Open source means I can make my own bitcoin currency right?

[Aleqi]

So I can start Aleqibitcoin from scratch right? 

Copy and paste the software and POOF a new world currency is born... inflation record 0%... users 1... dollar value 0...

I suppose I'm asking can you run an new bitcoin system (in all but name and currency,) using bitcoin software?

Has/can this be done?

I ask because it seems this could be a good option for a commune co-op farm or a tiny town that wants to save money (through dodging US dollar inflation,) for municipal funding and services.  Or if I become some rubber baron carpet bagger on some small island in Thailand.  Or for a massive refugee camp.  Set up the currency using bitcoin software...  value it by donations for the cause!  Stuff like that.


***About the poster - I love the Zeitgeist movies and I have longed for a way to escape inflation.  Also I loved Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand and I think that the bit coin sounds a bit like her "Atlantis."

[FreeMoney]

Yes, the problem is that double spends will be trivial on your chain. The most used chain will always be the most attractive for 2 reasons. Extra double spend protection and wider use. So everyone joins the strongest, making it stronger still.

There is no reason not to use regular bitcoin for your coop. It will be easier for people to pay you since they have bitcoins, not Aleqibitcoin. And easier for you to use since merchants take bitcoin, not Aleqibitcoin.

[FreeMoney]

Has/can this be done?
 

Yes, the test net is one example.

[Stephen Gornick]

So I can start Aleqibitcoin from scratch right?  

 - http://forum.bitcoin.org/index.php?topic=2322.0

Also, without any changes to the source other than the id and the port, I hope you don't mind a few hundred GHash/s unwinding and double spending transactions:
  - http://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Weaknesses#Attacker_has_a_lot_of_computing_power

[TradersEdgeDice]

I'm all in favor of small groups spinning off the bitcoin code.  There are parts of the user spectrum that don't need to be in the main branch.  The very light side (small towns) and the very dark side (criminal organizations.)

They should both develop their own branches.

[BCEmporium]

They can circumvent that "double spender attacker" (probably something as one as dumb or as desperate as the later MtGox/Bitcoin forum DDoSer would try to do) by simply restrict the universe of those who can access their currency.

i.e. If it's just for his town they could either setup a local network or restrict to IP's only from that town to access the blockchain.

[marcus_of_augustus]

I'm all in favor of small groups spinning off the bitcoin code.  There are parts of the user spectrum that don't need to be in the main branch.  The very light side (small towns) and the very dark side (criminal organizations.)

They should both develop their own branches.

we can tell other people what they should and shouldn't be doing as much as we want .... doesn't make a damn bit of difference in my experience.

[TradersEdgeDice]

I'm all in favor of small groups spinning off the bitcoin code.  There are parts of the user spectrum that don't need to be in the main branch.  The very light side (small towns) and the very dark side (criminal organizations.)

They should both develop their own branches.

we can tell other people what they should and shouldn't be doing as much as we want .... doesn't make a damn bit of difference in my experience.

Thank you, Captain Obvious.

We should shut down the forum immediately.  That's another "should".  :-)

The OP was asking about his goal.  I'm guessing he wants to implement a variation of BTC to minimize or to eliminate the chaos of an exchange. If TPB was the only avenue for bit torrent, where would the protocol be?

[em3rgentOrdr]

People can do whatever they want to.  Welcome to the the world of voluntaryism, the internet, open-source, and free-markets.  Pretend that the government doesn't exist.  Don't ask for permission.  Just live free as a free person should.  Just remember that in order to be free, you must permit other people to be free as well.

[kowalski09]

Unless you offer some technical advantage/distinction why would one participate in your network/economy?

[tomcollins]

Unless you offer some technical advantage/distinction why would one participate in your network/economy?

Same reason they join Bitcoin - speculation.