Is stealing Bitcoin illegal?

[damiano]

Obviously it is illegal.... really?

This is a grey area in the courts actually.
There was a files claim about someone who ruled that bitcoin is not valued the same as fiat so the case got thrown out of court against the person who said bitcoin was stolen from them.

Do you have any kind of link to this because in my country it would be classed as theft. It most definitely is illegal but in the end you have not gone out of your way to steal it, it just happened. After that the choice is yours, we all know it would be near impossible to prosecute anyway.

[delliaerd]

Of course it is illegal. Every type of stealing is illegal in my opinion.

quite sure dude. stealing bitcoin is illegal way to earn bitcoin, and ai think bitcoin can be illegal when we looking for bitcoin by illegal ways too. in the other case so many ways to earn bitcoin beside stealing.

[Capradina]

Of course it is illegal. Every type of stealing is illegal in my opinion.

quite sure dude. stealing bitcoin is illegal way to earn bitcoin, and ai think bitcoin can be illegal when we looking for bitcoin by illegal ways too. in the other case so many ways to earn bitcoin beside stealing.

Yeah, it was the right thing. For every illegal activities conducted is something forbidden and not a good thing to do, as well as the results obtained. certainly the results are included in the category of illegal, although the result is valid in law. Do not make illegal Ways because it would be bad for you in the future and also gives only temporary happiness

[uname]

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 is always stealing, no matter what if this is cryptocurrency or teaddy bear or candy. Its forbidden by law and pursued by authorities.
So just dont.

yeah whatever goals you use to create the exact reason for you to steal. but nonetheless that stealing is illegal. if you were arrested for that you'll be in jail

[mk4]

Stealing in general is illegal. Bitcoins? Ofcourse. It's a currency. It's stealing money basically.

[Noctis Connor]

ofcourse we all know that stealing bitcoin from someone is illegal activity but if someone accidentally sent you a tons of bitcoin then it his/her fault because how can you know that was a mistake it is her fault, how then can contact you that he/she needs that money back right? how if that bitcoin is from illegal also

[X-ray]

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 is always stealing, no matter what if this is cryptocurrency or teaddy bear or candy. Its forbidden by law and pursued by authorities.
So just dont.

yeah whatever goals you use to create the exact reason for you to steal. but nonetheless that stealing is illegal. if you were arrested for that you'll be in jail

yeah stealing is illegal but if OP just suddenly found an address which contain bitcoin,just imagine when you just suddenly found a treasure beneath your home and it's actually not belong to you,does you'll get jailed? i think no,whether it is illegal or legal just depend on the reason,and condition

[DomainMagnate]

Stealing in general is illegal. Bitcoins? Ofcourse. It's a currency. It's stealing money basically.

Only difference is chances of your getting caught is less with Bitcoin.That is why bitcoin should be used with much care a needs to kept safely

[x4]

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.

Regarding to your question of course it does because the word  stealing is illegal in any ways but what have you take an example is very rare to happen and I think its impossible to happen tho, you cant generate a new bitcoin address that has bitcoin in it, even there are already hundred of thousands of bitcoin address no one will be the same address and no one used it before and that's the reason why it has a coin in it.

[virusasog]

ofcourse we all know that stealing bitcoin from someone is illegal activity but if someone accidentally sent you a tons of bitcoin then it his/her fault because how can you know that was a mistake it is her fault, how then can contact you that he/she needs that money back right? how if that bitcoin is from illegal also

It's all comes under scam accusation,  Try to log in your wallet with proper spells in address bar, try to install the desktop wallet instead online wallet and always escrow to be safer side in transactions.

[xuan87]

If you generate an address and then it come out in your address its mean its yours, its your luck, and its not called stealing, but if somebody claim that he owned the address and he can proved it and you refuse to return it then its called stealing, that is not good according to me, but if nobody claims or the person that come to you cant proved it, then its legally yours

[zend7]

Stealing is punishable by law and in some countries they even cut your arm for doing such thing. So stealing bitcoin is the same as you take someone else money without their permission. In the best case if you get caught you will end up in jail. Of course I don't know yet a single person from the hackers of bitcoin exchanges who have been caught so chances of you getting caught are really slim. But yes its illegal and you should stay away from it and be a good person with good behavior in general.

[diegz]

Stealing is punishable by law and in some countries they even cut your arm for doing such thing. So stealing bitcoin is the same as you take someone else money without their permission. In the best case if you get caught you will end up in jail. Of course I don't know yet a single person from the hackers of bitcoin exchanges who have been caught so chances of you getting caught are really slim. But yes its illegal and you should stay away from it and be a good person with good behavior in general.

I don't think that you get OP's point... He said that he didn't mean to get those coins and it just so happen that when he generate an address it already have an amount stored in there and owned by someone else which OP also said that he is aware that it is very rare to happen... Though it was not his property, I think it is not stealing since he didn't do anything to get it except for generating an address.

