Can Bitcoin Be Destroyed?

[L E G E N D A R Y]

Actually completely destroying Bitcoin and its price falling are not the same thing, there have been many major shocks in past, exchanges have collapsed and restrictions have been imposed in various countries, yet the network has remained operational.  However it is also important to remember that the future of Bitcoin depends not only on the technology but also on its users, there is no doubt that Bitcoin will be stronger if people run nodes themselves and support the network.

In order to completely destroy Bitcoin, the attacker would have to reach out to every copy of the blockchain as well as every single node and possibly eliminate them all so as to prevent them from continuing the network, because as long as even the smallest number of honest nodes still exists, still have a copy of the blockchain data and can connect to each other, then there’s really no stopping Bitcoin, it’ll most definitely continue. That’s how strong the Bitcoin network is and that’s the power of decentralization.

[Bluedrem]

In order to completely destroy Bitcoin, the attacker would have to reach out to every copy of the blockchain as well as every single node and possibly eliminate them all so as to prevent them from continuing the network, because as long as even the smallest number of honest nodes still exists, still have a copy of the blockchain data and can connect to each other, then there’s really no stopping Bitcoin, it’ll most definitely continue. That’s how strong the Bitcoin network is and that’s the power of decentralization.

In that case, do you think they will be able to reach every blockchain or will they be able to create copies of them? I think that seeing so much progress in Bitcoin, the world's biggest hackers have tried and are still trying to break the Bitcoin blockchain, but more than a decade ago, Satoshi Nakamoto created a technology that is almost impossible to hack because so far many have not been successful even after trying. I cannot say whether it will be possible in the future when it is imagined to create a quantum computer, but considering the overall situation, it can be said that it is not possible to completely destroy Bitcoin.

[Queen uloma]

The answer is Bitcoin cannot be destroyed and we all know this as long as the protocol remains without any alteration, there have been several attempt to see Bitcoin totally destroyed but everything turns a failed attempt because of the network protocols giving it the security measures required.

OP, honestly I don't think you need to go this far with the content you wrote as bulky as this, making a summary could have just make it more easier for those that may want to reach through the lines.

You’re right, bitcoin isn’t something that a person can destroy overnight. Years back, different individuals and governments have really tried all they could to stop it, but decentralized nature and strong network security is what made it to keep existing till date.  To be honest  the lines is too long, and I think there’s no need writing it to this extend for me, is  just too much. 

Sometimes a short and well organized post is more better than a very lengthy one. Because many readers won’t have the patience and strength to read all this lines, so it’s best to summarize the main points, it will make sense and it will make the discussion more easier and more people will also engage. It’s not compulsory that all quality post must long, in as much as the message is clear, and meaningful it can create a good impact.

[BitBakerr1]

Actually completely destroying Bitcoin and its price falling are not the same thing, there have been many major shocks in past, exchanges have collapsed and restrictions have been imposed in various countries, yet the network has remained operational.  However it is also important to remember that the future of Bitcoin depends not only on the technology but also on its users, there is no doubt that Bitcoin will be stronger if people run nodes themselves and support the network.

True completely destroying Bitcoin and its price falling are not the same thing, it’s not possible to completely destroy bitcoin but bitcoin falling in price is something that always happen but it also rise, bitcoin those not fall and remain like that it always fall and rise and this has been the way bitcoin has been since the creation of bitcoin and it has not affected its growth.
You are correct, the future of Bitcoin depends not only on the technology but also on its users, the users are the main reason why bitcoin is growing and growing, the users are more important in bitcoin growth and success.

[Brizi5000]

No doubt that there’s been so many attempts to get bitcoin down by many hackers and not just hackers as there are still some government decisions in most areas that are indirectly against the growth and adoption of bitcoin within the region and for me I think that’s the only thing they could do, apart from that they can’t do nothing to destroy bitcoin, maybe they will need to come up with something more than bitcoin of which there’s been other coins created with their sole aim of competing or perhaps outclassing bitcoin in the crypto space but still no avail as most of those coins fall along the line completely and couldn’t rise again. Bitcoin has gain lots of popularity over the years and we can see a country like El Salvador adopting it as legal tender which of course speaks volumes of how far bitcoin has gone.

