Return-Path: Received: from smtp1.linuxfoundation.org (smtp1.linux-foundation.org [172.17.192.35]) by mail.linuxfoundation.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 1839B1637 for ; Mon, 31 Aug 2015 21:43:01 +0000 (UTC) X-Greylist: from auto-whitelisted by SQLgrey-1.7.6 Received: from cock.li (cock.li [176.9.0.140]) by smtp1.linuxfoundation.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id B05B213A for ; Mon, 31 Aug 2015 21:43:00 +0000 (UTC) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2015 21:42:59 +0000 From: Monarch To: Allen Piscitello In-Reply-To: References: <602b978abcedd92fbed85f305d9d7bfe@cock.li> <55E4B8C9.5030606@openbitcoinprivacyproject.org> Message-ID: <91e79f981126ebe62e30df26e0c7ec50@cock.li> X-Sender: monarch@cock.li User-Agent: Roundcube Webmail/0.9.5 X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.9 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00,T_RP_MATCHES_RCVD autolearn=ham version=3.3.1 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.3.1 (2010-03-16) on smtp1.linux-foundation.org Cc: bitcoin-dev@lists.linuxfoundation.org Subject: Re: [bitcoin-dev] Your Gmaxwell exchange X-BeenThere: bitcoin-dev@lists.linuxfoundation.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.12 Precedence: list List-Id: Bitcoin Development Discussion List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2015 21:43:01 -0000 On 2015-08-31 21:24, Allen Piscitello wrote: > Even so, decentralization is a means to an end - not an end-goal.  It > is essential for Bitcoin to be a useful alternative, of course. > The justification for the existence of Bitcoins hinges on it. What is described in the whitepaper is a system without the trust of third parties to process electronic payments, this can not exist without decentralization. Absent any unforseen revelations this is a requirement rather than a suggestion or fleeting fancy. Below a decentralized Bitcoin you are free to make systems as centralized as you please without affecting the parent, below a centralized Bitcoin there is no room to make it less. We really only have one shot at a properly bootstrapped, decentralized currency, and it would be a great shame to mess up the one we have with hasty decision making for unclear goals.