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@ 3c7dc2c5:805642a8
2025-05-24 22:05:00đ§ Quote(s) of the week:
'The Cantillon Effect: When new money is printed, those closest to the source (banks, elites) benefit first, buying assets before prices rise. Others lose purchasing power as inflation hits later. If people find out how this works, they will riot.' -Bitcoin for Freedom
Just think about it. Your employer gives you a 5% raise. The Fed (central banks in general) prints 7% more dollars/euros/Fiat. You just got a 2% pay cut. This isn't a conspiracy theory. This is how fiat money steals from the working class every single day. This is why I support Bitcoin.
Anilsaidso: 'Saving in fiat currency is no longer an option. A 2% inflation rate means you lose 1/3 of your purchasing power over 20yrs. At 5% inflation, you lose 60%. And at 10% you've burnt 85%. Reduce your uncertainty. Save in Bitcoin.' https://i.ibb.co/N661BdVp/Gr-Rwdg-OXc-AAWPVE.jpg
đ§ĄBitcoin newsđ§Ą
âEducation increases conviction.
Conviction increases allocation.
Allocation increases freedom.â âGigi
https://i.ibb.co/Q3trHk8Y/Gr-Arv-Ioa-AAAF5b0.jpg
On the 12th of May:
âĄď¸Google searches for "Digital Gold" are at all-time highs. Bitcoin Croesus: "This is the second wave of the Digital Revolution - the digitization of value to complement the Internet's digitization of information. It wasn't possible to own a slice of the Internet itself, but it is possible with Bitcoin, the internet of value." "...It feels like you're late to Bitcoin. But this is a bigger game playing out than most realize, and we are much earlier than casual observers know. If you're reading this, you're here on the frontier early. And you have a chance to stake a claim before 99% of the world shows up. This is a land grab. This is the digital gold rush. Make your descendants proud."
https://i.ibb.co/5XXbNQ8S/Gqw-X4-QRWs-AEd5-Uh-1.jpg
âĄď¸ 'A new holding company âNakamotoâ just raised $710 million to buy more Bitcoin and will merge with KindlyMD to establish a Bitcoin Treasury company. Saylor playbook!' - Bitcoin Archive
âĄď¸American Bitcoin, backed by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, will go public via an all-stock merger with Gryphon Digital Mining. Post-merger, Trump affiliates and Hut 8 will retain 98% ownership. GRYP tripled to $2.19, Hut 8 jumped 11% to $15.45. The deal closes in Q3 2025.
âĄď¸Phoenix Wallet: 'Phoenix 0.6.0 is out: offers can now have a custom description simple close (set an exact mutual close tx fee rate) native support for Linux arm64 This is the server version. Phoenix mobile release is around the corner. '
On the 13th of May:
âĄď¸Corporate Bitcoin purchases have now outweighed the supply of new Bitcoin by 3.3x in 2025. https://i.ibb.co/fVdgQhyY/Gq1ck-XRXUAAsg-Ym.jpg
âĄď¸ Publicly listed Next Technology disclosed buying 5,000 Bitcoin for $180m, now HODLs 5,833 $BTC worth +$600m.
âĄď¸ After rejecting the Arizona Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act, Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed Bill SB 1373, which proposed a digital asset reserve fund. "Current volatility in the cryptocurrency markets does not make a prudent fit for general fund dollars."
âĄď¸Meanwhile in Paris, France the kidnapping of a woman with her 2-year-old child morning on the streets of Paris - the target is allegedly the daughter of a crypto CEO. 3 masked men tried forcing them into a fake delivery van, before being fought off by her partner and bystanders. One of whom grabbed a dropped gun and aimed it back.
âĄď¸ 'Bitcoin illiquid supply hit a new all-time high of $1.4B Are you HODLing too, anon?' - Bitcoin News
âĄď¸Why Coinbase entering the S&P 500 matters. Boomers will have Bitcoin / CrApTo exposure, whether they like it or not. Anyway, remember what happened in 2021. The COIN IPO, and theyâre still trading about 35% below their IPO-day high. Oh and please read the 'Coinbase" hack below haha.
âĄď¸ Nasdaq listed GD Culture Group to sell up to $300 million shares to buy Bitcoin.
âĄď¸ A Bitcoin wallet untouched since April 2014 just moved 300 BTC worth $31M for the first time in 11 years. This is how you HODL.
âĄď¸ Bitcoin's realized price is steadily increasing, mirroring behaviors seen in past bull markets, according to CryptoQuant.
âĄď¸ Bitcoin whales and sharks (10-10K BTC) accumulated 83,105 BTC in the last 30 days, while small retail holders (<0.1 BTC) sold 387 BTC, according to Santiment.
Bitcoin Whales have been AGGRESSIVELY accumulating BTC recently! With at least 240,000+ Bitcoin transferred to wallets with at least 100 BTC. The largest market participants are trying to buy as much as possible, what do they think comes next...
âĄď¸'The average cost of mining 1 BTC for miners is currently $36.8K. The spread between the current market price and the cost of one coin = 182%. This is essentially the average profitability. This corresponds to the beginning of the bull cycle in November 2022 and the peaks of this cycle >$100K. A price increase above this level will allow miners to fully recover after the last halving and reach excess profits comparable to the beginning of the bull rally in January 2023.' -Axel Adler Jr.
âĄď¸ Remember last week's segment on Coinbase..."Coinbase just disclosed in their Q1 filing: that they have custody of 2.68 million Bitcoin. Thatâs over 13% of all Bitcoin in circulation, on one platform. Is this the greatest honeypot in financial history? Yes, it is...read next week's Weekly Bitcoin update."
Well, here you go.
Coinbase estimates $180-$400 million in losses, remediation costs, and reimbursement following todayâs cyber attack. https://i.ibb.co/jkysLtZ1/Gq-C7zl-W4-AAJ0-N6.jpg
Coinbase didn't get hacked. Coinbase employees sold customer data on the black market. Coinbase failed to protect customer data. This is why KYC is useless. The criminals have our driver's license scans. They have AI tools that can generate fake images and videos. KYC puts our identities at risk, makes onboarding more difficult, and rewards criminals. To make it even worse. Coinbase knew about the hack as early as January but only disclosed it publicly after being added to the S&P 500.
I will say it one more time! Don't buy your Bitcoin on KYC exchanges. KYC means handing over your identity to be leaked, sold, or extorted.
It was 2 days ago, see the bit on the 13th of May, that we saw a violent attack in Paris. Minimize the data you share with centralized tools. Store as much as you can locally. Always ask yourself what data am I giving and to whom? Remove the need for trust.
And for the love of God, Allah, or whatever god you are praying to...
DON'T LEAVE YOUR COINS ON A FREAKING EXCHANGE!!!!
Clear!
âĄď¸ Sam Callahan: Bitcoin CAGRs over rolling four-year holding periods since 2012:
10th percentile: 33%
25th percentile: 50% 40th percentile: 75%
Said differently, for 90% of the time, Bitcoinâs four-year CAGR was higher than 33%. For comparison, here are the single best four-year CAGRs over the same period for:
Gold: 17%
Silver: 20%
S&P 500: 24%
Apple: 52%
Two lessons here:
1.) Even when Bitcoin underperforms, it still outperforms.
2.) Bitcoin holding goals are best measured in halving cycles.'
https://i.ibb.co/9m6q2118/Gq1-Ie2-Ob-AAIJ8-Kf.jpg
âĄď¸ Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft has bought 96,870 Strategyâż stocks for 30 Million dollars at an Average Price Of $310 Per Share In Q1 2025, Their Total Holdings Is 518,000 Shares Worth Over 214 Million Dollars.
âĄď¸Senator Lummis urges the U.S. Treasury to eliminate taxes on unrealized gains for Bitcoin.
On the 14th of May:
âĄď¸At $168,000, Bitcoin will surpass Microsoft, the world's largest company.
âĄď¸Fidelity tells institutions to buy Bitcoin if they canât match Bitcoinâs 65% return on capital.
âĄď¸Michigan has adopted House Resolution 100, declaring May 13 2025 as "Digital Asset Awareness Day." The resolution encourages "activities and programs that foster a deeper understanding of digital assets and their impact on our society and economy."
âĄď¸Publicly traded Vinanz raises funding to buy $2 million in #Bitcoin assets.
âĄď¸Bitcoin News: "Investor Jim Chanos is shorting MicroStrategy while going long on Bitcoin, calling the stock overvalued relative to its BTC holdings. âWeâre selling MicroStrategy and buying Bitcoin, basically buying something for $1 and selling it for $2.50," he told CNBC
On the 15th of May:
âĄď¸The Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund disclosed owning $511 million in Bitcoin through BlackRockâs ETF.
âĄď¸UK public company Coinsilium Group raises ÂŁ1.25 million to adopt a Bitcoin treasury strategy.
âĄď¸Chinese Textile company Addentax issues stock to buy 8,000 Bitcoin.
âĄď¸14 US states have reported $632m in $MSTR exposure for Q1, in public retirement and treasury funds. A collective increase of $302m in one quarter. The average increase in holding size was 44%.
âĄď¸Chinese public company DDC Enterprise to adopt a Bitcoin Reserve with 5,000 BTC.
On the 16th of May:
âĄď¸Brazilian listed company MĂŠliuz buys $28.4 million Bitcoin to become the nation's first Bitcoin Treasury Company. Shareholders voted to approve the strategy by an "overwhelming majority".
âĄď¸13F Filings show Texas Retirement System owns MSTR. The day MSTR enters the S&P 500, every pension fund will follow.
âĄď¸'Wealthy Investors Shift Up to 5% into Bitcoin as confidence in fiat falters. UBS, a Swiss banking giant says Bitcoin and digital assets are becoming key hedges against inflation and systemic risk, marking a dramatic shift in modern portfolio strategy.' -CarlBMenger
âĄď¸River: "Above all, Bitcoin is money for the people." https://i.ibb.co/Jj8MVQwr/Gr-Ew-EPp-XAAA1-TVN.jpg
On the 17th of May:
âĄď¸Illicit activity is now down to 0.14% of transaction volume across all crypto.
Context: World Bank, IMF suggests 1.5â4% of global GDP is laundered yearly through traditional banking Of that 0.14%:
63% of illicit trade was stablecoins.
13% was Bitcoin (declining each year)
Source: The 2025 Crypto Crime Report, Chainalysis 2025
Yet another confirmation that Bitcoin's use in facilitating illicit activities is a rounding error on a rounding error.
On the 18th of May:
âĄď¸JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said they will allow clients to buy Bitcoin. The repeal of SAB 121 is a bigger deal than most realize. âI will fire any employee buying or trading Bitcoin for being stupidâ - Jamie Dimon (2017) https://i.ibb.co/b5tnkb15/Gr-Vxxc-OXk-AA7cyo.jpg
On the 19th of May.
âĄď¸Bookmark the following stuff from Daniel Batten if you want to combat climate change (fanatics)...
'That Bitcoin mining is not only not harmful, but beneficial to the environment is now supported by:
7 independent reports
20 peer-reviewed papers
As a result * 90% of climate-focused magazines * 87.5% of media coverage on Bitcoin & the environment is now positive * source 7 independent reports https://x.com/DSBatten/status/1922666207754281449⌠* 20 peer-reviewed papers https://x.com/DSBatten/status/1923014527651615182⌠* 10 climate-focused magazines https://x.com/DSBatten/status/1919518338092323260⌠* 16 mainstream media articles https://x.com/DSBatten/status/1922628399551434755
âĄď¸Saifedean Ammous: '5 years ago at the height of corona hysteria, everyone worried about their savings.
If you put $10,000 in "risk-free" long-term US government bonds, you'd have $6,000 today.
If you put the $10,000 in "risky speculative tulip" bitcoin, you'd have $106,000.
HFSP, bondcucks!'
I love how Saifedean always put it so eloquently. haha
âĄď¸An Australian judge rules Bitcoin is âjust another form of money.â This could make it exempt from capital gains tax. Potentially opening the door to millions in refunds across the country. - AFR
If upheld, the decision could trigger up to $1B in refunds and overturn the Australian Tax Officeâs crypto tax approach.
âĄď¸Publicly traded Vinanz buys 16.9 Bitcoin for $1.75 Million for their treasury.
âĄď¸Bitcoin just recorded its highest weekly close ever, while the Global Economic Policy Uncertainty Index hit its highest level in history.
âĄď¸4 in 5 Americans want the U.S. to convert part of its gold reserves to Bitcoin. - The Nakamoto Project
"or background, the survey question was: "Assuming the United States was thinking of converting some of their gold reserves into Bitcoin, what percentage would you advise they convert?" Respondents were provided a slider used to choose between 0% and 100%. Our survey consisted of a national sample of 3,345 respondents recruited in partnership with Qualtrics, a survey and data collection company"
Context: https://x.com/thetrocro/status/1924552097565180107 https://i.ibb.co/fGDw06MC/Gr-VYDIdb-AAI7-Kxd.jpg
âĄď¸Michael Saylor's STRATEGY bought another $764.9m Bitcoin. They now HODL 576,230 Bitcoin, acquired for $40.18 billion at $69,726 per Bitcoin.
âĄď¸The German Government sold 49,858 BTC for $2.89B, at an average price of $57,900. If they had held it, their BTC would now be worth $5.24B.
âĄď¸A record 63% of all the Bitcoin that exist have not transacted or moved from their wallets this year. - Wicked
https://i.ibb.co/j9nvbvmP/Gq3-Z-x6-Xw-AAv-Bhg.jpg
đ¸Traditional Finance / Macro:
On the 12th of May:
đđ˝The S&P 500 has closed more than 20% above its April low, technically beginning a new bull market. We are now up +1,000 points in one month.
On the 13th of May:
đđ˝ Nvidia announces a partnership with Humain to build "AI factories of the future" in Saudi Arabia. Just one hour ago, Saudi Arabia signed an economic agreement with President Trump to invest $600 billion in the US.
đŚBanks:
đđ˝ No news
đMacro/Geopolitics:
On the 12th of May:
đđ˝Huge pressure is on the European Union to reach a trade deal. Equities and commodities bounce hard on news of China-US trade deal. "We have reached an agreement on a 90-day pause and substantially moved down the tariff levels â both sides, on the reciprocal tariffs, will move their tariffs down 115%." - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
Dollar and Yuan strong bounce. Gold corrects.
đđ˝After reaching a high of 71% this year, recession odds are now back down to 40%. The odds of the US entering a recession in 2025 fall to a new low of 40% following the US-China trade deal announcement.
đđ˝'Truly incredible:
- Trump raises tariffs: Yields rise because inflation is back
- Trump cuts tariffs: Yields rise because growth is back
- Trump does nothing: Yields rise because the Fed won't cut rates Today, the bond market becomes Trump and Bessent's top priority.' - TKL
President Trumpâs biggest problem persists even as trade deals are announced. Tariffs have been paused for 90 days, the US-China trade deal has been announced, and inflation data is down. Yet, the 10Y yield is nearing 4.50% again. Trump needs lower rates, but rates wonât fall.
đđ˝Last week a lot of talk on Japanâs Debt Death Spiral: Japanâs 40-year yield is detonating and the myth of consequence-free debt just died with it. One of the best explanations, you can read here:
đđ˝Michael A. Arouet: 'Eye-opening chart. Can a country with a services-based economy remain a superpower? Building back US manufacturing base makes a lot of strategic and geopolitical sense.' https://i.ibb.co/Q3zJY9Fc/Gqxc6-Pt-WQAI73c.jpg
On the 13th of May:
đđ˝There is a possibility of a âbig, beautifulâ economic rebalancing, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says at an investment forum in Saudi Arabia. The âdream scenarioâ would be if China and the US can work together on rebalancing, he adds
Luke Gromen: It does roll off the tongue a whole lot nicer than "We want to significantly devalue USD v. CNY, via a gold reference point."
Ergo: The price of gold specifically would rise in USD much more than it would in CNY, while prices for other goods and services would not, or would do so to a lesser degree.
đđ˝ Dutch inflation rises to 4.1 percent in April | CBS â final figure. Unchanged compared to the estimate.
đđ˝Philipp Heimberger: This interesting new paper argues that cuts to taxes on top incomes disproportionately benefit the financial sector. The finance industry gains more from top-income tax cuts than other industries. "Cuts in top income tax rates increase the (relative) size of the financial sector"
Kinda obvious, innit?
đđ˝US CPI data released. Overall good results and cooler than expected month-over-month and year-over-year (outside of yearly core). U.S. inflation is down to 2.3%, lower than expected.
On the 14th of May:
đđ˝'The US government cannot afford a recession: In previous economic cycles, the US budget deficit widened by ~4% of GDP on average during recessions. This would imply a ~$1.3 trillion deterioration of US government finances if a recession hits in 2025. That said, if the US enters a recession, long-term interest rates will likely go down.
A 2-percentage-point decrease in interest rates would save ~$568 billion in annual interest payments. However, this means government finances would worsen by more than DOUBLE the amount saved in interest due to a recession. An economic downturn would be incredibly costly for the US government.' -TKL
On the 15th of May:
đđ˝'In the Eurozone and the UK, households hold more than 30% of their financial assets in fiat currencies and bank deposits. This means that they (unknowingly?) allow inflation to destroy their purchasing power. The risks of inflation eating up your wealth increase in a debt-driven economic system characterized by fiscal dominance, where interest rates are structurally low and inflation levels and risks are high. There is so much forced and often failed regulation to increase financial literacy, but this part is never explained. Why is that, you think?' - Jeroen Blokland https://i.ibb.co/zWRpNqhz/Gq-jn-Bn-X0-AAmplm.png
On the 16th of May:
đđ˝'For the first time in a year, Japan's economy shrank by -0.7% in Q1 2025. This is more than double the decline expected by economists. Furthermore, this data does NOT include the reciprocal tariffs imposed on April 2nd. Japan's economy is heading for a recession.' -TKL
đđ˝'246 US large companies have gone bankrupt year-to-date, the most in 15 years. This is up from 206 recorded last year and more than DOUBLE during the same period in 2022. In April alone, the US saw 59 bankruptcy filings as tariffs ramped up. So far this year, the industrials sector has seen 41 bankruptcies, followed by 31 in consumer discretionary, and 17 in healthcare. According to S&P Global, consumer discretionary companies have been hit the hardest due to market volatility, tariffs, and inflation uncertainty. We expect a surge in bankruptcies in 2025.' -TKL
đđ˝'Moody's just downgraded the United States' credit rating for the FIRST time in history. The reason: An unsustainable path for US federal debt and its resulting interest burden. Moody's notes that the US debt-to-GDP ratio is on track to hit 134% by 2035. Federal interest payments are set to equal ~30% of revenue by 2035, up from ~18% in 2024 and ~9% in 2021. Furthermore, deficit spending is now at World War 2 levels as a percentage of GDP. The US debt crisis is our biggest issue with the least attention.' - TKL
Still, this is a nothing burger. In August 2023, when Fitch downgraded the US to AA+, and S&P (2011) the US became a split-rated AA+ country. This downgrade had almost no effect on the bond market. The last of the rating agencies, Moodys, pushed the US down to AA+ today. So technically it didnât even change the USâs overall credit rating because it was already split-rated AA+, now itâs unanimous AA+.
Ergo: Nothing changed. America now shares a credit rating with Austria and Finland. Hard assets donât lie. Watch Gold and Bitcoin.
https://i.ibb.co/Q7DcWY2P/Gr-K66i-EXIAAKh-MR.jpg
RAY DALIO: Credit Agencies are UNDERSTATING sovereign credit risks because "they don't include the greater risk that the countries in debt will print money to pay their debts" with devalued currency.
đđ˝US consumer credit card serious delinquencies are rising at a CRISIS pace: The share of US credit card debt that is past due at least 90 days hit 12.3% in Q1 2025, the highest in 14 YEARS. The percentage has risen even faster than during the Great Financial Crisis.' - Global Markets Investor
https://i.ibb.co/nNH9CxVK/Gr-E838o-XYAIk-Fyn.png
On the 18th of May:
đđ˝Michael A. Arouet: 'Look at ten bottom of this list. Milei has not only proven that real free market reforms work, but he has also proven that they work fast. Itâs bigger than Argentina now, no wonder that the left legacy media doesnât like him so much.' https://i.ibb.co/MDnBCDSY/Gr-Npu-KKWMAAf-Pc.jpg
On the 19th of May: đđ˝Japan's 40-year bond yield just hit its highest level in over 20 years. Japanâs Prime Minister Ishiba has called the situation âworse than Greece.â All as Japanâs GDP is contracting again. You and your mother should be scared out of your fucking minds. https://i.ibb.co/rGZ9cMtv/GTXx-S7-Cb-MAAOu-Vt.png
đđ˝ TKL: 'Investors are piling into gold funds like never before: Gold funds have posted a record $85 BILLION in net inflows year-to-date. This is more than DOUBLE the full-year record seen in 2020. At this pace, net inflows will surpass $180 billion by the end of 2025. Gold is now the best-performing major asset class, up 22% year-to-date. Since the low in October 2022, gold prices have gained 97%. Gold is the global hedge against uncertainty.'
đIf you have made it this far, I would like to give you a little gift, well, in this case, two gifts:
What Bitcoin Did - IS THE FED LOSING CONTROL? With Matthew Mezinskis
'Matthew Mezinskis is a macroeconomic researcher, host of the Crypto Voices podcast, and creator of Porkopolis Economics. In this episode, we discuss fractional reserve banking, why it's controversial among Bitcoiners, the historical precedent for banking practices, and whether fractional reserve banking inherently poses systemic risks. We also get into the dangers and instabilities introduced by central banking, why Bitcoin uniquely offers a pathway to financial sovereignty, the plumbing of the global financial system, breaking down money supply metrics, foreign holdings of US treasuries, and how all these elements indicate growing instability in the dollar system.'
https://youtu.be/j-XPVOl9zGc
Credit: I have used multiple sources!
My savings account: Bitcoin The tool I recommend for setting up a Bitcoin savings plan: PocketBitcoin especially suited for beginners or people who want to invest in Bitcoin with an automated investment plan once a week or monthly.
Use the code SE3997
Get your Bitcoin out of exchanges. Save them on a hardware wallet, run your own node...be your own bank. Not your keys, not your coins. It's that simple. â â
â â â â â â
Do you think this post is helpful to you?
If so, please share it and support my work with a zap.
ââââââââââââââââââ
â Many thanksâ
Felipe - Bitcoin Friday!
