eventually the founders will get greedy and change the algo to create more coins.
They can't. There is NO central control. All the decisions are already built into the network system, which regulates itself based on the programming. It cannot be altered, and if it is the network is programmed to reject them. All the programming is open sourced. Anyone can read it for themselves.
If they could, wouldn't Bit-Torrent be shut down? No. They can't. Once its done and released to the public, it can't be stopped unless pretty much every single computer on the planet is destroyed.
I copy and pasted some of the code so you could see I'm not joking. There's THOUSANDS of lines so I obviously can't put the whole code on this thread, but just so you know I'm not kidding:
// Copyright (c) 2009-2010 Satoshi Nakamoto
// Distributed under the MIT/X11 software license, see the accompanying
// file license.txt or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
#include "headers.h"
#include "cryptopp/sha.h"
//
// Global state
//
CCriticalSection cs_main;
map<uint256, CTransaction> mapTransactions;
CCriticalSection cs_mapTransactions;
unsigned int nTransactionsUpdated = 0;
map<COutPoint, CInPoint> mapNextTx;
map<uint256, CBlockIndex*> mapBlockIndex;
uint256 hashGenesisBlock("0x000000000019d6689c085ae165831e934ff763ae46a2a6c1 72b3f1b60a8ce26f");
CBigNum bnProofOfWorkLimit(~uint256(0) >> 32);
CBlockIndex* pindexGenesisBlock = NULL;
int nBestHeight = -1;
CBigNum bnBestChainWork = 0;
CBigNum bnBestInvalidWork = 0;
uint256 hashBestChain = 0;
CBlockIndex* pindexBest = NULL;
int64 nTimeBestReceived = 0;
map<uint256, CBlock*> mapOrphanBlocks;
multimap<uint256, CBlock*> mapOrphanBlocksByPrev;
map<uint256, CDataStream*> mapOrphanTransactions;
multimap<uint256, CDataStream*> mapOrphanTransactionsByPrev;
map<uint256, CWalletTx> mapWallet;
vector<uint256> vWalletUpdated;
CCriticalSection cs_mapWallet;
map<vector<unsigned char>, CPrivKey> mapKeys;
map<uint160, vector<unsigned char> > mapPubKeys;
CCriticalSection cs_mapKeys;
CKey keyUser;
map<uint256, int> mapRequestCount;
CCriticalSection cs_mapRequestCount;
map<string, string> mapAddressBook;
CCriticalSection cs_mapAddressBook;
vector<unsigned char> vchDefaultKey;
double dHashesPerSec;
int64 nHPSTimerStart;
// Settings
int fGenerateBitcoins = false;
int64 nTransactionFee = 0;
CAddress addrIncoming;
int fLimitProcessors = false;
int nLimitProcessors = 1;
int fMinimizeToTray = true;
int fMinimizeOnClose = true;
#ifdef USE_UPNP
#if USE_UPNP
int fUseUPnP = true;
#else
int fUseUPnP = false;
#endif
#endif
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//
// mapKeys
//
bool AddKey(const CKey& key)
{
CRITICAL_BLOCK(cs_mapKeys)
{
mapKeys[key.GetPubKey()] = key.GetPrivKey();
mapPubKeys[Hash160(key.GetPubKey())] = key.GetPubKey();
}
return CWalletDB().WriteKey(key.GetPubKey(), key.GetPrivKey());
}
vector<unsigned char> GenerateNewKey()
{
RandAddSeedPerfmon();
CKey key;
key.MakeNewKey();
if (!AddKey(key))
throw runtime_error("GenerateNewKey() : AddKey failed");
return key.GetPubKey();
}
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//
