Wiping all copies of bitcoin blockchain VS bank's database

[uyjulian]

How hard would it be to wipe all copies of the bitcoin blockchain VS a bank's database ?

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[uyjulian]

There are more copies of blockchain than bank's database... but most likely bank's database is secured...

[pand70]

Wiping all copies of the blockchain is impossible but i haven't heard of a bank losing their database either...

[Dabs]

You see, a bank only has their database in a few locations. Maybe it is in their data center and all their backups are in all their different branches, and a few backups in remote locations. They will also accept printed hard copy bank statements and pass books in case of computer failure.

They have enterprise systems to take care of all this.

The bitcoin blockchain is in at least a few million locations by now, and synchronized across the world. Every country has a few hundred to a few thousand copies of the blockchain.

[uyjulian]

Hmm, no hard copies of the bitcoin blockchain?

[40-Pin]

I always wondered how many servers/databases are protected from EMPs? I would think they would build a Faraday cage into the walls but maybe not.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage

[callem]

It's just not possible. As long as there's a single copy of the blockchain anywhere, on any hard drive in the world, the network will rebuild itself, even if every other node had been destroyed. It may seem unsettling, but there is actually nothing that can stop it, short of 'turning off the internet', which is of course impossible, since the internet itself was designed to reconfigure itself in the face of any disruption.

Bitcoin must prevail, its code does not permit any other outcome.

[callem]

I always wondered how many servers/databases are protected from EMPs? I would think they would build a Faraday cage into the walls but maybe not.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage

Facilities with solid copper-sheet lined walls definitely exist (for EMP protection, etc). I've seen them first hand.

[BurtW]

Hmm, no hard copies of the bitcoin blockchain?

Nothing is stopping you from printing it out.  It would be a huge waste of paper and be out of date as soon as you stopped printing.

[uyjulian]

Hmm, no hard copies of the bitcoin blockchain?

Nothing is stopping you from printing it out.  It would be a huge waste of paper and be out of date as soon as you stopped printing.

So, no permanent copies of the Bitcoin blockchain on paper...

[BurtW]

Hmm, no hard copies of the bitcoin blockchain?

Nothing is stopping you from printing it out.  It would be a huge waste of paper and be out of date as soon as you stopped printing.

So, no permanent copies of the Bitcoin blockchain on paper...

There are thousands of copies of the blockchain distributed all over the planet.  If that is not good enough for you then please print out a copy.  Be sure to report back here how many pages it turns out to be.  Thanks!

[uyjulian]

Hmm, no hard copies of the bitcoin blockchain?

Nothing is stopping you from printing it out.  It would be a huge waste of paper and be out of date as soon as you stopped printing.

So, no permanent copies of the Bitcoin blockchain on paper...

There are thousands of copies of the blockchain distributed all over the planet.  If that is not good enough for you then please print out a copy.  Be sure to report back here how many pages it turns out to be.  Thanks!

Lol, like 10GB of paper...

[Dabs]

There is no EMP that is powerful enough to wipe out the entire planet all at once. For all you know, the blockchain is also on the International Space Station or the moon. And some submarines might have copies too, they are underwater and shielded.

[Lauda]

There are many torrents and backups, so it wouldn't be possible.
I didn't hear a banks database get wiped, ever.

[40-Pin]

I agree there is no EMP big enough to take out the whole world but its interesting that few people realize the HUGE EMP that can be created blowing up a nuclear bomb in the atmosphere.

"in July 1962 the Starfish Prime test damaged electronics in Honolulu and New Zealand (approximately 1,300 kilometers away), fused 300 street lights on Oahu (Hawaii), set off about 100 burglar alarms, and caused the failure of a microwave repeating station on Kauai, which cut off the sturdy telephone system from the other Hawaiian islands."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-altitude_nuclear_explosion

Granted still not enough to take out the world but really interesting if you think of the economic shutdown effect this would have on a small countries economy. Which is why I am unsure why the US has never used an EMP in general (not just the nuke generated kind) to cripple a enemy nations economy, and then swoop in and complete a mission while the communications and infrastructure is down.

[jeppe]

It would nearly be impossible even if you would be able to spread a virus that would infect every online computer with the blockchain and deleted it there would still be offline software wallets that would have the blockchain or most of it

[StarfishPrime]

Hmm, no hard copies of the bitcoin blockchain?

If all the other copies are lost (by EMP, supernova, etc.) who's going to type it in to a computer, even if you're able to cart your singed copy of the paper blockchain across the apocalyptic wasteland to find a PC?

You'd likely have far bigger worries than your BTC balance.

[Lauda]

What if we get hit by a massive solar flare, that could leave us without electricity, computers, internet for a prolonged time.
Would Bitcoin die?

[StarfishPrime]

What if we get hit by a massive solar flare, that could leave us without electricity, computers, internet for a prolonged time.
Would Bitcoin die?

No. Nothing can kill it unless every last copy of the blockchain, everywhere in the world is destroyed. If that ever happens, bitcoin will be the least of anyone's worries.

As long as the internet exists and there is one copy of the blockchain left, the bitcoin network will rebuild itself. It's not going anywhere.

[Lauda]

What if we get hit by a massive solar flare, that could leave us without electricity, computers, internet for a prolonged time.
Would Bitcoin die?

No. Nothing can kill it unless every last copy of the blockchain, everywhere in the world is destroyed. If that ever happens, bitcoin will be the least of anyone's worries.

As long as the internet exists and there is one copy of the blockchain left, the bitcoin network will rebuild itself. It's not going anywhere.

Did you just read what I said. A massive one would take out everything.
It's true bitcoin wouldn't be among the priority list of worries, but I'm asking for it specific.
What would happen to the network if it was down for a month, no miners, no users, no nodes, no nothing?