Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Some thoughts on custodians

The events of Mt. Gox, Voyager, Celsius, etc... are well publicized and should convince many people to self custodian their own coins.

However, I believe user behavior won't change all that much because the product market fit for self custody is rather small.

A representative sample size of people willing to self custody might overlap with the demographic who currently choose to store the majority of their dollar bills at home (in a safe, under their mattress, etc...) instead of in a bank account. It might be tens of millions of people, but probably a small % of total population.

The vast majority of people choose to let custodians secure their cash, so it's safe to assume those same people will probably choose to let custodians secure their bitcoin keys.

I think we should always encourage people to self custody, but we can't force people to. Not everyone shares the same values, needs and priorities as you. Different strokes for different folks. Most people want to trust someone else with their money because they don't trust themselves. Other people just want to tap into the monetary network of bitcoin and don't care about the hassle of custodianing the asset. I see nothing wrong with businesses like Strike building centralized solutions for these people as long as customers understand the risks involved.

Not your keys, not your bitcoin.

But also

What other people do with their bitcoin is not your business.

It's great to educate people on how to properly use bitcoin, but if they make the choice to outsource that to a custodian, we shouldn't berate them for their decision. Their money choices are not our business.


A rational take on self custody

The events of Mt. Gox, Voyager, Celsius, etc... are well publicized and should convince many people to self custodian their own coins.

However, I believe user behavior won't change all that much because the product market fit for self custody is rather small.

A representative sample size of people willing to self custody might overlap with the demographic who currently choose to store the majority of their dollar bills at home (in a safe, under their mattress, etc...) instead of in a bank account. It might be tens of millions of people, but probably a small % of total population.

The vast majority of people choose to let custodians secure their cash, so it's safe to assume those same people will probably choose to let custodians secure their bitcoin keys.

I think we should always encourage people to self custody, but we can't force people to. Not everyone shares the same values, needs and priorities as you. Different strokes for different folks. Most people want to trust someone else with their money because they don't trust themselves. Other people just want to tap into the monetary network of bitcoin and don't care about the hassle of custodianing the asset. I see nothing wrong with businesses like Strike building centralized solutions for these people as long as customers understand the risks involved.

Not your keys, not your bitcoin.

But also

What other people do with their bitcoin is not your business.

It's great to educate people on how to properly use bitcoin, but if they make the choice to outsource that to a custodian, we shouldn't berate them for their decision. Their money choices are not our business.


If we experience a massive EMP (Carrington event) how will BTC survive? (x-post from /r/Bitcoin)

https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/xwsja8/if_we_experience_a_massive_emp_carrington_event/

Ripple (XRP) Continues Positive Moves, Added Over 12% In A Week

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Ripple (XRP) has been steadily climbing, adding over 12.50% in the past seven days. This is despite its ongoing case with the SEC coupled with the overall bearish market sentiments. 

The bulls have managed to keep the XRP token flying high above $0.48 and are edging to break through its $0.50 resistance. XRP experienced a rocky start last week Wednesday, falling below its $0.44 floor price. However, the coin quickly gained momentum the next day, adding over 13% gains before the end of the trading day.

Related Reading: Low Volatility Crypto Market Supplies Surprisingly Stable State Of Fear

Ripple Closed Its Best Month In 2022 September was a good month for Ripple as it closed out the best month since the beginning of the year. In the previous week, XRP’s price on the weekly chart approached a significant resistance level at $0.56. However, it was unsuccessful in breaking through that level. 

This resistance is a combination of the yellow rising line and the horizontal barrier seen in red. By the way, a weekly red candle following several consecutive green candles is not uncommon by any means. 

XRP retested the $0.56 level again on the 29th but couldn’t sustain it. It finally closed the month with a $0.49 high. Upward momentum is anticipated once the price of the asset breaks and sustains a closing above $0.56.  We might see this soon enough unless it drops below the $0.4 support level. 

XRP’s price is currently trading at $0.4929. | Source: XRPUSD price chart from TradingView.com XRP Holds Its End Against BTC XRP’s over 12% weekly gain isn’t the only thing that caught our attention. The asset also held its end against Bitcoin (BTC). Although the XRP/USD exchange rate is down 0.5%, it is up 1.5% to 3% against BTC. In comparison to Bitcoin, the XRP price has increased by more than 50% over the previous three weeks. This puts XRP at levels not seen since the summer of 2021.

