If the powers that be….

[joniboini]

I feel like threads like this pop up every now and then. I wonder if this is one of the signs that more retail users entering the market, or is it as simple as new users don't know how to search effectively to find whether their question has been asked or not?

OP doesn't seem to be unfamiliar with Bitcoin and crypto though. He comes up every now and then to ask questions.

[MarjorieZimmermanGinger]

If the powers that be wished to execute Bitcoin off the face of the earth, they effectively could but it got me thinking that this would elevate it to another level of power.

Don't worry because it was planned before and even many opponents of the bitcoin journey but everything can be passed well by bitcoin and the plan was never carried out so that we can see bitcoin has progressed quite rapidly as it is today.

In theory I’m thinking that all internet providers could effectively terminate anyone running or executing code relating to Bitcoin and then subsequently this would take it offline.

Unless the satellites were to be rocketed up by Tom dick and Harry or however they make the internet possible? Does this make sense?

The question of why it is not done and why bitcoin is still the best today and if you understand what I mean then all the answers you want to hear will be much easier to understand. The problem you are talking about is not that simple and bitcoin is an alternative that may be used much more important and more needed by many people than taking it offline.

To me it makes no sense at all because if it should have been done a long time ago and we would never have seen such rapid progress on bitcoin as it is now. So what you are talking about is completely irrational and I don't see the opportunity for it to be done at this time.

[lovesmayfamilis]

Do not forget that Tor can be used to mask it. Many nodes are connected to Tor.

If we talk about individual countries, then TOR can also be banned. But I don't believe that one day all countries will be able to ban Bitcoin, just because there will never be global unity on any issue. Look at what is happening in the world. Countries can't agree on peace; can they agree on Bitcoin?

[DudeAtWork420]

It would be near impossible to eliminate or fully regulate bitcoin. The government themselves knows that and if anything happens, they would regret their actions as the revolt would be massive for a country that is digitally inclined and are fully into bitcoin. The peoples power would come into play and nothing can stop them. I have come to realize something that the masses could be calm and obedient to the laws but can not be oppressed forever as they would definitely revolt or protest to communicate or show their grievances.

[_act_]

Do not forget that Tor can be used to mask it. Many nodes are connected to Tor.

If we talk about individual countries, then TOR can also be banned. But I don't believe that one day all countries will be able to ban Bitcoin, just because there will never be global unity on any issue. Look at what is happening in the world. Countries can't agree on peace; can they agree on Bitcoin?

It is not easy as you think. If a country bans Tor, there are many companies that are offering Tor, including Tor from The Tor Project which I think is the first company that offer such service. If a country ban it, the people in the country can continue to use it. If the sites that people can download the Tor from are blocked, VPN can be used to access it and be down downloaded. Tor connects not to just central servers but nodes in different countries. Many of the nodes are masked with Tor.

[john_egbert]

I think we've past the stage of thinking the possibility of bitcoin getting entirely shutdown as those who are to work with the internet providers to bring bitcoin down are becoming more bitcoin friendly.

Perhaps it's almost impossible to have bitcoin shutdown entirely even if their is a uniform regulation.

Yep, and as it was said - satellite internet is still there.
It's either all ban BTC or none because there would still be a place to make things with it.

[hero_the_bossman]

It would be near impossible to eliminate or fully regulate bitcoin. The government themselves knows that and if anything happens, they would regret their actions as the revolt would be massive for a country that is digitally inclined and are fully into bitcoin. The peoples power would come into play and nothing can stop them. I have come to realize something that the masses could be calm and obedient to the laws but can not be oppressed forever as they would definitely revolt or protest to communicate or show their grievances.

I don't see people revolting for BTC.
It's not that adopted for something like that to happen.
Yet.

[freedomgo]

Which is not possible as more people are liking bitcoin. These people included leaders, regulators and everyone. Bitcoin is designed in a way that more people will like it.

Of course, but I was just going along with OP’s imagination about the only possible way Bitcoin could "die", not literally, but in a way where it would never be the same again. It’s like going back to square one.

This is purely theoretical
While some might see it as a threat others might see it as an opportunity
So getting a unanimous decision to ban Bitcoin is highly unlikely especially with its popularity Now.

But this scenario is more likely compared to OP’s fear of the entire internet uniting to ban Bitcoin... 

[Faisal2202]

If the powers that be wished to execute Bitcoin off the face of the earth, they effectively could but it got me thinking that this would elevate it to another level of power.

In theory I’m thinking that all internet providers could effectively terminate anyone running or executing code relating to Bitcoin and then subsequently this would take it offline.

Unless the satellites were to be rocketed up by Tom dick and Harry or however they make the internet possible? Does this make sense?

Most of the network on earth among countries is interconnected via cables. So for one if all those satellites goes down the network would still be functioning, and if all the countries stand as one power to shut down the internet then they can easily, but that won't mean they will be executing Bitcoin off the face of the earth.