ââââââââââââââââââ
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@ 6389be64:ef439d32
2025-05-24 21:51:47Most nematodes are beneficial and "graze" on black vine weevil, currant borer moth, fungus gnats, other weevils, scarabs, cutworms, webworms, billbugs, mole crickets, termites, peach tree borer and carpenter worm moths.
They also predate bacteria, recycling nutrients back into the soil and by doing so stimulates bacterial activity. They act as microbial taxis by transporting microbes to new locations of soil as they move through it while providing aeration.
https://stacker.news/items/988573
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@ 58537364:705b4b85
2025-05-24 20:48:43âAny society that sets intellectual development as its goal will continually progress, without endâuntil life is liberated from problems and suffering. All problems can ultimately be solved through wisdom itself.
The signpost pointing toward âwisdomâ is the ability to thinkâor what is called in Dhamma terms, âyoniso-manasikÄra,â meaning wise or analytical reflection. Thinking is the bridge that connects information and knowledge with insight and understanding. Refined or skillful thinking enables one to seek knowledge and apply it effectively.
The key types of thinking are:
- Thinking to acquire knowledge
- Thinking to apply knowledge effectively In other words, thinking to gain knowledge and thinking to use that knowledge. A person with knowledge who doesnât know how to think cannot make that knowledge useful. On the other hand, a person who thinks without having or seeking knowledge will end up with nothing but dreamy, deluded ideas. When such dreamy ideas are expressed as opinions, they become nonsensical and meaninglessâmere expressions of personal likes or dislikes.
In this light, the âprocess of developing wisdomâ begins with the desire to seek knowledge, followed by the training of thinking skills, and concludes with the ability to express well-founded opinions. (In many important cases, practice, testing, or experimentation is needed to confirm understanding.)
Thus, the thirst for knowledge and the ability to seek knowledge are the forerunners of intellectual development. In any society where people lack a love for knowledge and are not inclined to search for it, true intellectual growth will be difficult. That society will be filled with fanciful, delusional thinking and opinions based merely on personal likes and dislikes. For the development of wisdom, there must be the guiding principle that: âGiving opinions must go hand-in-hand with seeking knowledge. And once knowledge is gained, thinking must be refined and skillful.ââ
â Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya (P.A. Payutto) Source: Dhamma treatise âOrganizing Society According to the Ideals of the Sanghaâ
Note: âPariyosÄnaâ means the complete conclusion or the final, all-encompassing end.
âWe must emphasize the pursuit of knowledge more than merely giving opinions. Opinions must be based on the most solid foundation of knowledge.
Nowadays, we face so many problems because people love to express opinions without ever seeking knowledge.â
â Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya (P.A. Payutto)
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@ 3283ef81:0a531a33
2025-05-24 20:47:39This event has been deleted; your client is ignoring the delete request.
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@ 3283ef81:0a531a33
2025-05-24 20:36:35Suspendisse quis rutrum nisi Integer nec augue quis ex euismod blandit ut ac mi
Curabitur suscipit vulputate volutpat Donec ornare, risus non tincidunt malesuada, elit magna feugiat diam, id faucibus libero libero efficitur mauris
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@ 21335073:a244b1ad
2025-05-21 16:58:36The other day, I had the privilege of sitting down with one of my favorite living artists. Our conversation was so captivating that I felt compelled to share it. Iâm leaving his name out for privacy.
Since our last meeting, Iâd watched a documentary about his life, one heâd helped create. I told him how much I admired his openness in it. Thereâs something strange about knowing intimate details of someoneâs life when they know so little about yoursâitâs almost like I knew him too well for the kind of relationship we have.
He paused, then said quietly, with a shy grin, that watching the documentary made him realize how âodd and eccentricâ he is. I laughed and told him heâs probably the sanest person I know. Because heâs lived fully, chasing love, passion, and purpose with hardly any regrets. Heâs truly lived.
Today, I turn 44, and Iâll admit Iâm a bit eccentric myself. I think I came into the world this way. Iâve made mistakes along the way, but I carry few regrets. Every misstep taught me something. And as I age, Iâm not interested in blending in with the worldâIâll probably just lean further into my own brand of âweird.â I want to live life to the brim. The older I get, the more I see that the ânormalâ folks often seem less grounded than the eccentric artists who dare to live boldly. Lifeâs too short to just exist, actually live.
Iâm not saying to be strange just for the sake of it. But Iâve seen what the crowd celebrates, and Iâm not impressed. Forge your own path, even if it feels lonely or unpopular at times.
Itâs easy to scroll through the news and feel discouraged. But actually, this is one of the most incredible times to be alive! I wake up every day grateful to be here, now. The future is bursting with possibilityâI can feel it.
So, to my fellow weirdos on nostr: stay bold. Keep dreaming, keep pushing, no matter whatâs trending. Stay wild enough to believe in a free internet for all. Freedom is radicalâhold it tight. Live with the soul of an artist and the grit of a fighter. Thanks for inspiring me and so many others to keep hoping. Thank you all for making the last year of my life so special.
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@ 3f770d65:7a745b24
2025-05-19 18:09:52đď¸ Monday, May 26 â Bitcoin Golf Championship & Kickoff Party
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada\ Event: 2nd Annual Bitcoin Golf Championship & Kick Off Party"\ Where: Bali Hai Golf Clubhouse, 5160 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119\ đď¸ Get Tickets!
Details:
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The week tees off in style with the Bitcoin Golf Championship. Swing clubs by day and swing to music by night.
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Live performances from Nostr-powered acts courtesy of Tunestr, including Ainsley Costello and others.
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Stop by the Purple Pill Booth hosted by Derek and Tanja, who will be on-boarding golfers and attendees to the decentralized social future with Nostr.
đŹ May 27â29 â Bitcoin 2025 Conference at the Las Vegas Convention Center
Location: The Venetian Resort\ Main Attraction for Nostr Fans: The Nostr Lounge\ When: All day, Tuesday through Thursday\ Where: Right outside the Open Source Stage\ đď¸ Get Tickets!
Come chill at the Nostr Lounge, your home base for all things decentralized social. With seating for \~50, comfy couches, high-tops, and good vibes, itâs the perfect space to meet developers, community leaders, and curious newcomers building the future of censorship-resistant communication.
Bonus: Right across the aisle, youâll find Shopstr, a decentralized marketplace app built on Nostr. Stop by their booth to explore how peer-to-peer commerce works in a truly open ecosystem.
Daily Highlights at the Lounge:
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âď¸ Hang out casually or sit down for a deeper conversation about the Nostr protocol
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đ§ 1:1 demos from app teams
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đď¸ Merch available onsite
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đ§ Impromptu lightning talks
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đ¤ Scheduled Meetups (details below)
đŻ Nostr Lounge Meetups
Wednesday, May 28 @ 1:00 PM
- Damus Meetup: Come meet the team behind Damus, the OG Nostr app for iOS that helped kickstart the social revolution. They'll also be showcasing their new cross-platform app, Notedeck, designed for a more unified Nostr experience across devices. Grab some merch, get a demo, and connect directly with the developers.
Thursday, May 29 @ 1:00 PM
- Primal Meetup: Dive into Primal, the slickest Nostr experience available on web, Android, and iOS. With a built-in wallet, zapping your favorite creators and friends has never been easier. The team will be on-site for hands-on demos, Q\&A, merch giveaways, and deeper discussions on building the social layer of Bitcoin.
đď¸ Nostr Talks at Bitcoin 2025
If you want to hear from the minds building decentralized social, make sure you attend these two official conference sessions:
1. FROSTR Workshop: Multisig Nostr Signing
-
đ Time: 11:30 AM â 12:00 PM
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đ Date: Wednesday, May 28
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đ Location: Developer Zone
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đ¤ Speaker: nostr:nprofile1qy2hwumn8ghj7etyv4hzumn0wd68ytnvv9hxgqgdwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkcqpqs9etjgzjglwlaxdhsveq0qksxyh6xpdpn8ajh69ruetrug957r3qf4ggfm (Austin Kelsay) @ Voltage\ A deep-dive into FROST-based multisig key management for Nostr. Geared toward devs and power users interested in key security.
2. Panel: Decentralizing Social Media
-
đ Time: 2:00 PM â 2:30 PM
-
đ Date: Thursday, May 29
-
đ Location: Genesis Stage
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đď¸ Moderator: nostr:nprofile1qyxhwumn8ghj7mn0wvhxcmmvqy08wumn8ghj7mn0wd68yttjv4kxz7fwv3jhyettwfhhxuewd4jsqgxnqajr23msx5malhhcz8paa2t0r70gfjpyncsqx56ztyj2nyyvlq00heps - Bitcoin Strategy @ Roxom TV
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đĽ Speakers:
-
nostr:nprofile1qyt8wumn8ghj7etyv4hzumn0wd68ytnvv9hxgtcppemhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mp0qqsy2ga7trfetvd3j65m3jptqw9k39wtq2mg85xz2w542p5dhg06e5qmhlpep â Early Bitcoin dev, CEO @ Sirius Business Ltd
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nostr:nprofile1qy2hwumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytndv9kxjm3wdahxcqg5waehxw309ahx7um5wfekzarkvyhxuet5qqsw4v882mfjhq9u63j08kzyhqzqxqc8tgf740p4nxnk9jdv02u37ncdhu7e3 â Analyst & Partner @ Ego Death Capital
Get the big-picture perspective on why decentralized social matters and how Nostr fits into the future of digital communication.
đ NOS VEGAS Meetup & Afterparty
Date: Wednesday, May 28\ Time: 7:00 PM â 1:00 AM\ Location: We All Scream Nightclub, 517 Fremont St., Las Vegas, NV 89101\ đď¸ Get Tickets!
What to Expect:
-
đś Live Music Stage â Featuring Ainsley Costello, Sara Jade, Able James, Martin Groom, Bobby Shell, Jessie Lark, and other V4V artists
-
𪊠DJ Party Deck â With sets by nostr:nprofile1qy0hwumn8ghj7cmgdae82uewd45kketyd9kxwetj9e3k7mf6xs6rgqgcwaehxw309ahx7um5wgh85mm694ek2unk9ehhyecqyq7hpmq75krx2zsywntgtpz5yzwjyg2c7sreardcqmcp0m67xrnkwylzzk4 , nostr:nprofile1qy2hwumn8ghj7etyv4hzumn0wd68ytnvv9hxgqgkwaehxw309anx2etywvhxummnw3ezucnpdejqqg967faye3x6fxgnul77ej23l5aew8yj0x2e4a3tq2mkrgzrcvecfsk8xlu3 , and more DJs throwing down
-
đ°ď¸ Live-streamed via Tunestr
-
đ§ Nostr Education â Talks by nostr:nprofile1qy88wumn8ghj7mn0wvhxcmmv9uq37amnwvaz7tmwdaehgu3dwfjkccte9ejx2un9ddex7umn9ekk2tcqyqlhwrt96wnkf2w9edgr4cfruchvwkv26q6asdhz4qg08pm6w3djg3c8m4j , nostr:nprofile1qy2hwumn8ghj7etyv4hzumn0wd68ytnvv9hxgqg7waehxw309anx2etywvhxummnw3ezucnpdejz7ur0wp6kcctjqqspywh6ulgc0w3k6mwum97m7jkvtxh0lcjr77p9jtlc7f0d27wlxpslwvhau , nostr:nprofile1qy88wumn8ghj7mn0wvhxcmmv9uq3vamnwvaz7tmwdaehgu3wd33xgetk9en82m30qqsgqke57uygxl0m8elstq26c4mq2erz3dvdtgxwswwvhdh0xcs04sc4u9p7d , nostr:nprofile1q9z8wumn8ghj7erzx3jkvmmzw4eny6tvw368wdt8da4kxamrdvek76mrwg6rwdngw94k67t3v36k77tev3kx7vn2xa5kjem9dp4hjepwd3hkxctvqyg8wumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytnhd9hx2qpqyaul8k059377u9lsu67de7y637w4jtgeuwcmh5n7788l6xnlnrgssuy4zk , nostr:nprofile1qy28wue69uhnzvpwxqhrqt33xgmn5dfsx5cqz9thwden5te0v4jx2m3wdehhxarj9ekxzmnyqqswavgevxe9gs43vwylumr7h656mu9vxmw4j6qkafc3nefphzpph8ssvcgf8 , and more.
-
đ§ž Vendors & Project Booths â Explore new tools and services
-
đ Onboarding Stations â Learn how to use Nostr hands-on
-
đŚ Nostrich Flocking â Meet your favorite nyms IRL
-
đ¸ Three Full Bars â Two floors of socializing overlooking vibrant Fremont Street
| | | | | ----------- | -------------------- | ------------------- | | Time | Name | Topic | | 7:30-7:50 | Derek | Nostr for Beginners | | 8:00-8:20 | Mark & Paul | Primal | | 8:30-8:50 | Terry | Damus | | 9:00-9:20 | OpenMike and Ainsley | V4V | | 09:30-09:50 | The Space | Space |
This is the after-party of the year for those who love freedom technology and decentralized social community. Donât miss it.
Final Thoughts
Whether you're there to learn, network, party, or build, Bitcoin 2025 in Las Vegas has a packed week of Nostr-friendly programming. Be sure to catch all the events, visit the Nostr Lounge, and experience the growing decentralized social revolution.
đŁ Find us. Flock with us. Purple pill someone.
-
-
@ cff1720e:15c7e2b2
2025-05-24 20:17:45Ich liebe Pareto. FĂźr das was es ist, viel mehr aber fĂźr das was es derzeit wird - der Marktplatz der Ideen. Er entsteht durch gemeinsames Engagement von Entwicklern, Autoren und aktiven Lesern. Es ist ein lebendiges Medium, das jeden Tag wächst, quantitativ wie qualitativ, durch offene Interaktion, was es in dieser Form einzigartig macht.\ \ Mein Text ist inspiriert durch den Artikel von Alexa Rodrian vom 22. Mai Ăźber den Auftritt von Wolf Biermann bei der Verleihung des Deutschen Filmpreises.  Alexa ist keine Publizistin, genau wie zahlreiche unserer Autoren, aber sie hat einen bemerkenswerten Beitrag verfasst. Ich habe ihn spontan geliked, kommentiert und mit einer Spende honoriert. In den vergangenen Tagen habe ich viel darĂźber reflektiert, und Pareto ermĂśglicht es mir, und jedem anderen, diese Ăberlegungen zur âCausa Biermannâ hier darzulegen.
MSN kommentierte die anstĂśĂige Rede wie folgt: mit einem verfälschten Golda-Meir-Zitat lenkte Biermann das Thema auf das Sterben in Gaza, fĂźr das er die Palästinenser selbst verantwortlich machte. âDass ihr unsere SĂśhne ermordet habt, werden wir Euch eines Tages verzeihenâ, habe Meir zu den Palästinensern gesagt, âaber wir werden euch niemals verzeihen kĂśnnen, dass ihr unsere SĂśhne gezwungen habt, selber MĂśrder zu werden.â Alexa Rodrian, in einer Mischung aus Enttäuschung und EmpĂśrung, erĂśffnete ihren Artikel wie folgt:
âTriff niemals deine Idoleâ heiĂt ein gängiger Ratschlag. In gewendeten Zeiten stehen zu dem die Werte auf dem Kopf â und manche KĂźnstler mit ihnen. Die Worte, die aus manch ihrer MĂźndern kommen, wirken, als hätte eine fremde Hand sie auf deren Zunge gelegt. Die fremde Hand ist bei Biermann eher unwahrscheinlich, denn sein Hang zu Provokationen und Verletzungen haben Tradition, man erinnere sich an den legendären Auftritt bei einer Feierstunde im Bundestag 2014 in der er die Mitglieder der Linksfraktion als âelenden Restâ und âDrachenbrutâ bezeichnete. Oder seine Beschimpfungen der (ostdeutschen) Wähler von AfD und BSW im August 2024 in einem Zeit-Interview:  âDie, die zu feige waren in der Diktatur, rebellieren jetzt ohne Risiko gegen die Demokratie. Den Bequemlichkeiten der Diktatur jammern sie nach, und die MĂźhen der Demokratie sind ihnen fremd.â
Im Februar 2025 wurde Wolf Biermann fĂźr sein Lebenswerk mit einem Musikpreis der GEMA ausgezeichnet. Was aber ist sein Lebenswerk, sein mutiges Engagement in der Opposition der DDR bis 1976 oder seine verfehlten RĂźpeleien in der Gegenwart? Ein solcher Preis ist fragwĂźrdig, denn kein Lebenswerk ist konsistent, und die Bewertung abhängig von subjektiven MaĂstäben. Meist wählen wir unsere Idole nach unseren Idealen, aber die kĂśnnen sich verändern, ebenso wie das Idol. Beethoven widmete seine 3. Sinfonie (Eroica) Napoleon, zog die Widmung aber zurĂźck als dieser sich 1804 zum Kaiser krĂśnen lieĂ. âIst der auch nichts anderes, wie ein gewĂśhnlicher Mensch?â soll er wĂźtend ausgerufen haben. Richtig! Was hatte Beethoven erwartet, einen Gott? âHosiannaâ und âkreuzigt ihnâ sind Affekte die durch unsere Projektionen verursacht und den Realitäten nie gerecht werden.Â
Den Preis fĂźr sein Lebenswerk kann Wolf Biermann behalten. Er hat Millionen von Menschen in der DDR Mut gemacht. Er hat zahlreiche groĂartige Gedichte und Lieder verfasst, das behalte ich gerne in Erinnerung. Nun hat er sich selbst vom Sockel gestĂźrzt und durch seinen Empathiemangel das Image beschädigt. Das hätte er vermeiden kĂśnnen, wenn er sich an die Worte seines Lehrmeisters Brecht erinnert hätte.
...\ Dabei wissen wir doch:\ Auch der Hass gegen die Niedrigkeit\ verzerrt die ZĂźge.\ Auch der Zorn Ăźber das Unrecht\ Macht die Stimme heiser. Ach, wir\ Die wir den Boden bereiten wollten fĂźr die Freundlichkeit\ Konnten selber nicht freundlich sein.\ ...
Er hätte auch von der Medizin nehmen kÜnnen, die er selbst fßr andere entwickelt hat \ (1966 fßr seinen Freund Peter Huchel).
âŚ\ Du, laĂ dich nicht verhärten\ in dieser harten Zeit.\ Die allzu hart sind, brechen,\ die allzu spitz sind, stechen\ und brechen ab sogleich.\ âŚ
PS: Fortsetzung folgt in der Reihe \ âWas wir von groĂen PersĂśnlichkeiten lernen kĂśnnen, wenn wir ihnen zuhĂśren wĂźrden."
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@ 51bbb15e:b77a2290
2025-05-21 00:24:36Yeah, Iâm sure everything in the file is legit. đ Letâs review the guard witness testimonyâŚOh wait, they werenât at their posts despite 24/7 survellience instructions after another Epstein âsuicideâ attempt two weeks earlier. Well, at least the video of the suicide is in the file? Oh wait, a techical glitch. Damn those coincidences!
At this point, the Trump administration has zero credibility with me on anything related to the Epstein case and his clients. I still suspect the administration is using the Epstein files as leverage to keep a lot of RINOs in line, whereas theyâd be sabotaging his agenda at every turn otherwise. However, I just donât believe in ends-justify-the-means thinking. Itâs led almost all of DC to toss out every bit of the values they might once have had.
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@ c9badfea:610f861a
2025-05-20 19:49:20- Install Sky Map (it's free and open source)
- Launch the app and tap Accept, then tap OK
- When asked to access the device's location, tap While Using The App
- Tap somewhere on the screen to activate the menu, then tap â and select Settings
- Disable Send Usage Statistics
- Return to the main screen and enjoy stargazing!
âšď¸ Use the đ icon in the upper toolbar to search for a specific celestial body, or tap the đď¸ icon to activate night mode
-
@ f7a1599c:6f2484d5
2025-05-24 20:06:04In March 2020, Lucas was afraid.
The economy was grinding to a halt. Markets were in freefall. In a sweeping response, the Federal Reserve launched an unprecedented interventionâbuying everything from Treasury bonds and mortgages to corporate debt, expanding the money supply by $4 trillion. At the same time, the U.S. government issued over $800 billion in stimulus checks to households across the country.
These extraordinary measures may have averted a wave of business failures and bank runsâbut they came at a cost: currency debasement and rising inflation. Alarmed by the scale of central bank intervention and its consequences for savers, Lucas decided to act.
In a state of mild panic, he withdrew $15,000 from his bank account and bought ten gold coins. Then he took another $10,000 and bought two bitcoins. If the dollar system failed, Lucas wanted something with intrinsic value he could use.
He mentioned his plan to his friend Daniel, who laughed.
âWhy donât you stock up on guns and cigarettes while youâre at it?â Daniel quipped. âThe Fed is doing what it has toâstabilizing the economy in a crisis. Sure, $4 trillion is a lot of money, but it's backed by the most productive economy on Earth. Donât panic. The worldâs not ending.â
To prove his point, Daniel put $25,000 into the S&P 500âright at the pandemic bottom.
And he was right. Literally.
By Spring 2025, the stock market was near all-time highs. The world hadnât ended. The U.S. economy kept moving, more or less as usual. Danielâs investment had nearly tripledâhis $25,000 had grown to $65,000.
But oddly enough, Lucasâ seemingly panicked reaction had been both prudent and profitable.
His gold coins had climbed from $1,500 to $3,300 apieceâa 120% gain. Bitcoin had soared from $5,000 to $90,000, making his two coins worth $180,000. Altogether, Lucasâs $25,000 allocation had grown to $213,000âa nearly 10x return. And his goal wasnât even profit. It was safety.
With that kind of fortune, youâd expect Lucas to feel confident, even serene. He had more than enough to preserve his purchasing power, even in the face of years of inflation.
But in the spring of 2025, Lucas felt anything but calm.
He was uneasyâgripped by a sense that the 2020 crisis hadnât been a conclusion, but a prelude.
In his mind, 2020 was just the latest chapter in a troubling sequence: the Asian financial crisis in 1998, the global financial crisis in 2008, the pandemic shock of 2020. Each crisis had been more sudden, more sweeping, and more dependent on emergency measures than the last.
And Lucas couldnât shake the feeling that the next actâwhenever it cameâwould be more disruptive, more severe, and far more damaging.
