Australian Govt. form asks if I own any Bitcoin of Cryptocurrency

[Whtwabbit]

I recently had a brain tumor removed and I had my right side Balance hearing mechanics removed, I am applying for disability until i recover.

Filling out the form I came across the question "Do you own any bitcoin or cryptocurrency"

Comments?

[ninza]

technically you control rather then own right? So you should be good to go

[bornil267645]

Even if you say no... They can't verify it...can they?

[Cryptobro]

Interesting!

How are you going to answer? I'd be inclined to say no depending on how many you have I guess. Not sure how I'd play it actually.

[ArticMine]

It is a perfectly legitimate question if there is a financial means test for disability benefits.

[Pente]

Nobody owns any bitcoins. The fact that they even ask the question shows a mis-understanding of the nature of decentralized cryptocurrency. If makes as much sense as asking if you own the number seven. Numbers are transcendent, nobody can own them.

In my case, I don't even own a cryptographic key to any bitcoins. I will admit that I do know a phrase that if you perform a HASH-256 on it, then convert to base-58, then add a checksum, then you could sweep an address and get some bitcoins.

But do I own any bitcoins? The answer is definitely "no".

[Envrin]

Just write in the answer, "none of your fucken business".

[Lethn]

That's like the kind of stupid questions you see from the Americans when they ask about terrorism and espionage, they aren't going to be able to prove anything regardless unless you show them it directly and the only other way they'd find out is by spying on you because Bitcoin wallets and Bitcoins themselves don't directly link to a person.

I mean, if you really want to be careful and say yes to be honest then by all means, but I don't think there will be repercussions either way but you'd have to consult a lawyer on that to be sure.

[Whtwabbit]

I used to have a phone with a bitcoin wallet app, unfortunately I lost the phone in a boating accident 

[PotatoPie]

Nobody owns any bitcoins. The fact that they even ask the question shows a mis-understanding of the nature of decentralized cryptocurrency. If makes as much sense as asking if you own the number seven. Numbers are transcendent, nobody can own them.

In my case, I don't even own a cryptographic key to any bitcoins. I will admit that I do know a phrase that if you perform a HASH-256 on it, then convert to base-58, then add a checksum, then you could sweep an address and get some bitcoins.

But do I own any bitcoins? The answer is definitely "no".

This.

1. They cannot find out if you have any BTC so you might as well say no.
2. The question is worded incorrectly so the answer is no anyway.

I do find it quite interesting how they're asking this. It's probably so that people don't try chuck all their money into BTC so they can get the disability benefits. The question was probably created by a guy that was paid to do some research on how you can hide money from the government. Just saying though http://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/2hfevd/terror_laws_clear_senate_enabling_entire/ .

[lyth0s]

I used to have a phone with a bitcoin wallet app, unfortunately I lost the phone in a boating accident 

Well, then no you don't own any coins. Glad we got that settled.

[shorena]

While we -or many of us- know that technically noone "owns" bitcoin, we all understand what they want to know. You want money from your peers* and in turn they ask how much money do you own or control or can move or can use to get goods. Smartassing your way out of this makes you antisocial. No matter how smug you feel about it, its still money your family and friends pay taxes for. I dont know how much bitcoin you "have" but unless you have a significant amount it should not make a difference. And if you hold a significant amount you should not get money from your government.


* keep in mind that the money from your gov comes from those paying tax

[LiteCoinGuy]

I recently had a brain tumor removed and I had my right side Balance hearing mechanics removed, I am applying for disability until i recover.

Filling out the form I came across the question "Do you own any bitcoin or cryptocurrency"

Comments?

thank god i only own this ripple-scam...

[sandykho47]

You should answer : "What is that ?"
But, my country don't care we have / use bitcoin 
But no protection if our bitcoin lose / stolen 

Just write in the answer, "none of your fucken business".

They will sure you have bitcoin 

[Beliathon]

I recently had a brain tumor removed and I had my right side Balance hearing mechanics removed, I am applying for disability until i recover.

Filling out the form I came across the question "Do you own any bitcoin or cryptocurrency"

Here is what you should write:

"The answer is no, I don't own any bitcoins. No one owns any bitcoins. Ownership is not a relevant concept on the blockchain, there is only control/access.

Think of the blockchain as a huge series of glass safety deposit boxes, transparent but impenetrable. Anyone on the planet can go visit these boxes, see what's inside, and even make a deposit to any box (blockchain address) they choose. However, the glass itself is invulnerable to attack.
You either have the (private) keys to a particular box (address) or you don't. The vast majority of boxes (addresses) has only one or two sets of keys, privately held. The keys to some of the boxes have been destroyed, which means you can put money in, but never take it out, sort of like a black hole for wealth.
Some of these boxes (addresses) may have publicly known "private" keys, which is the same as saying they are always "unlocked" for public use.

With the advent of cryptocurrency, math - information itself -  became a form of currency."

[awesome31312]

I recently had a brain tumor removed and I had my right side Balance hearing mechanics removed, I am applying for disability until i recover.

Filling out the form I came across the question "Do you own any bitcoin or cryptocurrency"

Comments?

You don't have to disclose that, they cannot legally prove you own a wallet

[R2D221]

Nobody owns any bitcoins. The fact that they even ask the question shows a mis-understanding of the nature of decentralized cryptocurrency. If makes as much sense as asking if you own the number seven. Numbers are transcendent, nobody can own them.

In my case, I don't even own a cryptographic key to any bitcoins. I will admit that I do know a phrase that if you perform a HASH-256 on it, then convert to base-58, then add a checksum, then you could sweep an address and get some bitcoins.

But do I own any bitcoins? The answer is definitely "no".

This is just too technical. In the practical side, it can be said that you own bitcoins and you can spend them whenever you want.

[Beliathon]

This is just too technical. In the practical side, it can be said that you own bitcoins and you can spend them whenever you want.

Practicality does not give you the power to bend reality or language to your will. Reality is reality, and no one can own information, it is free by default, most especially now in the internet age. Bitcoin is information.

Just as water always seeks to flow downhill, information always seeks to be free. Once information has passed to a new location outside of the source's control there is no way of ensuring it is not propagated further, and therefore will naturally tend towards a state where that information is widely distributed.  On the one hand information wants to be expensive, because it's so valuable. The right information in the right place just changes your life. On the other hand, information wants to be free, because the cost of getting it out is getting lower and lower all the time. So you have these two fighting against each other. 

[awesome31312]

But do I own any bitcoins? The answer is definitely "no".

That's sad, want a satoshi?

[inBitweTrust]

The moment you give them any information and answer yes is the moment the investigation into your true assets begins. If you answer no than those "red flags" don't get tripped and even if they see you are using bitcoin you still answered truthfully because at that exact moment when you filled out the form you didn't own any bitcoins.