If Satoshi was a "genius", then why do BTC transactions take so long?

[MoonShadow]

i'm curious to how easy it is to double spends. is it something average joes can learn to do or does it take some college kid genius with glasses and shit to do it?

would it be safe to accept with 0 confirms with, lets say a $10k purschase as a company?

It depends on attacker hashing speed how likely a double spend can be done. Also it matter only if the company cannot simply cancel the order/purchase after doublespend happens (this is know within one hour)

The hashing speed of an attacker, if any, is irrelevent for the double spend attack.  You're thinking of something different.

[Brangdon]

i'm curious to how easy it is to double spends. is it something average joes can learn to do or does it take some college kid genius with glasses and shit to do it?

Ideally the transactions would be broadcast from very different locations, so you'd want a crook in Europe pairing up with one in America (say). They'd need to be broadcast almost simultaneously, so they would take a bit of coordination. Even then, the vendors could probably detect it by listening for a few seconds.

That said, the college kid could probably write software that average joes could download and use. Script kiddies don't need to be very smart.

would it be safe to accept with 0 confirms with, lets say a $10k purschase as a company?

What would you be spending $10k on that couldn't wait for a confirmation or two?

[James222]

The time it takes to receive the payment doesn't mean that Satochi is not a genius. Bill Gates isn't dumb because Windows takes time to open.

[dewdeded]

I've seen 10 blocks found in a minute.

selfish mining teh house