XRP price movement might have several causes. Of course, the primary driver is the SEC’s legal battle with Ripple, which seeks to recognize XRP as a security. Recent events seem to favor XRP and Ripple, but the final verdict is not yet out.

The second, less obvious explanation may be today’s announcement about SWIFT and CBDC tests. SWIFT successfully tested several technologies with CBDC. Financial institutions from France and Germany, including their central banks and commercial counterparts, participated in the experiments. They explored using CBDC worldwide and converting it to fiat if needed.

What Next For Ripple Ripple is currently trading at $0.4928 and is set to retest the $0.50 resistance floor. As long as buyers outnumber sellers, this uptrend is likely to continue. However, if the price reaches a critical level of $0.44, bears may come in as they did on September 23.

Related Reading: XRP Price Could Get A 23% Boost From This Bullish Formation Breakout

The 12% weekly gain demonstrates that buyers are dedicated to taking XRP over $0.50 and $0.55. Achieving this goal will pave the way for the token to go to $0.70 soon.

Featured image from Pixabay and chart from TradingView.com


100% FREE £10 Bitcoin!! Completely FREE with NO SPEND AT ALL, from Luno for new customers!! Don't miss out!! (UK Only)

100% FREE £10 Bitcoin!! Completely FREE with NO SPEND AT ALL, from Luno for new customers!! Don't miss out!! (UK Only)

Luno are giving people in the UK £10 completely free with no deposit needed to people who are new to Bitcoin and want to get into it. Totally free £10 Bitcoin!

All you need to do is sign up and use code BPHWRIGHT under the promo section. That is it! You get your £10 free Bitcoin instantly! Detailed steps below. NO SPENT NEEDED!

You just need to want to get into Bitcoin, be in the UK, over 18 and have ID! That is it!

  1. Use the website or download the app and register https://www.luno.com/en/signup
  2. Verify ID
  3. Enter code BPHWRIGHT in the rewards page
  4. Get £10 of Bitcoin instantly

This is NOT the referral scheme which requires a spend.

The £10 will be held in the wallet for 30 days before you can withdraw it if you choose to, or you can leave it on Luno. Your choice.

When you sign up if you tick yes to receiving emails, you can get information and tips and also details on free webinars which are well worth attending.

I would recommend saving the £10 for future rather than checking the value every few days.

There is no catch and the £10 is totally free. The idea is they want to get more people into Bitcoin and this way lots of people can get involved and get £10 free Bitcoin to start their journey.

If you need more help signing up, there is another step by step guide here: https://medium.com/original-crypto-guy/how-to-set-up-a-basic-bitcoin-wallet-73f46c612a3c

Or feel free to send me a message if you still need help and I will gladly help you!

Once you have joined I think you should learn more by checking out these wonderful FREE events including free webinars where you learn a LOT even if you are already experienced with Bitcoin, you can still learn a lot. Lots of info for newbies AND experienced Bitcoin users!

Read more about the FREE events: https://medium.com/original-crypto-guy/upcoming-events-by-jason-deane-aea187d03a10

Join the next FREE webinar: https://bitcoinpioneerswebinar.eventbrite.co.uk/

https://preview.redd.it/itcss64otzr91.png?width=1576&format=png&auto=webp&s=0952b2b1af9a43124d993ce10e2f22141e114120


Bitcoin as a reserve currency - is it probable or possible?

Bitcoin reserve currency

 World's current reserve currency, the US dollar, keeps falling each year, putting the current financial system at risk of collapse. Is this a sign that the current system is about to end? A new reserve currency will be needed if this is the case.

 The world of finance is being revolutionized by blockchain and bitcoin. Traditional financial issues were controlled and tied to wealthy nations and individuals, but they provide the best solutions.

  What is bitcoin?

 In the world of cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin is undisputedly the king. The first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, was created by a pseudonymous programmer named Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008.

 A blockchain is a distributed ledger that records and distributes transactions. These transactions are authenticated and secured using cryptography.

 As with gold, Bitcoin can be used both as a currency and as an investment. When a bitcoin's value is divided into 8 decimals, this is known as a Satoshi. It has even reached a price of USD 64400 at one time, and the current price is around USD 20780.

 Seeing what cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin can accomplish is amazing.

 A few of the possibilities include creating pathways to decentralized finance, saving economies from inflation, working against dominant Internet monopolies, and using advanced technology.

  Reserve Currencies

 Reserve currency refers to any currency that is kept in large quantities and maintained by major financial institutions. Global exchange rates, investments, debt obligations, and trade transactions can be influenced by reserve currencies.