[2stout]

As Bitcoin was made by and for the people, the only way Bitcoin can be destroyed is by the people.  And if so, it would be from the inside, most likely infiltration as it is easier and more devastating to attack from within versus the outside.  With nefarious intentions, once one knows the inner workings, they have a map, blueprint for destruction.

[JayJuanGee]

I didn't quite pick any reason that you mentioned that would really destroy Bitcoin
This is the beauty of a decentralized money like Bitcoin.
Even if magically everybody stops using it miners and node abandon it
It's just temporary offline
Because it can be continued as long as there's a saved copy of the data existing.

Wow.  From my perspective, the existence of the software comes off as a bit weak as an example, @Ambatman, even though you may well be "technically" correct.

I would think that it is better to say that bitcoin is still alive as long as at least two computers are running it's software (maybe mining it?).. but yeah, maybe you don't need two to mine, but one to mine and the other to validate?  I am pretty sure that the very beginning bitcoin software included both nodes and miners in the bitcoin software.

Now I am showing more of my ignorance since I am not exactly any kind of technical genius to know bare minimum requirements to keep bitcoin "alive," but the mere existence of the software is probably not as good as having actual computers running it, and so yeah there could be bad circumstances to take a lot of computers off line or to screw with the difficulty, too.

Why was bcash introduced?
A real problem existed called "scaling bitcoin" that wasn't being solved. So some malicious entities came along and took over that part of community that were seeking a solution and weren't finding any. Then called their creation "the real bitcoin".
Now don't rush to respond by saying "they failed to take over; bcash is a failed shitcoin" blah blah. We aren't discussing success rates. We are discussing an existing threat caused by ignorance.

You meant about BitcoinCash, not BCash that is one of precedents before Bitcoin was created by Satoshi Nakamoto.
Bitcoin Cash is a shit coin and Roger Ver together with his team tried hard but failed to succeed with this shitcoin.
How they tried hard to scam people with their website, to call BCH as "real bitcoin".
To newcomers: make sure when you buy bitcoin you are buying bitcoin!
Has Bitcoin.com stopped presenting Bitcoin Cash as the real Bitcoin?

You made some good points in your post; however, your attempt to call bch bitcoin cash is unnecessary since bch is still bcash, so stop trying to glorifying that shitcoin by using the word bitcoin within its name to label it.

There is only one posibily way to destroy Bitcoin, and may be only the creator santoshi Nakamoto can destroy Bitcoin but anything other than that will be a hard quest to accomplish.

You sound lost.  How could satoshi nakamoto do anything to destroy bitcoin?  Does he have some kind of a secret "off" button? Satoshi  could not do anything to actually destroy bitcoin, even though he could potentially deploy various attack attempts that likely would not be successful in undermining bitcoin in any meaningful and/or substantial way.

[OcTradism]

would think that it is better to say that bitcoin is still alive as long as at least two computers are running it's software (maybe mining it?).. but yeah, maybe you don't need two to mine, but one to mine and the other to validate?  I am pretty sure that the very beginning bitcoin software included both nodes and miners in the bitcoin software.

True. People have to learn about Bitcoin blockchain, the network and roles of different components inside it, so that they will understand that Bitcoin will very hardly die, almost impossible.

Information from these following resources are about Bitcoin blockchain, and network that are decentralized and impossibly died.
Bitcoin blockchain.

The blockchain is shared by the nodes on the bitcoin network

Bitcoin network.

The Bitcoin Network is made up of individuals running the bitcoin software.
This software is known as a "bitcoin client".
People (well, bitcoin clients) on the network talk to each other.

You sound lost.  How could satoshi nakamoto do anything to destroy bitcoin?  Does he have some kind of a secret "off" button?

Bitcoin protocol does not have any smart contract or function to pause the blockchain. It's one of strengths and advantages of Bitcoin blockchain against altcoin blockchains.

Bitcoin protocol does not have such ones so Satoshi Nakamoto has no tools to do that, and no centralized power to do that on an actual decentralized blockchain.

[Ayers]

I didn't quite pick any reason that you mentioned that would really destroy Bitcoin
This is the beauty of a decentralized money like Bitcoin.
Even if magically everybody stops using it miners and node abandon it
It's just temporary offline
Because it can be continued as long as there's a saved copy of the data existing.

