<p>It means both. The power to transfer your Bitcoin to another address is the same as owning a Bitcoin. You can transfer your Bitcoin if and only if you own it.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-15T22:55:55.007Z
Got it. Thank you. I wanted to ask Bitcoin here means the software Bitcoin, rather than a unit of Bitcoin, right?
failbetter
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-15T22:56:52.087Z
No. In this context, Bitcoin refers to a single unit of Bitcoin.
Nick ODell
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-14T01:00:46.580Z
2017-09-14T01:00:46.580Z
Nick ODell
<p><a href="https://www.pcmag.com/article/355376/why-blockchains-fork-a-tale-of-two-cryptocurrencies" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Here</a> is the article.</p>

<p>"The Bitcoin blockchain records every event throughout Bitcoin's history—new coins and evidence of transfers—back to 2009 when the network started," said Valkenburgh. "Every computer on the network also has to be running compatible software so that the nodes can see and validate transactions. So, if your software is not compatible or if you fail to meet or invalidate any of the consensus rules baked into the Bitcoin code base, then the network would ignore your transaction. <strong>That's all it is to have a Bitcoin: the ability to broadcast a valid transaction and transfer that balance.</strong>"</p>

<p>What does the bold sentence mean? </p>

<p>a. If you have a Bitcoin, it means you have the mentioned ability;</p>

<p>b. Only if you have the mentioned ability can you own a Bitcoin.</p>

<p>Does it mean a or b or none of them?</p>

<bitcoin-core><client>
What does this sentence (on ability to broadcast a valid transaction and transfer balance) mean?
failbetter
# What does this sentence (on ability to broadcast a valid transaction and transfer balance) mean?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-09-13)

[Here](https://www.pcmag.com/article/355376/why-blockchains-fork-a-tale-of-two-cryptocurrencies) is the article.

"The Bitcoin blockchain records every event throughout Bitcoin's history—new coins and evidence of transfers—back to 2009 when the network started," said Valkenburgh. "Every computer on the network also has to be running compatible software so that the nodes can see and validate transactions. So, if your software is not compatible or if you fail to meet or invalidate any of the consensus rules baked into the Bitcoin code base, then the network would ignore your transaction. **That's all it is to have a Bitcoin: the ability to broadcast a valid transaction and transfer that balance.**"

What does the bold sentence mean?

a. If you have a Bitcoin, it means you have the mentioned ability;

b. Only if you have the mentioned ability can you own a Bitcoin.

Does it mean a or b or none of them?

**Tags:** bitcoin-core, client


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-09-14. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

It means both. The power to transfer your Bitcoin to another address is the same as owning a Bitcoin. You can transfer your Bitcoin if and only if you own it.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Got it. Thank you. I wanted to ask Bitcoin here means the software Bitcoin, rather than a unit of Bitcoin, right?  
> **username_1**: No. In this context, Bitcoin refers to a single unit of Bitcoin.  

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