// mapWallet
//
bool AddToWallet(const CWalletTx& wtxIn)
{
uint256 hash = wtxIn.GetHash();
CRITICAL_BLOCK(cs_mapWallet)
{
// Inserts only if not already there, returns tx inserted or tx found
pair<map<uint256, CWalletTx>::iterator, bool> ret = mapWallet.insert(make_pair(hash, wtxIn));
CWalletTx& wtx = (*ret.first).second;
bool fInsertedNew = ret.second;
if (fInsertedNew)
wtx.nTimeReceived = GetAdjustedTime();
bool fUpdated = false;
if (!fInsertedNew)
{
// Merge
if (wtxIn.hashBlock != 0 && wtxIn.hashBlock != wtx.hashBlock)
{
wtx.hashBlock = wtxIn.hashBlock;
fUpdated = true;
}
if (wtxIn.nIndex != -1 && (wtxIn.vMerkleBranch != wtx.vMerkleBranch || wtxIn.nIndex != wtx.nIndex))
{
wtx.vMerkleBranch = wtxIn.vMerkleBranch;
wtx.nIndex = wtxIn.nIndex;
fUpdated = true;
}
if (wtxIn.fFromMe && wtxIn.fFromMe != wtx.fFromMe)
{
wtx.fFromMe = wtxIn.fFromMe;
fUpdated = true;
}
fUpdated |= wtx.UpdateSpent(wtxIn.vfSpent);
}
//// debug print
printf("AddToWallet %s %s%s\n", wtxIn.GetHash().ToString().substr(0,10).c_str(), (fInsertedNew ? "new" : ""), (fUpdated ? "update" : ""));
// Write to disk
if (fInsertedNew || fUpdated)
if (!wtx.WriteToDisk())
return false;
// If default receiving address gets used, replace it with a new one
CScript scriptDefaultKey;
scriptDefaultKey.SetBitcoinAddress(vchDefaultKey);
foreach(const CTxOut& txout, wtx.vout)
{
if (txout.scriptPubKey == scriptDefaultKey)
{
CWalletDB walletdb;
vchDefaultKey = GetKeyFromKeyPool();
walletdb.WriteDefaultKey(vchDefaultKey);
walletdb.WriteName(PubKeyToAddress(vchDefaultKey), "");
}
}
// Notify UI
vWalletUpdated.push_back(hash);
}
// Refresh UI
MainFrameRepaint();
return true;
}
bool AddToWalletIfInvolvingMe(const CTransaction& tx, const CBlock* pblock, bool fUpdate = false)
{
uint256 hash = tx.GetHash();
bool fExisted = mapWallet.count(hash);
if (fExisted && !fUpdate) return false;
if (fExisted || tx.IsMine() || tx.IsFromMe())
{
CWalletTx wtx(tx);
// Get merkle branch if transaction was found in a block
if (pblock)
wtx.SetMerkleBranch(pblock);
return AddToWallet(wtx);
}
return false;
}
bool EraseFromWallet(uint256 hash)
{
CRITICAL_BLOCK(cs_mapWallet)
{
if (mapWallet.erase(hash))
CWalletDB().EraseTx(hash);
}
return true;
}
void WalletUpdateSpent(const COutPoint& prevout)
{
// Anytime a signature is successfully verified, it's proof the outpoint is spent.
// Update the wallet spent flag if it doesn't know due to wallet.dat being
// restored from backup or the user making copies of wallet.dat.
CRITICAL_BLOCK(cs_mapWallet)
{
map<uint256, CWalletTx>::iterator mi = mapWallet.find(prevout.hash);
if (mi != mapWallet.end())
{
CWalletTx& wtx = (*mi).second;
if (!wtx.IsSpent(prevout.n) && wtx.vout[prevout.n].IsMine())
{
printf("WalletUpdateSpent found spent coin %sbc %s\n", FormatMoney(wtx.GetCredit()).c_str(), wtx.GetHash().ToString().c_str());
wtx.MarkSpent(prevout.n);
wtx.WriteToDisk();
vWalletUpdated.push_back(prevout.hash);
}
}
}
}
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//
// mapOrphanTransactions
//
void AddOrphanTx(const CDataStream& vMsg)
{
CTransaction tx;
CDataStream(vMsg) >> tx;