Wow.  From my perspective, the existence of the software comes off as a bit weak as an example, @Ambatman, even though you may well be "technically" correct.

Does a living Bitcoin mean just code? Or continuation of ongoing consensus, validating full nodes and proof of work?
If a copy of Bitcoin Core is on hard drive then it will preserve history but it is not a living network.
It just like a closed casino, there are cards and chips lying on table and in the drawer but there is no dealer or player!

I am pretty sure that the very beginning bitcoin software included both nodes and miners in the bitcoin software.

hmm, your memory is still very sharp!
Back then, nodes, wallet and CPU miner were all integrated under one roof.
There was no separate ASIC miner or Bitcoin core with the complexity of today.

I would think that it is better to say that bitcoin is still alive as long as at least two computers are running it's software (maybe mining it?).. but yeah, maybe you don't need two to mine, but one to mine and the other to validate?

If 99% hashrate drops permanently for a long time then everything will continue to run backwards. The responsibility of passing 2016-block will fall on the shoulders of remaining 1% of miners. Then it will take about 300 to 400 years to finish 2-week's difficulty period, if they have 1% of the power. And if transaction become slower then maybe one day the price of Bitcoin crash and go close zero. If the price drops, it will become impossible for the remaining 1% of miners to pay their electricity bills then they will also turn off their PCs, ASICs and run away.

[BluebloodCXVI]

There is only one posibily way to destroy Bitcoin, and may be only the creator santoshi Nakamoto can destroy Bitcoin but anything other than that will be a hard quest to accomplish.


Bitcoin is not immortal, and as much as there is government determination and collaboration it can get destroyed but the chances of this I very unlikely to happen ever.

And how is Satoshi gonna be able to do that exactly(destroy bitcoin)?. Dude’s been missing since 2011 and no one even knows whether he’s still alive or still has access to his keys.

Even if perhaps those his old coins were ever moved and dumped, it would only cause a temporary price crash but the network and miners would still be doing their thing.

The worst case scenario is if maybe a coordinated global ban on bitcoin happens(which is very very unlikely to happen) and even though it happens, there will surely be people who will still continue to use it on a low-key. So it’s very obvious now that destroying bitcoin isn’t gonna be an easy task to accomplish by any one person.

BITCOIN IS HERE TO STAY!!

[qurbanshah02]

As Bitcoin was made by and for the people, the only way Bitcoin can be destroyed is by the people.  And if so, it would be from the inside, most likely infiltration as it is easier and more devastating to attack from within versus the outside.  With nefarious intentions, once one knows the inner workings, they have a map, blueprint for destruction.

Satoshi created Bitcoin with hard work and theory, we cannot say that Bitcoin is running like this because at this time Bitcoin is controlled by very large Whales, due to which there is a difference in the price of Bitcoin up and down. It is difficult for Bitcoin to be destroyed, its price can decrease but it cannot be completely destroyed or when mining people do not have capital and do not mine, the price of Bitcoin will go down and in this way Bitcoin is seen to be destroyed. But we know that people invest in Bitcoin and do not let the mining project stop. Yes, there are many people who want to control Bitcoin and use it to their own advantage, but Bitcoin will not fall into anyone's hands so quickly. We know that it is the latest technology, but still Bitcoin has been made with great security.

[FinneysTrueVision]

11. First Create Bitcoin Celebrities, Then Compromise Them

A community that claims not to trust authorities often creates authorities of its own.

Influencers, executives, investors, and early adopters are turned into supposedly infallible leaders. Their statements are no longer evaluated according to the strength of their arguments, but according to the status of the person making them.

This creates two dangers.

The first is that popular figures can be used to spread ideas that the community would not otherwise easily accept. People trust a famous name and stop independently verifying what that person is saying.

Matthew Kratter is an influencer himself so you shouldn’t take his word as gospel either. He might reject that label, but he is one of the most prominent voices in the debate over blockchain spam.

Point #12 is just him playing the victim. Some of the things that he has said have been outright misleading. Bitcoin won’t be destroyed because his bad faith arguments about CSAM and Core developers were called bullshit.