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@ 15cf81d4:b328e146
2025-05-24 19:19:46Losing access to your cryptocurrency can feel like losing a part of your future. Whether itâs due to a forgotten password, a damaged seed backup, or a simple mistake in a transfer, the stress can be overwhelming. Fortunately, cryptrecver.com is here to assist! With our expert-led recovery services, you can safely and swiftly reclaim your lost Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Why Trust Crypt Recver? đ¤ đ ď¸ Expert Recovery Solutions At Crypt Recver, we specialize in addressing complex wallet-related issues. Our skilled engineers have the tools and expertise to handle:
Partially lost or forgotten seed phrases Extracting funds from outdated or invalid wallet addresses Recovering data from damaged hardware wallets Restoring coins from old or unsupported wallet formats Youâre not just getting a service; youâre gaining a partner in your cryptocurrency journey.
đ Fast and Efficient Recovery We understand that time is crucial in crypto recovery. Our optimized systems enable you to regain access to your funds quickly, focusing on speed without compromising security. With a success rate of over 90%, you can rely on us to act swiftly on your behalf.
đ Privacy is Our Priority Your confidentiality is essential. Every recovery session is conducted with the utmost care, ensuring all processes are encrypted and confidential. You can rest assured that your sensitive information remains private.
đť Advanced Technology Our proprietary tools and brute-force optimization techniques maximize recovery efficiency. Regardless of how challenging your case may be, our technology is designed to give you the best chance at retrieving your crypto.
Our Recovery Services Include: đ Bitcoin Recovery: Lost access to your Bitcoin wallet? We help recover lost wallets, private keys, and passphrases. Transaction Recovery: Mistakes happen â whether itâs an incorrect wallet address or a lost password, let us manage the recovery. Cold Wallet Restoration: If your cold wallet is failing, we can safely extract your assets and migrate them into a secure new wallet. Private Key Generation: Lost your private key? Our experts can help you regain control using advanced methods while ensuring your privacy. â ď¸ What We Donât Do While we can handle many scenarios, some limitations exist. For instance, we cannot recover funds stored in custodial wallets or cases where there is a complete loss of four or more seed words without partial information available. We are transparent about whatâs possible, so you know what to expect
Donât Let Lost Crypto Hold You Back! Did you know that between 3 to 3.4 million BTC â nearly 20% of the total supply â are estimated to be permanently lost? Donât become part of that statistic! Whether itâs due to a forgotten password, sending funds to the wrong address, or damaged drives, we can help you navigate these challenges
đĄď¸ Real-Time Dust Attack Protection Our services extend beyond recovery. We offer dust attack protection, keeping your activity anonymous and your funds secure, shielding your identity from unwanted tracking, ransomware, and phishing attempts.
đ Start Your Recovery Journey Today! Ready to reclaim your lost crypto? Donât wait until itâs too late! đ cryptrecver.com
đ Need Immediate Assistance? Connect with Us! For real-time support or questions, reach out to our dedicated team on: âď¸ Telegram: t.me/crypptrcver đŹ WhatsApp: +1(941)317â1821
Crypt Recver is your trusted partner in cryptocurrency recovery. Let us turn your challenges into victories. Donât hesitate â your crypto future starts now! đâ¨
Act fast and secure your digital assets with cryptrecver.com.Losing access to your cryptocurrency can feel like losing a part of your future. Whether itâs due to a forgotten password, a damaged seed backup, or a simple mistake in a transfer, the stress can be overwhelming. Fortunately, cryptrecver.com is here to assist! With our expert-led recovery services, you can safely and swiftly reclaim your lost Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
# Why Trust Crypt Recver? đ¤
đ ď¸Â Expert Recovery Solutions\ At Crypt Recver, we specialize in addressing complex wallet-related issues. Our skilled engineers have the tools and expertise to handle:
- Partially lost or forgotten seed phrases
- Extracting funds from outdated or invalid wallet addresses
- Recovering data from damaged hardware wallets
- Restoring coins from old or unsupported wallet formats
Youâre not just getting a service; youâre gaining a partner in your cryptocurrency journey.
đ Fast and Efficient Recovery\ We understand that time is crucial in crypto recovery. Our optimized systems enable you to regain access to your funds quickly, focusing on speed without compromising security. With a success rate of over 90%, you can rely on us to act swiftly on your behalf.
đ Privacy is Our Priority\ Your confidentiality is essential. Every recovery session is conducted with the utmost care, ensuring all processes are encrypted and confidential. You can rest assured that your sensitive information remains private.
đťÂ Advanced Technology\ Our proprietary tools and brute-force optimization techniques maximize recovery efficiency. Regardless of how challenging your case may be, our technology is designed to give you the best chance at retrieving your crypto.
Our Recovery Services Include: đ
- Bitcoin Recovery:Â Lost access to your Bitcoin wallet? We help recover lost wallets, private keys, and passphrases.
- Transaction Recovery:Â Mistakes happen â whether itâs an incorrect wallet address or a lost password, let us manage the recovery.
- Cold Wallet Restoration:Â If your cold wallet is failing, we can safely extract your assets and migrate them into a secure new wallet.
- Private Key Generation:Â Lost your private key? Our experts can help you regain control using advanced methods while ensuring your privacy.
â ď¸Â What We Donât Do\ While we can handle many scenarios, some limitations exist. For instance, we cannot recover funds stored in custodial wallets or cases where there is a complete loss of four or more seed words without partial information available. We are transparent about whatâs possible, so you know what to expect
# Donât Let Lost Crypto Hold You Back!
Did you know that between 3 to 3.4 million BTC â nearly 20% of the total supply â are estimated to be permanently lost? Donât become part of that statistic! Whether itâs due to a forgotten password, sending funds to the wrong address, or damaged drives, we can help you navigate these challenges
đĄď¸Â Real-Time Dust Attack Protection\ Our services extend beyond recovery. We offer dust attack protection, keeping your activity anonymous and your funds secure, shielding your identity from unwanted tracking, ransomware, and phishing attempts.
đ Start Your Recovery Journey Today!\ Ready to reclaim your lost crypto? Donât wait until itâs too late!\ đ cryptrecver.com
đ Need Immediate Assistance? Connect with Us!\ For real-time support or questions, reach out to our dedicated team on:\ âď¸ Telegram: t.me/crypptrcver\ đŹ WhatsApp: +1(941)317â1821
Crypt Recver is your trusted partner in cryptocurrency recovery. Let us turn your challenges into victories. Donât hesitate â your crypto future starts now! đâ¨
Act fast and secure your digital assets with cryptrecver.com.
-
@ 6c05c73e:c4356f17
2025-05-24 19:16:17Descrição da empresa
Fundada em 1961, a WEG Ê uma empresa global de equipamentos eletroeletrônicos, atuando principalmente no setor de bens de capital com soluçþes em måquinas elÊtricas, automação e tintas, para diversos setores, incluindo infraestrutura, siderurgia, papel e celulose, petróleo e gås, mineração, entre muitos outros.
A WEG se destaca em inovação pelo desenvolvimento constante de soluçþes para atender as grandes tendĂŞncias voltadas a eficiĂŞncia energĂŠtica, energias renovĂĄveis e mobilidade elĂŠtrica. Com operaçþes industriais em 17 paĂses e presença comercial em mais de 135 paĂses, a companhia possui mais de 47.000 mil colaboradores distribuĂdos pelo mundo.
Em 2024, a WEG atingiu faturamento lĂquido de R$38,0 bilhĂľes, destes 57,0% proveniente das vendas realizadas fora do Brasil.
Vendendo soluçþes para os clientes
"Na febre do ouro, muito garimpeiros corriam atrĂĄs de ouro para ficar ricos. Enquanto isso, muita gente enriqueceu vendendo pĂĄs, roupas, bebidas, cigarros e mantimentos para elesâŚâ
Em um mundo dominado cada vez mais por Inteligência Artificial, carros elÊtricos e tecnologias quânticas. A Wege segue se destacando por oferecer equipamentos e parte da estrutura pode detrås para que essas tecnologias possam existir. Focada em inovação e performance. A empresa oferece soluçþes de ponta a ponta para os mais variados setores da indústria.
VisĂŁo geral da empresa
A Wege atua no setor de mĂĄquinas e equipamentos. Se formos fazer um refino, podemos dizer que ela atua em subsetores tais como: motores, compressores e outros.
Mercado que atua
O setor de mĂĄquinas e equipamentos no Brasil em 2024 enfrentou um cenĂĄrio desafiador, com uma queda na receita lĂquida, mas tambĂŠm mostrou sinais de recuperação e algumas perspectivas positivas em segmentos especĂficos e no inĂcio de 2025.
A WEG ĂŠ gigante no mundo todo. Os caras tĂŞm fĂĄbricas e filiais em mais de 40 paĂses, espalhados por todos os continentes. A estratĂŠgia dos caras ĂŠ expandir sempre, comprando outras empresas e investindo pesado em mercados-chave. A empresa foca em: ExpansĂŁo, inovação e sustentabilidade.
Mercado
Grana Alta: Em 2024, o mercado global de måquinas e equipamentos valeu uns US$ 205,67 bilhþes. Jå a parte de motores elÊtricos, chegou a uns US$ 152,2 bilhþes. A parada Ê que a automação industrial, que Ê a cara do futuro, estava em uns US$ 192,02 bilhþes em 2024. à muita grana rolando!
As empresas estão investindo cada vez mais em IA (Inteligência artificial), IOT (internet das coisas, robótica e fabricação sustentåvel.
Perspectiva de crescimento A parada ĂŠ que esse mercado tĂĄ com gĂĄs total pra crescer nos prĂłximos anos, parceiro:
Måquinas e Equipamentos: A expectativa Ê que o mercado global de måquinas e equipamentos cresça cerca de 6,57% ao ano atÊ 2033, podendo chegar a uns US$ 364,66 bilhþes.
Motores ElĂŠtricos: Esse setor tĂĄ prometendo um crescimento de uns 6,3% ao ano atĂŠ 2029, podendo bater uns US$ 206,4 bilhĂľes. A demanda por carros elĂŠtricos tĂĄ puxando muito esse crescimento.
Automação Industrial: Essa Ê a cereja do bolo! A expectativa Ê que o mercado de automação industrial dispare uns 9,1% ao ano atÊ 2033, alcançando uns US$ 420,49 bilhþes. A busca por mais produtividade, menos erros e mais eficiência tå impulsionando essa onda.
Materia sobre carros eletricos
Oportunidades que o ativo traz
Na minha visĂŁo, as maiores oportunidades que a Wege nos traz sĂŁo:
-
Equipamentos EletroeletrĂ´nicos Industriais
Esta årea inclui os motores elÊtricos, drives e equipamentos e serviços de automação industrial e serviços de manutenção. Os motores elÊtricos e demais equipamentos têm aplicação em praticamente todos os segmentos industriais, em equipamentos como compressores, bombas e ventiladores.
-
Geração Transmissão e Distribuição de Energia (GTD)
Os produtos e serviços incluĂdos nesta ĂĄrea sĂŁo os geradores elĂŠtricos para usinas hidrĂĄulicas e tĂŠrmicas (biomassa), turbinas hidrĂĄulicas (PCH e CGH), aerogeradores, transformadores, subestaçþes, painĂŠis de controle e serviços de integração de sistemas.
-
Motores Comerciais e Appliance
O foco de atuação nesta årea Ê o mercado de motores monofåsicos para bens de consumo duråvel, como lavadoras de roupas, aparelhos de ar condicionado, bombas de ågua, entre outros.
Desde Janeiro/25, podemos observar que o gråfico teve uma queda no seu preço. Contudo, continua se mantendo acima da ema200 e com ótimo volume negociado. Isso tudo caracteriza que a tendência majoritåria ainda Ê compradora. Então, devemos pensar em atuar somente nesse sentido.
Riscos
Os maiores riscos que vejo hoje, para uma empresa tĂŁo sĂłlida como Wege sĂŁo:
- Instabilidade Econômica Global e Regional, qualquer flutuação em mercado chave atuante pode representar um risco.
- Inflação e Custo de Insumos, principalmente aço e cobre que são matÊrias prima base.
- PolĂticas TarifĂĄrias e Protecionismo, se o homem laranja dos EUA impor tarifas. Pode afetar sim os negĂłcios da empresa como um todo.
Catalisadores
Na minha visão, os catalisadores da empresa. Que impulsionam e continuaram dando força a ela são:
- Forte diversificação de receita, 53% vem em dólar.
- Boa perspectiva do aumento do valor do dĂłlar. Isso representa mais caixa.
- As aquisiçþess feitas recentemente, que vão impulsionar a receita da empresa.
Faq
Qual foi o desempenho da WEGE3 nas Ăşltimas 52 semanas?
13.95% foi desempenho das açþes da WEGE3 atÊ o momento.
WEGE3 paga dividendos? Qual o Dividend Yield (DY) da WEGE3?
Sim, WEGE3 (WEG) paga dividendos e juros sobre capital prĂłprio (JCP). O Dividend Yield (DY) da WEGE3 tem variado ao longo do tempo, mas geralmente se encontra entre 1,4% e 1,8%, dependendo da cotação atual das açþes e dos valores de dividendos e JCP distribuĂdos.
O que Ê a WEG? Qual o setor de atuação da WEG?
A WEG Ê uma empresa global de equipamentos eletroeletrônicos, que atua principalmente no setor de bens de capital. A empresa se destaca por suas soluçþes em måquinas elÊtricas, automação, tintas e sistemas de energia, com foco em eficiência energÊtica e sustentabilidade.
Quais produtos a WEG fabrica?
A WEG produz uma vasta gama de produtos e soluçþes, abrangendo desde equipamentos elÊtricos e eletrônicos atÊ tintas e vernizes.
Qual Ê o P/L (Preço sobre Lucro) da WEGE3?
O P/L (Preço sobre Lucro) da WEGE3, conforme indicadores de mercado, estå em torno de 29,32.
Bio
Investir não precisa ser um bicho de sete cabeças! Na Threedolar, democratizamos o acesso ao mundo dos investimentos, oferecendo conteúdo claro e pråtico. Comece hoje mesmo a construir seu futuro financeiro!
Disclaimer
Lembre-se: este não Ê um conselho de investimento. Faça sua própria pesquisa antes de investir. Resultados passados não garantem lucros futuros. Cuide do seu dinheiro!
Referencia
https://www.fundamentus.com.br/detalhes.php?papel=WEGE3&h=1
https://ri.weg.net/a-weg/perfil-corporativo/
https://ri.weg.net/a-weg/por-que-a-weg/
https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/auto/carros-eletrificados-registram-85-de-aumento-nas-vendas-de-2024/
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@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9
2025-05-20 15:53:48This piece is the first in a series that will focus on things I think are a priority if your focus is similar to mine: building a strong family and safeguarding their future.
Choosing the ideal place to raise a family is one of the most significant decisions you will ever make. For simplicity sake I will break down my thought process into key factors: strong property rights, the ability to grow your own food, access to fresh water, the freedom to own and train with guns, and a dependable community.
A Jurisdiction with Strong Property Rights
Strong property rights are essential and allow you to build on a solid foundation that is less likely to break underneath you. Regions with a history of limited government and clear legal protections for landowners are ideal. Personally I think the US is the single best option globally, but within the US there is a wide difference between which state you choose. Choose carefully and thoughtfully, think long term. Obviously if you are not American this is not a realistic option for you, there are other solid options available especially if your family has mobility. I understand many do not have this capability to easily move, consider that your first priority, making movement and jurisdiction choice possible in the first place.
Abundant Access to Fresh Water
Water is life. I cannot overstate the importance of living somewhere with reliable, clean, and abundant freshwater. Some regions face water scarcity or heavy regulations on usage, so prioritizing a place where water is plentiful and your rights to it are protected is critical. Ideally you should have well access so you are not tied to municipal water supplies. In times of crisis or chaos well water cannot be easily shutoff or disrupted. If you live in an area that is drought prone, you are one drought away from societal chaos. Not enough people appreciate this simple fact.
Grow Your Own Food
A location with fertile soil, a favorable climate, and enough space for a small homestead or at the very least a garden is key. In stable times, a small homestead provides good food and important education for your family. In times of chaos your family being able to grow and raise healthy food provides a level of self sufficiency that many others will lack. Look for areas with minimal restrictions, good weather, and a culture that supports local farming.
Guns
The ability to defend your family is fundamental. A location where you can legally and easily own guns is a must. Look for places with a strong gun culture and a political history of protecting those rights. Owning one or two guns is not enough and without proper training they will be a liability rather than a benefit. Get comfortable and proficient. Never stop improving your skills. If the time comes that you must use a gun to defend your family, the skills must be instinct. Practice. Practice. Practice.
A Strong Community You Can Depend On
No one thrives alone. A ride or die community that rallies together in tough times is invaluable. Seek out a place where people know their neighbors, share similar values, and are quick to lend a hand. Lead by example and become a good neighbor, people will naturally respond in kind. Small towns are ideal, if possible, but living outside of a major city can be a solid balance in terms of work opportunities and family security.
Let me know if you found this helpful. My plan is to break down how I think about these five key subjects in future posts.
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@ 3283ef81:0a531a33
2025-05-24 18:41:43Why
is
this
noton
separate
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@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9
2025-05-20 15:50:22There is something quietly rebellious about stacking sats. In a world obsessed with instant gratification, choosing to patiently accumulate Bitcoin, one sat at a time, feels like a middle finger to the hype machine. But to do it right, you have got to stay humble. Stack too hard with your head in the clouds, and you will trip over your own ego before the next halving even hits.
Small Wins
Stacking sats is not glamorous. Discipline. Stacking every day, week, or month, no matter the price, and letting time do the heavy lifting. Humility lives in that consistency. You are not trying to outsmart the market or prove you are the next "crypto" prophet. Just a regular person, betting on a system you believe in, one humble stack at a time. Folks get rekt chasing the highs. They ape into some shitcoin pump, shout about it online, then go silent when they inevitably get rekt. The ones who last? They stack. Just keep showing up. Consistency. Humility in action. Know the game is long, and you are not bigger than it.
Ego is Volatile
Bitcoinâs swings can mess with your head. One day you are up 20%, feeling like a genius and the next down 30%, questioning everything. Ego will have you panic selling at the bottom or over leveraging the top. Staying humble means patience, a true bitcoin zen. Do not try to "beatâ Bitcoin. Ride it. Stack what you can afford, live your life, and let compounding work its magic.
Simplicity
There is a beauty in how stacking sats forces you to rethink value. A sat is worth less than a penny today, but every time you grab a few thousand, you plant a seed. It is not about flaunting wealth but rather building it, quietly, without fanfare. That mindset spills over. Cut out the noise: the overpriced coffee, fancy watches, the status games that drain your wallet. Humility is good for your soul and your stack. I have a buddy who has been stacking since 2015. Never talks about it unless you ask. Lives in a decent place, drives an old truck, and just keeps stacking. He is not chasing clout, he is chasing freedom. That is the vibe: less ego, more sats, all grounded in life.
The Big Picture
Stack those sats. Do it quietly, do it consistently, and do not let the green days puff you up or the red days break you down. Humility is the secret sauce, it keeps you grounded while the world spins wild. In a decade, when you look back and smile, it will not be because you shouted the loudest. It will be because you stayed the course, one sat at a time. \ \ Stay Humble and Stack Sats. đŤĄ
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@ 3f770d65:7a745b24
2025-04-21 00:15:06At the recent Launch Music Festival and Conference in Lancaster, PA, featuring over 120 musicians across three days, I volunteered my time with Tunestr and Phantom Power Music's initiative to introduce artists to Bitcoin, Nostr, and the value-for-value model. Tunestr sponsored a stage, live-streaming 21 bands to platforms like Tunestr.io, Fountain.fm and other Nostr/Podcasting 2.0 apps and on-boarding as many others as possible at our conference booth. You may have seen me spamming about this over the last few days.
V4V Earnings
Day 1: 180,000 sats
Day 2: 300,000 sats
Day 3: Over 500,000 sats
Who?
Here are the artists that were on-boarded to Fountain and were live streaming on the Value-for-Value stage:
nostr:npub1cruu4z0hwg7n3r2k7262vx8jsmra3xpku85frl5fnfvrwz7rd7mq7e403w nostr:npub12xeh3n7w8700z4tpd6xlhlvg4vtg4pvpxd584ll5sva539tutc3q0tn3tz nostr:npub1rc80p4v60uzfhvdgxemhvcqnzdj7t59xujxdy0lcjxml3uwdezyqtrpe0j @npub16vxr4pc2ww3yaez9q4s53zkejjfd0djs9lfe55sjhnqkh nostr:npub10uspdzg4fl7md95mqnjszxx82ckdly8ezac0t3s06a0gsf4f3lys8ypeak nostr:npub1gnyzexr40qut0za2c4a0x27p4e3qc22wekhcw3uvdx8mwa3pen0s9z90wk nostr:npub13qrrw2h4z52m7jh0spefrwtysl4psfkfv6j4j672se5hkhvtyw7qu0almy nostr:npub1p0kuqxxw2mxczc90vcurvfq7ljuw2394kkqk6gqnn2cq0y9eq5nq87jtkk nostr:npub182kq0sdp7chm67uq58cf4vvl3lk37z8mm5k5067xe09fqqaaxjsqlcazej nostr:npub162hr8kd96vxlanvggl08hmyy37qsn8ehgj7za7squl83um56epnswkr399 nostr:npub17jzk5ex2rafres09c4dnn5mm00eejye6nrurnlla6yn22zcpl7vqg6vhvx nostr:npub176rnksulheuanfx8y8cr2mrth4lh33svvpztggjjm6j2pqw6m56sq7s9vz nostr:npub1akv7t7xpalhsc4nseljs0c886jzuhq8u42qdcwvu972f3mme9tjsgp5xxk nostr:npub18x0gv872489lrczp9d9m4hx59r754x7p9rg2jkgvt7ul3kuqewtqsssn24
Many more musicians were on-boarded to Fountain, however, we were unable to obtain all of their npubs.
THANK YOU TO ALL ZAPPERS AND BOOSTERS!
Musicians âGet Itâ
My key takeaway was the musicians' absolute understanding that the current digital landscape along with legacy social media is failing them. Every artist I spoke with recognized how algorithms hinder fan connection and how gatekeepers prevent fair compensation for their work. They all use Spotify, but they only do so out of necessity. They felt the music industry is primed for both a social and monetary revolution. Some of them were even speaking my languageâŚ
Because of this, concepts like decentralization, censorship resistance, owning your content, and controlling your social graph weren't just understood by them, they were instantly embraced. The excitement was real; they immediately saw the potential and agreed with me. Bitcoin and Nostr felt genuinely punk rock and that helped a lot of them identify with what we were offering them.