uint256 hash = tx.GetHash();
if (mapOrphanTransactions.count(hash))
return;
CDataStream* pvMsg = mapOrphanTransactions[hash] = new CDataStream(vMsg);
foreach(const CTxIn& txin, tx.vin)
mapOrphanTransactionsByPrev.insert(make_pair(txin. prevout.hash, pvMsg));
}
void EraseOrphanTx(uint256 hash)
{
if (!mapOrphanTransactions.count(hash))
return;
const CDataStream* pvMsg = mapOrphanTransactions[hash];
CTransaction tx;
CDataStream(*pvMsg) >> tx;
foreach(const CTxIn& txin, tx.vin)
{
for (multimap<uint256, CDataStream*>::iterator mi = mapOrphanTransactionsByPrev.lower_bound(txin.prevo ut.hash);
mi != mapOrphanTransactionsByPrev.upper_bound(txin.prevo ut.hash);)
{
if ((*mi).second == pvMsg)
mapOrphanTransactionsByPrev.erase(mi++);
else
mi++;
}
}
delete pvMsg;
mapOrphanTransactions.erase(hash);
}
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//
// CTransaction and CTxIndex
//
bool CTransaction::ReadFromDisk(CTxDB& txdb, COutPoint prevout, CTxIndex& txindexRet)
{
SetNull();
if (!txdb.ReadTxIndex(prevout.hash, txindexRet))
return false;
if (!ReadFromDisk(txindexRet.pos))
return false;
if (prevout.n >= vout.size())
{
SetNull();
return false;
}
return true;
}
bool CTransaction::ReadFromDisk(CTxDB& txdb, COutPoint prevout)
{
CTxIndex txindex;
return ReadFromDisk(txdb, prevout, txindex);
}
bool CTransaction::ReadFromDisk(COutPoint prevout)
{
CTxDB txdb("r");
CTxIndex txindex;
return ReadFromDisk(txdb, prevout, txindex);
}
bool CTxIn::IsMine() const
{
CRITICAL_BLOCK(cs_mapWallet)
{
map<uint256, CWalletTx>::iterator mi = mapWallet.find(prevout.hash);
if (mi != mapWallet.end())
{
const CWalletTx& prev = (*mi).second;
if (prevout.n < prev.vout.size())
if (prev.vout[prevout.n].IsMine())
return true;
}
}
return false;
}
int64 CTxIn::GetDebit() const
{
CRITICAL_BLOCK(cs_mapWallet)
{
map<uint256, CWalletTx>::iterator mi = mapWallet.find(prevout.hash);
if (mi != mapWallet.end())
{
const CWalletTx& prev = (*mi).second;
if (prevout.n < prev.vout.size())
if (prev.vout[prevout.n].IsMine())
return prev.vout[prevout.n].nValue;
}
}
return 0;
}
int64 CWalletTx::GetTxTime() const
{
if (!fTimeReceivedIsTxTime && hashBlock != 0)
{
// If we did not receive the transaction directly, we rely on the block's
// time to figure out when it happened. We use the median over a range
// of blocks to try to filter out inaccurate block times.
map<uint256, CBlockIndex*>::iterator mi = mapBlockIndex.find(hashBlock);
if (mi != mapBlockIndex.end())
{
CBlockIndex* pindex = (*mi).second;
if (pindex)
return pindex->GetMedianTime();
}
}
return nTimeReceived;
}
int CWalletTx::GetRequestCount() const
{
// Returns -1 if it wasn't being tracked
int nRequests = -1;
CRITICAL_BLOCK(cs_mapRequestCount)
{
if (IsCoinBase())
{
// Generated block
if (hashBlock != 0)
{
map<uint256, int>::iterator mi = mapRequestCount.find(hashBlock);
if (mi != mapRequestCount.end())
nRequests = (*mi).second;
}
}
else
{
// Did anyone request this transaction?
map<uint256, int>::iterator mi = mapRequestCount.find(GetHash());
if (mi != mapRequestCount.end())
{
nRequests = (*mi).second;
// How about the block it's in?
