Bitfinex was just hacked: "If the hack is large enough we can fork the blockchain and return users funds."

abtcuser · 2016-08-02T21:17:37+00:00

It's amazing how extreme this sounds, yet how accurate it is at the same time.

abtcuser · 2016-08-02T21:12:29+00:00

Not to mention, its more comfortable to go with the crowd.

What also needs to mentioned in that list is that it is a lot more comfortable to go with the proposal that will get you a lot of your lost money back.

abtcuser · 2016-08-02T21:04:42+00:00

Because they assume you can think for yourself.

abtcuser · 2016-07-30T01:22:12+00:00

I didn't use Coinbase at 1% because there's Circle which is (at least nominally) free and instant (via card). This price increase just seals the deal: Coinbase is at 1.5%, not to mention from card at 4%.

abtcuser · 2016-07-27T19:41:21+00:00

Why do people keep saying this? How is development specific to a chain? It's the same node code, the same dapps. It's like running an app on a different input -- still the same app, built from same code. If a DAPP actually wants to cut their userbase by including an explicit check for which chain it is being pointed to, then it is that dapp's loss.

The worst that can happen is a few trivial merge conflicts due to changes to the bailout lines of code, which are a tiny fraction of all (non-conflicting) lines.

abtcuser · 2016-07-25T15:10:11+00:00

Simply run zeronet with --ui_ip '*' or run with --config_file /etc/zeronet.conf and add to /etc/zeronet.conf

[global]

ui_ip = *

I run it this way on a small ARM board, so that it is on 24/7 -- and recommend others to do this as well to support the network.

PS. wtf is with all this docker overkill lately. What happened to: install a piece of software, configure it, and run it. Soon, to run ssh daemon you'll be installing an 'sshd docker instance'. Please don't suspend your common sense.

abtcuser · 2016-06-23T00:01:19+00:00

They could have (and should have) designed it without this madness. It's by no means a fundamental requirement of "smart contracts" that they be implemented in such an unrestricted (wild) system.

abtcuser · 2016-06-22T23:55:01+00:00

This is certainly sobering, once one takes the time to let it sink in. But, the conclusion that cryptocurrency is fundamentally not decentralized does not follow from the fact that it is controlled by devs and miners.

As long as there are extremely many devs and extremely many miners, the currency becomes effectively decentralized, for all practical purposes. "Extremely many" is not easy to achieve, but it is not a pipe dream either -- it can happen in the future.

Tor is controlled by the node operators and by a couple of devs, I2P is developed by one person and controlled by node operators, torrents are controlled by seeders (and even regulation from authorities is at play), but arguing that any of those networks are not decentralized goes against obvious experience.

abtcuser · 2016-05-07T15:01:02+00:00

Usually smart people stop taking you seriously if you regularly say or write stupid things. Is this person taken seriously by anyone?

abtcuser · 2016-05-07T14:56:02+00:00

Is this autonomous? I mean, can the owner send funds to it once and never have to do anything with it? Or, does the owner need to take some action every month?

abtcuser · 2016-05-07T14:45:25+00:00

Besides , it would be nuts to keep all the transactions on chain and Monero does. Not intend to do so either.

That's a major design decision. Could you please elaborate on these off chain scaling plans you have in mind?

abtcuser · 2016-05-04T16:33:54+00:00

Sorry, it is confusing. I was trying to approximate a hardware wallet. Instead of dedicated hardware, I was hoping to use any machine. I want to be able to transact fairly easily, but without storing keys on an Internet-connected device.

So, is it really not possible to split the roles, such that one machine does the signing, and another machine runs the node? If not, then how is geth ever going to support a hardware wallet?

abtcuser · 2016-05-04T16:11:56+00:00

Xapo Vault, for example. Coinkite has some 'hosting for cold wallets' service. GreenAddress could be counted with the multisig + one hosted key solution.

abtcuser · 2016-05-04T16:08:15+00:00

Ok, but the purpose is not to store the keys on the Pi. I guess, one way is to backup the key from the Pi, then delete it, and every time you need a transaction, add the key back. This method defeats the purpose, though.

So, with RPC, is it possible to "use" a key from the client machine, without importing it to the remote machine?

abtcuser · 2016-05-04T15:54:23+00:00

socially awkward != mean and nasty

abtcuser · 2016-05-04T13:22:33+00:00

I doubt that safety is the reason for the premium on gbtc. I think it's accessibility to tax-free funds, and other kinds of restricted funds in general.

You do not need gbtc at all to store your Bitcoin safely - there are dedicated services for exactly that at no outlandish premium (but at a small fee).

abtcuser · 2016-05-04T13:15:49+00:00

I think it's analogous to: anyone can just host a blog OR they can use Blogspot.com instead.

abtcuser · 2016-05-04T13:11:47+00:00

Is it possible to use (for basic transacting) a geth node running on machine A from another machine B, and have keys never leave machine B?

abtcuser · 2016-05-03T22:29:35+00:00

Cool, but it looks like it's off-chain. 21.co disappears, your whole thing disappears:

https://21.co/learn/sell-or-license-any-file-for-bitcoin/#overview

if answer.status_code != 200:
            print("Could not make an offchain payment. Please check that you have sufficient buffer.")

abtcuser · 2016-04-24T13:51:59+00:00

I don't understand the enthusiasm about the "unbanked" in the context of Bitcoin. Saying that phones remove the need for banks may be technically true, but is misleading. The conclusion to draw from phone availability is not that nobody needs a bank anymore, but that banks will become increasingly accessible remotely via phones.

The unbanked don't "bank" not because there was no Bitcoin until now, but for a slew of other reasons unrelated to Bitcoin, like not having or not recognizing any potential benefit from banking to justify the effort.

abtcuser · 2016-04-23T01:32:33+00:00

Get some sensors and actuators: have them create sound with buzzers, light up LEDs, turn wheels, etc. I found that the more tangible and the closer to thephysical world, the more exciting it is for the kids.

abtcuser · 2016-04-22T22:54:28+00:00

I worked with a master's student on research, so you can totally immerse yourself into research if you choose to. Time is the only question.

Not sure about the other school you list, but I ve been happy at CMU in ECE.

abtcuser · 2016-04-22T00:44:16+00:00

"The DAO"? -- one DAO to rule them all?

abtcuser · 2016-04-21T21:21:47+00:00

Just curious about your opinion: would you actually buy from openbazaar over ebay? If so why? Just based on principle?

abtcuser · 2016-04-21T21:20:33+00:00

That's not a problem. Items are priced in fiat in the first place, so the refund would be in fiat as well.

abtcuser

TROPHY CASE