Quote from: mcdougle on April 15, 2015, 11:31:45 AM

If Bitcoin dies, would the Blockchain network remain distributed and robust ?

I've heard more than a few Wall Street Gurus and Tech Visionaries state that while the Bitcoin concept is unique and interesting, the Blockchain Technology is where the magic happens.
If Bitcoin dies, then a million despondent miners return whence they came, and the distributed nature of the Blockchain is weakened to an unknown degree.

The way I see this, to an average Bitcoin miner, the Blockchain is the lifeblood of Bitcoin and the river from which it flows, but it is consequential to mining Bitcoin, which is the miner's primary objective. Integrity of the Blockchain is essential for mining to occur. Conversely however, if those who would build new platforms on the Blockchain network were the primary drivers of the Blockchain due to the absence of miners, it would be in their interest to control as much of the Blockchain Network as possible. This would effectively neutralize the incorruptible, distributed nature of the Blockchain.

If Bitcoin dies, will the Blockchain necessarily die with it?

Of course the blockchain will also die. "Blockchain technology" only works with the financial incentive of mining valuable Bitcoin. Take that away and only some idealists will continue mining, severely affecting the security of the whole network.

The blockchain as "technology" depends on Bitcoin, the currency. People that try to separate the two can not be taken seriously.

ya.ya.yo!