[Cossyblack]

True completely destroying Bitcoin and its price falling are not the same thing, it’s not possible to completely destroy bitcoin but bitcoin falling in price is something that always happen but it also rise,

Even satoshi who happens to be the creator of bitcoin can't destroy bitcoin even if he tries. my reason is that he would need to shutdown the internet completely and every single nodes that's running worldwide. Of course you know that's not possible because they are too many of them and there's no way he would be able to shut all of them. Furthermore, Bitcoin is a volatile asset, the price can't be stable so it is normal when you see the price fluctuates from time to time.

[Zackz5000]

Actually completely destroying Bitcoin and its price falling are not the same thing, there have been many major shocks in past, exchanges have collapsed and restrictions have been imposed in various countries, yet the network has remained operational.  However it is also important to remember that the future of Bitcoin depends not only on the technology but also on its users, there is no doubt that Bitcoin will be stronger if people run nodes themselves and support the network.

True completely destroying Bitcoin and its price falling are not the same thing, it’s not possible to completely destroy bitcoin but bitcoin falling in price is something that always happen but it also rise, bitcoin those not fall and remain like that it always fall and rise and this has been the way bitcoin has been since the creation of bitcoin and it has not affected its growth.
You are correct, the future of Bitcoin depends not only on the technology but also on its users, the users are the main reason why bitcoin is growing and growing, the users are more important in bitcoin growth and success.

We don't know what will happen in the future yet i think it will be hard for something to remain on this earth for ever it could be that there will be a time in life that Bitcoin won't be in existence but for now i don't know what can destroy Bitcoin. It's true that Bitcoin dropping in price and Bitcoin not been in existence it's the same yes Bitcoin is volatile this makes it's price to fluctuates sometimes it goes up while sometimes it also come down this is volatility not Bitcoin been destroyed before the price went Dip.

[johnsaributua]

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True completely destroying Bitcoin and its price falling are not the same thing, it’s not possible to completely destroy bitcoin but bitcoin falling in price is something that always happen but it also rise, bitcoin those not fall and remain like that it always fall and rise and this has been the way bitcoin has been since the creation of bitcoin and it has not affected its growth.
You are correct, the future of Bitcoin depends not only on the technology but also on its users, the users are the main reason why bitcoin is growing and growing, the users are more important in bitcoin growth and success.

We don't know what will happen in the future yet i think it will be hard for something to remain on this earth for ever it could be that there will be a time in life that Bitcoin won't be in existence but for now i don't know what can destroy Bitcoin. It's true that Bitcoin dropping in price and Bitcoin not been in existence it's the same yes Bitcoin is volatile this makes it's price to fluctuates sometimes it goes up while sometimes it also come down this is volatility not Bitcoin been destroyed before the price went Dip.

But in my opinion, it is difficult to predict future events regarding Bitcoin's journey, whether it will always exist or will it immediately cease to exist. For me, there is no need to think about such things because something has not happened yet regarding what we think about, so it is better to continue what we are doing now, but if there is a destruction in the future, it is part of our risk as parties involved in owning Bitcoin, especially now regarding the price which has not shown any signs of increasing in several months, but as I said, it is something that we cannot predict.

[CryptoBuds]

---

True completely destroying Bitcoin and its price falling are not the same thing, it’s not possible to completely destroy bitcoin but bitcoin falling in price is something that always happen but it also rise, bitcoin those not fall and remain like that it always fall and rise and this has been the way bitcoin has been since the creation of bitcoin and it has not affected its growth.
You are correct, the future of Bitcoin depends not only on the technology but also on its users, the users are the main reason why bitcoin is growing and growing, the users are more important in bitcoin growth and success.

We don't know what will happen in the future yet i think it will be hard for something to remain on this earth for ever it could be that there will be a time in life that Bitcoin won't be in existence but for now i don't know what can destroy Bitcoin. It's true that Bitcoin dropping in price and Bitcoin not been in existence it's the same yes Bitcoin is volatile this makes it's price to fluctuates sometimes it goes up while sometimes it also come down this is volatility not Bitcoin been destroyed before the price went Dip.

But in my opinion, it is difficult to predict future events regarding Bitcoin's journey, whether it will always exist or will it immediately cease to exist. For me, there is no need to think about such things because something has not happened yet regarding what we think about, so it is better to continue what we are doing now, but if there is a destruction in the future, it is part of our risk as parties involved in owning Bitcoin, especially now regarding the price which has not shown any signs of increasing in several months, but as I said, it is something that we cannot predict.

