All you can see at
firstbits is a notice, part of which says:
We have taken the site offline until we fix and verify our database, this may take 2 days. We are very sorry for the inconvenience. The best thing about the firstbits rule is that anyone can implement a site or app that follows the same rule to make consistant firstbits conversions. Unfortunately, there is no other service to refer you to yet.
I've been very skeptical about this site from the start. Now as far as I know, they're totally on the up and up, but I don't know who's running it, what motives they have, how honorable they are or what financial pressures they may be enduring now or in the future. So why would I give out an address that depends on them to convert it before I can get paid?
And how do we know they won't make an error?
There seems to be some error somewhere right now, whether theirs or someone else's.
And how do we know they won't be tempted to give out their own address occasionally to scoop up a little irretrievable illicit gain?
The only reason I'm bringing this up is that since we are purposely stepping away from
government control (good!) we are also stepping away from some
government protection. Therefore we must be ever vigilant against the possibility of deceit and theft.
I'm not saying it's happening. I'm saying
always beware.
