Wake up people, there are no bitcoins, Nakamoto fooled you

[decodx]

You've changed the subject again.

My argument is not about whether people agree on a database or whether ownership depends on legal or social conventions.

It's much simpler.

Before we can have ownership, there must first be something to own.

A land registry records ownership of land because the land exists. A shareholder register records units of an existing company. A patent register records patents because patents exist. A bank database records units of an existing debt because the debt exists.

In every case, the records refer to something that already exists.

You simply assume that the Bitcoin database does the same thing. That is precisely the point under dispute.

Saying that people agree on the database or agree on the protocol does not establish that the recorded numbers identify units of an existing thing. It establishes only that people agree which numbers are assigned to which addresses.

And here is the fundamental flaw in your argument: you think a database must always be a passive shadow of some external physical or legal entity. But that's not how it works at all. You're confusing the label with the object, when in fact the ledger entry itself IS the object.

Just to give you one example: When you buy a domain name like "google.com", what exists before the registry records it? Nothing. There is no physical land, no pre-existing corporate entity, no debt. The registration creates the digital property right through consensus. The record in the DNS system is the asset.

A Bitcoin UTXO is no different; it's an object native to the digital space. Has anyone ever said that it represents a gold bar in a vault somewhere, a piece of land, or some corporate promise? I don't think so. Not even Satoshi. The ledger entry IS the primary reality in the same way your DNS entry is.

And hey - you can certainly deny that domain names are "real" in the traditional sense because they only exist as records in a database right? But is that reality? Can we "own" a domain name?

[Stalker22]

Before we can have ownership, there must first be something to own.
~

You ae stuck in this: "there must be something to own" but you cant actually define "a thing" in a digital realm, can you?

With every example you gave, the "thing" which you claim predates the record was purely abstract, human created, and subject to rules.  Bitcoin is no different, except that its enforcement comes from math and code instead of government, police and courts.  So, your entire argument boils down to your belief in authority instead of math, which is a classic argumentum ad verecundiam fallacy, isnt it?

[Alphakilo]

Before we can have ownership, there must first be something to own.
~

You ae stuck in this: "there must be something to own" but you cant actually define "a thing" in a digital realm, can you?

With every example you gave, the "thing" which you claim predates the record was purely abstract, human created, and subject to rules.  Bitcoin is no different, except that its enforcement comes from math and code instead of government, police and courts.  So, your entire argument boils down to your belief in authority instead of math, which is a classic argumentum ad verecundiam fallacy, isnt it?

A fallacy in every aspect.
I just finished reading a new post that same Op created to explain this one, that's why I had to come read this to even understand the theory and hearing.

I don't have much to say though because I believe the U.S crypto currency reserve bank and other countries that have crypto reserve banks and have accumulated crypto currency including Bitcoin overtime, are all confused and misdirected. Including the regulations and policies like Clarity Act and agencies like CFTC or SEC that agree on the existence of Bitcoin as an asset and commodity in some instances and other crypto currencies are all delusional too.

I haven't even gotten to the part where large institutional holders accumulate Bitcoin on their balance sheet because they think it's valuable numbers and must have enough of it.

Everyone including OP has a right to air their opinion and that's why while some remain conservative in thoughts and languish in poverty, others take risk and get rich.

[Nothingtodo]

Satoshi did not force anyone to be interested in his Bitcoin, rather he allowed those who wanted to accept Bitcoin and those who did not want to can boycott it. But what you mentioned in your topic is a kind of advertisement for paper money. No matter how much you say, paper money will not exist in the world for a while and at some point people will get so fed up with banks and paper money that then people will become interested in digital currency. Moreover, you or we who are interested in Bitcoin have become interested in it after seeing the terrible inflation of fiat currency. Basically, I have lost confidence in banks and fiat currency because banks do not keep up with me and there is massive inflation in fiat currency, so I have to be forced to be interested in some system that can relieve me of all the troubles and problems. In this regard, there can be no alternative to Bitcoin.

[avp2306]

It seems that OP just want to troll people, by posting crazy claims and pointless statements here.

But let's assume you didn't know anything about it.

