Many people who hear the word “Bitcoin” think of one thing and one thing only–money. Over the last few years, the cryptocurrency has become a household name after people began investing their money in the market and hoping to make a few dollars out of it. But, if you’ve been mining for Bitcoin, there’s a good chance you could have some pretty illegal stuff on your computer and hard drive.
Bitcoin mining essentially is the system that allows transactions to be accepted and added to the public blockchain. It’s also the process in which new Bitcoins are released to the market. While it sounds like something extremely complicated, it turns out that anyone who a decide harddrive and WiFi can partake in mining for Bitcoin.
While many have participated in mining for the cryptocurrency company, it turns out that the blockchain ledger contains some files that link to hundreds of child pornography sites. Child pornography, obviously, is illegal (and disgusting). However, many who are partaking in the mining have no idea they could be in danger of housing this illegal content. Researchers at Germany’s RWTH Aachen University were the first to speak out about the issue–claiming that there are around 1,6000 files (1.4%) of data that has nothing to do with Bitcoin.
“Our analysis shows that certain content, e.g., illegal pornography, can render the mere possession of a blockchain illegal. This especially endangers the multi-billion dollar markets powering cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin.”
Many of the files found with the inappropriate content link directly to the Dark Web. It doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone is in danger, but, many people who participate in Bitcoin usually download the blockchain onto their computer, which means these files are somewhere on your hard drive and can leave you open to trouble. What makes matters worse is that many of the blockchains are permanent and cannot be deleted, seeing as it’s a smart business concept (never losing documents or important files). For illegal documents like these, it’s a pretty large issue.
“Since all bitcoin participants maintain a complete local copy of the blockchain, these desired and vital features put all users at risk when objectionable content is irrevocably stored on the blockchain. The possibility to store non-financial data on cryptocurrency blockchains is both beneficial and threatening for its users.”
Many people have some thoughts on the issue and, they’re not good. People online were quick to point out that crypto was “originally used for drugs and child porn.”
Every person who made £50 profit on bitcoin: "Lol you didnt invest when crypto was exclusively used to buy hard drugs and child porn? Guess you just don't have the vision I do"
— Dead Bo¥ (@DeadBoyUK) February 27, 2018
yeah as I recall before it blew up last(?) year Bitcoin was mostly used to purchase drugs and child porn
— tyabann (@tyabann_da) February 28, 2018
Nobody was writing think pieces when Bitcoin was being used for drugs and child porn but now it's gone too far ?
— dylan v. skorish (@dylanskorish) March 11, 2018
where is the tweet about how being smug that you invested in bitcoin early just means you got a lot of currency that was, at the time, only used for drugs and child porn
— Karen ?? (@pixleyamelia) March 6, 2018
Pretty typical, considering Bitcoin is only used by Libertarian dickweeds to buy child porn and drugs on the dark net https://t.co/znPrkByiUL
— Chaparral (@Chaparral_21) March 20, 2018
S/o to all the people who bought bitcoin and haven't realized they can only buy drugs and child porn with it
— Corey (@brobeanss) February 27, 2018
Inevitably, the blockchain could potentially become illegal with the knowledge that there is, indeed, child pornography files embedded in the programming.
Bitcoin is over.
You can't bounce back from child porn found in your coding.
— derp (@InkOrchestrated) March 21, 2018