Nobody can censor Bitcoin transactions. Censoring implies that you have enough power to avoid that a transaction can be done. It doesn't exist a pool with enough power to avoid a transaction. I don't see this behaviour as "censoring". It's just an anti-economical behaviour because it would lost fees.
If a pool avoids to include a transaction, whatever the reason it is, there are other pools that will bring this transaction into a block. So there are not "censored transactions".
Even if many pools censor the same transactions, Bitcoin's free entry allows you to build a mining pool that includes these "censored" transactions, so they are not censored by any means.
Yes they can. The govnt / lawmakers can issue an order not to spend from a address. If it moves you are arrested. Thats it. Bitcoin CAN be censored. And it HAS been.
Then the theory of contrarian governments arise.
Never in the History of Humanity, all governments have been fighting the same idea as once,
China banned mining. Then mining relocated to USA.
If USA censors transactions, then pools (not the same as miners) will relocate to another territory (El Salvador, maybe?) and USA miners would get rewards from non-USA pools. Can America government avoid it? No.
It will become more prevalent though. Government will ensure that the largest miners are here in America and follow strict regulations. Hash power is the new OFAC sanctions stuff, it’s just not as cut and dry and flipping a switch thanks to bitcoin.
That said, having some hash at your home and running your own node becomes more important over time.
Also, the government doesn’t care about “anti-economical behavior” when it comes to maintaining control/power. There is no cost too great; they literally print money.
See: the infinite naked shorting of paper derivatives by banks in the precious metals markets.
Then the theory of contrarian governments arise.
Never in the History of Humanity, all governments have been fighting the same idea as once,
China banned mining. Then mining relocated to USA.
If USA censors transactions, then pools (not the same as miners) will relocate to another territory (El Salvador, maybe?) and USA miners would get rewards from non-USA pools. Can America government avoid it? No.
Not of govnt lawamkers decide that pools should not transact coinjoins. Which is what they are currently prepping plans for BTW.
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