It happened! (TIME/tech)

[grondilu]

Bitcoin IS ACTUALLY discussed in The Atlantic Monthly Magazine:

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/04/how-to-start-your-own-private-currency/73327/

I'd like to emphasize a bit about how wrong it is to call bitcoin a private currency.

Bitcoin is certainly not private.  Sure, it is not organised by the government, nor it is protected by the use of so-called public force.  But it is not private either.

Bitcoin is much more public than any national currency.  I don't even have to explain why.  It is obvious enough.

[matonis]

Bitcoin IS ACTUALLY discussed in The Atlantic Monthly Magazine:

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/04/how-to-start-your-own-private-currency/73327/

I'd like to emphasize a bit about how wrong it is to call bitcoin a private currency.

Bitcoin is certainly not private.  Sure, it is not organised by the government, nor it is protected by the use of so-called public force.  But it is not private either.

Bitcoin is much more public than any national currency.  I don't even have to explain why.  It is obvious enough.

Yes, I wholeheartedly agree in the public nature of an open-source cryptocurrency (it is a good point).  The Atlantic piece wasn't the best article and a lot of my better points weren't even used.  I had no idea of the article's title while being interviewed.  Actually, I was addressing his question about Facebook Credits (which are a private currency). He seemed to confuse private currencies with digital cash and cryptocurrencies, not to mention the differences between an e-gold ledger-based system and the decentralised nature of signed RPOWs to prevent double spending. Still better to participate in the article then turn it down, which is what I did for the Colby Adams request.

[Bimmerhead]

Here is the Time.com article:

http://techland.time.com/2011/04/16/online-cash-bitcoin-could-challenge-governments/

[allinvain]

Here is the Time.com article:

http://techland.time.com/2011/04/16/online-cash-bitcoin-could-challenge-governments/

Sweet!! first online...next in the printed version! let's hope!

[Nefario]

Thats a pretty good article, doesn't go too much into detail on the technical side (thus not getting bogged down).

I'm a little afraid now, this is the first step to bitcoin going mainstream. I feel like I'm in the first car in a rollercoaster, right at the top of the highest drop, looking down. I know it's going to be ok, and we've worked to get to this point, but it's still scary.

Hold on for a wild ride.

[allinvain]

Thats a pretty good article, doesn't go too much into detail on the technical side (thus not getting bogged down).

I'm a little afraid now, this is the first step to bitcoin going mainstream. I feel like I'm in the first car in a rollercoaster, right at the top of the highest drop, looking down. I know it's going to be ok, and we've worked to get to this point, but it's still scary.

Hold on for a wild ride.

I am very excited actually. Let's remain positive, do our best to educate the new members of the bitcoin economy, and stick together!

[spenvo]

I picked a hell of a weekend to go on a road trip.

 *shakes his head in frustration*

At least I'm on a road trip. 

[BioMike]

Very nice article.

[Matt Corallo]

Thats a pretty good article, doesn't go too much into detail on the technical side (thus not getting bogged down).

I'm a little afraid now, this is the first step to bitcoin going mainstream. I feel like I'm in the first car in a rollercoaster, right at the top of the highest drop, looking down. I know it's going to be ok, and we've worked to get to this point, but it's still scary.

Hold on for a wild ride.

Totally agree, heres to hoping we don't get a ton of media attention and everyone decides we don't have the infrastructure yet so we get left.

[jerryb]

Hi folks,

My name is Jerry Brito and I'm the author of the TIME piece. I'm glad you guys seem to like it. I'd appreciate any other feedback you may have. I've also blogged about Bitcoin in relation to yesterday's poker domain seizures here:

http://techliberation.com/2011/04/16/bitcoin-imagine-a-net-without-intermediaries/

Let me know what you think. Also, I host a podcast called Surprisingly Free (http://surprisinglyfree.com) and on next week's show Gavin Andresen will be my guest.

Anyhow, I just wanted to introduce myself and tell you that since I heard about Bitcoin a couple of months ago, I've been very excited about it. I'm an academic researcher focusing on tech policy and I teach at GMU Law. I'm hoping to begin to dedicate some of my research time to the legal issues around bitcoin, so you'll hopefully see me around these parts more often.

Cheers,
Jerry

[Cryptoman]

Welcome, and thanks for the great article!

[N12]

Welcome, and thanks for the great article!

Agree, it’s well written. Welcome, good to have you on board.

[w8ks6]

Sweet...

Dude...

http://www.hulu.com/watch/12169/dude-wheres-my-car-dude-sweet

[stakhanov]

The article has been linked on reddit, if you want to comment:

http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/grj0s/online_cash_bitcoin_could_challenge_governments/
http://www.reddit.com/r/Economics/comments/grhba/online_cash_bitcoin_could_challenge_governments/

[spenvo]

@ Brito -  It was a very well written article that focused on the useful qualities of bitcoin as a medium of exchange. Because of its properties as a store of value, discussions in a public forum all too often devolve into politicized shouting matches.  Thank you.

[grondilu]

Thats a pretty good article, doesn't go too much into detail on the technical side (thus not getting bogged down).

I'm a little afraid now, this is the first step to bitcoin going mainstream. I feel like I'm in the first car in a rollercoaster, right at the top of the highest drop, looking down. I know it's going to be ok, and we've worked to get to this point, but it's still scary.

Personnaly, I just whish I had bought more bitcoins.

[molecular]

Let me know what you think.

First: great article! thanks.

There are two common inaccuracies, though:

• "all transactions are completely free"
• "transactions are instantaneous"

I would love if someone came up with something sounding just as positive while being true.

"transactions _can_ be free, but if the amount is small and the transaction's inputs are not old, you might have to pay a small fee to get it through fast enough" just doesn't cut it marketing-wise

If someone could come up with a nice way to put it without being inaccurate I would be happy.

[hazek]

Hi folks,

My name is Jerry Brito and I'm the author of the TIME piece. I'm glad you guys seem to like it. I'd appreciate any other feedback you may have. I've also blogged about Bitcoin in relation to yesterday's poker domain seizures here:

http://techliberation.com/2011/04/16/bitcoin-imagine-a-net-without-intermediaries/

Let me know what you think. Also, I host a podcast called Surprisingly Free (http://surprisinglyfree.com) and on next week's show Gavin Andresen will be my guest.

Anyhow, I just wanted to introduce myself and tell you that since I heard about Bitcoin a couple of months ago, I've been very excited about it. I'm an academic researcher focusing on tech policy and I teach at GMU Law. I'm hoping to begin to dedicate some of my research time to the legal issues around bitcoin, so you'll hopefully see me around these parts more often.

Cheers,
Jerry

Major props for a very good article. I really liked the fact that you didn't focus too deeply on the technicalities and instead went for explaining the principles which IMO are way more important. n1

[LightRider]

Good article, looking forward to more of them.

[marcus_of_augustus]

Now this is the kind of interesting, ahead-of-the-crowd, investigative journalism Time has been sorely lacking.

Well done, good instincts.