The Tools and the Issues
While the Nostr ecosystem offers a wide variety of tools, we focused on introducing three key applications at this event to keep things clear for newcomers:
- Fountain, with a music focus, was the primary tool for onboarding attendees onto Nostr. Fountain was also chosen thanks to Fountainâs built-in Lightning wallet.
- Primal, as a social alternative, was demonstrated to show how users can take their Nostr identity and content seamlessly between different applications.
- Tunestr.io, lastly was showcased for its live video streaming capabilities.
Although we highlighted these three, we did inform attendees about the broader range of available apps and pointed them to
nostrapps.com
if they wanted to explore further, aiming to educate without overwhelming them.This review highlights several UX issues with the Fountain app, particularly concerning profile updates, wallet functionality, and user discovery. While Fountain does work well, these minor hiccups make it extremely hard for on-boarding and education.
- Profile Issues:
- When a user edits their profile (e.g., Username/Nostr address, Lightning address) either during or after creation, the changes don't appear to consistently update across the app or sync correctly with Nostr relays.
- Specifically, the main profile display continues to show the old default Username/Nostr address and Lightning address inside Fountain and on other Nostr clients.
- However, the updated Username/Nostr address does appear on https://fountain.fm (chosen-username@fountain.fm) and is visible within the "Edit Profile" screen itself in the app.
- This inconsistency is confusing for users, as they see their updated information in some places but not on their main public-facing profile within the app. I confirmed this by observing a new user sign up and edit their username â the edit screen showed the new name, but the profile display in Fountain did not update and we did not see it inside Primal, Damus, Amethyst, etc.
- Wallet Limitations:
- The app's built-in wallet cannot scan Lightning address QR codes to initiate payments.
- This caused problems during the event where users imported Bitcoin from Azte.co vouchers into their Fountain wallets. When they tried to Zap a band by scanning a QR code on the live tally board, Fountain displayed an error message stating the invoice or QR code was invalid.
- While suggesting musicians install Primal as a second Nostr app was a potential fix for the QR code issue, (and I mentioned it to some), the burden of onboarding users onto two separate applications, potentially managing two different wallets, and explaining which one works for specific tasks creates a confusing and frustrating user experience.
- Search Difficulties:
- Finding other users within the Fountain app is challenging. I was unable to find profiles from brand new users by entering their chosen Fountain username.
- To find a new user, I had to resort to visiting their profile on the web (fountain.fm/username) to retrieve their npub. Then, open Primal and follow them. Finally, when searching for their username, since I was now following them, I was able to find their profile.
- This search issue is compounded by the profile syncing problem mentioned earlier, as even if found via other clients, their displayed information is outdated.
- Searching for the event to Boost/Zap inside Fountain was harder than it should have been the first two days as the live stream did not appear at the top of the screen inside the tap. This was resolved on the third day of the event.
Improving the Onboarding Experience
To better support user growth, educators and on-boarders need more feature complete and user-friendly applications. I love our developers and I will always sing their praises from the highest mountain tops, however I also recognize that the current tools present challenges that hinder a smooth onboarding experience.
One potential approach explored was guiding users to use Primal (including its built-in wallet) in conjunction with Wavlake via Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC). While this could facilitate certain functions like music streaming, zaps, and QR code scanning (which require both Primal and Wavlake apps), Wavlake itself has usability issues. These include inconsistent or separate profiles between web and mobile apps, persistent "Login" buttons even when logged in on the mobile app with a Nostr identity, and the minor inconvenience of needing two separate applications. Although NWC setup is relatively easy and helps streamline the process, the need to switch between apps adds complexity, especially when time is limited and weâre aiming to showcase the benefits of this new system.
Ultimately, we need applications that are more feature-complete and intuitive for mainstream users to improve the onboarding experience significantly.
Looking forward to the future
I anticipate that most of these issues will be resolved when these applications address them in the near future. Specifically, this would involve Fountain fixing its profile issues and integrating Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC) to allow users to utilize their Primal wallet, or by enabling the scanning of QR codes that pay out to Lightning addresses. Alternatively, if Wavlake resolves the consistency problems mentioned earlier, this would also significantly improve the situation giving us two viable solutions for musicians.
My ideal onboarding event experience would involve having all the previously mentioned issues resolved. Additionally, I would love to see every attendee receive a $5 or $10 voucher to help them start engaging with value-for-value, rather than just the limited number we distributed recently. The goal is to have everyone actively zapping and sending Bitcoin throughout the event. Maybe we can find a large sponsor to facilitate this in the future?
What's particularly exciting is the Launch conference's strong interest in integrating value-for-value across their entire program for all musicians and speakers at their next event in Dallas, Texas, coming later this fall. This presents a significant opportunity to onboard over 100+ musicians to Bitcoin and Nostr, which in turn will help onboard their fans and supporters.
We need significantly more zaps and more zappers! It's unreasonable to expect the same dedicated individuals to continuously support new users; they are being bled dry. A shift is needed towards more people using bitcoin for everyday transactions, treating it as money. This brings me back to my ideal onboarding experience: securing a sponsor to essentially give participants bitcoin funds specifically for zapping and tipping artists. This method serves as a practical lesson in using bitcoin as money and showcases the value-for-value principle from the outset.
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@ 3f770d65:7a745b24
2025-01-19 21:48:49The recent shutdown of TikTok in the United States due to a potential government ban serves as a stark reminder how fragile centralized platforms truly are under the surface. While these platforms offer convenience, a more polished user experience, and connectivity, they are ultimately beholden to governments, corporations, and other authorities. This makes them vulnerable to censorship, regulation, and outright bans. In contrast, Nostr represents a shift in how we approach online communication and content sharing. Built on the principles of decentralization and user choice, Nostr cannot be banned, because it is not a platformâit is a protocol.
PROTOCOLS, NOT PLATFORMS.
At the heart of Nostr's philosophy is user choice, a feature that fundamentally sets it apart from legacy platforms. In centralized systems, the user experience is dictated by a single person or governing entity. If the platform decides to filter, censor, or ban specific users or content, individuals are left with little action to rectify the situation. They must either accept the changes or abandon the platform entirely, often at the cost of losing their social connections, their data, and their identity.
What's happening with TikTok could never happen on Nostr. With Nostr, the dynamics are completely different. Because it is a protocol, not a platform, no single entity controls the ecosystem. Instead, the protocol enables a network of applications and relays that users can freely choose from. If a particular application or relay implements policies that a user disagrees with, such as censorship, filtering, or even government enforced banning, they are not trapped or abandoned. They have the freedom to move to another application or relay with minimal effort.
THIS IS POWERFUL.
Take, for example, the case of a relay that decides to censor specific content. On a legacy platform, this would result in frustration and a loss of access for users. On Nostr, however, users can simply connect to a different relay that does not impose such restrictions. Similarly, if an application introduces features or policies that users dislike, they can migrate to a different application that better suits their preferences, all while retaining their identity and social connections.
The same principles apply to government bans and censorship. A government can ban a specific application or even multiple applications, just as it can block one relay or several relays. China has implemented both tactics, yet Chinese users continue to exist and actively participate on Nostr, demonstrating Nostr's ability to resistant censorship.
How? Simply, it turns into a game of whack-a-mole. When one relay is censored, another quickly takes its place. When one application is banned, another emerges. Users can also bypass these obstacles by running their own relays and applications directly from their homes or personal devices, eliminating reliance on larger entities or organizations and ensuring continuous access.
AGAIN, THIS IS POWERUFL.
Nostr's open and decentralized design makes it resistant to the kinds of government intervention that led to TikTok's outages this weekend and potential future ban in the next 90 days. There is no central server to target, no company to regulate, and no single point of failure. (Insert your CEO jokes here). As long as there are individuals running relays and applications, users continue creating notes and sending zaps.
Platforms like TikTok can be silenced with the stroke of a pen, leaving millions of users disconnected and abandoned. Social communication should not be silenced so incredibly easily. No one should have that much power over social interactions.
Will we on-board a massive wave of TikTokers in the coming hours or days? I don't know.
TikTokers may not be ready for Nostr yet, and honestly, Nostr may not be ready for them either. The ecosystem still lacks the completely polished applications, tools, and services theyâre accustomed to. This is where we say "we're still early". They may not be early adopters like the current Nostr user base. Until we bridge that gap, theyâll likely move to the next centralized platform, only to face another government ban or round of censorship in the future. But eventually, there will come a tipping point, a moment when theyâve had enough. When that time comes, I hope weâre prepared. If weâre not, we risk missing a tremendous opportunity to onboard people who genuinely need Nostrâs freedom.
Until then, to all of the Nostr developers out there, keep up the great work and keep building. Your hard work and determination is needed.
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@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9
2025-05-20 15:47:16Hereâs a revised timeline of macro-level events from The Mandibles: A Family, 2029â2047 by Lionel Shriver, reimagined in a world where Bitcoin is adopted as a widely accepted form of money, altering the original narrativeâs assumptions about currency collapse and economic control. In Shriverâs original story, the failure of Bitcoin is assumed amid the dominance of the bancor and the dollarâs collapse. Here, Bitcoinâs success reshapes the economic and societal trajectory, decentralizing power and challenging state-driven outcomes.
Part One: 2029â2032
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2029 (Early Year)\ The United States faces economic strain as the dollar weakens against global shifts. However, Bitcoin, having gained traction emerges as a viable alternative. Unlike the original timeline, the bancorâa supranational currency backed by a coalition of nationsâstruggles to gain footing as Bitcoinâs decentralized adoption grows among individuals and businesses worldwide, undermining both the dollar and the bancor.
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2029 (Mid-Year: The Great Renunciation)\ Treasury bonds lose value, and the government bans Bitcoin, labeling it a threat to sovereignty (mirroring the original bancor ban). However, a Bitcoin ban proves unenforceableâits decentralized nature thwarts confiscation efforts, unlike gold in the original story. Hyperinflation hits the dollar as the U.S. prints money, but Bitcoinâs fixed supply shields adopters from currency devaluation, creating a dual-economy split: dollar users suffer, while Bitcoin users thrive.
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2029 (Late Year)\ Dollar-based inflation soars, emptying stores of goods priced in fiat currency. Meanwhile, Bitcoin transactions flourish in underground and online markets, stabilizing trade for those plugged into the bitcoin ecosystem. Traditional supply chains falter, but peer-to-peer Bitcoin networks enable local and international exchange, reducing scarcity for early adopters. The governmentâs gold confiscation fails to bolster the dollar, as Bitcoinâs rise renders gold less relevant.
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2030â2031\ Crime spikes in dollar-dependent urban areas, but Bitcoin-friendly regions see less chaos, as digital wallets and smart contracts facilitate secure trade. The U.S. government doubles down on surveillance to crack down on bitcoin use. A cultural divide deepens: centralized authority weakens in Bitcoin-adopting communities, while dollar zones descend into lawlessness.
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2032\ By this point, Bitcoin is de facto legal tender in parts of the U.S. and globally, especially in tech-savvy or libertarian-leaning regions. The federal governmentâs grip slips as tax collection in dollars plummetsâBitcoinâs traceability is low, and citizens evade fiat-based levies. Rural and urban Bitcoin hubs emerge, while the dollar economy remains fractured.
Time Jump: 2032â2047
- Over 15 years, Bitcoin solidifies as a global reserve currency, eroding centralized control. The U.S. government adapts, grudgingly integrating bitcoin into policy, though regional autonomy grows as Bitcoin empowers local economies.
Part Two: 2047
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2047 (Early Year)\ The U.S. is a hybrid state: Bitcoin is legal tender alongside a diminished dollar. Taxes are lower, collected in BTC, reducing federal overreach. Bitcoinâs adoption has decentralized power nationwide. The bancor has faded, unable to compete with Bitcoinâs grassroots momentum.
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2047 (Mid-Year)\ Travel and trade flow freely in Bitcoin zones, with no restrictive checkpoints. The dollar economy lingers in poorer areas, marked by decay, but Bitcoinâs dominance lifts overall prosperity, as its deflationary nature incentivizes saving and investment over consumption. Global supply chains rebound, powered by bitcoin enabled efficiency.
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2047 (Late Year)\ The U.S. is a patchwork of semi-autonomous zones, united by Bitcoinâs universal acceptance rather than federal control. Resource scarcity persists due to past disruptions, but economic stability is higher than in Shriverâs original dystopiaâBitcoinâs success prevents the authoritarian slide, fostering a freer, if imperfect, society.
Key Differences
- Currency Dynamics: Bitcoinâs triumph prevents the bancorâs dominance and mitigates hyperinflationâs worst effects, offering a lifeline outside state control.
- Government Power: Centralized authority weakens as Bitcoin evades bans and taxation, shifting power to individuals and communities.
- Societal Outcome: Instead of a surveillance state, 2047 sees a decentralized, bitcoin driven worldâless oppressive, though still stratified between Bitcoin haves and have-nots.
This reimagining assumes Bitcoin overcomes Shriverâs implied skepticism to become a robust, adopted currency by 2029, fundamentally altering the novelâs bleak trajectory.
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@ b83a28b7:35919450
2025-05-16 19:26:56This article was originally part of the sermon of Plebchain Radio Episode 111 (May 2, 2025) that nostr:nprofile1qyxhwumn8ghj7mn0wvhxcmmvqyg8wumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytnvv9hxgqpqtvqc82mv8cezhax5r34n4muc2c4pgjz8kaye2smj032nngg52clq7fgefr and I did with nostr:nprofile1qythwumn8ghj7ct5d3shxtnwdaehgu3wd3skuep0qyt8wumn8ghj7ct4w35zumn0wd68yvfwvdhk6tcqyzx4h2fv3n9r6hrnjtcrjw43t0g0cmmrgvjmg525rc8hexkxc0kd2rhtk62 and nostr:nprofile1qyxhwumn8ghj7mn0wvhxcmmvqyg8wumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytnvv9hxgqpq4wxtsrj7g2jugh70pfkzjln43vgn4p7655pgky9j9w9d75u465pqahkzd0 of the nostr:nprofile1qythwumn8ghj7ct5d3shxtnwdaehgu3wd3skuep0qyt8wumn8ghj7etyv4hzumn0wd68ytnvv9hxgtcqyqwfvwrccp4j2xsuuvkwg0y6a20637t6f4cc5zzjkx030dkztt7t5hydajn
Listen to the full episode here:
<<https://fountain.fm/episode/Ln9Ej0zCZ5dEwfo8w2Ho>>
Bitcoin has always been a narrative revolution disguised as code. White paper, cypherpunk lore, pizzaâday legends - every block is a paragraph in the worldâs most relentless epic. But code alone rarely converts the skeptic; itâs the campâfire myth that slips past the prefrontal cortex and shakes hands with the limbic system. People donât adopt protocols first - they fall in love with protagonists.
Early adopters heard the whiteâpaper hymn, but most folks need characters first: a pizzaâday dreamer; a mother in a small country, crushed by the cost of remittance; a Warsaw street vendor swapping zĹoty for sats. When their arcs land, the brain releases a neurochemical OP_RETURN which says, âI belong in this plot.ââŻThatâs the sly roundabout orange pill: conviction smuggled inside catharsis.
Thatâs why, from 22â25âŻMay in Warsawâs Kinoteka, the BitcoinâŻFilmâŻFest is loading its reels with rebellion. Each documentary, drama, and animated rabbitâhole is a stealth wallet, zipping conviction straight into the feels of anyone still clasped within the cold claw of fiat. You come for the plot, you leave checking block heights.
Here's the clip of the sermon from the episode:
nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzpwp69zm7fewjp0vkp306adnzt7249ytxhz7mq3w5yc629u6er9zsqqsy43fwz8es2wnn65rh0udc05tumdnx5xagvzd88ptncspmesdqhygcrvpf2
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@ 3283ef81:0a531a33
2025-05-24 18:17:22Vestibulum a nunc a sapien aliquam rhoncus\ Sed sem turpis, scelerisque sed augue ut, faucibus blandit lectus
Maecenas commodo, augue in placerat lacinia, lorem libero convallis mi, eu fringilla velit arcu id sem. In ac metus vitae sapien dignissim luctus
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@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9
2025-05-16 18:06:46Bitcoin has always been rooted in freedom and resistance to authority. I get that many of you are conflicted about the US Government stacking but by design we cannot stop anyone from using bitcoin. Many have asked me for my thoughts on the matter, so letâs rip it.
Concern
One of the most glaring issues with the strategic bitcoin reserve is its foundation, built on stolen bitcoin. For those of us who value private property this is an obvious betrayal of our core principles. Rather than proof of work, the bitcoin that seeds this reserve has been taken by force. The US Government should return the bitcoin stolen from Bitfinex and the Silk Road.
Using stolen bitcoin for the reserve creates a perverse incentive. If governments see bitcoin as a valuable asset, they will ramp up efforts to confiscate more bitcoin. The precedent is a major concern, and I stand strongly against it, but it should be also noted that governments were already seizing coin before the reserve so this is not really a change in policy.
Ideally all seized bitcoin should be burned, by law. This would align incentives properly and make it less likely for the government to actively increase coin seizures. Due to the truly scarce properties of bitcoin, all burned bitcoin helps existing holders through increased purchasing power regardless. This change would be unlikely but those of us in policy circles should push for it regardless. It would be best case scenario for American bitcoiners and would create a strong foundation for the next century of American leadership.
Optimism
The entire point of bitcoin is that we can spend or save it without permission. That said, it is a massive benefit to not have one of the strongest governments in human history actively trying to ruin our lives.
Since the beginning, bitcoiners have faced horrible regulatory trends. KYC, surveillance, and legal cases have made using bitcoin and building bitcoin businesses incredibly difficult. It is incredibly important to note that over the past year that trend has reversed for the first time in a decade. A strategic bitcoin reserve is a key driver of this shift. By holding bitcoin, the strongest government in the world has signaled that it is not just a fringe technology but rather truly valuable, legitimate, and worth stacking.
This alignment of incentives changes everything. The US Government stacking proves bitcoinâs worth. The resulting purchasing power appreciation helps all of us who are holding coin and as bitcoin succeeds our government receives direct benefit. A beautiful positive feedback loop.
Realism
We are trending in the right direction. A strategic bitcoin reserve is a sign that the state sees bitcoin as an asset worth embracing rather than destroying. That said, there is a lot of work left to be done. We cannot be lulled into complacency, the time to push forward is now, and we cannot take our foot off the gas. We have a seat at the table for the first time ever. Let's make it worth it.
We must protect the right to free usage of bitcoin and other digital technologies. Freedom in the digital age must be taken and defended, through both technical and political avenues. Multiple privacy focused developers are facing long jail sentences for building tools that protect our freedom. These cases are not just legal battles. They are attacks on the soul of bitcoin. We need to rally behind them, fight for their freedom, and ensure the ethos of bitcoin survives this new era of government interest. The strategic reserve is a step in the right direction, but it is up to us to hold the line and shape the future.
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@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9
2025-05-16 17:59:23Recently we have seen a wave of high profile X accounts hacked. These attacks have exposed the fragility of the status quo security model used by modern social media platforms like X. Many users have asked if nostr fixes this, so lets dive in. How do these types of attacks translate into the world of nostr apps? For clarity, I will use Xâs security model as representative of most big tech social platforms and compare it to nostr.
The Status Quo
On X, you never have full control of your account. Ultimately to use it requires permission from the company. They can suspend your account or limit your distribution. Theoretically they can even post from your account at will. An X account is tied to an email and password. Users can also opt into two factor authentication, which adds an extra layer of protection, a login code generated by an app. In theory, this setup works well, but it places a heavy burden on users. You need to create a strong, unique password and safeguard it. You also need to ensure your email account and phone number remain secure, as attackers can exploit these to reset your credentials and take over your account. Even if you do everything responsibly, there is another weak link in X infrastructure itself. The platformâs infrastructure allows accounts to be reset through its backend. This could happen maliciously by an employee or through an external attacker who compromises Xâs backend. When an account is compromised, the legitimate user often gets locked out, unable to post or regain control without contacting Xâs support team. That process can be slow, frustrating, and sometimes fruitless if support denies the request or cannot verify your identity. Often times support will require users to provide identification info in order to regain access, which represents a privacy risk. The centralized nature of X means you are ultimately at the mercy of the companyâs systems and staff.
Nostr Requires Responsibility
Nostr flips this model radically. Users do not need permission from a company to access their account, they can generate as many accounts as they want, and cannot be easily censored. The key tradeoff here is that users have to take complete responsibility for their security. Instead of relying on a username, password, and corporate servers, nostr uses a private key as the sole credential for your account. Users generate this key and it is their responsibility to keep it safe. As long as you have your key, you can post. If someone else gets it, they can post too. It is that simple. This design has strong implications. Unlike X, there is no backend reset option. If your key is compromised or lost, there is no customer support to call. In a compromise scenario, both you and the attacker can post from the account simultaneously. Neither can lock the other out, since nostr relays simply accept whatever is signed with a valid key.
The benefit? No reliance on proprietary corporate infrastructure.. The negative? Security rests entirely on how well you protect your key.
Future Nostr Security Improvements
For many users, nostrâs standard security model, storing a private key on a phone with an encrypted cloud backup, will likely be sufficient. It is simple and reasonably secure. That said, nostrâs strength lies in its flexibility as an open protocol. Users will be able to choose between a range of security models, balancing convenience and protection based on need.
One promising option is a web of trust model for key rotation. Imagine pre-selecting a group of trusted friends. If your account is compromised, these people could collectively sign an event announcing the compromise to the network and designate a new key as your legitimate one. Apps could handle this process seamlessly in the background, notifying followers of the switch without much user interaction. This could become a popular choice for average users, but it is not without tradeoffs. It requires trust in your chosen web of trust, which might not suit power users or large organizations. It also has the issue that some apps may not recognize the key rotation properly and followers might get confused about which account is âreal.â
For those needing higher security, there is the option of multisig using FROST (Flexible Round-Optimized Schnorr Threshold). In this setup, multiple keys must sign off on every action, including posting and updating a profile. A hacker with just one key could not do anything. This is likely overkill for most users due to complexity and inconvenience, but it could be a game changer for large organizations, companies, and governments. Imagine the White House nostr account requiring signatures from multiple people before a post goes live, that would be much more secure than the status quo big tech model.