Then you are wrong OP since its not good to assume that asset mush have physical existence to be called that asset exist.

Since Bitcoin is the same with those digital asset which is transferrable, people can verify its ownership and have limited supply.

Try to look at you bank balances since its the same numbers in the database. Then the system behinds it give it a value that's why its truly a crazy claims that there's no Bitcoin while in fact it exist successfully same with those digital fiats.

Bitcoin works the same with those other digital assets that you currently know.

So If you assume that Bitcoin does not exist, then those stocks, digital money released by corporate or institution and other assets we could fine online is not true? So you claim is not factual and maybe you just have limited knowledge on Bitcoin that's why you said all of this things.

[tread93]

This reads more like an advertisement for the FIAT system. The OP is himself part of the
collective delusion in the FIAT system!

The system where governments can create more and more at will and debase what they
have already created.

I picked up a pen, wrote “2 BTC” on a piece of paper, and said that I had just created exactly the same record. I explained to him that this did not mean that two units of something had miraculously appeared in my possession. There was nothing to analyze to determine whether it was an asset or whether it was valuable.

You just proved my point above, that 'paper never refuses ink'. But really you created nothing,
nobody else but yourself would hold any value to a piece of paper with your #2 written on it.

I pointed out that what we actually see is a network of computers

In this you are factually correct! That network of computers which remains unbreached is
creating a public digital ledger and is backed by energy, security and a public account of a
capped supply of Bitcoin. Of course its not physical, its digital. Unlike your beloved FIAT
'More' cannot be created.



Thank you for creating this post, anyone doubting Bitcoin will be set on the right path after
reading all the replies.

I mean honestly the nerve of some people lmao. Really just the ignorance of using a totally synonymous example of what fiat currency is to try and describe the supposed unreal bitcoin is ironic lmao. What an idiot. Word blab vomit and slave to the system. Wake up son

[MarjorieZimmermanGinger]

I pointed out that this is precisely the problem and the very core of the collective delusion in which he was participating. Millions of people are giving away assets just to hold a number, surrendering tangible future benefits for something anyone can create for free with a few strokes of a pen or taps on a keyboard.

I concluded, “Every collective delusion inevitably ends in a harsh awakening. When that happens, no one will be willing to give you assets anymore, and your money will be gone forever.”"

It's the same with fiat currencies because we only see the numbers in our savings accounts and don't necessarily have them available at any bank branch when we withdraw large sums. I've personally experienced this situation. I read the article and found there was almost nothing in the collective content worth reading, and I also have no intention of convincing you about Bitcoin if you're not interested, don't believe it, or don't know the truth. In fact, Bitcoin has evolved far beyond what was imagined, and everyone recognizes that Bitcoin is a different asset, positioning it as a potential asset.

[davis196]

So, you did not buy two bitcoins. You bought a digitally recorded number: 2.”

Unable to answer, my colleague pivoted, claiming he didn’t actually care because the market is massive and he was bound to make money anyway.

I pointed out that this is precisely the problem and the very core of the collective delusion in which he was participating. Millions of people are giving away assets just to hold a number, surrendering tangible future benefits for something anyone can create for free with a few strokes of a pen or taps on a keyboard.

I concluded, “Every collective delusion inevitably ends in a harsh awakening. When that happens, no one will be willing to give you assets anymore, and your money will be gone forever.”"

Do we really have to start the old "Bitcoin is a bunch of numbers on an online spreadsheet" debate again? Are we back in 2011? There's no point starting this debate again. Fiat money are also a bunch of numbers on a bank spreadsheet or a bunch of paper with pictures and numbers on it. So what? Fiat money have value, because the government told you, that they have value and because you are legally forced to use them as a legal tender.
Bitcoin has value because the community of Bitcoiners has decided that it has value. No government around the world has told us that BTC has value and no government around the world has forced us to use BTC in our everyday lives.

[Mariokb]

So, you did not buy two bitcoins. You bought a digitally recorded number: 2.”

Unable to answer, my colleague pivoted, claiming he didn’t actually care because the market is massive and he was bound to make money anyway.

