Quote from: Explodicle on July 14, 2013, 01:12:15 AM

How does anyone know which addresses correspond to coin mixers, and which mixers don't keep logs? There are a few we all know about, but probably some private mixers too. All it takes is one successful mix at any point in the future after the ransom has been paid.

Yes, we don't know who owns address. But we know the addressed. If some other coins went to the same address (that's how mix works, right?), too bad for them: they'll get dirty too (And drop in value, since dirty money will be accepted only for big premium, if at all). Therefore, an owner of clean coins won't want to mix them with dirty coins. When you sen you coins to a mixer, you'll use only a "clean" one - the one that can prove to you that it does keep logs. Criminals can open their own mixers too, but since no clean money will go there, they would just mix dirty coins with other dirty coins. It may help in court (deniability), but won't restore value to the coins.

Quote from: Explodicle on July 14, 2013, 01:12:15 AM

Centralization = failure.

To a point only. There is a tradeoff, like with everything else. Why, for example, we have just one heart, rather than a dozen or a thousand of them?

Quote from: Explodicle on July 14, 2013, 01:12:15 AM

Right NOW there is a currency where the users unwillingly support the abduction and killing of innocent people. It pays for men with guns and predator drones to conquer whole countries and establish dictatorships. It takes from the poor and gives to the rich. Surely this bad PR would have destroyed it by now?

Do you think average Joe (We are talking mainstream adoption, right?) would agree with your diatribe? Would he rather say: "Us killing them is not murder, but self-defence. Nothing to be ashamed of. While kidnappers and their tool - bitcoin can't be tolerated. We should potect our children.".

Quote from: giantdragon on July 14, 2013, 02:20:27 AM

This may be good idea, but only if you will be happy with <0.01 BTC/USD price Grin

Cheap coins! Good! Grin

Quote from: CasinoBit on July 14, 2013, 02:39:15 AM

What if a kidnapper kidnaps a kid, demands gold as ransom and then pays someone to melt the gold into new bricks, will gold be banned forever?

Isnt's it already?

When was the last time you've used a gold coin to pay for something? Or even a $500 bill? Gold is out, cash is next.

Quote from: CasinoBit on July 14, 2013, 02:39:15 AM

I just love it when people blame the bullets not the killer, blame the knife not the stabber, blame the drugs not the addict, blame alcohol, cigarettes, gambling, blame the Big Mac and not the person jamming it down his throat every day.

It's in human nature to put the blame wrongly. Are you saying that for bitcoin become mainstream, human nature have to change first?

Quote from: BlackLilac Jordan on July 14, 2013, 02:52:41 AM

Rather than blacklisting coins or anything along those lines I would prefer to see the major mixers (blockchain.info, inputs.co, etc) at some point develop a system to work with law enforcement and courts to prevent the mixing of coins that have been used in serious or violent crimes. Anonymity is a crucial aspect of Bitcoin but at some point there will have to be more co-operation between law enforcement and corporate Bitcoin services and exchanges.

Whatever the tor mixer is called (bitcoinfog?) that is used almost exclusively for the silk road will never comply

There is double pressure - from tax/drug autrorites, for complete transparency and from folks that want privacy, but don't want to help real criminals. Under these pressures bitcoim may eventually branch to 3 brands: whitecoin (tax-friendly), graycoin(drug-friendly), and blackcoin(thug-friendly).