Another option are hardware signers, similar to bitcoin hardware wallets. Private keys are kept on secure, offline devices, separate from the internet connected phone or computer you use to broadcast events. This drastically reduces the risk of remote hacks, as private keys never touches the internet. It can be used in combination with multisig setups for extra protection. This setup is much less convenient and probably overkill for most but could be ideal for governments, companies, or other high profile accounts.
Nostrâs security model is not perfect but is robust and versatile. Ultimately users are in control and security is their responsibility. Apps will give users multiple options to choose from and users will choose what best fits their need.
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@ 3f770d65:7a745b24
2025-01-12 21:03:36Iâve been using Notedeck for several months, starting with its extremely early and experimental alpha versions, all the way to its current, more stable alpha releases. The journey has been fascinating, as Iâve had the privilege of watching it evolve from a concept into a functional and promising tool.
In its earliest stages, Notedeck was rawâoffering glimpses of its potential but still far from practical for daily use. Even then, the vision behind it was clear: a platform designed to redefine how we interact with Nostr by offering flexibility and power for all users.
I'm very bullish on Notedeck. Why? Because Will Casarin is making it! Duh! đ
Seriously though, if weâre reimagining the web and rebuilding portions of the Internet, itâs important to recognize the potential of Notedeck. If Nostr is reimagining the web, then Notedeck is reimagining the Nostr client.
Notedeck isnât just another Nostr appâitâs more a Nostr browser that functions more like an operating system with micro-apps. How cool is that?
Much like how Google's Chrome evolved from being a web browser with a task manager into ChromeOS, a full blown operating system, Notedeck aims to transform how we interact with the Nostr. It goes beyond individual apps, offering a foundation for a fully integrated ecosystem built around Nostr.
As a Nostr evangelist, I love to scream INTEROPERABILITY and tout every application's integrations. Well, Notedeck has the potential to be one of the best platforms to showcase these integrations in entirely new and exciting ways.
Do you want an Olas feed of images? Add the media column.
Do you want a feed of live video events? Add the zap.stream column.
Do you want Nostr Nests or audio chats? Add that column to your Notedeck.
Git? Email? Books? Chat and DMs? It's all possible.
Not everyone wants a super app though, and thatâs okay. As with most things in the Nostr ecosystem, flexibility is key. Notedeck gives users the freedom to choose how they engage with itâwhether itâs simply following hashtags or managing straightforward feeds. You'll be able to tailor Notedeck to fit your needs, using it as extensively or minimally as you prefer.
Notedeck is designed with a local-first approach, utilizing Nostr content stored directly on your device via the local nostrdb. This will enable a plethora of advanced tools such as search and filtering, the creation of custom feeds, and the ability to develop personalized algorithms across multiple Notedeck micro-applicationsâall with unparalleled flexibility.
Notedeck also supports multicast. Let's geek out for a second. Multicast is a method of communication where data is sent from one source to multiple destinations simultaneously, but only to devices that wish to receive the data. Unlike broadcast, which sends data to all devices on a network, multicast targets specific receivers, reducing network traffic. This is commonly used for efficient data distribution in scenarios like streaming, conferencing, or large-scale data synchronization between devices.
In a local first world where each device holds local copies of your nostr nodes, and each device transparently syncs with each other on the local network, each node becomes a backup. Your data becomes antifragile automatically. When a node goes down it can resync and recover from other nodes. Even if not all nodes have a complete collection, negentropy can pull down only what is needed from each device. All this can be done without internet.
-Will Casarin
In the context of Notedeck, multicast would allow multiple devices to sync their Nostr nodes with each other over a local network without needing an internet connection. Wild.
Notedeck aims to offer full customization too, including the ability to design and share custom skins, much like Winamp. Users will also be able to create personalized columns and, in the future, share their setups with others. This opens the door for power users to craft tailored Nostr experiences, leveraging their expertise in the protocol and applications. By sharing these configurations as "Starter Decks," they can simplify onboarding and showcase the best of Nostrâs ecosystem.
Nostrâs âOther Stuffâ can often be difficult to discover, use, or understand. Many users doesn't understand or know how to use web browser extensions to login to applications. Let's not even get started with nsecbunkers. Notedeck will address this challenge by providing a native experience that brings these lesser-known applications, tools, and content into a user-friendly and accessible interface, making exploration seamless. However, that doesn't mean Notedeck should disregard power users that want to use nsecbunkers though - hint hint.
For anyone interested in watching Nostr be developed live, right before your very eyes, Notedeckâs progress serves as a reminder of whatâs possible when innovation meets dedication. The current alpha is already demonstrating its ability to handle complex use cases, and Iâm excited to see how it continues to grow as it moves toward a full release later this year.
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@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9
2025-05-16 17:51:54In much of the world, it is incredibly difficult to access U.S. dollars. Local currencies are often poorly managed and riddled with corruption. Billions of people demand a more reliable alternative. While the dollar has its own issues of corruption and mismanagement, it is widely regarded as superior to the fiat currencies it competes with globally. As a result, Tether has found massive success providing low cost, low friction access to dollars. Tether claims 400 million total users, is on track to add 200 million more this year, processes 8.1 million transactions daily, and facilitates $29 billion in daily transfers. Furthermore, their estimates suggest nearly 40% of users rely on it as a savings tool rather than just a transactional currency.
Tetherâs rise has made the company a financial juggernaut. Last year alone, Tether raked in over $13 billion in profit, with a lean team of less than 100 employees. Their business model is elegantly simple: hold U.S. Treasuries and collect the interest. With over $113 billion in Treasuries, Tether has turned a straightforward concept into a profit machine.
Tetherâs success has resulted in many competitors eager to claim a piece of the pie. This has triggered a massive venture capital grift cycle in USD tokens, with countless projects vying to dethrone Tether. Due to Tetherâs entrenched network effect, these challengers face an uphill battle with little realistic chance of success. Most educated participants in the space likely recognize this reality but seem content to perpetuate the grift, hoping to cash out by dumping their equity positions on unsuspecting buyers before they realize the reality of the situation.
Historically, Tetherâs greatest vulnerability has been U.S. government intervention. For over a decade, the company operated offshore with few allies in the U.S. establishment, making it a major target for regulatory action. That dynamic has shifted recently and Tether has seized the opportunity. By actively courting U.S. government support, Tether has fortified their position. This strategic move will likely cement their status as the dominant USD token for years to come.
While undeniably a great tool for the millions of users that rely on it, Tether is not without flaws. As a centralized, trusted third party, it holds the power to freeze or seize funds at its discretion. Corporate mismanagement or deliberate malpractice could also lead to massive losses at scale. In their goal of mitigating regulatory risk, Tether has deepened ties with law enforcement, mirroring some of the concerns of potential central bank digital currencies. In practice, Tether operates as a corporate CBDC alternative, collaborating with authorities to surveil and seize funds. The company proudly touts partnerships with leading surveillance firms and its own data reveals cooperation in over 1,000 law enforcement cases, with more than $2.5 billion in funds frozen.
The global demand for Tether is undeniable and the companyâs profitability reflects its unrivaled success. Tether is owned and operated by bitcoiners and will likely continue to push forward strategic goals that help the movement as a whole. Recent efforts to mitigate the threat of U.S. government enforcement will likely solidify their network effect and stifle meaningful adoption of rival USD tokens or CBDCs. Yet, for all their achievements, Tether is simply a worse form of money than bitcoin. Tether requires trust in a centralized entity, while bitcoin can be saved or spent without permission. Furthermore, Tether is tied to the value of the US Dollar which is designed to lose purchasing power over time, while bitcoin, as a truly scarce asset, is designed to increase in purchasing power with adoption. As people awaken to the risks of Tetherâs control, and the benefits bitcoin provides, bitcoin adoption will likely surpass it.
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@ bf47c19e:c3d2573b
2025-05-24 18:17:09Ovaj post sam objavio 24.01.2024. godine na Redditu povodom tri decenije od uvoÄenja Novog dinara kao reĹĄenja za hiperinflaciju u Saveznoj Republici Jugoslaviji na ĹĄta su pojedini besni nokoineri sa te druĹĄtvene mreĹže osuli drvlje i kamenje na mene. Od starih budalaĹĄtina da je Bitkoin bezvredan, da nije oblik novca veÄ finansijsko ulaganje, preko pravdanja svrhe inflacije, sve do potpune nemoÄi da se argumentima opovrgne nepobitna istina i pozivanja moderatora da me banuju. đ
Cena Bitkoina tada je bila oko $40.000. :)
Osim glavnog posta, ovde Äu navesti i moje odgovore na neutemeljene i neinformisane tvrdnje besnih nokoinera. :) Da se saÄuva od zaborava!
JuÄe se navrĹĄilo 30 godina "Deda Avramove reforme".
Dan kada je roÄen novi dinar, a Deda Avram sasekao hiperinflaciju
Vikipedija: Jugoslovenski dinar
âU julu '93. godine u Jugoslaviji nisi mogao skoro niĹĄta da kupiĹĄ i niko za dinare nije hteo niĹĄta da prodajeâ, pisao je AvramoviÄ. Centralno-bankarska prevara se nastavlja jer je veÄ do kraja 1995. dinar oslabio prema marki za 70% (1 dinar = 3.4 DM), a u decembru 2000. je taj kurs veÄ bio 30.5 dinara za 1 DM (-96.7% od uvoÄenja novog dinara). To samo pokazuje da redenominacija valute tj. "brisanje nula" nije nikako Äudo i viÄano je puno puta kroz istoriju)
Ako je reformom iz januara '94 god. 1 novi dinar vredeo kao 1 nemaÄka marka, zatim od 2002. uveden evro Äime je realna vrednost marke (samim tim i dinara) prepolovljena, a danas 1 EUR vredi oko 117 RSD, to znaÄi da je "deda Avramov dinar" prema evru veÄ obezvreÄen 59.91 puta za 30 godina. Dakle devalvacija dinara od 5991% od 1994. godine, a svakako joĹĄ veÄa izraĹžena kroz dobra i usluge jer su i nemaÄka marka do 2002. i evro od svog uvoÄenja iste godine proĹĄli kroz sopstvenu inflaciju. Sam evro je izgubio oko 38% vrednosti od 2002. godine. Tako da se moĹže reÄi da i "deda Avramov dinar" veÄ uveliko prolazi kroz hiperinflaciju koja je samo razvuÄena na mnogo duĹži vremenski period (ne brinite - znam "zvaniÄnu" definiciju hiperinflacije - joĹĄ jedan "gaslighting" centralno-bankarskog kartela da zabaĹĄuri ĹĄta se iza brda valja). Jer ĹĄta je inflacija od preko 5991% nego viĹĄedecenijska hiperinflacija?! Kako ne shvata gigantske razmere ove prevare?!
ISPRAVKA: Dinar nije nominalno izgubio 23400% (234x) vrednosti prema nemaÄkoj marki/evru od 1994. godine, veÄ 59.91x odnosno 5991%. I danas na sajtu NBS postoji zvaniÄni srednji kurs marke prema dinaru od 59,91:1. Realno, obezvreÄivanje dinara i evra prema robama i uslugama je puno veÄe, poĹĄto su cene roba i usluga izraĹžene u evrima ubrzo udvostruÄene u periodu nakon uvoÄenja evra. Hvala Älanu DejanJwtq na ispravci i izvinjenje svima od mene zbog greĹĄke.
Dafiment i Jugoskandik ("Dafina i Jezda") su bili samo drĹžavna konstrukcija da se izvuku devize iz ruku naivnih investitora da bi te devize neĹĄto kasnije posluĹžile kao toboĹžnja rezerva za novi dinar. Ova gigantska prevara je unapred bila planirana, a Deda Avram iskoriĹĄÄen kao marioneta tadaĹĄnjeg reĹžima.
InaÄe lista drĹžava koje su izvrĹĄile redenominaciju valute kroz "brisanje nula" je popriliÄno dugaÄka i radi se o uobiÄajenoj pojavi kroz istoriju joĹĄ od Haitija 1813. godine, a poslednji put su to uradile Sijera Leone i Kolumbija 2021. godine. Odavno je zaboravljeno da je (SR) Jugoslavija devedesetih to uÄinila joĹĄ 1990. (10.000:1), 1992. (10:1), 1993. (1.000.000:1) i 1994. pre AvramoviÄa (1.000.000.000âś1) ali je ovaj dinar trajao samo 23 dana. Tako da Deda Avram nije izmislio toplu vodu.
U SFRJ je izvrĹĄena jedna redenominacija 1966. godine u odnosu 10.000:1.
Wikipedia: Redenomination
Kome i dalje nije jasno zaĹĄto Bitkoin neka viĹĄe puta paĹžljivo proÄita ove tekstove iznad: oblik novca koji se ne moĹže redenominirati, veoma lako konfiskovati i izdavati bez ikakve kontrole i pokriÄa. Potpuno nezavistan od kaprica korumpiranih i od realnosti otuÄenih politiÄara i centralnih bankara. Veoma je bitno da postoji ovakav oblik novca koji nije podloĹžan ovakvim manipulacijama od strane ljudskog faktora i da postoji slobodan izbor da se taj oblik novca odabere za ĹĄtednju i transakcije: barem od strane onih koji ga razumeju, ovi koji ne Ĺžele da razumeju neka i dalje pristaju da budu pljaÄkani - njima ionako nema pomoÄi.
Komentari
brainzorz: Da, ali ako cemo realno bitkoin ne sluzi kao oblik novca, vec kao finansijsko ulaganje.
Bar je tako za nas i vecinu ljudi po svetu u praktiÄnom smislu. Jer 99.99% ljudi ili koliko vec prime platu u svojoj lokalnoj valuti, trose istu na redovan zivot, a ostatak (ako ga ima) investiraju. Slazem se da lokalne valute imaju svoj neki rizik, koji je veci u banana drzavi i da cuvanje svog kapitala u turbulentnom periodu u istoj je jako losa ideja.
Kada tako posmatras onda se mogu vuci pararele izmedju ostalih aseta, poput ETFova na primer i onda dolazimo do gomile problema sa bitkoinom.
@BTCSRB: Bitkoin se ne moĹže porediti sa ETF-ovima poĹĄto ETF-ove i ostale investicione instrumente ne moĹžeĹĄ koristiti kao novac jer oni nisu "bearer assets" kao ĹĄto jeste BTC. BTC eliminiĹĄe potpuno inflaciju (jer dĹžabe ti keĹĄ u slamarici kao "bearer asset" kada je podloĹžan inflaciji) i potrebu za posrednikom kod elektronskih plaÄanja.
brainzorz: Ali on to eleminise samo u teoriji, sad da odem u pekaru, moram platiti u lokalnoj valuti, sad da li cu prodati bitkoin ili etf, prilicno je slicno.
Jedino sto mogu bitkoin zamenuti uzivo (ilegalno) sa nekim, pa tu jeste zamenjen posrednik. Ali provizije povlacenja su uglavnom zanemarljive, naspram ostalih parametara investicionog sredstva.
Neke stvari se mogu direktno platiti za bitkoin, ali to je ekstremno retko u stvarnom zivotu vecine ljudi.
@BTCSRB: SlaĹžem se ali u uslovima hiperinflacije i visoke inflacije kakvu danas imamo u Argentini, Venecueli, Zimbabveu, Libanu, Turskoj itd. sve viĹĄe ljudi direktno vrĹĄi transakcije u kriptovalutama, naroÄito "stablecoinima" poput USDT Tethera. Priznajem da u tim transakcijama BTC zaostaje upravo zbog volatilnosti ali je vrĹĄenje brzih i jeftinih transakcija svakako moguÄe putem Lightning mreĹže. Sve te lokalne valute su izgubile znaÄajnu vrednost i prema USDT i prema BTC-u, odnosno BTC konstantno probija rekordnu vrednost kada se denominuje u tim valutama. I u tim drĹžavama je adopcija kriptovaluta najraĹĄirenija.
HunterVD: Kako valuta u koju se upumpavaju nepostojeci dolari i evri moze biti realna i dobra. A USDT tek da ne spominjem. Mozes uvek revi jer joj ljudi veruju, al ta vera u nesto ide samo do odredjenog nivoa.
@BTCSRB: Godinama kupujem BTC od svake plate, praktiÄno ĹĄtedim u njemu i kupovna moÄ mi vremenom raste denominirana u evrima i dinarima. To isto rade na desetine hiljada ljudi ĹĄirom sveta. Kako su ti realni dinari i evri koje ubacujem svakog meseca koje sam zaradio od svog realnog rada - "nepostojeÄi"?
Kako dolari i evri koji se ĹĄtampaju ni iz Äega mogu biti realni i dobri kao valuta?
HunterVD: Pa eto bas to. Ulaze se nepostojeci novac u BTC i onda se prica o nekoj novoj valuti. Nije sija nego vrat, BTC ima jedino vrednost dok se upumpava taj lazni novac u njega. FIAT novac kolko tolko nastaje radom i proizvodnjom dobara, ne sav FIAT novac al neki deo, dok se BTC zasniva skroz na upumpavanje tog istog FIAT novca i dobroj volji i zeljama da magicne brojke idu navise.
@BTCSRB: Itekako je moguÄe izraziti cenu svih ostalih dobara i usluga kroz BTC i postojanje i vrednost BTC-a uopĹĄte ne zavisi od fiat novca. Ĺ taviĹĄe, gotova sva dobra i usluge dugoroÄno postaju jeftiniji kada se mere kroz BTC. Sutra kada bi fiat novac nestao BTC bi i dalje imao vrednost, Äak i veÄu nego danas.
https://www.pricedinbitcoin21.com/
HunterVD: Naravno da je moguce izraziti cene svakodnevnih proizvoda u BTCu. Cene svakodnevnih proizvoda je moguce izraziti u cemu god pozelis, evo npr broj radnih sati koji je potreban da se proizvede taj proizvod i onda se uporedi sa cenom radnih sati i cene na polici, mozes ga uracunavati i u dobrima , jedan iphone kosta tolko i tolko KG juneceg mesa..... nista cudno. Takodje cene proizvoda pokazuju pad u odnosu sa BTCom jer je BTC masivno porastao u poslednjih 5-6 godina. Sta ce biti kad BTC stagnira ili pada kako se u tom periodu odnose cene, a da BTC je store of value i namenjen je samo da se cuva izvinte molim vas moja greska. Ni druge kripto valute nisu nista bolje. Ljudi koji su zaradili na BTCu svaka cast eto imali su pameti i srece , al sad kako je cena sve veca, inflacija sve losija i kamatne stope sve vise postace sve teze i teze dolaziti do novca a kamo li intvestirati ga u nesto rizicno ko kripto valute tako da ce i BTC sve manje rasti sto zbog velicine market cap-a sto zbog toga sto ljudi i firme imaju sve manje novca za ulagati. Dal ce btc moci da se uzbori sa inflacijom i losim uslovima to tek treba da se vidi. Tako da videcemo u narednom periodu koliko ce se ta priva o BTC kao store of value i nacinu odbrane od inflacije obistiniti. Licno ne verujem da ce BTC ikad biti zvanicno sredstvo placanja.
@BTCSRB: Cena svega se moĹže izraziti kroz sve ostalo ali ĹĄta od svega toga najbolje vrĹĄi funkciju novca? BTC bolje vrĹĄi funkciju novca u veÄini okolnosti od gotovo svih stvari.
Ĺ ta Äe biti sa BTC videÄe se i oni koji veruju u njega Äe biti najzasluĹžniji za njegov uspeh jer su obezbeÄivali potraĹžnju kada su kola iĹĄla nizbrdo i za to biti asimetriÄno nagraÄeni, ali Äe i puno izgubiti ako se pokaĹže da nisu u pravu. Pukovnici ili pokojnici. Po meni je to cilj zbog koga vredi rizikovati, pa i bankrotirati a cilj je da se centralno-bankarski kartel uÄini manje relevantnim.
ZnaĹĄ i sam da fiat sistem ne moĹže da preĹživi i izbegne imploziju bez konstantnog uveÄanja mase novca u opticaju i zato se uopĹĄte ne plaĹĄim za BTC i spavam mirno. BTC sigurno neÄe rasti istom brzinom kao prvih 15 godina ali moje oÄekivanje je svakako ubedljivo nadmaĹĄivanje svetske inflacije i obezvreÄivanja. Ne vidim kako sistem moĹže da opstane bez novog QE kada god se on desi, u suprotnom imamo deflatornu spiralu.
Ne mora da bude zvaniÄno sredstvo plaÄanja, dovoljno da meni kao pojedincu sluĹži za to dok god ima ljudi koji ga prihvataju, a ima ih puno. I da niko u tome ne moĹže da nas spreÄi.
loldurrr: Ali i BTC je postao, u neku ruku, berzanska roba. ImaĹĄ market cap izraĹžen u dolarima, koji je danas, npr. 2 triliona $, za mjesec dana 500 milijardi. Isto kao i dolar, samo volatilnije. Zato i kaĹžem, da je to sve rezultat ponude i traĹžnje. HipotetiÄki, ja da imam milion BTC i odluÄim to danas prodati, enormno Äu oboriti cenu BTC. Ako je to valuta nezavisna od vanjskih uticaja - zaĹĄto Äe pasti toliko, kada imamo ograniÄenu koliÄinu BTC-a. Svima je i dalje u podsvesti vrednost BTC izraĹžena u USD, tako da je to isto kao i dinar, franak, akcija CocaCola i sl. Bar za sada...
A moguÄnosti za koriĹĄtenje BTC za robna plaÄanja su mizerna. Ima li na vidiku moguÄnosti da se vrednost nafte poÄne izraĹžavati u BTC?
@BTCSRB: Meriti Bitkoin direktno prema robama i uslugama je itekako moguÄe i kada ga tako meriĹĄ, a ne prema fiat novcu, dugoroÄno cene gotovo svih roba i usluga padaju prema Bitkoinu. Cene svega izraĹžene kroz BTC neÄe nestati ni u sluÄaju nestanka fiat novca, dolar sutra da prestane da postoji nikoga ne spreÄava da izraĹžava cene svega kroz BTC. Dolar i ostale valute nisu potrebni Bitkoinu.
Unlikely-Put-5524: Imam samo jedno pitanje za one "koji vide iza svega" i pronikli su bankarsku prevare da porobi ÄoveÄanstvo... Kako ne postoji moguÄnost da je BTC i kripto nastao iz iste kuhinje i predstavlja ultimativni naÄin za porobljavanje?