I pointed out that this is precisely the problem and the very core of the collective delusion in which he was participating. Millions of people are giving away assets just to hold a number, surrendering tangible future benefits for something anyone can create for free with a few strokes of a pen or taps on a keyboard.

I concluded, “Every collective delusion inevitably ends in a harsh awakening. When that happens, no one will be willing to give you assets anymore, and your money will be gone forever.”"

Do we really have to start the old "Bitcoin is a bunch of numbers on an online spreadsheet" debate again? Are we back in 2011? There's no point starting this debate again. Fiat money are also a bunch of numbers on a bank spreadsheet or a bunch of paper with pictures and numbers on it. So what? Fiat money have value, because the government told you, that they have value and because you are legally forced to use them as a legal tender.
Bitcoin has value because the community of Bitcoiners has decided that it has value. No government around the world has told us that BTC has value and no government around the world has forced us to use BTC in our everyday lives.

Please, educate yourself about numbers: https://medium.com/@mario.kb99/bitcoin-how-an-anonymous-programmer-created-the-biggest-collective-delusion-ever-789d1dd19cad

[decodx]

Please, educate yourself about numbers

Numbers are abstract units of measurement. So whats' your point?

Please educate yourself too.  I explained to you where your logic falls short, but you chose to ignore it: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5590141.msg67007528#msg67007528

[viljy]

In response to the casuistry posted in the OP's post, it can be argued that bitcoin is not a convention, but the cost of cryptographic protection of a cryptocurrency system, which includes the cost of electricity and equipment. Of course, there is also a speculative component to the price. But where is it not? From SpaceX or Nvidia? And now tell me that the number is conditional and immaterial... It is no more immaterial than the coal spent on generating electricity.

PS In general, neither governments nor banks have such collateral that would cover the total global debt. A debt is just a promise. Actually, that's why money with unlimited emission appeared. If the debt system were based on collateral, the world would still be living in a gold-standard economy. So the fiction is rather money (a debt that will never be paid)

[BRINIRHA]

Of the many strands of words that you write then actually here you are the one who is in denial or does not want to admit that bitcoin exists.

The buyer has shown the asset he bought which is 2 Bitcoins but you compare with the piece of paper you wrote? How can that be considered in comparison?

Actually, it's not a problem not to believe in bitcoin but here when comparing company securities with stocks and comparing with bitcoin which is also very difficult because from the beginning this is the opposite where the stock system is the same as fiat (they are centralized) and will be very different from bitcoin which has the opposite nature where decentralization is always carried out.

I concluded, “Every collective delusion inevitably ends in a harsh awakening. When that happens, no one will be willing to give you assets anymore, and your money will be gone forever.”"

The more you deny it, the more difficult it will be for you to understand bitcoin even though there is a lot of data that can explain bitcoin which is not just nonsense like the real adoption that is currently very pronounced, even some public company institutions are starting to recognize bitcoin but it seems like you will not admit this because from the beginning you don't understand bitcoin.

[Bushdark]

You are a newbie that needs to understand the system and how Bitcoin works. For all your arguments claiming that Bitcoin does not exist is like a man arguing that their is no need to own a digital copy of your photograph when you can aswear keep the physical copy.
Bitcoin is a decentralized digital money and their has been so many arguments in the past that have been making the delusional  people to think around the box not inside the boxbon anything that relates to Bitcoin.

You have given an inaccurate comparison which does not really make a common sense.
We are in the digitalized era where soon, you will not be running transactions using physical money. Very soon the fiat system is going to go completely digitalized the same way we saw the digital Yuan and people are using it for transactions with the China.

[purple_sparkles]

 I actually thought we had already moved past the stage where people doubted bitcoin simply because it doesn't have a physical form. We've gradually entered the digital age, and now we're seeing the opposite trend, more and more physical assets and services are being digitized. Bitcoin fits perfectly into this new reality. Of course, some people still have concerns or doubts about digital assets like bitcoin, and in some ways those concerns are understandable. But the wheels are already in motion, and at this point, it's better to learn how to use the system to your advantage.

