I'm back!

[zhoutong]

It has been exactly 345 days since I left Bitcoin (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=81581.0).

Nothing really has changed, except the soaring prices (it doesn't have a lot to do with me other than seeing my out-of-pocket 5,000 BTC personal compensation is valued at >$1 million at peak, that was over 80% of my entire Bitcoin savings and I didn't purchase more after the incident). Bitcoinica LP is still not liquidated with zero progress of the fund return.

In fact, I have been following the forum for some time (I changed my forum account password to resist my temptation to login again). I have been searching my name every 9 days ever since I logged out last time.

When I left Bitcoin, I felt that I was not adding value to the economy by developing Bitcoinica because speculation is a zero-sum game. But now after seeing speculative activity sky-rocketing without a viable solution to short Bitcoin: I'm feeling a bit regretful that I sold Bitcoinica.

Without selling Bitcoinica, the Linode hack would still happen, but the platform can still survive with the profits it generated. There wouldn't be the Rackspace hack or the Mt. Gox hack because the email server wouldn't be compromised and the source code wouldn't be leaked by an insider. The platform might still be around to serve Bitcoiners by maintaining the price stability more effectively than a single long-only exchange.

But that's daydream. I'm not going to start another Bitcoin exchange. Bitcoin is not just a speculative vehicle. It's the first currency/commodity/whatever with both 1) strictly limited quantities and 2) native mechanism to be transmitted over data networks. We desperately need killer apps that make Bitcoin a truly global alternative currency that replaces some of the functions of the traditional banking system. (Note that I'm not so ambitious that Bitcoin will replace fiat currencies. I think it's more beneficial to the world economy by being a parallel/alternative currency, like gold. This is just an opinion, though.)

The Bitcoin community has given me nightmares (mainly the reputation hit) but I'm never giving up on Bitcoin. True believers are going to be believers forever.

I don't really have any clear ideas at the moment, but I'll be more than happy to build a killer app for Bitcoin from stratch. If you have any thoughts, feel free to PM me or email me at bitcointalk@zhoutong.com.

I'm also answering any questions you have in this thread. I really hope that I can provide valuable service to the community and regain the lost trust/reputation by building something really useful.

PS> Despite my repeated clarifications, I want to say the same thing again:

As I had no financial interest in Bitcoinica LP after early 2012, I had no savings that were owed or distributable to Bitcoinica creditors other than the 5000 BTC compensation out of my personal funds. As I was neither the director nor an owner of any Bitcoinica-related entity since then, I had no power to do anything to help the creditors. 

I know a lot of people are being hurt by the incident. So is me. I really hope that my previous compensation was valuable and useful to the people being hurt. 5000 BTC at peak Bitcoin price was several multiples of Bitcoinica's sale price but I had no regret for doing something I could to help people in need.

[Sword Smith]

Great to have you back. Thanks for the music videos in the meantime!

[zhoutong]

Great to have you back. Thanks for the music videos in the meantime!

I'm pretty sure that I don't deserve the attribution of the videos. I didn't have time to enjoy them but I will when I'm bored.

[QuestionAuthority]

Fascinating! It seems like no one can ever really stay away from this place. I guess the next thread will be started by Pirate or Clipse.

[Sword Smith]

Great to have you back. Thanks for the music videos in the meantime!

I'm pretty sure that I don't deserve the attribution of the videos. I didn't have time to enjoy them but I will when I'm bored.

Ok. I was also surprised that you had such a great musical talent. Well, you have a name in the community as you are well aware of. I am looking forward to your contributions.

[Frozenlock]

Fascinating! It seems like no one can ever really stay away from this place. I guess the next thread will be started by Pirate or Clipse.

Satoshi?  

[Remember remember the 5th of November]

Fascinating! It seems like no one can ever really stay away from this place. I guess the next thread will be started by Pirate or Clipse.

Satoshi?  

You beat me to it

[Sword Smith]

Fascinating! It seems like no one can ever really stay away from this place. I guess the next thread will be started by Pirate or Clipse.

Satoshi?  

Give it five-ten-twenty years. He will reveal himself then, I guess.

[oakpacific]

Great to have you back. Thanks for the music videos in the meantime!

I'm pretty sure that I don't deserve the attribution of the videos. I didn't have time to enjoy them but I will when I'm bored.