if (nRequests == 0 && hashBlock != 0)
{
map<uint256, int>::iterator mi = mapRequestCount.find(hashBlock);
if (mi != mapRequestCount.end())
nRequests = (*mi).second;
else
nRequests = 1; // If it's in someone else's block it must have got out
}
}
}
}
return nRequests;
}
void CWalletTx::GetAmounts(int64& nGeneratedImmature, int64& nGeneratedMature, list<pair<string, int64> >& listReceived,
list<pair<string, int64> >& listSent, int64& nFee, string& strSentAccount) const
{
nGeneratedImmature = nGeneratedMature = nFee = 0;
listReceived.clear();
listSent.clear();
strSentAccount = strFromAccount;
if (IsCoinBase())
{
if (GetBlocksToMaturity() > 0)
nGeneratedImmature = CTransaction::GetCredit();
else
nGeneratedMature = GetCredit();
return;
}
// Compute fee:
int64 nDebit = GetDebit();
if (nDebit > 0) // debit>0 means we signed/sent this transaction
{
int64 nValueOut = GetValueOut();
nFee = nDebit - nValueOut;
}
// Sent/received. Standard client will never generate a send-to-multiple-recipients,
// but non-standard clients might (so return a list of address/amount pairs)
foreach(const CTxOut& txout, vout)
{
string address;
uint160 hash160;
vector<unsigned char> vchPubKey;
if (ExtractHash160(txout.scriptPubKey, hash160))
address = Hash160ToAddress(hash160);
else if (ExtractPubKey(txout.scriptPubKey, false, vchPubKey))
address = PubKeyToAddress(vchPubKey);
else
{
printf("CWalletTx::GetAmounts: Unknown transaction type found, txid %s\n",
this->GetHash().ToString().c_str());
address = " unknown ";
}
// Don't report 'change' txouts
if (nDebit > 0 && txout.IsChange())
continue;
if (nDebit > 0)
listSent.push_back(make_pair(address, txout.nValue));
if (txout.IsMine())
listReceived.push_back(make_pair(address, txout.nValue));
}
}
void CWalletTx::GetAccountAmounts(const string& strAccount, int64& nGenerated, int64& nReceived,
int64& nSent, int64& nFee) const
{
nGenerated = nReceived = nSent = nFee = 0;
int64 allGeneratedImmature, allGeneratedMature, allFee;
allGeneratedImmature = allGeneratedMature = allFee = 0;
string strSentAccount;
list<pair<string, int64> > listReceived;
list<pair<string, int64> > listSent;
GetAmounts(allGeneratedImmature, allGeneratedMature, listReceived, listSent, allFee, strSentAccount);
if (strAccount == "")
nGenerated = allGeneratedMature;
if (strAccount == strSentAccount)
{
foreach(const PAIRTYPE(string,int64)& s, listSent)
nSent += s.second;
nFee = allFee;
}
CRITICAL_BLOCK(cs_mapAddressBook)
{
foreach(const PAIRTYPE(string,int64)& r, listReceived)
{
if (mapAddressBook.count(r.first))
{
if (mapAddressBook[r.first] == strAccount)
{
nReceived += r.second;
}
}
else if (strAccount.empty())
{
nReceived += r.second;
}
}
}
}
int CMerkleTx::SetMerkleBranch(const CBlock* pblock)
{
if (fClient)
{
if (hashBlock == 0)
return 0;
}
else
{
CBlock blockTmp;
if (pblock == NULL)
{
// Load the block this tx is in
CTxIndex txindex;
if (!CTxDB("r").ReadTxIndex(GetHash(), txindex))
return 0;
if (!blockTmp.ReadFromDisk(txindex.pos.nFile, txindex.pos.nBlockPos))
return 0;
pblock = &blockTmp;
}
// Update the tx's hashBlock
hashBlock = pblock->GetHash();
// Locate the transaction
for (nIndex = 0; nIndex < pblock->vtx.size(); nIndex++)
if (pblock->vtx[nIndex] == *(CTransaction*)this)
break;
if (nIndex == pblock->vtx.size())
{
vMerkleBranch.clear();
nIndex = -1;
printf("ERROR: SetMerkleBranch() : couldn't find tx in block\n");
return 0;
}
// Fill in merkle branch
vMerkleBranch = pblock->GetMerkleBranch(nIndex);
}
// Is the tx in a block that's in the main chain
map<uint256, CBlockIndex*>::iterator mi = mapBlockIndex.find(hashBlock);
if (mi == mapBlockIndex.end())
return 0;
CBlockIndex* pindex = (*mi).second;
if (!pindex || !pindex->IsInMainChain())
return 0;
return pindexBest->nHeight - pindex->nHeight + 1;
}
void CWalletTx::AddSupportingTransactions(CTxDB& txdb)
{
vtxPrev.clear();
const int COPY_DEPTH = 3;
if (SetMerkleBranch() < COPY_DEPTH)
{
vector<uint256> vWorkQueue;
foreach(const CTxIn& txin, vin)
vWorkQueue.push_back(txin.prevout.hash);
// This critsect is OK because txdb is already open
CRITICAL_BLOCK(cs_mapWallet)
{
map<uint256, const CMerkleTx*> mapWalletPrev;
set<uint256> setAlreadyDone;
for (int i = 0; i < vWorkQueue.size(); i++)
{
uint256 hash = vWorkQueue[i];
if (setAlreadyDone.count(hash))
continue;
setAlreadyDone.insert(hash);
<<<<ENDING CODE PORTION HERE SINCE OF FORUM TEXT LIMIT!!!>>>>
hmmm. it does appear that way.