 The largest reserve currency as of now is currently the US dollar.

Due to the USD's value, most metals like gold are valued in USD. Over 58.81 percent of all global fiat reserves are held in the USD. With 20.64%, Euro is in second place. Up until 1925, the British dollar was the most important reserve currency.

 According to many experts in finance and economics, dominant currencies tend to last roughly 100 years. Furthermore, experts predict that the USD's dominance is ending and will begin to decline.

 There are a number of reasons why the status of a dominant reserve currency may be threatened. In order for a dominant reserve currency to remain dominant, a variety of factors must be taken into consideration. Take a look at the USD's past as a reserve currency.

  World's most dominant currency. US Dollar

 World War I was a major factor in the rise of the USD. Allies were cornered and had to turn to the USA for military supplies at that time. Gold was then used to purchase these items. As a result, the USA became the world's largest gold holder.

 The US dollar's power was significantly influenced by it. During World War II, the US economy was the most powerful. Competitors were forced to focus on the conflict. The destruction of these cities' industrial centers would also benefit the US.

 It made it easier for countries to rely on the US for funding. The US also offered low-interest loans to many countries. When the war ended, the USA and the USD were the best-performing currencies in the world.

  The Dollar replaces gold

 In 1971, the US began printing money at an increased rate to support its war efforts in Vietnam. As a result, other countries began to convert their dollar reserves to gold. As a result, Nixon and the acting president were appointed. Gold and the USD were dissociated by Nixon.

 Since other countries have accumulated gold, the USD remains the dominant currency. US Treasuries are the main support for the USD, even though it hasn't been as strong as it once was.

  Dollar's fall

 Dissociating from gold was the first step towards the decline of the US dollar. As a result of the financial crisis of 2008 and the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, the US dollar's decline was accelerated.

 As a result of the financial crisis, the Federal Reserve System and the US government had to provide a $7.77 trillion bailout. In the period of the covid epidemic, this amount grew to $9 trillion.

 Whether it's the events of 1971, a pandemic, an increase in inflation, or a glut of money printing, it will surely bring down the value of any currency. For instance, China and Russia are exploring alternatives to traditional currencies. There are even plans to create Central Bank Digital Currencies.

 The currency of a nation can be used to reserve funds, but it degrades the power of the nation that owns the currency. An excellent example is the USD. Several countries have expressed concern about the United States' use of the dollar.

 USD wire transfers must be settled by a US bank. The US can block these transactions if they choose this option. The US dollar will also fall due to this factor.

 Gold failed to regain its original value after the breakup of the USD and just continued to fall. After being the largest creditor in the world, the USA became the one with the largest trade deficit and debt.

  The Rise of the Bitcoin

 As the US dollar declines, countries are starting to distance themselves from the dollar. Export contracts in Paraguay and Argentina have already been settled using Bitcoin.

 Meanwhile, Venezuela and other countries have allowed bitcoin to be traded internationally and domestically. Furthermore, Central and South America are becoming more crypto-friendly. The Malaysian government has taken legal steps to implement bitcoin.

 According to a proposal made by China and Russia in 2009, the world should be able to switch from USD as the reserve currency to a currency that has no international connection.

 The closest thing we have to a similar currency is Bitcoin. Recently, Russia announced it would accept bitcoin for oil and other commodities.

 Since its inception, bitcoin's adoption rate and price have rocketed. In spite of recent price drops due to epidemics, experts believe bitcoin's future is secure and could surpass $100000 USD in the near future.

Bitcoin reserve currency

  Can Bitcoin be able to replace Dollars?

 There are no owners of Bitcoin, which is a digital currency. As a result, authorities cannot exploit it. A country cannot use the reserve currency to gain power if it is not owned by any country.

 Moreover, every fiat currency we've encountered has failed. Even the British Pound, which was the most popular currency, lost 99.5% of its purchasing power.

 Bitcoin is resistant to inflation and excessive printing of money due to its supply limit of 21 million bitcoins. Furthermore, bitcoin is more secure and transparent, so it can be transferred faster at a fraction of the cost of fiat.

 Due to bitcoin's decentralized nature, no one can prevent, limit, or manage it to get more profits. Unlike gold or cash, Bitcoin can be carried everywhere and is a mobile currency.

 Additionally, it is the only currency that is durable, flexible, portable, divisible, uniform, and scarce, which are all characteristics of a viable asset.