We can't know whether Bitcoin will exist forever. But under the current circumstances, we can be reasonably confident that it won't suddenly disappear. If it ever did, it would be an extremely rare event and completely beyond our control. The same could happen to any other asset as well, and no exception. So thinking about it is unnecessary and a waste of time.

especially now regarding the price which has not shown any signs of increasing in several months,

What do you mean by that? We are in a bear market, so that's completely normal.

[Hardyrobust]

Bitcoin can not be destroyed unless if the whole internet in the world is shut down or it is possible for the copy of bitcoin blockchains to be completely erased or disappear which is not possible.
Even government agency can't destroy bitcoin no matter how hard they tried because bitcoin is decentralised in nature and as such government has no control over it , making it impossible for them to destroy bitcoin and not only that not even satoshi can be able to destroy bitcoin.
For now I think bitcoin is immune to destruction and no one has been able to hack bitcoin network so I think it is not possible for bitcoin to be destroyed.

[Itz-prisigold]

Bitcoin can not be destroyed unless if the whole internet in the world is shut down or it is possible for the copy of bitcoin blockchains to be completely erased or disappear which is not possible.
Even government agency can't destroy bitcoin no matter how hard they tried because bitcoin is decentralised in nature and as such government has no control over it , making it impossible for them to destroy bitcoin and not only that not even satoshi can be able to destroy bitcoin.
For now I think bitcoin is immune to destruction and no one has been able to hack bitcoin network so I think it is not possible for bitcoin to be destroyed.

I do agree that killing Bitcoin at the protocol level is pretty much impossible,  however I believe the more interesting question is whether Bitcoin can be weakened without anyone tampering with the code.

For example, what if a large majority of people just own their Bitcoin via ETFs or custodial wallets, rather than possessing their own wallet keys, never run a node and treat it like another investment tool?  The network could still be operating flawlessly, but some of the characteristics of Bitcoin that made it revolutionary may begin to gradually reduce in practice. This is a more possible risk to me than someone attempting to "hack" or delete Bitcoin.

[Supreme Donvic]

True completely destroying Bitcoin and its price falling are not the same thing, it’s not possible to completely destroy bitcoin but bitcoin falling in price is something that always happen but it also rise,

Even satoshi who happens to be the creator of bitcoin can't destroy bitcoin even if he tries. my reason is that he would need to shutdown the internet completely and every single nodes that's running worldwide. Of course you know that's not possible because they are too many of them and there's no way he would be able to shut all of them. Furthermore, Bitcoin is a volatile asset, the price can't be stable so it is normal when you see the price fluctuates from time to time.

You are right even satoshi himself who created Bitcoin cannot destroy Bitcoin, bitcoin has gone pass the stage that people can bring it down these days a lot of people are going into bitcoin investment because they have seen that bitcoin investment is one of the safest investment to go into, if you are into bitcoin investment or you have Bitcoin no matter what happens in your country your investment is safe, but it is not like that in other investment take for example you have houses and a war happen in your country and those house got bombed you have lost your investment or your property but it cannot affect Bitcoin, bitcoin is safe always for you.
No one on earth can destroy Bitcoin.

[arwin100]

would think that it is better to say that bitcoin is still alive as long as at least two computers are running it's software (maybe mining it?).. but yeah, maybe you don't need two to mine, but one to mine and the other to validate?  I am pretty sure that the very beginning bitcoin software included both nodes and miners in the bitcoin software.

True. People have to learn about Bitcoin blockchain, the network and roles of different components inside it, so that they will understand that Bitcoin will very hardly die, almost impossible.

Information from these following resources are about Bitcoin blockchain, and network that are decentralized and impossibly died.
Bitcoin blockchain.

Correct, since once they understand on how Bitcoin blockchain works. They provably figure out that Bitcoin is hard to destroyed. What's really good about Bitcoin is it didn't rely on the popularity or the action to be done by its creator, a country or companies that accumulating it.

Since as long as those nodes are actively running. The blockchain will continue to produce a block.

This is the reason we can point out that Bitcoin does not base on someone's belief or any nonsense thing, but rather on how great the structure of the network.