[reagansimms]

It is difficult to explain the beauty of a rainbow to a blind person, even though they do not believe in the existence of rainbows, but rainbows are the most beautiful creation. That's how we value Bitcoin, Satoshi has brought new light to us. In this forum, we are no longer talking about "profitable investments," but about financial freedom and freeing ourselves from a system that constantly controls our money.

It is normal to have different views on something, I also feel like I have run out of words to convince you. Even though people out there call those of us who continue to accumulate Bitcoin stupid, are building a new cult and are gambling with something that is not guaranteed to bring profits, we have seen the facts for ourselves: from the past until now, no one has been able to freeze Bitcoin and no one can print our 24-word seed phrase.

I don't care at all about your arguments or those of people out there who think Bitcoin is just a number on a screen. The proof is that I have an asset that cannot be seized, can send it to anyone without bank permission, and can sleep soundly because I hold the keys myself. If they call me stupid, then I'm willing to be called stupid forever.

[bitbollo]

nice ragebait title, at least make people click and read for awhile...
there are bitcoin as there is a coinbase for each block produced.
you can't get for free likewise an action that doens't requires "work".

there are few errors in this OP ... first you can't access to 2 btc likewise you can write a new database (or write on paper).
if it was so easy, and so valuable, it would be full of others altcoins COMPETING with bitcoin but isn't this the current scenario.
There is a competitive value related also to the chance to access to one of 10^48 addresses.
If it was so easy to get another wallet... no one was just using bitcoin.
I would be interested to read some argument that at the end, cryptography creates a system where it's all linked to it.
Even if technically possible to bruteforce it, actually technology would requires ages to make it efficiently.
 

[Razmirraz]

Now you know. It's 2026, but your mindset is still stuck in 2012-2013. You still doubt non-physical assets, even though everything has shifted to digital. It seems you've never imagined how complicated it would be to send 1 kilogram of gold to another country compared to sending 1 Bitcoin, which takes about 10 minutes. In real life, employee salaries are starting to be transferred digitally, shopping uses QR codes, and shares no longer have a physical certificate.

In fact, Bitcoin is not without physical existence, quite the opposite. Bitcoin has the strongest physical form, a network of 15,000 nodes worldwide, and immutable code. That's its physical nature. Bitcoin's physical strength is stronger than paper money, gold, or cars because it cannot be confiscated, burned, or rusted.

Whether you believe it or not, I just want to say, Bitcoin fits perfectly into the new reality because it is "digital by nature", but anti-inflationary by design. It is rare for something to have both. Now you only have two choices: become a victim of a digital system that sells your data, your money is frozen and inflation is created continuously, or become a user of a digital system that is free to hold Bitcoin and the keys are in your own hands.

Remember, Satoshi never give anyone money, he only gave "tools", whether you want to use them to achieve your freedom or not, that's your business.

[Antotena]

Satoshi did not force anyone to be interested in his Bitcoin, rather he allowed those who wanted to accept Bitcoin and those who did not want to can boycott it. But what you mentioned in your topic is a kind of advertisement for paper money. No matter how much you say, paper money will not exist in the world for a while and at some point people will get so fed up with banks and paper money that then people will become interested in digital currency. Moreover, you or we who are interested in Bitcoin have become interested in it after seeing the terrible inflation of fiat currency. Basically, I have lost confidence in banks and fiat currency because banks do not keep up with me and there is massive inflation in fiat currency, so I have to be forced to be interested in some system that can relieve me of all the troubles and problems. In this regard, there can be no alternative to Bitcoin.

There is this famous quote that Satoshi says that I like very well. He says if you can't believe him, then he don't have time to convince anyone and that is what we are still seeing today, you can't make people believe that Bitcoin is the way. To say that Satoshi has never spend one single sats from the wallet people think belongs to him and some people still wrote super story making all sort of accusations but this is what you get from people that are blind.

I don't care what people think and I don't have time to convince them either, I have been using Bitcoin for a while and I'm very satisfied with what I get. If at this stage I can't appreciate what Satoshi did for us then I might be as ungrateful peesn like OP. To say that he knows very well about Bitcoin and still say things that are not good about Bitcoin means he is not mad at Satish, those his opinions are comping from a place of frustration and anger.