Query address balance

[alkor]

Since every user stores a complete copy of the block-chain, in principle it should be possible to query the balance for any address, not just addresses belonging to the current user. Is there a remote procedure call for bitcoind that allows the user to query the balance of a public address?

[Pieter Wuille]

It's possible in theory, but it would require scanning the whole blockchain for unspent transaction outputs addressed to that particular address. It would take a while, and I don't think it's implemented anywhere.