 While fiat currencies face inflation, bitcoin enjoys deflation. For instance, what we can buy for $100 in 2022 will be significantly less than what we could in 1950 with the same amount. Compared with 2011, what we can buy for 1 Bitcoin in 2022 is astonishingly high.

 "Sound money" refers to a currency that is not subject to sudden increases or decreases in value. Bitcoin is currently the most stable currency on the market, despite the fact that digital currencies are not generally recognized.

 A country's standard of living and quality of life will improve if inflation is not a problem. Therefore, bitcoin is only a matter of fact.

  The World on Bitcoin

 If bitcoin were the currency of reserve, the world would look very different. Neither inflation nor currency manipulation would occur in the world.

 The enlarging wealth gap and more equitable finance distributions will reduce mistrust between nations and people. The benefits of a solid money system in the economy will surely improve the lives of people, as we've discussed before.

 Governments and corporations will be held more accountable for their financial and corporate responsibilities by reducing corporate bailouts and borrowing funds based on promises.

 Bitcoin can also bring back the balance of equity markets around the world.

  Why shouldn't it be easy?

 Despite how nice and exciting all of this sounds, implementing the changes necessary to make this happen isn't easy. Humans need to conquer greed in order to make a better future for humanity as a whole. The only thing greed can do is negatively impact everyone around them, regardless of whether it's for money or power.

 The popular saying goes, "don't fix what isn't broken." Many people are afraid to make a big change like this. Even though the current currency system may seem to be working, it is only marginally so, and it is on the verge of collapse. In order to get people off, we must overcome this mindset.

 Many people are familiar with bitcoin and understand its basic concepts, but they feel that it is too complicated for them to explain.

 Governments holding large reserves of USD are another factor slowing bitcoin's progress. Millions or even billions of dollars could be lost if a new currency emerges and becomes the dominant currency. Their reluctance to change their currency is understandable.

 The liquidity of bitcoin and the launch of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) is also slowing the pace of change. Bitcoin is much less liquid than the USD. New CBDCs also take advantage of bitcoin's potential. Despite being familiar with bitcoin, most people prefer CBDCs in their country over bitcoin.

 There are some positive aspects of bitcoin as a reserve currency, despite these indicators. Bitcoin has been widely adopted worldwide, and nations are competing to be the best blockchain and possess the largest cryptocurrency due to its massive adoption.

  Conclusion

 The proper implementation of bitcoin will benefit humanity greatly. As the world's reserve currency, it will eliminate issues such as currency centralisation, inflation, and currency and also level the playing field. In addition, it will improve the living standards of the population, resulting in a more efficient economy.

 A better currency reserve is a wonderful way to repair our shady society. Bitcoin is the best option because it is among the most flexible, innovative, and powerful currencies that exist.

Bitcoin reserve currency


Crypto Hodlers and Traders of Reddit, what are you thoughts on Elon planning to buy Twitter?

Disclaimer: I don't own any doge and this post is not intended to provoke the doge army if they are still lurking within the subreddit, this is simply a post open for discussion with the current events.

I saw in a Coindesk article that Elon Musk, the dogefather, has proposed proceeding with the agreement to buy Twitter for the originally agreed-upon price of $44 billion or $54.20 per share, which was also filed with the SEC. Upon hearing this you'd realize how this will definitely pump twitter and doge, and yes it did. Twitter shares surged by around 22% ($52.05 per share) and Dogecoin by 7% ($0.0645)

While I know that we all have mixed feelings about billionaires like Elon (example 1, example 2, example 3) and how he acts on social media platforms especially twitter and it's understandable knowing how one tweet from him would cause some kind of disarray in the cryptocurrency world.

What are your thoughts on the Dogefather buying Twitter?

Does he still have some kind of power to move the crypto-markets?

What do you think will happen to twitter afterwards?


The apparent technology oxymoron

Last weekend I attended a tech talk where a lot of successful tech entrepreneurs of my city come together and share their expertise on different topics.

After the event I had a lot of interesting discussions with some of the speakers and asked some of them about their opinion on Bitcoin and possible future use cases for their businesses.

To my big surprise none of them considered the technology important nor had they the slightest idea how it works or which advantages it offers.

I kept hearing generic answers like "Why would we waste this much energy on something which has prooven to be a failure?" and "Why would I trust a thing which I don't even know the initiator of?"

Further discussions led to a point where I wish I had never asked.

I came home and was shocked. I was shocked by the pure ignorance of these people and at the same time I felt the urge to orange-pill everyone I know.
Failing to adopt this awesome technology and the benefits it offers is just purely insane.