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1500 questions
39
votes
5 answers
Why are hashes in the bitcoin protocol typically computed twice (double computed)?
According to the wiki specification of the bitcoin protocol, hashes are typically "computed twice". For example:
hello
2cf24dba5fb0a30e26e83b2ac5b9e29e1b161e5c1fa7425e73043362938b9824 (first round of…
Stephen McCarthy
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39
votes
4 answers
What are orphaned and stale blocks?
If I understand it right, a stale block is a block for which an earlier confirmation has been found and was accepted by majority of people. This block is considered invalid and is later never used.
But what is a orphaned block. How is it created?…
Salvador Dali
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39
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1 answer
What is the difference between the rpc port 8332 and port 8333?
What is the difference between the protocol and commands used on default ports 8332 and port 8333?
From what I gather, port 8332 is the RPC port, it's "sensitive", only allowed by local host by default, and it has one username & password.
On the…
makerofthings7
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39
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4 answers
What are the keys used in the blockchain levelDB (ie what are the key:value pairs)?
I am wondering if I can use node.js and levelup to access a copy of the blockchain database directly.
But from what I can see, I need to know the name of the key(s) before I can get any data, as this is used in the get method of levelup.
However, I…
T9b
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39
votes
10 answers
I am new to Bitcoin, how can I get started?
I am new to both StackExchange and to the new online currency called Bitcoin. I understand what Bitcoin is and how it works, but I was wondering: how do you actually get started with Bitcoin? I have read some articles about mining and the different…
PowerofMerlin
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39
votes
3 answers
What is a stealth address?
Stealth addresses are mentioned in the context of privacy of bitcoin transactions. What are they and how would they work?
Can they provide 100% anonymity?
Emre Kenci
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39
votes
4 answers
How to fork Bitcoin and build own cryptocurrency
Is there any step-by-step tutorial about how to build own cryptocurrency based on Bitcoin code?
Michal
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39
votes
4 answers
What are checkpoints?
I often read that checkpoints protect the network from a 51% attack because an attacker cannot reverse transactions made before the last checkpoint.
How exactly does this checkpoint mechanism work? And who creates the checkpoints?
nmat
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39
votes
2 answers
What are Green Addresses?
What are Green Addresses? Is it true that they can solve the "confirmation delay" problem, and how does that work? Are there any drawbacks?
Thilo
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38
votes
10 answers
How to check if the block chain is up to date using bitcoind or json-rpc?
I read the full api method list and did not seem to find one.
I suppose there is no command specifically for that purpose, so what is the general way of doing this?
I would consider checking the time stamp of the last generated block, but the…
Steven Roose
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38
votes
3 answers
Who runs www.bitcoin.org?
The original client that can be downloaded from www.bitcoin.org is often referred to as the "official client". Similarly many regard www.bitcoin.org as the "official homepage" of the project. So, who runs it? Is it the core developers? Some Bitcoin…
D.H.
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38
votes
2 answers
What is the coinbase?
I searched the bitcoin wiki and found references to coinbase, but no clear cut explanation of what exactly it is. I know that miners can tag their coinbases (that is how some sites tell who mined a block).
Andrew Burns
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37
votes
10 answers
How is it possible to launder bitcoins?
Some services, such as bitcoinlaundry.com, claim that they can launder your bitcoins.
Since all bitcoin transactions are publicly logged, how is this done? Wouldn't it be possible to trace back the transactions and find out the initial address?
nmat
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37
votes
2 answers
What is Gas Limit in Ethereum?
What is the function of Gas Limit parameter in Ethereum?
Is it involved in mining or something else?
Sebastian Xawery Wiśniowiecki
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37
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3 answers
How can I start mining Bitcoin?
Ok. I don't care if I make only a small amount of bitcoins mining. I want to mine.
How do I setup my machine (amd x64 4.6Ghz 6GB/RAM with GeForce Nvidia 7300, LinuxMint 10) to start mining?
Is it damn simple, or it's a damn-high-geek-setup?
Can I…
H_7
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