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by grumple 1484 days ago
Uh... yes? Are you seriously trying to imply that would be legal?

If someone ever cracks modern encryption, that doesn't mean they can do whatever they want with everyone's accounts everywhere. If you find an exploit and exploit it, that's illegal.
1 comments
postalrat 1484 days ago
What doesn't owning bitcoin really mean? If I had the math to generate keys why wouldn't I also be considered an owner?
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grumple 1484 days ago
If you copy my signature does that mean you can sign my checks?
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t0mas88 1484 days ago
No, but that's not the same. Signatures and checks are covered by terms & conditions (and law) that you must follow.

A better anology is if you figure out a mathematical advantage within the rules of a casino game, are you allowed to win? I believe you are, as long as it's within the rules of the game. And the casinos are smart enough to create rules against any lasting mathematical advantage.

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grumple 1483 days ago
I know how to pick locks. The locks are designed to open when pins are raised by a certain amount. Doesn't mean I have a right to anything I can unlock.

The intention of the system is to work to as security. Just because you find a way around the security doesn't mean that you are now immune to the law regarding ownership. When SHAX gets cracked, that doesn't give the person figuring it out a right to transfer all the money out of your bank account just because they figured out the math.

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postalrat 1483 days ago
If private keys are proof of ownership then what's the difference between keys generated before vs keys generated after. If both keys are valid then both have then both are proof.
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grumple 1481 days ago
Private keys are not proof of ownership, they are a technical implementation detail. That crypto has been poorly designed so that keys are all people have to prove ownership is a failure of design but doesn't fundamentally change the divisibility of ownership and access. This is easily observed with a shared wallet, for example coinbase's. If an employee stole their keys, I assure you that employee would enjoy a jail yard view for the next lifetime.
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postalrat 1483 days ago
In the case of bitcoin I wouldn't be copying keys. The key I generate will almost certainly be different than all the other known keys.
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