2% novÄanika poseduje 95% svog BTC-a koji nije izgubljen. ZnaÄi da centralizacija moĹže biti maksimalna...
@BTCSRB: KoliÄina BTC-a u posedu ne daje kontrolu nad pravilima protokola i veÄinski vlasnici ne mogu da ĹĄtampaju nove novÄiÄe i tako uveÄaju konaÄnu koliÄinu u opticaju. Mogu samo da kratkoroÄno obore cenu i tako samo ostanu sa manje BTC-a koji imaju poĹĄto Äe trĹžiĹĄte vremenom apsorbovati te dampovane koine.
Unlikely-Put-5524: A mogu i dugoroÄno da obore cenu. Hajde da kaĹžemo da imaĹĄ sada 10 BTC-a gde svaki vredi 40k
Veliki dumpu-ju ceo svoj bag u kontinutitetu kao ĹĄto sad radi GS i posle godinu dana tvoj BTC sad vredi 4k, zaĹĄto misliĹĄ da bi ljudi nastavili da ga drĹže? Posebno ako znamo da ga 97% kupuje da bi zaradili, a ne zato ĹĄto Ĺžele da ga koriste kao sredstvo plaÄanja.
Ja bih ore BTC gledao kao commodity, jer sa svojim deflatornim svojstvima ne moĹže biti valuta za plaÄanje.
TakoÄe postoji i doomsday scenario gde jednostavno mogu svi da se dogovore da je ilegalan i to je onda to. Ovo mi deluje kao gotovo neverovatno, ali po meni je bilo koji maksimalizam potpuno detinjasto razmiĹĄljanje.
@BTCSRB: Pa padao je toliko puta za preko 70% i uvek se vraÄao jer si uvek imao ljude koji su bili spremni da ga kupuju po bilo kojoj ceni, ukljuÄujuÄi i mene. PoĹĄto se ne moĹže ĹĄtampati, na kraju Äe ovi prodavci ostati bez BTC-a za prodaju i trĹžiĹĄte apsorbovati Äak i njihov "sell pressure". A ovi veliki koji drĹže tolike koliÄine itekako dobro znaju vrednost toga ĹĄto poseduju i nema smisla da svu koliÄinu koju drĹže prodaju za inflatorni novac - prodavaÄe da bi finansirali svoj Ĺživotni stil ili investiraju u biznise ili Äe ga koristiti kao kolateral za fiat pozajmice - ako raspolaĹžu tolikim koliÄinama i mogu da kontroliĹĄu trĹžiĹĄte nemaju strah da Äe im kolateral biti likvidiran.
VeÄina ljudi su fiat maksimalisti samim tim ĹĄto su 100% u fiat novcu pa ne razmiĹĄljaju u pravcu doomsday scenarija kakav je upravo bila hiperinflacija devedesetih.
Romeo_y_Cohiba: Niko ti ne brani da ulaĹžeĹĄ u bitcoin pod uslovom da znaĹĄ da je riziÄniji od gotovog novca, ĹĄtednje po viÄenju, oroÄene ĹĄtednje, obveznica, nekretnina, akcija, raznoraznih etfova, private equitya i derivata.
Drugim reÄima ako ti je ok da danas uloĹžiĹĄ 1000e, da za nedelju dana to vredi 500e, za mesec 1500 a za pola godina 300e ili 0 samo napred. VeÄini ljudi to nije ok.
Razlog zaĹĄto pamtimo Avrama je jer njegov dinar i dan danas koristimo. Prethodne uzastopne reforme nisu uspele kao ĹĄto si i sam primetio.
TakoÄe, nije u pitanju "centralno-bankarska" prevara jer se niĹĄta od toga ne bi desilo da ovom "odozgo" nisu zatrebale pare za finansiranje izvesnih stvari.
I dan danas, izvesni politiÄar(i) izaÄu na TV i kaĹžu da su "naĹĄli" novac za neki svoj genijalni plan i ljudi to puĹĄe. To u prevodu najÄeĹĄÄe znaÄi da Äe da nagna centralnu banku da mu doĹĄtampa novca i to nema veze sa bankama nego politikom..
@BTCSRB: Za investicione instrumente koje si naveo treba videti koliko su uspeĹĄno nadvladavali inflaciju prethodnih decenija i da li su oÄuvali kupovnu moÄ. Za ĹĄtednju u banci i obveznice se i iz daleka vidi da nisu. US obveznice su u septembru imale drawdown od 48% od ATH iz 2020, a kao vaĹže sa sigurnu investiciju. Äak i u momentu dospeÄa posle 10-30 godina jako teĹĄko Äuvaju vrednost od inflacije.
A sada se zapitaj: da li zaista misliĹĄ da politiÄari kontroliĹĄu banke i bankare ili je moĹžda obrnuto? Nisu politiÄari ti koji su vlasnici krupnog kapitala.
Romeo_y_Cohiba: Ne investiraju svi na 10-30 godina za potrebe penzije. To je samo jedan od mnogo vidova i razloga investiranja. Nadvladavanje inflacije je isto tako samo jedan od kriterijuma. Samo pogledaĹĄ u ĹĄta jedan penzioni fond u SAD-u investira(hint: nije btc i nisu samo akcije). Npr. neki penzioni fondovi su od skoro poÄeli da investiraju u private equity ali iskljuÄivo do 15% veliÄine portfolija. PoÄeÄe i sa kriptom u nekom trenutku ali mogu da potpiĹĄem da Äe biti u joĹĄ manjem procentu nego PE. Niko nije blesav da grune teĹĄko steÄeni novac u neĹĄto tako riziÄno osim u jako malim iznosima.
Ne znam ko koga kontroliĹĄe ali Avram je bio daleko manji baja od Slobe 90ih i pitao se za stvari samo u meri koliko mu je bio dozvoljeno da se pita. Ratovanje koĹĄta i finansira se ĹĄtampanjem novca, nisu to neke neshvatljive stvari. Da ne priÄam da smo bili pod apsolutnim sankcijama celog sveta.
Virtual_Plenty_6047: Npr jedan od velikih uspeha Japana od pre par decenija je zahvaljujuÄi devalvaciji njihove valute, pa samim tim izvoz im je bio relativno jeftin. NaĹĄ dinar je jak, i to odgovara uvozniÄkom lobiju.
NaĹžalost mi ionako niĹĄta ne proizvodimo tako da ne verujem da bi neĹĄto pomoglo ako bi devalvirali dinar. Al svakako ovo je jedna viĹĄa ekonomija za koju naĹĄi politiÄari nisu dorasli.
@BTCSRB: Gde je obiÄan Äovek u tom velikom japanskom uspehu? Postali su zemlja starih i nesreÄnih mladih ljudi koji ne mogu da pobegnu iz "hamster wheel-a". Imaju "debt to GDP" od preko 260%. Taj dug nikada neÄe vratiti, a uz to Äe povuÄi u ambis pola sveta jer najveÄi drĹžaoci ameriÄkog duga - 14.5%. Spolja gladac, iznutra jadac. Iako je malo degutantno da mi iz Srbije komentariĹĄemo Japance, opet pitam: gde je proseÄan Japanac u celoj ovoj igri?
Why Japan Is Facing a Financial Disaster
PreporuÄujem da pogledate dokumentarac "Princes of the Yen | The Hidden Power of Central Banks" snimljenom po istoimenoj knjizi profesora Riharda Vernera koji je otac kvantitativnog popuĹĄtanja (quantitative easing) i ekspert za japansku ekonomiju i bankarski sistem.
Virtual_Plenty_6047: Zato sam rekao od pre nekoliko decenija. Jer su do pre nekih 30 godina bili 50 godina ispred celog sveta, sad su 20 godina iza naprednog sveta. Japanci su svako specifiÄni. Poenta mog komentara da postoji razlog za neke zemlje da oslabe svoju valutu, i moĹže itekako dobro da radi ako se radi u sinergiji sa nekim drugim ekonomskim merama. Tako da odgovor na to opet pitam, ne znam gde je proseÄni Japanac, uskoro tamo trebam da idem pa Äu ti reÄi. :'D
Odgledao sam ja ovaj dokumentarac odavno, super je. ProÄitao mnoge knjige, a ponajviĹĄe od Austrijske ekonomske ĹĄkole gde su pojedinci (Hayek) bili prvi koji su zagovarali novu decentralizovanu valutu, bili su u toj ĹĄkoli mnogi koji su prvi priÄali o problemu inflacije i ĹĄta je taÄno inflacija, ali su bili i za kapitalizam. Ali ovo je zaista jedna visoka ekonomija, videÄeĹĄ da nije baĹĄ sve tako jednostavno kao ĹĄto misliĹĄ.
Malo si previĹĄe u kriptovalutama pa gledaĹĄ na sve drugo u ekonomiji sa prekorom, pogotovu na kapitalizam. Evo i ja sam sam dobro investiran u kripto (uglavnom u BTC) pa sam itekako svestan da sve to moĹže na kraju da bude potpuna pizdarija.
p.s. Knjiga za preporuku: 23 stvari koje vam ne kazu o kapitalizmu
@BTCSRB: Nisam u kriptovalutama nego iskljuÄivo u BTC.
Nisam ja protiv kapitalizma samo ĹĄto nije pravi kapitalizam kada ne postoji slobodno trĹžiĹĄte novca, pa samim tim ne postoji uopĹĄte slobodno trĹžiĹĄte koliko god se Äinilo tako. Kada su ekonomski subjekti prisiljeni da koriste odreÄeni oblik novca, a monetarna politika se centralno planira - po meni tu nema slobodnog trĹžiĹĄta niti kapitalizma. Npr. formiranje cene Bitkoina i transakcionih naknada je Äisto slobodno trĹžiĹĄte jer tu nema "bailout-a", a BTC mining industrija je pravi primer slobodnog trĹžiĹĄta u kapitalizmu. Äista ponuda i potraĹžnja bez intervencionizma. Ako si neprofitabilan nema ti spasa i bankrotiraÄeĹĄ i nema nikoga ko Äe ti priteÄi u pomoÄ. Niko nije "too big to fail".
Znam da sam se ovde usredsredio usko na jednu industriju ali se moĹže primeniti na celokupnu ekonomiju. DrĹžave i centralne banke su suviĹĄne i apsolutno pokvare sve Äega se dotaknu pa Äe u sluÄaju potpune pizdarije odgovornost biti na njima, a ne na Bitkoinu i njegovim drĹžaocima.
kutija_keksa: Evo zaĹĄto btc nije pogodan kao valuta:
-Volatilna vrednost. Vrednost btc se menja i do 200% godiĹĄnje, dok dolar ne trpi inflaciju vecu od 10% godiĹĄnje (mada je u redovnim uslovima tipa 3%). Äak i dinar, ako gledaĹĄ realnu kupovnu moÄ u prodavnici nema volatilnost preko 30% na godiĹĄnjem nivou (jedno 7 puta niĹžu od BTC) Ako danas kupim BTC u vrednosti od 15 USD ne znam da li Äu sutra moÄi da kupim 10 ili 20 USD za isti taj BTC.
-âGas feesâ koji se plaÄaju na svaku transakciju, u poreÄenjusa keĹĄom koji nema takvih problema.
-Spor transfer novca. Arhitektura blockchaina ne dozvoljava mreĹži da procesuira viĹĄe od 10 transakcija po sekundi, ĹĄto znaÄida na transakciju moĹžete Äekati i po nekoloo sati, u poreÄenju sa keĹĄom (bez odugovlaÄenja) ili debitnim karticama (10 sekundi do 10 minuta). Visa i MasterCard procesuiraju hiljadu puta viĹĄe transakcija po sekundi.
-Retko ko eksplicitno prima BTC, tako da Äete plaÄati menjaÄnici na kursu u oba smera, i pritom Äekati menjaÄnicu.
-PodloĹžan je manipulacijama velikih igraÄa poput Ilona Maska i velikih banki koje su u zadnjih pet godina debelo uloĹžile u kripto. Fiat je na milosti drĹžave i njenih graÄana, dok je BTC na milost privatnih investitora. Kome verujete viĹĄe?
-SVE BTC transakcije su jsvne, ako neko zna koji novÄanik je vaĹĄ lako zna i koliko para ste kada slali kome, dok fiziÄke novÄanice nemaju taj problem.
-Vrednost i upotreljivost BTC ne garantuje niko, dok vrednost i upotrebljivost fiat valute barem donekle garantuje drĹžava. Na primer, Srbija garantuje da je dinar upotrebljiv jer zahteva da vodu, struju, poreze, namete i takse plaÄaĹĄ u dinarima, a i javni sektor (10% Äitavog stanovniĹĄtva) isplaÄuje iskljuÄivo u dinarima.
OP oÄigledno ima jako ostraĹĄÄenu ideoloĹĄku perspektivu... Ja nisam struÄnjak, ali je moj otac pisao nauÄne radove o blockchainu dok je bio na doktorskim studijama, joĹĄ kad je pomisao o BTC vrednijem od sto dolada bila smeĹĄna, tako da znam neĹĄto malo kroz priÄe sa njim. Uostalom, sve o Äemu priÄam lako je proveriti pomoÄu javnih podataka. Ono ĹĄto OP piĹĄe je jednim delom taÄno, ali su iznete samo one informacije koje idu u prilog BTC.
Kripto kao pobuna protiv fiata, centralnih banaka i vlada je imao ideoloĹĄke korene kod anarhista na internetu devedestih, meÄutim od njihovih belih papira i ĹĄpekulacija dobili smo neĹĄto ĹĄto je kao valuta beskorisno. BTC moĹže biti investicija, ako su ljudi iskreni sa sobom, ali ideja o valuti je prevaziÄena. Ako i neka kripto valuta drĹži do toga onda je to Monero koji bar ima anonimnost.
@BTCSRB: Ne ulazeÄi u sve iznete navode taksativno, ipak moram da prokomentariĹĄem neke od nepreciznih ili netaÄnih navoda.
Transakcione naknade kod Bitkoina se ne zovu "gas fees" veÄ "transaction fees". Kod keĹĄa nema takvih problema ali ga ne moĹžete poslati putem komunikacionog kanala bez posrednika. To mora da ima svoju cenu poĹĄto BTC majneri moraju da imaju neki podsticaj da ukljuÄe neÄiju transakciju u blok koji je ograniÄene veliÄine. BTC "fee market" je najslobodnije trĹžiĹĄte na svetu. Fiat novac nemate moguÄnost da poĹĄaljete na daljinu bez posrednika koji takoÄe naplaÄuje nekada dosta skupe naknade.
Besmisleno je porediti blokÄejn kao "settlement layer" sa Visom i Mastercardom koje ne sluĹže za finalno poravnanje. Glavni Bitkoin blokÄejn se moĹže pre uporediti s SWIFT-om ili FedWire-om kod kojih je jednom poravnata transakcija nepovratna, a Mastercard/Visa sa BTC "Lightning Network-om" koji sluĹži za brza i jeftina plaÄanja. Otac je trebalo da Vas nauÄi o Lightning mreĹži, kako funkcioniĹĄe i da je sposobna da procesuira viĹĄe miliona transakcija u sekundi. Lightning mreĹža takoÄe nudi veÄi nivo privatnosti od glavnog blokÄejna ali puno manju sigurnost.
Ne bih se sloĹžio da je fiat na milosti iskljuÄivo drĹžave i graÄana, samo Äu spomenuti Crnu sredu iz septembra 1992. godine i spekulativni napad na britansku funtu.
BTC transakcije su javne ali su pseudonimne ĹĄto znaÄi da je jako teĹĄko utvrditi identitet ukoliko adresa nije povezana sa identitetom korisnika. Generisanje BTC adrese ne zahteva nikakvu identifikaciju ("krvnu sliku") za razliku od otvaranja bankovnog raÄuna. MoĹže se generisati neograniÄen broj adresa i na razne naÄine prekinuti i zamaskirati veza transakcija izmeÄu njih radi oÄuvanja privatnosti. Ponovo, fiziÄke novÄanice ne moĹžemo slati putem komunikacionog kanala bez posrednika, podloĹžne su konfiskaciji, uniĹĄtenju i obezvreÄivanju.
Upotrebljivost Bitkoina garantuje "open source" kod, energija, matematika i kriptografija. To su mnogo jaÄe garancije nego obeÄanja bilo koje drĹžave koja su toliko puta u istoriji izigrale poverenje sopstvenog stanovniĹĄtva - poput Jugoslavije devedesetih.
Ja sam BTC spomenuo kao potencijalno reĹĄenje za (hiper)inflaciju tek u kraÄem delu na kraju teksta, a od Vas i od ostalih komentatora sam dobio nesrazmeran odgovor usmeren na Bitkoin, a puno manje usmeren na navode iz najveÄeg dela posta.
Tako ste i vi izneli iskljuÄivo informacije koje ne idu u prilog BTC-a, a potpuno ignorisali sve oÄigledne nedostatke fiat novca (kako u fiziÄkom, tako i u digitalnom obliku) koji su se i ispoljili tokom hiperinflacije devedesetih, a ispoljavaju se i dan-danas.
Svako dobro!
kutija_keksa: Zato su i âGas feesâ pod navodnicima.
Ne vidim zaĹĄto bi bilo dobro imati âslobodno trĹžiĹĄteâ kada se radi o kopaÄima.
Ali, Äak i da je dobro imati slobodno trĹžiĹĄte, morate primetiti da BTC kopanje nije tako slobodno. Postojanje ASIC maĹĄina znaÄi da se kopanje prevashodno isplati velikim igraÄima (ne mislim na likove sa 3 riser kartice u PC, nego na kineze sa skladiĹĄtima teĹĄkih preko milion u opremi). TakoÄe, te velike operacije organi vlasti mogu zaustaviti kad im se prohte (Kina).
Jako je teĹĄko izvuÄi BTC anonimno bez gubitka kod menjaÄa -- pojedinca ili non KYC institucije.
Ĺ to se upotrebljivosti BTC tiÄe, ĹĄta meni garantuje da Äu imati na ĹĄta da potroĹĄim BTC? To je kljuÄno pitanje. A kasa Jugoslovenski fiat nije bio upotebljiv, vidim da NemaÄki jeste. Isto tako, mislim da Äe USD biti upotrebljiv dugo, a kada USD bude neupotrebljiv druĹĄtvo Äe ionako biti u apokalipsi gde papir nije vaĹžan koliko i hrana, utoÄiĹĄte, voda, radio, municija, lekovi i vatreno oruĹžje.
Naravno da iznosim samo informacije koje proizilaze iz nedostataka, to je balans postu i komentarima. Da su ljudi samo blatili kripto moj komentar bi mnogo viĹĄe liÄio na originalni post nego na moj proĹĄli komentar. Ja se sa mnogim tvrdnjama u postu slaĹžem delimiÄno ili potpuno, samo Ĺželim da pruĹžim kontekst za tumaÄenje toga.
IdeoloĹĄki su mi Cryptopunks potpuno zanimljivi, ali cinizam je opravdan kada se u obzir uzme priÄa. Ljudi su Ĺželeli da se odupru bankama, vladama, kontroli i prismotri. Izmislili su tehnologiju. PoÄeli su da koriste i popularizuju tu tehnologiju. U prostor su uĹĄle banke i vlade, kupovanjem, prodajom i praÄenjem samog trĹžiĹĄta (danas sve velike menjaÄnice imaju KYC procedure). Kao u matriksu, kontrolisana opozicija. Ok, ovo je liÄna teorija zavere u koju ni ja ne verujem u potpunosti.
Ako govorimo o crypto kao valuti mislim da je XMR mnogo bolja VALUTA od BTC, dok je mnogo gora investicija. Jednostavno se slaĹžem sa politiÄkim i ideoloĹĄkim ciljevima pionira kripto valuta, ali smatram da su oni ogromnim delom iznevereni zbog ulaska banaka i drĹžava u celu priÄu, te njihova stara reĹĄenja viĹĄe ne reĹĄavaju originalne probleme.
@BTCSRB: BTC kao neutralni novac je za svakoga, pa i za bankare i drĹžave. Ne moĹžemo ih spreÄiti da ga kupe na trĹžiĹĄtu i stave ga u kakav god instrument, pa i ETF. Ne moĹžemo ih spreÄiti da ga konfiskuju od onih koji nisu dobro obezbedili svoje kljuÄeve. DrĹžave su regulisale ono ĹĄto su mogle, poput menjaÄnica, kroz AML/KYC procedure ali kakve to veze ima sa BTC-om? Na protokol kao protokol nisu mogle da utiÄu.
Ko Ĺželi i dalje moĹže koristiti BTC kako je i prvobitno predviÄeno - za p2p transakcije i skladiĹĄtenje vrednosti u "self custody-u". Bitkoin je i dalje "bearer asset" otporan na cenzuru i konfiskaciju. Ne vidim da je taj pravac promenjen samo zato ĹĄto su uĹĄle banke i drĹžave. MoĹžda nije u duhu Bitkoina da ga kupuju fondovi pa ga prodaju upakovanog u ETF. Najmanje je u duhu bitkoina da se nekome zabrani da ga kupuje.
Kako to mislite "ne vidite zaĹĄto bi bilo dobro imati âslobodno trĹžiĹĄteâ kada se radi o kopaÄima? Na decentralizaciji mininga se radi (StratumV2 protkol, Ocean pool...), a kineski primer je samo pokazatelj koliko je otporno: nakon zabrane raĹĄirilo se dodatno po svetu, a u Kini se i dalje nalazi 21% heĹĄrejta. Majneri imaju veoma male margine profita zbog same prirode rudarenja i halvinga pa Äe bilo kakav "fck around" poput cenzure transakcija verovatno znaÄiti bankrot.
MoĹžemo do sutra priÄati o XMR vs BTC i naveĹĄÄu puno razloga zaĹĄto XMR ne moĹže i neÄe zaĹživeti kao novac, a pre svega je manjak decentralizacije (neograniÄena veliÄina blokÄejna) i otpornost na drĹžavni napad - sve ĹĄto Bitkoin ima. Kada je novac u pitanju pobednik nosi sve i tu je Monero veÄ izgubio, dok Äe BTC poboljĹĄanu privatnost obezbediti na ostalim nivoima, sidechainovima itd (Lightning, Liquid, Cashu, Fedimint, Ark i ko zna ĹĄta sve ĹĄto joĹĄ i ne postoji - nivo developmenta u Bitkoin prostoru je ogroman).