They just can't restrict the use of the Internet like North Korea, I mean if they will new chaos will occur people are living on the internet haha they won't care for their BTC or money they need the internet it has become an addiction, even I don't feel like living when I don't have internet.

[m2017]

In theory I’m thinking that all internet providers could effectively terminate anyone running or executing code relating to Bitcoin and then subsequently this would take it offline.

I like your imagination, but that’s not necessary. If you want to see Bitcoin die in the future, regulation is the key. If governments worldwide declare Bitcoin illegal and enforce severe penalties, such as serious jail time for anyone caught using it in any way, people will stop using Bitcoin.

Look around, how bitcoiners are happy that governments of countries have paid attention to bitcoin, are creating reserves with bitcoin, somewhere even legalizing it and, moreover, making distant financial plans. These are the 1st steps on their part to "crush" bitcoin for themselves, to accumulate and accumulate more. The next step will be a ban on use (and/or storage) and confiscation (why buy if you can take it away, right?).

In general, it is strange to observe when bitcoin was born as an alternative to the traditional monetary system, but over time begins to be absorbed/mixed with this very system, "against" which it was created. And it is no less strange when people call bitcoin "financial freedom", but are impatiently waiting for integration by countries, governments, central banks, which has little to do with freedom.

[Dzwaafu11]

I think we've past the stage of thinking the possibility of bitcoin getting entirely shutdown as those who are to work with the internet providers to bring bitcoin down are becoming more bitcoin friendly.

Perhaps it's almost impossible to have bitcoin shutdown entirely even if their is a uniform regulation.

The thing is that even the regulation will be hard because most of the government officials are also using bitcoin in one way or another. Many of them are holding millions of USDT worth of bitcoin, so why do some people still think that bitcoin will shut down? I think this is something that will be hard to happen; bitcoin has gone farther than how we are thinking. Many people have invested in it, and those people are also among people that are well known worldwide.

However, there is no way they will shut down the internet. Because many things are going on through the internet, even the government is interested in running some of their stuff, especially their businesses, so if they are talking about shutting down the internet, it will also affect them. 

[South Park]

In theory I’m thinking that all internet providers could effectively terminate anyone running or executing code relating to Bitcoin and then subsequently this would take it offline.

I like your imagination, but that’s not necessary. If you want to see Bitcoin die in the future, regulation is the key. If governments worldwide declare Bitcoin illegal and enforce severe penalties, such as serious jail time for anyone caught using it in any way, people will stop using Bitcoin.

Many governments all over the world tried banning bitcoin for years and it did not work, so even if you could get all governments around the world to agree on banning bitcoin and enforcing that ban, there will still be many people interested on it, even if this meant civil disobedience on their part, while many current holders could just use their favorite tactic, to wait and hold, until the legal climate changed and then keep using their coins as always.

[iBaba]

Many governments all over the world tried banning bitcoin for years and it did not work, so even if you could get all governments around the world to agree on banning bitcoin and enforcing that ban, there will still be many people interested on it, even if this meant civil disobedience on their part, while many current holders could just use their favorite tactic, to wait and hold, until the legal climate changed and then keep using their coins as always.

The idea of banning the bitcoin at the global market is mostly an idea sold by the west and in the western world, America is always at the forefront. But now that America has gotten a new government which will be led by Donald Trump, I think the idea of banning the bitcoin will crumble even more because the bitcoin market will definitely see a favour in the hands of the new Trump-led administration allowing more positioning for the bitcoin in the global world.

I pray that the many people around the world will have to embrace bitcoin at this time because it will only thrive the more.

[Wiwo]

In theory, I’m thinking that all internet providers could effectively terminate anyone running or executing code relating to Bitcoin, and then subsequently, this would take it offline.

Your imagination is way out of content since Internet users are not the one controlling the nodes that executes Bitcoin transactions on the blockchain, miners do, and those miners can never back out of Bitcoin mining since it is highly lucrative and capital-intensive to run a mining firm.

I like your imagination, but that’s not necessary. If you want to see Bitcoin die in the future, regulation is the key. If governments worldwide declare Bitcoin illegal and enforce severe penalties, such as serious jail time for anyone caught using it in any way, people will stop using Bitcoin.

Government around the world will possibly lack the capacity to bring to total halt bitcoin usage because of bitcoin decentralised nature and aside from that, it is impossible to see any government handing out a total banned on bitcoin since bitcoin is receiving alot of positive feedback and support from tip government around the world.

[bitzizzix]

The only way to stop Bitcoin is the apocalypse or the worst that can happen is the creator sells all his bitcoins and that will cause the price of bitcoin to crash which will make everyone panic and demand and interest will decrease which will make Bitcoin considered mediocre.
I am confused to answer the OP's question because everything has been answered and also makes sense, and the most cruel thing is all the government of the country prohibit the use of Bitcoin to the extreme and if and whoever is caught using Bitcoin will be shot dead and this will scare people who most likely no one uses Bitcoin.

