[CLOSED] BTC Guild - Pays TxFees+NMC, Stratum, VarDiff, Private Servers

[btcash]

Thanks for what you have done for Bitcoin. I hope BTC Guild continues to exists, otherwise this would be another step to centralization of the network.

that BTC Guild's closure can show that not all Bitcoin businesses end with somebody stealing funds from their users, either by "getting hacked" or outright theft.

This! You are a great guy.

[MoreBloodWine]

FWIW, if someone opts to buy the pool.

This may be a stupid question but one that needs to be asked.

Will you be doing any sort of "checks" on whoever buys the pool if at all. Or will be just be a here you go ty for your payment kind of deal as if someone just stepped in line at a store to buy a can of soda ?

[eleuthria]

FWIW, if someone opts to buy the pool.

This may be a stupid question but one that needs to be asked.

Will you be doing any sort of "checks" on whoever buys the pool if at all. Or will be just be a here you go ty for your payment kind of deal as if someone just stepped in line at a store to buy a can of soda ?

There will be vetting of interested buyers.  The last thing I want to do is sell the pool, only to have it turn into a Goxxing 2 years down the road and take my name down with it tangentially.  Obviously there is no way I can guarantee this, but I will do my best to make sure the team that takes it over appear to be capable.

[philipma1957]

End of an era, cant help but feel this reflects badly on bitcoin network if a good pool cant risk being part of it.   A distributed network that keep consolidating?  Is that a good thing really, seems a bit dangerous to continue on this path

this is more a result of usa tax laws and banking laws then any thing else.

[eleuthria]

I've received this question by email and on reddit, so just felt the need to put it here as well.

Q: Can you confirm that you haven't been subjected to any national security letters, or any other subpoena that you're not allowed to publicly talk about?

A: BTC Guild has not received any notice, information request, subpoena, or similar instrument.  The only contact BTC Guild has had with a government agency is the IRS, California Franchise Tax Board, and Nevada Payroll authorities (I can't recall exact departments in NV at this time), all related to, obviously, paying the taxes the business owed.

The only partial exception to this is a subpoena that was received in early 2014 related to a lawsuit against Mt. Gox which requested information related to possible hidden accounts/mining activity they may have run through BTC Guild.  The response involved no information about pool users, only confirmed, based off the specifics provided in the subpoena, that there were no BTC Guild accounts owned by Mt. Gox and its related entities/officers which could be identified by the wallets and IP ranges the subpoena identified, and that to the best of my ability, there were no accounts on BTC Guild which were owned by Mt. Gox and its related entities.

[Miner-TE]

Wow,  Sad day indeed ....

My thanks to you for all your hard work and for providing the best pool ever ... 

[eleuthria]

BTC Guild Shutting Down Likely Being Sold

Earlier today, a news post was made identifying that BTC Guild would be shutting down on January 31, 2015. This post is still available in its entirety on the Bitcointalk forum (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=49417.msg9395478#msg9395478).

Just hours after making this post, multiple parties have expressed strong interest in purchasing BTC Guild and keeping it running. As a result, the previously announced timeline for closure of operations has been cancelled, and the site will likely continue without interruption.



This was just updated on the BTC Guild website after it was clear that it is almost certain that BTC Guild will not be shutting its doors.  While I may be ending my watch over the pool in the coming months, it will continue.

[Miner-TE]

   Good news ... But were still loosing you ... 

[eleuthria]

  Good news ... But were still loosing you ... 

Eventually, yes.  Part of negotiations (regardless of who ends up buying the pool) will almost certainly revolve around how much time I remain involved with the pool.  Depending on the final terms, it is possible you continue to see me around for years to come in some capacity.

[jbrnt]

Sad to see you go. BTCGuild is the best managed pool in the community. BTCGuild wouldn't be the same without you.

[Rothgar]

I sent eleuthria a PM.  If you have time for a friendly call tomorrow, that would be nice.

[ShrykeZ]

One of the greatest pools, hopefully it will be sold into the hands of someone as passionate about BTC Guild as you once were.

[ManeBjorn]

I sent you a PM with a contact for a possible buyer as well.
Get back to me when you can please.

I would like to see you stay on no matter who buys it as you have guided BTCG with a steady hand and made it the best pool.

  Good news ... But were still loosing you ... 

Eventually, yes.  Part of negotiations (regardless of who ends up buying the pool) will almost certainly revolve around how much time I remain involved with the pool.  Depending on the final terms, it is possible you continue to see me around for years to come in some capacity.

[Chris_Sabian]

Kind of a sad day.  Between the Guild and Slush, I was/am a happy miner.

[sorehammer]

Are you going to allow people to withdraw all BTC/NMC before any sale so they can make their own minds up if they want to stay with the new owners or not.

[junglecat]

One of the greatest pools, hopefully it will be sold into the hands of someone as passionate about BTC Guild as you once were.

I too am hoping for this because I'm warm and comfy up in the guild. 

[vamosrafa]

Hopefully the pool continues to be one of the best out there. I mined almost 2 BTC with BTC guild (all my mining efforts).

[Rothgar]

Are you going to allow people to withdraw all BTC/NMC before any sale so they can make their own minds up if they want to stay with the new owners or not.

I imagine that you can withdraw as normal, and if it's sold you can withdraw as normal after it is sold then too.  I don't know about everyone, but I think any buyer would want to have zero service interruption. 

[Adrian-x]

Wow,  Sad day indeed ....

My thanks to you for all your hard work and for providing the best pool ever ...  

I reflect those sentiments,

Just out of interest i would be interested to know if you have been approached to mine SideChains?

also at what date and if any what privacy information (e-mail and IP addresses) would be handed to the new owners?

thanks for everything i hope you are moving on to something as existing.

[eleuthria]

Wow,  Sad day indeed ....

My thanks to you for all your hard work and for providing the best pool ever ...  

I reflect those sentiments,

Just out of interest i would be interested to know if you have been approached to mine SideChains?

also at what date and if any what privacy information (e-mail and IP addresses) would be handed to the new owners?

thanks for everything i hope you are moving on to something as existing.

No certainties on any dates at this time.  As for what user information would be transferred over to the new owners, it would basically be what you see on your settings page.