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0 sats \ 3 replies \ @xz 26 Mar \ on: Is there really such a thing as "stolen Bitcoin"? bitcoin
If I photocopied ..
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a page from a purchased Holy Bible that was found in a coffe shop without permission, is that theft?
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a confidential document that is of national security interest without permission, is that theft?
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a seed phrase that I found on a bus without permission, is that theft?
I would say that only one of these is due to the fact that I must have entered into some kind of contract that states I'm not to do that by law.
I don't think there is a law against entering a seed phrase into wallet software. There is only a law that prevents unlawful access. This is a little different.
Am I wrong on this?
You are thinking as a law-abiding citizen. Imagine you are a dual citizen and the laws of each country oblige you to do opposite things. Like be drafted in the military and go to war with yourself. You can't comply, you go to jail? In times of war and sanctions, this is not just theoretical. In terms of Bitcoin, not belonging to any nation means no nation can force it's laws on in.
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You are right, often I'm trapped in my thinking.
and funny that you say that. I deal with living in different countries and different laws quite a bit. It's an interesting thought experiment and a more interesting way to live (rather than complying with things that make no sense.) Was just trying to look at the question in a matter of fact way, but was probably being quite obtuse.
In terms of Bitcoin UTXOs, I see water as a similar thing. It would be like dividing a river in half and saying you can not steal or drink water from one half but you can from the other. Essentially, there is no boundary. Just an arbitrary construct that aims to govern the ungovernable properties of elements.
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exactly
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