Hehe just kidding.

[lovesmayfamilis]

It is not easy as you think. If a country bans Tor, there are many companies that are offering Tor, including Tor from The Tor Project which I think is the first company that offer such service. If a country ban it, the people in the country can continue to use it. If the sites that people can download the Tor from are blocked, VPN can be used to access it and be down downloaded. Tor connects not to just central servers but nodes in different countries. Many of the nodes are masked with Tor.

 You are right; I am not an expert who can argue on equal terms. However, the recent government order in Russia also banned many VPN providers, which caused an extremely inconvenient situation for many users, at least for access to this forum. Speaking about a complete ban, I certainly do not see it in the framework of the world, but the fact that one country will be able to do this is probably acceptable.

[davis196]

If the powers that be wished to execute Bitcoin off the face of the earth, they effectively could but it got me thinking that this would elevate it to another level of power.

In theory I’m thinking that all internet providers could effectively terminate anyone running or executing code relating to Bitcoin and then subsequently this would take it offline.

Unless the satellites were to be rocketed up by Tom dick and Harry or however they make the internet possible? Does this make sense?

"The powers that be" might actually be pro-crypto. Why destroy Bitcoin, when you could invest in it, pump it to the moon, sell it for an absurd price and take the profits.
I don't get your point. How could destroying Bitcoin "elevate it to another level of power". This doesn't make any sense.
Yes, the Internet Service Providers could potentially ban everything related to crypto, but VPNs and the Tor Browser exist for a reason.
Also I'm pretty sure that not all Internet Service Providers around the world would agree to ban crypto. Some offshore ISPs would refuse to impose such crypto ban. If it was so easy to ban illegal content online the darkweb would never exist.

[Outhue]

If the powers that be wished to execute Bitcoin off the face of the earth, they effectively could but it got me thinking that this would elevate it to another level of power.

In theory I’m thinking that all internet providers could effectively terminate anyone running or executing code relating to Bitcoin and then subsequently this would take it offline.

Unless the satellites were to be rocketed up by Tom dick and Harry or however they make the internet possible? Does this make sense?

This is based on if, Bitcoin Blockchain isn't related to any countries internet provider, it is not built like that so whatever you might be thinking is your own mind playing tricks on you because it is never going to happen.

No one can take Bitcoin offline, you can only shut down your country's internet so that your citizens won't be able to transact with Bitcoin, mind you doing so will affect you as well, because no one will be able to access the internet at all, don't forget that those who have bitcoin in your country will still have access offline, why? Because the Bitcoin they own is still sitting in their various wallets.

The moment they decide to leave the country they can start moving their Bitcoin around, so what is your gain? Why even think about this in the first place? You want Bitcoin gone or what?

[freedomgo]

Look around, how bitcoiners are happy that governments of countries have paid attention to bitcoin, are creating reserves with bitcoin, somewhere even legalizing it and, moreover, making distant financial plans. These are the 1st steps on their part to "crush" bitcoin for themselves, to accumulate and accumulate more. The next step will be a ban on use (and/or storage) and confiscation (why buy if you can take it away, right?).

Seriously, I don’t get your point here. Why would the government make Bitcoin a national reserve, accumulate it, and then ban its use? Maybe you think banning its use would stop circulation, but you’re overlooking a key fact, Bitcoin’s price would drop significantly if no one is using it.

Adoption happens when people use Bitcoin for daily transactions, which is its main purpose. Investment is only secondary. Without active use, Bitcoin’s value and purpose would diminish greatly.

[CryptoBuds]

The only way to stop Bitcoin is the apocalypse or the worst that can happen is the creator sells all his bitcoins and that will cause the price of bitcoin to crash which will make everyone panic and demand and interest will decrease which will make Bitcoin considered mediocre.
I am confused to answer the OP's question because everything has been answered and also makes sense, and the most cruel thing is all the government of the country prohibit the use of Bitcoin to the extreme and if and whoever is caught using Bitcoin will be shot dead and this will scare people who most likely no one uses Bitcoin.

Hehe just kidding.

I understand the importance of satoshi because he is the creator of bitcoin but I don't think people invest in bitcoin just because they believe in him. So even if he wakes up and sells his bitcoins it will cause panic in the market but I don't believe the demand for bitcoin will drop because of that. For those who have knowledge and understand how bitcoin works, everyone will know that bitcoin does not need and does not depend on anyone, including satoshi.

Many people say that governments cannot stop bitcoin, which is not wrong, but if they join hands and issue a global bitcoin ban, I don't think bitcoin can continue to exist. So for me, the government is still bitcoin's biggest challenge, not satoshi or any individual.