Dolar Äe uvek u nekom obliku biti upotrebljiv ali ne znaÄi da Äe zauvek ostati svetska rezervna valuta, kao ĹĄto i danas postoji funta ali odavno nije viĹĄe ono ĹĄto je bila na vrhuncu Britanske imperije.
kutija_keksa: Pa ti protokoli spreÄavaju pljude da anonimno kupe BTC.
Mislim, BTC realno ima neku primenu, ali ja ga danas npr. imam Äisto kao neku malu investicijicu, i to joĹĄ od doba kad je kopanje sa 2 grafiÄke u kuÄnom PC bilo isplativo po skupoj struji. Ali BTC prosto nije dobra alternativa fiziÄkom novcu na nivou drĹžave zbog volatilnosti i manjka kontrole. Jedna ogromna poluga drĹžave je puĹĄtanje u promet novog novca, i tako se kontroliĹĄe inflacija, pored menjanja kamatnih stopa. Bez moguÄnosti ĹĄtampe gubi se i taj faktor kontrole. A inflacija od 2-3% godiĹĄnje je zdrava, dok je za ekonomiju deflacija (kojoj je BTC bar delimiÄno sklon) haos, jer smanjuje ekonomsku aktivnost i investicije...
Ĺ to se tiÄe drĹžavnog napada na XMR, misliĹĄ na to kako jedna drĹžava moĹže da realistiÄno sprovede 51% napad?
XMR nije vrhovna valuta ali meni se sviÄa kako za njega nema ASIC maĹĄina, kako je anoniman u smislu da ne moĹžeĹĄ lako da provaliĹĄ ko kome koliko i kada ĹĄalje ĹĄta... Mislim da Äe XMR sigurno u toj privacy niĹĄi zameniti neka druga valuta kroz 10-15 godina koja ima bolji algoritam i tehnologiju...
Dobra dosetka za veliÄinu blockchaina, ali ona je trenutno 160GB cela / 50 GB pruned, tako neĹĄto. Sve dok nije preko 10TB (100x) veÄa moĹže je pohraniti najveÄi hard disk namenjen âobiÄnim ljudimaâ, a kad se doÄe do tad verovatno Äe i cene tih diskova biti pristupaÄnije nego danas. Sa druge strane, agresivan pruning je takoÄe opcija. A da ne govorimo o sidechainovima koji takoÄe postoje za XMR.
Da, to za dolar je i moja poenta, nekako Äe biti upotrebljiv uvek, dok je kripto neupotrebljiv bez neta, a i nema mnogo ĹĄta da se kupi kriptom u poreÄenju sa fiatom. I
@BTCSRB: Ima bezbroj naÄina da se nabavi non-KYC Bitkoin: coinjoin, coinmixing, rudarenje u non-KYC pulu, nabavka nekog drugog kripta putem KYC menjaÄnice pa "trustless atomic swap" za BTC, nabavka KYC BTC-a putem Lightning-a pa "submarine swap" on-chain, zatim nabavka bilo kog KYC kripta ili Lightning ili on-chain BTC-a pa swap na sidechain Liquid BTC gde su transakcije tajne sliÄno XMR-u i nazad swap na on-chain. Naravno i stara narodska razmena na ulici. XMR se isto moĹže koristiti za svrhu nabavke non-KYC Bitkoina. U svim ovim sluÄajevima se adrese koje su krajnje destinacije tih sredstava ne mogu ili jako teĹĄko povezati sa KYC identitetom korisnika. ViĹĄe na: kycnot.me
Diskusija o tome da li je zdrava i potrebna inflacija i da li je uopĹĄte potreban drĹžavni intervencionizam u ekonomiji je stara diskusija izmeÄu Kejnzijanske i Austrijske ekonomske ĹĄkole. Po meni svaka inflacija je pljaÄka. Da ne govorimo da centralni bankari ne snose nikakvu odgovornost za gubitak kontrole nad inflacijom koji se meri u stotinama procenata "omaĹĄka" jer kada je ciljana inflacija 2%, a imamo inflaciju od 10% to je onda promaĹĄaj od 500%. A svi vodeÄi centralni bankari su i dalje na svojim funkcijama od poÄetka inflacije negde 2020. godine iako su izneverili sva oÄekivanja. Nisu izabrani od strane naroda i nemoguÄe ih je smeniti od strane naroda, a utiÄu na Ĺživote svih!
Usled tehnoloĹĄkog napretka i rasta produktivnosti, prirodno stanje slobodnog trĹžiĹĄta je pad cena, a ne njihov konstantan rast kroz inflaciju. Ne postoji nikakva "poĹželjna" ili "neophodna" inflacija, svaka "ciljana" inflacija je pljaÄka koji onemoguÄava populaciju da uĹživa u plodovima sopstvene produktivnosti u obliku niĹžih cena svih roba i usluga. Bitkoin zbog svoje fiksne ponude novca u opticaju (21 milion novÄiÄa = apsolutna digitalna oskudnost) nameÄe ovu disciplinu slobodnog trĹžiĹĄta i tehnoloĹĄkog napretka. Dok je postojeÄi duĹžniÄki fiat sistem dizajniran da krade plodove produktivnosti, Bitkoin omoguÄava populaciji da ih zadrĹži u obliku niĹžih cena.
Kada nema rasta cena, inflacija je 0% i cene su stabilne. KraÄa i tada postoji, jer cene prirodno padaju zbog poveÄanja efikasnosti proizvodnje/usluga, gde bi se tada veca koliÄina robe/usluga, takmiÄila za istu (fiksnu) koliÄinu novÄa od 21M BTC-a.
Kakav je ishod ove diskusije nije bitno, bitno je da sada svako ima slobodu izbora kakav novac Ĺželi da koristi a ne da bude prisiljen da koristi iskljuÄivo inflatorni novac. Ako se neko ne slaĹže sa modernom monetarnom teorijom, sada ima alternativu koju nekada nije imao (zlato je odavno izgubilo bitku sa MMT) pre postojanja Bitkoina.
kutija_keksa: Neki od ovih non kyc nacina su mi vec bili poznati, neki nisu, ovo je bas informativan komentar.
A ĹĄto je inflacija pljaÄka? Bez obzira na inflaciju, broj novÄanica u novÄaniku ostaje isti, to ĹĄto se one sada mogu zameniti za manje robe je druga priÄa. Da li je onda i zlato pljaÄka, jer neko kupi, na primer, 100g zlata danas, a sutra na trĹžiĹĄtu cena zlata padne? Da li je onda pljaÄka i BTC, jer i danas i kad je BTC bio na vrhuncu cene imam isti broj satoshija, samo je danas njihova vrednost manja?
Ne vidim zaĹĄto bi centralni bankari snosili odgovornost zbog inflacije. Oni ugrobo imaju dve poluge za kontrolu inflacije: kamatne stope i ĹĄtampanje novca. U realnosti na inflaciju utiÄe mnogo faktora na koje centralna banka nema uticaj, niti koje moĹže da predvidi: pandemije, ratovi, drĹžavni budĹžeti i zaduĹživanja, trgovina u datoj valuti (i izvoz i uvoz), porast i pad produktivnosti... Oni imaju donekle uticaj, ali nisu svemoÄni.
Ĺ to se tiÄe izbora, ovo veÄ zalazi u politiku a ne u finansije, ali ni direktor poĹĄte, ni direktor EPS, ni direktor vodovoda nisu birani na izborima na kojima glasaju svi, a utiÄu na Ĺživote svih!
Ne verujem u kripto kao spasioce kapitalizma ili pojedinca. Ovo je sada viĹĄe politiÄki, ali zaista mislim da u kapitalizmu proseÄna osoba nema slobode, a da je kripto u najbolju ruku jedna mala stavka koja omoguÄava skladiĹĄtenje steÄenog kapitala (ovo se dobija ako prihvatimo sve kripto pozitivne teze), ali ne reĹĄava problem radnika koji Äine 95% druĹĄtva i doprinose 99% vrednosti a kapitala kontroliĹĄu viĹĄestruko manje.
Otkud znam, ono, da rezimiram: kripto je koristan alat koji joĹĄ nije dostigao svoj vrhunac, ali neÄe neĹĄto mnogo promeniti svet. To je neko moje viÄenje.
@BTCSRB: Kako nije pljaÄka? Broj novÄanica u novÄaniku ostaje isti ali ukupan broj novca u opticaju se uveÄava i tako obezvreÄuje tvoje novÄanice. InaÄe, znaĹĄ vrlo dobro da fiziÄki keĹĄ Äini manje od 10% ukupnog novca u opticaju, a ostalo je digitalno. Dakle "money supply" se uveÄava pritiskom na dugme tastature raÄunara u FED/ECB/NBS... Neko stvara novac ni iz Äega za koji svi moramo da radimo troĹĄeÄi svoje dragoceno i ograniÄeno vreme na ovom svetu. Tako nam efektivno krade vreme poĹĄto tvoj radni sat iz proĹĄlosti konstantno moĹže da kupi manje roba i usluga u buduÄnosti, a zbog tehnoloĹĄkog napretka i rasta produktivnosti bi realno cene trebaju da budu niĹže vremenom
Kako moĹžeĹĄ da porediĹĄ fiat, zlato i BTC u tom smislu? Vrednost fiata prevashodno smanjuje ljudska manipulacija sa strane ponude koja se uvek uveÄava, dok je potraĹžnja permanentno rastuÄa zbog zakona o "legal tenderu" i rasta privrede i broja stanovnika. Ovo sa BTC je strana potraĹžnje koju reguliĹĄe slobodno trĹžiĹĄte dok ukupna ponuda nije podloĹžna ljudskoj manipulaciji. DugoroÄno, vrednost zlata i BTC raste sa rastuÄom potraĹžnjom jer nema manipulacije ponude.
Centralni bankari Äe optuĹžiti sve druge faktore da bi skrenuli paĹžnju sa svoje odgovornosti za inflaciju, a za ratove se moĹže reÄi da su Äak i sauÄesnici poĹĄto tokovi novca mogu utvrditi veoma zanimljivu vezu izmeÄu njih i vojno-industrijskog kompleksa. Na stranu to, dolarska monetarna masa je samo izmeÄu februara i aprila 2020. uveÄana za 1.39 biliona/triliona ĹĄto je viĹĄe nego ukupna monetarna masa iz 2008-09 krize. U krizi 2008-09 su od septembra 2008. do januara 2009. naĹĄtampali 803 milijarde i tako uveÄali monetarnu masu za 88% sa 909 milijardi na 1712 milijardi - to znaÄi da su 4 meseca naĹĄtampali skoro isto novca kao tokom celih 95 prethodnig godina sopstvenog postojanja Federalnih rezervi. Te 2020. su i potpuno ukinuli obavezne rezerve u komercijalnim bankama.
ECB je naĹĄtampala 1T evra "zbog kovida". A kao naĹĄtampali su jer je bila zatvorena celokupna privreda, pa ĹĄto ste tako agresivno zatvarali privredu - trebalo je da pustite ljude da rade a ne da se igrate Mao Ce Tunga. I uprkos nezapamÄenom ĹĄtampanju ti isti centralni bankari su nazivali inflaciju "prolaznom" - dakle ni zrnce odgovornosti.
Ako u kapitalizmu proseÄna osoba nema slobode, ĹĄta reÄi za komunizam gde ne da nema slobode nego nema ni Ĺživota poĹĄto su komunistiÄki reĹžimi pobili na desetine miliona ljudi?
Na hipotetiÄkom BTC standardu zbog fiksne koliÄine novca u opticaju bi se popravio poloĹžaj radnika jer kapitalisti ne mogu da beskonaÄno uveÄavaju svoj BTC kapital i kupovna moÄ i radnika i kapitalista bi procentualno podjednako rasla i obiÄan radnik bi imao mnogo bolje ĹĄanse da i sam postane kapitalista nego danas. Imao bi moguÄnost da ĹĄtedi od svoje plate jer mu novac ne bi gubio vrednost i u nekom trenutku bi iz svoje ĹĄtednje finansirao neki biznis, a ne zaduĹživanjem. Tako bi se ravnomernije rasporedilo druĹĄtveno bogatstvo ali ne centralnim planiranjem nego kroz slobodno trĹžiĹĄte.
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@ 3283ef81:0a531a33
2025-05-24 18:12:47Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit\ enean magna lorem, dignissim et nisl a, iaculis eleifend dolor
uspendisse potenti
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@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9
2025-05-16 17:12:05One of the most common criticisms leveled against nostr is the perceived lack of assurance when it comes to data storage. Critics argue that without a centralized authority guaranteeing that all data is preserved, important information will be lost. They also claim that running a relay will become prohibitively expensive. While there is truth to these concerns, they miss the mark. The genius of nostr lies in its flexibility, resilience, and the way it harnesses human incentives to ensure data availability in practice.
A nostr relay is simply a server that holds cryptographically verifiable signed data and makes it available to others. Relays are simple, flexible, open, and require no permission to run. Critics are right that operating a relay attempting to store all nostr data will be costly. What they miss is that most will not run all encompassing archive relays. Nostr does not rely on massive archive relays. Instead, anyone can run a relay and choose to store whatever subset of data they want. This keeps costs low and operations flexible, making relay operation accessible to all sorts of individuals and entities with varying use cases.
Critics are correct that there is no ironclad guarantee that every piece of data will always be available. Unlike bitcoin where data permanence is baked into the system at a steep cost, nostr does not promise that every random note or meme will be preserved forever. That said, in practice, any data perceived as valuable by someone will likely be stored and distributed by multiple entities. If something matters to someone, they will keep a signed copy.
Nostr is the Streisand Effect in protocol form. The Streisand effect is when an attempt to suppress information backfires, causing it to spread even further. With nostr, anyone can broadcast signed data, anyone can store it, and anyone can distribute it. Try to censor something important? Good luck. The moment it catches attention, it will be stored on relays across the globe, copied, and shared by those who find it worth keeping. Data deemed important will be replicated across servers by individuals acting in their own interest.
Nostrâs distributed nature ensures that the system does not rely on a single point of failure or a corporate overlord. Instead, it leans on the collective will of its users. The result is a network where costs stay manageable, participation is open to all, and valuable verifiable data is stored and distributed forever.
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@ 3f770d65:7a745b24
2025-01-05 18:56:33New Yearâs resolutions often feel boring and repetitive. Most revolve around getting in shape, eating healthier, or giving up alcohol. While the idea is interestingâusing the start of a new calendar year as a catalyst for changeâit also seems unnecessary. Why wait for a specific date to make a change? If you want to improve something in your life, you can just do it. You donât need an excuse.
Thatâs why Iâve never been drawn to the idea of making a list of resolutions. If I wanted a change, Iâd make it happen, without worrying about the calendar. At least, thatâs how I felt until nowâwhen, for once, the timing actually gave me a real reason to embrace the idea of New Yearâs resolutions.
Enter Olas.
If you're a visual creator, you've likely experienced the relentless grind of building a following on platforms like Instagramâendless doomscrolling, ever-changing algorithms, and the constant pressure to stay relevant. But what if there was a better way? Olas is a Nostr-powered alternative to Instagram that prioritizes community, creativity, and value-for-value exchanges. It's a game changer.
Instagramâs failings are well-known. Its algorithm often dictates whose content gets seen, leaving creators frustrated and powerless. Monetization hurdles further alienate creators who are forced to meet arbitrary follower thresholds before earning anything. Additionally, the platformâs design fosters endless comparisons and exposure to negativity, which can take a significant toll on mental health.
Instagramâs algorithms are notorious for keeping users hooked, often at the cost of their mental health. I've spoken about this extensively, most recently at Nostr Valley, explaining how legacy social media is bad for you. You might find yourself scrolling through content that leaves you feeling anxious or drained. Olas takes a fresh approach, replacing "doomscrolling" with "bloomscrolling." This is a common theme across the Nostr ecosystem. The lack of addictive rage algorithms allows the focus to shift to uplifting, positive content that inspires rather than exhausts.
Monetization is another area where Olas will set itself apart. On Instagram, creators face arbitrary barriers to earningâneeding thousands of followers and adhering to restrictive platform rules. Olas eliminates these hurdles by leveraging the Nostr protocol, enabling creators to earn directly through value-for-value exchanges. Fans can support their favorite artists instantly, with no delays or approvals required. The plan is to enable a brand new Olas account that can get paid instantly, with zero followers - that's wild.
Olas addresses these issues head-on. Operating on the open Nostr protocol, it removes centralized control over one's contentâs reach or one's ability to monetize. With transparent, configurable algorithms, and a community that thrives on mutual support, Olas creates an environment where creators can grow and succeed without unnecessary barriers.
Join me on my New Year's resolution. Join me on Olas and take part in the #Olas365 challenge! Itâs a simple yet exciting way to share your content. The challenge is straightforward: post at least one photo per day on Olas (though youâre welcome to share more!).
Download on Android or download via Zapstore.
Let's make waves together.
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@ 3f770d65:7a745b24
2024-12-31 17:03:46Here are my predictions for Nostr in 2025:
Decentralization: The outbox and inbox communication models, sometimes referred to as the Gossip model, will become the standard across the ecosystem. By the end of 2025, all major clients will support these models, providing seamless communication and enhanced decentralization. Clients that do not adopt outbox/inbox by then will be regarded as outdated or legacy systems.
Privacy Standards: Major clients such as Damus and Primal will move away from NIP-04 DMs, adopting more secure protocol possibilities like NIP-17 or NIP-104. These upgrades will ensure enhanced encryption and metadata protection. Additionally, NIP-104 MLS tools will drive the development of new clients and features, providing users with unprecedented control over the privacy of their communications.
Interoperability: Nostr's ecosystem will become even more interconnected. Platforms like the Olas image-sharing service will expand into prominent clients such as Primal, Damus, Coracle, and Snort, alongside existing integrations with Amethyst, Nostur, and Nostrudel. Similarly, audio and video tools like Nostr Nests and Zap.stream will gain seamless integration into major clients, enabling easy participation in live events across the ecosystem.
Adoption and Migration: Inspired by early pioneers like Fountain and Orange Pill App, more platforms will adopt Nostr for authentication, login, and social systems. In 2025, a significant migration from a high-profile application platform with hundreds of thousands of users will transpire, doubling Nostrâs daily activity and establishing it as a cornerstone of decentralized technologies.
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@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9
2025-05-15 15:31:45Capitalism is the most effective system for scaling innovation. The pursuit of profit is an incredibly powerful human incentive. Most major improvements to human society and quality of life have resulted from this base incentive. Market competition often results in the best outcomes for all.
That said, some projects can never be monetized. They are open in nature and a business model would centralize control. Open protocols like bitcoin and nostr are not owned by anyone and if they were it would destroy the key value propositions they provide. No single entity can or should control their use. Anyone can build on them without permission.
As a result, open protocols must depend on donation based grant funding from the people and organizations that rely on them. This model works but it is slow and uncertain, a grind where sustainability is never fully reached but rather constantly sought. As someone who has been incredibly active in the open source grant funding space, I do not think people truly appreciate how difficult it is to raise charitable money and deploy it efficiently.
Projects that can be monetized should be. Profitability is a super power. When a business can generate revenue, it taps into a self sustaining cycle. Profit fuels growth and development while providing projects independence and agency. This flywheel effect is why companies like Google, Amazon, and Apple have scaled to global dominance. The profit incentive aligns human effort with efficiency. Businesses must innovate, cut waste, and deliver value to survive.
Contrast this with non monetized projects. Without profit, they lean on external support, which can dry up or shift with donor priorities. A profit driven model, on the other hand, is inherently leaner and more adaptable. It is not charity but survival. When survival is tied to delivering what people want, scale follows naturally.
The real magic happens when profitable, sustainable businesses are built on top of open protocols and software. Consider the many startups building on open source software stacks, such as Start9, Mempool, and Primal, offering premium services on top of the open source software they build out and maintain. Think of companies like Block or Strike, which leverage bitcoinâs open protocol to offer their services on top. These businesses amplify the open software and protocols they build on, driving adoption and improvement at a pace donations alone could never match.
When you combine open software and protocols with profit driven business the result are lean, sustainable companies that grow faster and serve more people than either could alone. Bitcoinâs network, for instance, benefits from businesses that profit off its existence, while nostr will expand as developers monetize apps built on the protocol.
Capitalism scales best because competition results in efficiency. Donation funded protocols and software lay the groundwork, while market driven businesses build on top. The profit incentive acts as a filter, ensuring resources flow to what works, while open systems keep the playing field accessible, empowering users and builders. Together, they create a flywheel of innovation, growth, and global benefit.
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@ 21335073:a244b1ad
2025-05-09 13:56:57Someone asked for my thoughts, so Iâll share them thoughtfully. Iâm not here to dictate how to promote NostrâIâm still learning about it myself. While Iâm not new to Nostr, freedom tech is a newer space for me. Iâm skilled at advocating for topics I deeply understand, but freedom tech isnât my expertise, so take my words with a grain of salt. Nothing I say is set in stone.
Those who need Nostr the most are the ones most vulnerable to censorship on other platforms right now. Reaching them requires real-time awareness of global issues and the dynamic relationships between governments and tech providers, which can shift suddenly. Effective Nostr promoters must grasp this and adapt quickly.
The best messengers are people from or closely tied to these at-risk regionsâthose who truly understand the local political and cultural dynamics. They can connect with those in need when tensions rise. Ideal promoters are rational, trustworthy, passionate about Nostr, but above all, dedicated to amplifying peopleâs voices when it matters most.
Forget influencers, corporate-backed figures, or traditional online PRâit comes off as inauthentic, corny, desperate and forced. Nostrâs promotion should be grassroots and organic, driven by a few passionate individuals who believe in Nostr and the communities they serve.
The idea that âpeople wonât join Nostr due to lack of reachâ is nonsense. Everyone knows Xâs âreachâ is mostly with bots. If humans want real conversations, Nostr is the place. X is great for propaganda, but Nostr is for the authentic voices of the people.
Those spreading Nostr must be so passionate theyâre willing to onboard others, which is time-consuming but rewarding for the right person. Theyâll need to make Nostr and onboarding a core part of who they are. I see no issue with that level of dedication. Iâve been known to get that way myself at times. Itâs fun for some folks.
With love, I suggest not adding Bitcoin promotion with Nostr outreach. Zaps already integrate that element naturally. (Still promote within the Bitcoin ecosystem, but this is about reaching vulnerable voices who needed Nostr yesterday.)
