[NavinF]

> there is no verification that the address even exists

Bitcoin addresses are created with a built in checksum code. Generally speaking, it is not possible to send Bitcoin to a mistyped address.

[nisegami]

Wasn't GP talking more about valid but non-existent addressed? I'm guessing this is essentially the same as sending it to an address for which the key has been lost.

[NavinF]

Yes, but that's pretty uncommon in practice. Why would anyone ask you to send money to a valid address that they don't own? It can't be a transcription error because the checksum would catch that

It's like sending gold over snailmail to a random address

[andirk]

And what happens if one sends gold over snailmail to a random address? You need to finish your analogy.