[dunfida]

Stealing is punishable by law and in some countries they even cut your arm for doing such thing. So stealing bitcoin is the same as you take someone else money without their permission. In the best case if you get caught you will end up in jail. Of course I don't know yet a single person from the hackers of bitcoin exchanges who have been caught so chances of you getting caught are really slim. But yes its illegal and you should stay away from it and be a good person with good behavior in general.

I don't think that you get OP's point... He said that he didn't mean to get those coins and it just so happen that when he generate an address it already have an amount stored in there and owned by someone else which OP also said that he is aware that it is very rare to happen... Though it was not his property, I think it is not stealing since he didn't do anything to get it except for generating an address.

He might not read the  Ops queries first and   he replied directly  . Well ,  op generated an address which is already owned by someone thats why he ask  if bitcoin sealing is illegal, for sure  he would intend or try to get those bitcoin  because   he already have an access to it therefore if  he got those bitcoin then its stealing  and  its a crime.

[rekinthis]

Stealing in general is illegal. Bitcoins? Ofcourse. It's a currency. It's stealing money basically.

you are right, i dont know what is about bitcoins that people thing that it might be legal to steal it, stealing is always illegal for literally everything

[X-ray]

Stealing is punishable by law and in some countries they even cut your arm for doing such thing. So stealing bitcoin is the same as you take someone else money without their permission. In the best case if you get caught you will end up in jail. Of course I don't know yet a single person from the hackers of bitcoin exchanges who have been caught so chances of you getting caught are really slim. But yes its illegal and you should stay away from it and be a good person with good behavior in general.

I don't think that you get OP's point... He said that he didn't mean to get those coins and it just so happen that when he generate an address it already have an amount stored in there and owned by someone else which OP also said that he is aware that it is very rare to happen... Though it was not his property, I think it is not stealing since he didn't do anything to get it except for generating an address.

He might not read the  Ops queries first and   he replied directly  . Well ,  op generated an address which is already owned by someone thats why he ask  if bitcoin sealing is illegal, for sure  he would intend or try to get those bitcoin  because   he already have an access to it therefore if  he got those bitcoin then its stealing  and  its a crime.

it's indeed sad that people just never read first before replying for the sake of increasing post count,OP's point is literally like found a treasure accidentally without having attempt to steal,it's pure an accident so it's really different with the words "stealing" ,it could be debated but people keep talking that stealing is illegal without knowing the reason,really ironic

[serjent05]

Stealing in general is illegal. Bitcoins? Ofcourse. It's a currency. It's stealing money basically.

you are right, i dont know what is about bitcoins that people thing that it might be legal to steal it, stealing is always illegal for literally everything

Stealing bitcoin is illegal but the case presented by the OP is different.  It is  about generating an address and the address generated got BTC in it.  So do you think if you spend it is a kind of thief? Or act of stealing?  In my opinion no.  Because it happen to appear in a wallet that you own.  You can loc it, withdraw it and even send it to another person.  You have all the right and freedom to move it.  So basically it is not stealing.

[agustina2]

Stealing bitcoin is illegal but the case presented by the OP is different.  It is  about generating an address and the address generated got BTC in it.  So do you think if you spend it is a kind of thief? Or act of stealing?  In my opinion no.  Because it happen to appear in a wallet that you own.  You can loc it, withdraw it and even send it to another person.  You have all the right and freedom to move it.  So basically it is not stealing.

And it's clear everything is accident (I thought so because it's easy to say that it was accidentally because the odds are really low to happen).

Well it's non traceable (not technical) so an accidentally receive coins is all yours now if ever that will happen.

I just can't wondered how's the sender put the wrong address. Or is the wrong receiver thing exist in blockchain transaction?

[Altynbekova]

Stealing in general is illegal. Bitcoins? Ofcourse. It's a currency. It's stealing money basically.

you are right, i dont know what is about bitcoins that people thing that it might be legal to steal it, stealing is always illegal for literally everything

Stealing bitcoin is illegal but the case presented by the OP is different.  It is  about generating an address and the address generated got BTC in it.  So do you think if you spend it is a kind of thief? Or act of stealing?  In my opinion no.  Because it happen to appear in a wallet that you own.  You can loc it, withdraw it and even send it to another person.  You have all the right and freedom to move it.  So basically it is not stealing.

Stealing is not just what is defined in the law. Stealing is the general perception of 1 or more individuals taking money from others without anything to show for. I tend to believe this was the case which makes it wrong and by that also illegal. Suppose you keep doing this, it will eventually be illegal by law.

[sabbirshm]

It's not your money so why could you take it? if you are honest, you cannot take it.because without permission to take his money is totally illigal. Better you should find a good way to earn bitcoin like signature or Twitter campaign  etc.