Im starting a new bitcoin-related project. ANONYMOUS OR NOT?

[nicolazza]

Not sure where to post this thread, however, if this is the wrong place, move it!

Well im developing and launching a new bitcoin related project, and i dont know which is the best solution about the anonymity.
Few words: this project should be anonymous or not?

Considering that i have no intention to steal money from my users and i want to create a stable and trusted service...

ANONYMOUS (hyde my identity)
PROS:
- avoid tax audits
- avoid becoming the target for some hackers, thieves and so on
- cold storage in a safe place and nobody know that i have some hidden money

CONS:
- little confidence of users
- lack of transparency for the nework

NOT ANONYMOUS (show my identity, domain registrant, public press and so on)
PROS:
- trusted by users
- trusted by the bitcoin network

CONS:
- became a target for hackers, thieves and so on
- became a target for governments and taxes
- no cold storage, for the previous CONS points

What would you do in my situation?

[1715649135]

1715649135

[1715649135]

1715649135

[Chi11ed]

I would have to go with NOT.

Firstly, try register the project (ie domain or whatever is needed) in a different country if you do need to register something. This will help avoid the tax man to a degree.
Please elaborate on your "Cold Storage". If you mean a bank account offshore, you can still do that. If its a safe at your house, well again, you can still do that.

As for Hackers, well just try and be as safe as you can against them, build your solution around Anti-Hacker and you should be ok   Encryption is your friend :p

Also never have a decrypter in the same place (ie website).

[nicolazza]

You are right but forget that if my government discover that i own a site that produce a gain, well it doesnt matter if i have cold storage or an offshore bank account. They will ask me some questions 

[Alex Zee]

It all depends on your country. I live in an "unhappy" one, so I understand your concerns.

On the other hand, being public gives you a lot of advantages in terms of trust and that's a big part that is rare in Bitcoin world.

So I'm afraid you are the one who will have to weigh the benefits vs risks of going open, based on how much screwed up your country is. After all, you live in it you should know better than any of us the risks associated with being public.

[jackjack]

As a Bitcoin enthousiast I'd like not anonymous
As a Bitcoin developper I'd advise anonymous

[nicolazza]

Thanks for replies 

However, i live in a REAL UNHAPPY country, so the dilemma is: i want to show my identity, because i love bitcoin, i love this forum and also i really love my project, but my country for some strange reason does everything in his power to harm youth entrepreneurship.

[CIYAM]

Websites that are anonymous do not have a good track record when Bitcoin is involved.

I would never keep much BTC on any anonymously run website and if I did I would certainly not do so for very long.

[nicolazza]

So this is my fate: publish the site, show my identity, and fight against my government, as the bitcoin project itself teaches 

[Alex Zee]

However, i live in a REAL UNHAPPY country, so the dilemma is: i want to show my identity, because i love bitcoin, i love this forum and also i really love my project, but my country for some strange reason does everything in his power to harm youth entrepreneurship.

Another thing to consider is how much trust exactly your project requires. If it's rather small sums, then you can probably get away with being anonymous. If it's something large - then probably not. Maybe you can tweak your operations somehow to decrease the amount of trust people need to grant you?

Also, consider opening a company in some offshore, but regulated, zone. It can be sort of a middle-ground solution for you.

[JimmyFL]

You can always start anonymous, and if everything is working great and/or the situation in your country change, you can change it to more public.

But you can't do the opposite.

ps: no trust in an anonymus project? Just two words: Satoshi Nakamoto

[CIYAM]

ps: no trust in an anonymus project? Just two words: Satoshi Nakamoto

Satoshi *gave* us Bitcoin and charged us nothing for it - it doesn't sound as though this project is going to do the same.

[JimmyFL]

ps: no trust in an anonymus project? Just two words: Satoshi Nakamoto

Satoshi *gave* us Bitcoin and charged us nothing for it - it doesn't sound as though this project is going to do the same.

Yeah, i know, its not the same

[arsenische]

I am not sure which way is better. MPOE-PR says you shouldn't be anonymous to be successful. But there is number of successful examples of anonymous businesses as well, e. g. Silk Road and possibly btc-e (is it anonymous?).

[CIYAM]

I would have to agree that Silk Road has done rather amazingly well and anonymous *can* work with exchanges as well - in both cases most people are basically just doing transactions (and presumably only to the level that they feel comfortable to risk).

[nicolazza]

Im developing a gambling project.
I believe that users must trust a site where they bet their money, but a gambling site draws attenction 

I'm investing a lot of money and most of my free time, so i really care about my project and i want users to trust me.

Well, considering that is a gambling site, what would you do?

[arsenische]

IMO just do a provably fair game, no need to show your identity probably. You can find info about provably fair methods on this forum.

[Alex Zee]

Im developing a gambling project.

How original  

That's what Bitcoin needs, another gambling site... But Ok, it's a free world

I believe that users must trust a site where they bet their money, but a gambling site draws attenction  

People who gamble is not a very good example of people who know how to manage risks

So you might get away with it. They will bet small amounts and lose them in hope of one big win, so there's not much trust involved.

[CIYAM]

IMO just do a provably fair game, no need to show your identity probably. You can find info about provably fair methods on this forum.

I agree with this and indeed for gambling a site I think anonymous is not a big deal (people will only make small bets anyway).

Please don't spam the blockchain though.

[nicolazza]

IMO just do a provably fair game, no need to show your identity probably. You can find info about provably fair methods on this forum.

It's not a "standard" gambling site, obviously i cant explain my full project and all i can say is that its physically hard to show that is "provably fair", its not a dice or a roulette.

How original  

That's what Bitcoin needs, another gambling site... But Ok, it's a free world

People who gamble is not a very good example of people who know how to manage risks

So you might get away with it. They will bet small amounts and lose them in hope of one big win, so there's not much trust involved.

As above, its not standard, its quite strange and also site users will be different from other bitcoin gambling sites.
How to explain?  

However, considering that is a site that could be put under "gambling sites" but its difficult to show that is "probably fair", i think i will show my identity.

[nicolazza]

IMO just do a provably fair game, no need to show your identity probably. You can find info about provably fair methods on this forum.

I agree with this and indeed for gambling a site I think anonymous is not a big deal (people will only make small bets anyway).

Please don't spam the blockchain though.

Indeed i HATE blockchain spam, dont worry i wont do that  
Its only hard in my case to explain that is provably fair, but ill try, and if i cant i will show my identity!