentences can make the bold sentences is become pointless.

[TheGodFather]

Any act of stealing is illegal. That is an international rule. Anyone who caught stealing something will be jailed or be punished. But your problem is not as much as in real life. That's a coincidence. But if you have conscience, then don't do it. What if he/she need that money than you do ? If you have a good heart, then leave it. Don't steal something you do not own. Because that's an international rule.

[Alanay]

Thank you for all your replies, I guess there is no simple answer or solution. I am gonna just say if it ever happens that person probably deserves to take the Bitcoin, could you imagine winning the lottery 1,000,000 times and never being given any prize for it? I guess that's kind of how it would feel like. I would say also if this is ever a concern in the future (I know it probably won't ever be) then diversifying would be a good idea.

[btckold24]

I think everyone needs to calm down on this.  First off its impossible for this to happen but if you created a wallet and bam theres a bitcoin in it? Im not
sure how thats stealing. Thats like saying walking down the street you find a $20 bill on the ground. You pick it up and look around and no one is around or
takes it, should you just leave it flying around?  Maybe leave it there for a bit and if no one claims it then its just lost and that old saying, Possession is 9/10s
of the law. 

[romero121]

Grabbing someone's property or things without their knowledge is very wrong. Possibly these days with the increased and improved security feature stealing of bitcoin is truly hard.

[Sorrowfox]

Let's say I generate a new address and by some miracle it has Bitcoin already in it belonging to somebody else. Is it legal to just take it? I understand those odds are very low, no need to lecture me, I'm just interested.

Hi Alanay. Stealing is a crime but when we say stealing bitcoin, it is a different scenario. We can't actually say that the situation you have cited is stealing because you have no control of it since it is already there when you made that wallet and you have no idea where it came from or to who it really belongs. But if someone contacted you saying that it is their bitcoin, you have the obligation to return it.

[Nimbulan]

Grabbing someone's property or things without their knowledge is very wrong. Possibly these days with the increased and improved security feature stealing of bitcoin is truly hard.

of course it is wrong, it does not matter if bitcoins are considered to be money right now or not i think it will still be illegal all the time because it is not a right thing to steal

[wintermeasures]

Yes it is illegal as to steal Bitcoin you have to hack someone's wallet and we know that hacking is illegal world wide....