Well, you have a name in the community as you are well aware of. I am looking forward to your contributions.

Pretty much said it, OP'd better stay low key.

[Sword Smith]

Great to have you back. Thanks for the music videos in the meantime!

I'm pretty sure that I don't deserve the attribution of the videos. I didn't have time to enjoy them but I will when I'm bored.

Well, you have a name in the community as you are well aware of. I am looking forward to your contributions.

Pretty much said it, OP'd better stay low key.

For the record, I have no problem with Zhou Tong. I was not involved in the bitcoinity problems and I have no strong opinions on the issue. And I am not sure this is the right place to discuss it.

[oakpacific]

Great to have you back. Thanks for the music videos in the meantime!

I'm pretty sure that I don't deserve the attribution of the videos. I didn't have time to enjoy them but I will when I'm bored.

Well, you have a name in the community as you are well aware of. I am looking forward to your contributions.

Pretty much said it, OP'd better stay low key.

For the record, I have no problem with Zhou Tong. I was not involved in the bitcoinity problems and I have no strong opinions on the issue. And I am not sure this is the right place to discuss it.

Me too, I just think he needs a reminder as you have so implicitly put.

[zhoutong]

Fascinating! It seems like no one can ever really stay away from this place. I guess the next thread will be started by Pirate or Clipse.

I'm a little disturbed by the fact that I'm being compared to users with scammer tags. But anyway, hope Satoshi will be back soon.

[justusranvier]

Great to have you back. Thanks for the music videos in the meantime!

The videos were made by ZhouTonged. Completely different person.

[jimbobway]

ZT, how do u feel about the funder of bitcoinica is now a funder of coinlab?

[zhoutong]

Great to have you back. Thanks for the music videos in the meantime!

The videos were made by ZhouTonged. Completely different person.

I assumed the quoted reply was sarcasm. But if not, yeah, totally different.

[zhoutong]

ZT, how do u feel about the funder of bitcoinica is now a funder of coinlab?

I have nothing but gratefulness for Tihan. Regardless of the result, he literally changed my life. I wouldn't ever call myself an entrepreneur without his support.

For the CoinLab thing, I really have no comment at the moment. I didn't follow this company very closely.

[Remember remember the 5th of November]

ZT, how do u feel about the funder of bitcoinica is now a funder of coinlab?

I have nothing but gratefulness for Tihan. Regardless of the result, he literally changed my life. I wouldn't ever call myself an entrepreneur without his support.

For the CoinLab thing, I really have no comment at the moment. I didn't follow this company very closely.

So, how old are you now, and how much coins do you currently hold, if it's no secret?

[zhoutong]

ZT, how do u feel about the funder of bitcoinica is now a funder of coinlab?

I have nothing but gratefulness for Tihan. Regardless of the result, he literally changed my life. I wouldn't ever call myself an entrepreneur without his support.

For the CoinLab thing, I really have no comment at the moment. I didn't follow this company very closely.

So, how old are you now, and how much coins do you currently hold, if it's no secret?

I'm 18 years old. I personally hold less than 100 BTC and I have given my family a 100 BTC gold-plated bar plus 28 Casascius Series I coins (so technically no longer mine).

I have sold the 1000 BTC during the recent price spike for some investment in a new company (unrelated to Bitcoin or domains). Another (minor) reason was that  I felt that Bitcoin was overpriced.

[Remember remember the 5th of November]

Just 2 years older than me, and you have more money than I ever will, unless of course I move to ASIC fast. Personally I wanted to start a Bitcoin service myself, but apparently nothing is hacker-proof, but unlike you, I would not have the money to repay anyone, and because I saw what people are capable here, they can easily send you(referring to myself) to jail...

If you have any tips regarding these hacks, which might be helpful, please do share.

[Matthew N. Wright]

I had a question that repentance had answered previously, but I wanted to get clarification.

When AurumXChange locked up your funds (was it like $50,000?), you said they never gave it back (even to this day), but repentance said it wasn't your funds but your friends, so there is no way to get it back. Can you clarify?

Honestly, I don't care about those funds or your friend, I just don't like the idea of MtGox, AurumXChange, etc jacking funds from people whenever they personally feel it's legitimate to do so (without any legal request to do so) and then never answering questions about it later.

Where did that money even go?