Can bitcoin survive without the Internet?

[superresistant]

You can't stop neither Internet or Bitcoin.
I mean how can you think that Internet or Bitcoin can be stopped ? Do you think there is an ON/OFF button somewhere ?
WTF ?

[Tzupy]

Two years ago bitcoin could have died, along with the Internet:
http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/186805-the-solar-storm-of-2012-that-almost-sent-us-back-to-a-post-apocalyptic-stone-age

[superresistant]

Two years ago bitcoin could have died, along with the Internet:
http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/186805-the-solar-storm-of-2012-that-almost-sent-us-back-to-a-post-apocalyptic-stone-age

I remember that.
But notice that it is not a human intervention.
No government or group of people can stop Internet.

[CoinsCoinsEverywhere]

The problem is not switching off internet, it is keeping it switched off not locally but globally.

You could have an AM radio signal broadcasting, globally, transactions and the blockchain.
You could have satellite broadcasting the transactions and the blockchain
You could have the DVB-T/S/C broadcasting transactions and the blockchain.
You could have wi-fi and wired ethernet networks to broadcast transactions and the blockchain.
You could have analog modems do it.

Yes, most of these things could be used (although it would depend on why the internet is down; some things that would shut down the internet would shut down some of these things, too), but would they be?  Plus, most of these things don't interface easily with computers, so trying to organize one of these things, especially without the internet, would be difficult to impossible.

[ArbatDeli]

No internet = bitcoin dead.

[raganius]

You can't stop neither Internet or Bitcoin.
I mean how can you think that Internet or Bitcoin can be stopped ? Do you think there is an ON/OFF button somewhere ?
WTF ?

The Bitcoin network should not depend on the Internet forever. In case of a major Internet failure (caused by wars, natural disasters, corrupt governments, etc) we would become "hostages". There should be a "backup network"  in wich Bitcoin could function. A P2P network seems to be the ideal: It is not impossible (although it seems to be difficult at first) that an independent P2P network is created, to coexist running in parallel with the Internet, but with its own infrastructure.

There's a discussion on this subject here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=666425

[polynesia]

No internet = bitcoin dead.

No internet = A lot of things dead.
Therefore, internet.

[michaelwang33]

No internet = bitcoin dead.

This is a pretty simply way to putting things. However it is correct. Bitcoin relies on this decentralized network called the internet, if this network were to go 100% down then bitcoin would have no way of mining, nor would it have any way of confirming transactions, nor preventing double spends.

[johnd7]

What if someone (governments together with banks) would decide to shut down the Internet? Would bitcoin survive? Is it possible to transfer directly p2p somehow? Any thoughts? How strong this whole industry is really?

I don't think governments will be able to kill bitcoin. There are many different managements.

[CoinsCoinsEverywhere]

What if someone (governments together with banks) would decide to shut down the Internet? Would bitcoin survive? Is it possible to transfer directly p2p somehow? Any thoughts? How strong this whole industry is really?

I don't think governments will be able to kill bitcoin. There are many different managements.

They might not be able to wipe it off the face of the planet, but they could effectively kill it.  They could outright ban it or regulate it into oblivion.

[Yakamoto]

What if someone (governments together with banks) would decide to shut down the Internet? Would bitcoin survive? Is it possible to transfer directly p2p somehow? Any thoughts? How strong this whole industry is really?

I don't think governments will be able to kill bitcoin. There are many different managements.

They might not be able to wipe it off the face of the planet, but they could effectively kill it.  They could outright ban it or regulate it into oblivion.

So they ban/regulate it, what about the underworld that would spring up?

You can't just ban Bitcoin, since it has pseudo-anonymity, it's perfect to prevent bans. It's just there would be a lot of things that would occur as well.

And regulation just means they do everything they can to stop it, but it doesn't mean they can shut it down entirely.

And if they start raids on people's homes... I'm sure we would see a lot of questions being asked, along with many "Where is our freedom" things.

Question everything! Don't believe what you hear! Don't believe what you see on a screen!

[Erdogan]

Well if they stop the internet, the spying equipment will turn out to be a malinvestment. We can not have that.

[nextblast]

Without Internet BTC will not survive. And Google, Facebook... wont either

[superresistant]

Can people talk shit without Internet ?

[joshraban76]

Without internet I would not say that bitcoin would not have a chance in continuing as there may be a way, however I do not think it would ever be as popular as it is now being on the internet.

With anything once it changes it slowly starts to affect the way it used to be and soon becomes less popular. Even if it was to survive past the internet the only way it would be able to carry on would be with banking as we all know what happens when banks get hold of any kind of money, they start making changes to benefit them, it could survive but it may never be like it is now without internet.

[escrow.dude]

What if someone (governments together with banks) would decide to shut down the Internet? Would bitcoin survive? Is it possible to transfer directly p2p somehow? Any thoughts? How strong this whole industry is really?

I don't think governments will be able to kill bitcoin. There are many different managements.

They might not be able to wipe it off the face of the planet, but they could effectively kill it.  They could outright ban it or regulate it into oblivion.

I don't think they can do very much to regulate Bitcoin. If regulations become too burdensome then the bitcoin economy will simply move "underground"

[Yakamoto]

Can people talk shit without Internet ?

Nope.

The internet is an angry nerd's portal to rage inside.

Because everything's easier when you're 53, ripped with $45 million in the bank. (And 2,000,000BTC)

[BtcGains]

In my opinion bitcoin are exist just because of internet and when you shut down the internet bitcoin community will disappear.

Sadly he's right
How will the Bitcoin community survive with it the internet? How will we trade our coins? How will the average user even get a hold of a Bitcoin without going through so much trouble like ringing around or exchanging in person?
It'll be impossible for Bitcoin to grow any further if the internet is off. It'll be impossible for Bitcoin to SURVIVE. It just won't happen.

As much as all of us dreamers want to believe that radio waves can submit transactions that's not what it is about. Besides, there will be much larger worries than Bitcoin if the internet does in fact shut off.

[Yakamoto]

In my opinion bitcoin are exist just because of internet and when you shut down the internet bitcoin community will disappear.

Sadly he's right
How will the Bitcoin community survive with it the internet? How will we trade our coins? How will the average user even get a hold of a Bitcoin without going through so much trouble like ringing around or exchanging in person?
It'll be impossible for Bitcoin to grow any further if the internet is off. It'll be impossible for Bitcoin to SURVIVE. It just won't happen.

As much as all of us dreamers want to believe that radio waves can submit transactions that's not what it is about. Besides, there will be much larger worries than Bitcoin if the internet does in fact shut off.

Exactly... There are bigger worries if the internet dies as opposed to worrying about what will happen to Bitcoin.

Chances are, however, that those with physical Bitcoins will start laughing at us (Maybe).

In all honesty, internet dies, 40% of population dies, banking dies, and we return to the dark ages.

[Swordsoffreedom]

Speaking of that a mention of it was given in Part 3 of this series

We dusted off the footage that originally ended up on the cutting room floor to bring you the final chapter in the Bitcoin Fanatics trilogy. Hope you enjoy!

Shit Bitcoin Fanatics Say, Part 3
http://youtu.be/gYnLkF4PJlQ