Ask HN: Why can't the ownership of Bitcoin be tracked?

Posted by jkd on Sunday March 10, 2013 @01:09AM
from the ask-hn dept.

Why can't the ownership of Bitcoin be tracked, so that even if it's stolen, nobody other than the owner can use it. If it is getting used, the ownership can be transferred from buyer to seller?

( 3 comments | 3 points | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: Why can't the ownership of Bitcoin be tracked? by dalke on Sunday March 10, 2013 @03:55AM (#5351116)

Out of curiosity, in such a scheme, who can authorize the transfer? Is it a court? In which jurisdictions? Bitcoin is meant as a decentralized scheme, and I can't think of how a "decentralized" and "forced transfer" are compatible, except if a majority of servers in the Bitcoin network agree on it.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Why can't the ownership of Bitcoin be tracked? by unimpressive on Sunday March 10, 2013 @03:08AM (#5351036)

Can you propose a method of doing this that isn't bitcoin?

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Re:Ask HN: Why can't the ownership of Bitcoin be tracked? by jkd on Monday March 11, 2013 @01:57AM (#5355150)

I don't have an answer. But can it be tracked similar to email. Since it is a digital currency, there should be a way to digitally finger print it and tracked.

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