To promote Nostr, forget conventional strategies. âInfluencersâ arenât the answer. âInfluencersâ are not the future. A trusted local community member has real influenceâreach them. Connect with people seeking Nostrâs benefits but lacking the technical language to express it. This means some in the Nostr community might need to step outside of the Bitcoin bubble, which is uncomfortable but necessary. Thank you in advance to those who are willing to do that.
I donât know who is paid to promote Nostr, if anyone. This piece isnât shade. But itâs exhausting to see innocent voices globally silenced on corporate platforms like X while Nostr exists. Last night, I wondered: how many more voices must be censored before the Nostr community gets uncomfortable and thinks creatively to reach the vulnerable?
A warning: the global need for censorship-resistant social media is undeniable. If Nostr doesnât make itself known, something else will fill that void. Letâs start this conversation.
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@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf
2025-05-24 18:01:14Humanity's Natural State Is Chaos
Without order there is chaos. Humans competing with each other for scarce resources naturally leads to conflict until one group achieves significant power and instates a "monopoly on violence."Power Brings Stability
Power has always been the key means to achieve stability in societies. Centralized power can be incredibly effective in addressing issues such as crime, poverty, and social unrest efficiently. Unfortunately this power is often abused and corrupted.Centralized Power Breeds Tyranny
Centralized power often leads to tyrannical rule. When a select few individuals hold control over a society, they tend to become corrupted. Centralized power structures often lack accountability and transparency, and rely too heavily on trust.Distributed Power Cultivates Freedom
New technology that empowers individuals provide us the ability to rebuild societies from the bottom up. Strong individuals that can defend and provide for themselves will help build strong local communities on a similar foundation. The result is power being distributed throughout society rather than held by a select few.In the short term, relying on trust and centralized power is an easy answer to mitigating chaos, but freedom tech tools provide us the ability to build on top of much stronger distributed foundations that provide stability while also cultivating individual freedom.
The solution starts with us. Empower yourself. Empower others. A grassroots freedom tech movement scaling one person at a time.
If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.
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@ 8bad92c3:ca714aa5
2025-05-24 18:01:02Key Takeaways
Lyn Alden unpacks the complex interplay of global trade imbalances, the dollarâs entrenched reserve currency status, and Americaâs eroded industrial base, arguing that aggressive tariffs under Trump have backfired by hurting U.S. businesses without reversing decades of offshoring. She illustrates how China has rapidly ascended the value chain, dominating key industries and making it nearly impossible for the U.S. to build a trade coalition against them. Despite the U.S.âs massive debt and persistent global demand for dollars, cracks are forming in the system as nations explore alternative payment systems and neutral reserve assets like gold and Bitcoin. Lyn emphasizes that Bitcoinâs most effective path to integration is through grassroots and corporate adoption, not government-led initiatives, and warns that unless the U.S. urgently scales its energy and industrial capacity, it risks falling further behind Chinaâs unmatched pace of growth and infrastructure dominance.
Best Quotes
- "The trade deficit is often described as us sending out pieces of paper and getting goods and services, which sounds like a really good deal."
- "It's better to correct these imbalances from a position of strength, not weakness."
- "All that debt creates inflexible demand for dollars. Thereâs literally way more demand than dollars in the system."
- "China became the largest auto exporter in the world in just four years."
- "Bitcoin isnât changing to fit into the global financial system. The global financial system is changing to fit Bitcoin."
- "Individuals, small businesses, corporationsâthese are the real drivers of Bitcoin adoption. Not governments."
Conclusion
This episode offers a sobering look at Americaâs trade and currency dilemmas, with Lyn Alden explaining why quick policy fixes like tariffs canât reverse decades of deindustrialization tied to the dollarâs reserve status. She highlights the rise of neutral reserve assets like gold and Bitcoin as important hedges, stressing that grassroots and corporate adoption will be more effective than government-led efforts. Lyn also warns that without a major push to expand energy production, the U.S. risks falling behind in an AI-driven, hardware-centric world, urging strategic humility and innovation to navigate the shifting global order.
Timestamps
0:00 - Intro
0:31 - Triffin's dilemma
8:10 - Debt leverage
11:04 - Fold & Bitkey
12:41 - Trump's goals and tariff policy
19:54 - Unchained
20:24 - China is not weak
30:07 - Energy
37:15 - AI/robots
41:11 - SBR
48:47 - Bitcoin credit products
52:40 - Eventful week for bitcoinTranscript
(00:00) They ramped up tariffs super high, super quickly. In many cases, were so high that they hurt us as much as some of our trade adversaries. China has ramped up to like unfathomable degrees. Nuclear, solar, pretty much everything that they can throw money at they're building. The trade is often described as us sending out pieces of paper and getting goods and services, which sounds like a really good deal.
(00:19) They take those slips of paper and then they buy our stocks. They buy our corporate bonds and government bonds. And so they end up owning a larger and larger share of corporate America. got the headphone hair. I'm all out of whack, Lynn. It's been a long week here in Austin. Yeah, I can imagine. It's been a long time since we've talked on the show. It's been two years.
(00:41) I was checking, which is a astonishing to me. But no better time than now. Uh I think quite literally based off of all the conversations we've had uh over the years. I mean, your famous saying, nothing stops this train. I think we're coming to a juncture where that's becoming abundantly clear. and you wrote uh a newsletter earlier this week, I believe you sent it out Sunday, that basically highlighted the crux of the problem, which is the dollar reserve status and the almost impossible task that Trump would like to accomplish, but
(01:21) likely isn't the case, which is sort of solving Triffin's dilemma of reshoring manufacturing while keeping US dollar dominance. So I think diving into this from first principles would be great. Sure. Yeah. And that's that's the um I can imagine the administration's challenge of trying to communicate this because uh the intricacies of how trade deficits and the reserve currency kind of pair together is very wonkish.
(01:46) It it kind of has this like academic quality to it that doesn't go over well uh in kind of political oriented speeches. Um like I would I would be terrible at a political rally for example when I try to explain any of this. Um and so we kind of have this situation where um and this was outlined back during the Breton Wood system by Triffin as you mentioned uh which is that having the reserve currency does come with a bunch of benefits um you know historically called a extraordin uh exorbitant privilege um but then it has certain costs to
(02:15) maintain it and those costs can vary a bit depending on how the system structure. So for example back in the Bretton Woods era the cost was that we kept draining our gold reserves. uh we basically had to kind of keep paying out our go gold gold reserves to maintain that part of the system and in the current formation uh instead we kind of pay for it with our industrial base.
(02:36) We keep kind of sending out little parts of our industrial base over time to maintain the the global reserve currency status. And there's a few reasons for that. One is that um because unlike every other fiat currency, the dollar has all these extra demands for it by countries all around the world. um all these different purposes.
(02:55) um there's this extra demand for dollars which sounds good on the surface and as for Americans for example we have tons of import power when we go on vacations to the rest of the world it's you know we have pretty strong purchasing power compared to when they come to the US um these things seem good on the surface but it also means that it's pretty expensive to manufacture lower margin things here at home uh and so we have this kind of situation where our imports are very strong our exports uh especially lower margin stuff is less uh
(03:22) competitive whereas we can still be competitive competitive on really high margin stuff, you know, technology, finance, healthcare, that kind of thing. Um, and then the other aspect is that even if you could somehow solve that, there's the more fundamental problem, which is that the whole world needs dollars uh for the you know, global reserve currency status to use it for international contract pricing, crossber financing, one side of every trade pair that they do, all these different purposes as a reserve asset. Um uh and
(03:51) when you step back and say, "Well, how do they get all those dollars if they're all using dollars? How did all those dollars get out there?" And the answer is trade deficits. Um basically that overvalued aspect forces open the US trade deficit. And every year we send out hundreds of billions or sometimes a trillion dollars in net outflows.
(04:10) And over years and decades, these have accumulated out there. And so, uh, kind of the way it works is that if you want to fix the trade deficit, which I've been I've been writing about since 2019, I think that's a I think that's a valid mandate to do. Um, unfortunately does come with trade-offs.
(04:26) Uh, some of the some of the benefits that that you know that we enjoy at the cost of the trade deficit. Um, if you do want to kind of fix that imbalance, it comes up, you know, with with basically giving away at least some of those benefits and prioritizing that that industrial base a bit more. And one of the dynamics that you highlighted in your newsletter, which makes sense, but wasn't very clear to me before, is that via these deficits, we flood international markets with dollars because we're sending parts of our industrial base over there. But then
(05:00) it's like cyclical. They take those dollars and then reinvest them in US financial assets. So it has this sort of flow where it goes out but then it comes back in into the financialized economy via equities and real estate and other such assets and that is good for asset owners here in the United States.
(05:19) But again I think that's is part of the bag of mandate is that sort of cycle has led to this large wealth gap in the United States that they're trying to fix. Yeah. Exactly. Um and so basically the opposite side of a current account deficit which is basically so the trade deficit plus things like interest and dividends.
(05:39) Um so we run a structural current account deficit and the opposite side of that is a capital account surplus. Um which is that funds flow in the rest of the world and buy our financial assets. Uh and so it's the the trade deficit is often described as us sending out pieces of paper and getting goods and services which sounds like a really good deal.
(05:57) Um but then the extra step of that that you mentioned is that they take those slips of paper or really those electronic digits that they have and then they buy our stocks, they buy our real estate, they buy our private equity, they they buy our corporate bonds and government bonds and so they end up owning a larger and larger share of corporate America as part of their kind of accumulated uh trade surpluses uh and reserve assets and uh international private assets.
(06:22) Um, and the kind of the consequence of this, if you kind of like view the foreign sector as an intermediary, we're basically constantly kind of taking economic vibrancy out of, you know, Michigan and Ohio and, uh, you know, rural Pennsylvania where the steel m -
@ 8bad92c3:ca714aa5
2025-05-24 18:01:01Marty's Bent
via me
It seems like every other day there's another company announced that is going public with the intent of competing with Strategy by leveraging capital markets to create financial instruments to acquire Bitcoin in a way that is accretive for shareholders. This is certainly a very interesting trend, very bullish for bitcoin in the short-term, and undoubtedly making it so bitcoin is top of mind in the mainstream. I won't pretend to know whether or not these strategies will ultimately be successful or fail in the short, medium or long term. However, one thing I do know is that the themes that interest me, both here at TFTC and in my role as Managing Partner at Ten31, are companies that are building good businesses that are efficient, have product-market-fit, generate revenues and profits and roll those profits into bitcoin.
While it seems pretty clear that Strategy has tapped into an arbitrage that exists in capital markets, it's not really that exciting. From a business perspective, it's actually pretty straightforward and simple; find where potential arbitrage opportunities exists between pools of capital looking for exposure to spot bitcoin or bitcoin's volatility but can't buy the actual asset, and provide them with products that give them access to exposure while simultaneously creating a cult-like retail following. Rinse and repeat. To the extent that this strategy is repeatable is yet to be seen. I imagine it can expand pretty rapidly. Particularly if we have a speculative fervor around companies that do this. But in the long run, I think the signal is falling back to first principles, looking for businesses that are actually providing goods and services to the broader economy - not focused on the hyper-financialized part of the economy - to provide value and create efficiencies that enable higher margins and profitability.
With this in mind, I think it's important to highlight the combined leverage that entrepreneurs have by utilizing bitcoin treasuries and AI tools that are emerging and becoming more advanced by the week. As I said in the tweet above, there's never been a better time to start a business that finds product-market fit and cash flows quickly with a team of two to three people. If you've been reading this rag over the last few weeks, you know that I've been experimenting with these AI tools and using them to make our business processes more efficient here at TFTC. I've also been using them at Ten31 to do deep research and analysis.
It has become abundantly clear to me that any founder or entrepreneur that is not utilizing the AI tools that are emerging is going to get left behind. As it stands today, all anyone has to do to get an idea from a thought in your head to the prototype stage to a minimum viable product is to hop into something like Claude or ChatGPT, have a brief conversation with an AI model that can do deep research about a particular niche that you want to provide a good service to and begin building.
Later this week, I will launch an app called Opportunity Cost in the Chrome and Firefox stores. It took me a few hours of work over the span of a week to ideate and iterate on the concept to the point where I had a working prototype that I handed off to a developer who is solving the last mile problem I have as an "idea guy" of getting the product to market. Only six months ago, accomplishing something like this would have been impossible for me. I've never written a line of code that's actually worked outside of the modded MySpace page I made back in middle school. I've always had a lot of ideas but have never been able to effectively communicate them to developers who can actually build them. With a combination of ChatGPT-03 and Replit, I was able to build an actual product that works. I'm using it in my browser today. It's pretty insane.
There are thousands of people coming to the same realization at the same time right now and going out there and building niche products very cheaply, with small teams, they are getting to market very quickly, and are amassing five figures, six figures, sometimes seven figures of MRR with extremely high profit margins. What most of these entrepreneurs have not really caught on to yet is that they should be cycling a portion - in my opinion, a large portion - of those profits into bitcoin. The combination of building a company utilizing these AI tools, getting it to market, getting revenue and profits, and turning those profits into bitcoin cannot be understated. You're going to begin seeing teams of one to ten people building businesses worth billions of dollars and they're going to need to store the value they create, any money that cannot be debased.
Grant Gilliam, one of the co-founders of Ten31, wrote about this in early 2024, bitcoin being the fourth lever of equity value growth for companies.
[
Bitcoin Treasury - The Fourth Lever to Equity Value Growth
Most companies do not hold enough bitcoin There is a saying you often hear in bitcoin circles that âyou can never have enough bitcoin.â This is typically expressed by those who have spent the time to both understand bitcoinâs unique and superior monetary properties and also to appreciate why tho
Ten31 - Investors in bitcoin infrastructure and freedom techGrant Gilliam
](https://ten31.vc/insights/treasury?ref=tftc.io)
We already see this theme playing out at Ten31 with some of our portfolio companies, most notably Strike, which recently released some of their financials, highlighting the fact that they're extremely profitable with high margins and a relatively small team (~75). This is extremely impressive, especially when you consider the fact that they're a global company competing with the likes of Coinbase and Block, which have each thousands of employees.
Even those who are paying attention to the developments in the AI space and how the tools can enable entrepreneurs to build faster aren't really grasping the gravity of what's at play here. Many are simply thinking of consumer apps that can be built and distributed quickly to market, but the ways in which AI can be implemented extend far beyond the digital world. Here's a great example of a company a fellow freak is building with the mindset of keeping the team small, utilizing AI tools to automate processes and quickly push profits into bitcoin.
via Cormac
Again, this is where the exciting things are happening in my mind. People leveraging new tools to solve real problems to drive real value that ultimately produce profits for entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurs who decide to save those profits in bitcoin will find that the equity value growth of their companies accelerates exponentially as they provide more value, gain more traction, and increase their profits while also riding the bitcoin as it continues on its monetization phase. The compounded leverage of building a company that leverages AI tools and sweeps profits into bitcoin is going to be the biggest asymmetric play of the next decade. Personally, I also see it as something that's much more fulfilling than the pure play bitcoin treasury companies that are coming to market because consumers and entrepreneurs are able to recive and provide a ton of value in the real economy.
If you're looking to stay on top of the developments in the AI space and how you can apply the tools to help build your business or create a new business, I highly recommend you follow somebody like Greg Isenberg, whose Startup Ideas Podcast has been incredibly valuable for me as I attempt to get a lay of the land of how to implement AI into my businesses.
America's Two Economies
In my recent podcast with Lyn Alden, she outlined how our trade deficits create a cycle that's reshaping America's economic geography. As Alden explained, US trade deficits pump dollars into international markets, but these dollars don't disappear - they return as investments in US financial assets. This cycle gradually depletes industrial heartlands while enriching financial centers on the coasts, creating what amounts to two separate American economies.
"We're basically constantly taking economic vibrancy out of Michigan and Ohio and rural Pennsylvania where the steel mills were... and stuffing it back into financial assets in New York and Silicon Valley." - Lyn Alden
This pattern has persisted for over four decades, accelerating significantly since the early 1980s. Alden emphasized that while economists may argue there's still room before reaching a crisis point, the political consequences are already here. The growing divide between these two Americas has fueled populist sentiment as voters who feel left behind seek economic rebalancing, even if they can't articulate the exact mechanisms causing their hardship.
Check out the full podcast here for more on China's man
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@ 3f770d65:7a745b24
2024-12-30 19:25:45As I look back on my predictions for Nostr in 2024, itâs clear I had some hits and misses. I believe my first two predictions were spot on, accurately reflecting the trends and developments we witnessed. However, my second two predictions missed the mark, proving to be far less accurate. Maybe I was too bullish?
nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzq0mhp4ja8fmy48zuk5p6uy37vtk8tx9dqdwcxm32sy8nsaa8gkeyqyghwumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytnhd9hx2tcpzamhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumn0wd68ytnzv9hxgtcqypsm9tk39g20atwqskvjcvhq7rher5nkgwjr05lzspne4gf0uvyxukew5mg
What did I get right? Clients did increasingly prioritize user and content discovery while enabling users to easily select and choose their own algorithms. (DVMs, Trending, What's Hot, Feeds, etc.) This focus provided individuals with more tools, greater control, and unprecedented power over their social streams and attention than ever before. This is still actively happening and will continue to happen throughout 2025 too.
What did I get wrong? We didn't see an Other Stuff application breakthrough as a clear winner that became a mainstream favorite. I anticipated a standout application that would interest users and become a "must-use" within the ecosystem, but this didnât happen. And we also clearly didn't hit 1M active users either. While adoption did increase, it didnât reach the critical mass I expected.
But this doesn't mean 2024 fell short of expectationsâin fact, quite the opposite. The year brought incredible client innovations (Damus Notedeck, Primal 2.0, TOR only Amethyst, Flotilla, Chachi, Olas, Coracle feeds, etc.) and relay milestones (Web-of-Trust relays, private relays, algorithm based relays, etc.) with the introduction of these innovative features and the launch of these new platforms.
Beyond technology, the Nostr community achieved something truly remarkable: a grassroots movement that united people globally.
From supporting Nostr meetups and events to hosting booths across continents at major conferences, the community came together to raise money to support these initiatives in ways no one predicted. This organic, ground-up effort showcased the strength and passion behind Nostr, creating a foundation that will #grownostr and success for years to come.
Too bullish? Maybe I wasn't bullish enough? As is tradition, I will post my 2025 predictions tomorrow.
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@ 21335073:a244b1ad
2025-05-01 01:51:10Please respect Virginia Giuffreâs memory by refraining from asking about the circumstances or theories surrounding her passing.
Since Virginia Giuffreâs death, Iâve reflected on what she would want me to say or do. This piece is my attempt to honor her legacy.
When I first spoke with Virginia, I was struck by her unshakable hope. I had grown cynical after years in the anti-human trafficking movement, worn down by a broken system and a government that often seemed complicit. But Virginiaâs passion, creativity, and belief that survivors could be heard reignited something in me. She reminded me of my younger, more hopeful self. Instead of warning her about the challenges ahead, I let her dream big, unburdened by my own disillusionment. That conversation changed me for the better, and following her lead led to meaningful progress.
Virginia was one of the bravest people Iâve ever known. As a survivor of Epstein, Maxwell, and their co-conspirators, she risked everything to speak out, taking on some of the worldâs most powerful figures.
She loved when I said, âEpstein isnât the only Epstein.â This wasnât just about one manâit was a call to hold all abusers accountable and to ensure survivors find hope and healing.
The Epstein case often gets reduced to sensational details about the elite, but that misses the bigger picture. Yes, we should be holding all of the co-conspirators accountable, we must listen to the survivorsâ stories. Their experiences reveal how predators exploit vulnerabilities, offering lessons to prevent future victims.
Youâre not powerless in this fight. Educate yourself about trafficking and abuseâonline and offlineâand take steps to protect those around you. Supporting survivors starts with small, meaningful actions. Free online resources can guide you in being a safe, supportive presence.
When high-profile accusations arise, resist snap judgments. Instead of dismissing survivors as âcrazy,â pause to consider the trauma they may be navigating. Speaking out or coping with abuse is never easy. You donât have to believe every claim, but you can refrain from attacking accusers online.
Society also fails at providing aftercare for survivors. The government, often part of the problem, wonât solve this. Itâs up to us. Prevention is critical, but when abuse occurs, step up for your loved ones and community. Protect the vulnerable. itâs a challenging but a rewarding journey.
If youâre contributing to Nostr, youâre helping build a censorship resistant platform where survivors can share their stories freely, no matter how powerful their abusers are. Their voices can endure here, offering strength and hope to others. This gives me great hope for the future.
Virginia Giuffreâs courage was a gift to the world. It was an honor to know and serve her. She will be deeply missed. My hope is that her story inspires others to take on the powerful.
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@ bf47c19e:c3d2573b
2025-05-24 17:11:28Originalni tekst na bitcoin-balkan.com.
Pregled sadrĹžaja
- Odakle PotiÄe Bitcoin?
- Koje Probleme ReĹĄava Bitcoin?
- Kako se Bitcoin razvijao u poslednjoj deceniji?
Bitcoin je peer to peer elektronski keĹĄ, novi oblik digitalnog novca koji se moĹže prenositi izmeÄu ljudi ili raÄunara, bez potrebe za uÄestvovanjem pouzdanog posrednika (kao ĹĄto je banka) i Äije izdavanje nije pod kontrolom nijedne stranke.
Zamislite papirni dolar ili metalni novÄiÄ. Kad taj novac date drugoj osobi, ona ne mora da zna ko ste vi.
On samo treba da veruju da novac koji dobiju od vas nije falsifikat. ObiÄno, proveravanje falsifikata âfiziÄkogâ novca, ljudi rade koristeÄi samo oÄi i prste ili koristeÄi specijalnu opremu za testiranje ukoliko se radi o znaÄajnijoj sumi novca.
VeÄina plaÄanja u naĹĄem digitalnom druĹĄtvu vrĹĄi se putem Interneta koriĹĄÄenjem neke posredniÄke usluge: kompanije za izdavanje kreditnih kartica poput Visa, snabdevaÄa digitalnih plaÄanja kao ĹĄto je PayPal ili Apple Pay ili mreĹžne platforme poput WeChat u Kini.
Kretanje ka digitalnom plaÄanju sa sobom donosi oslanjanje na nekog centralnog aktera koji mora odobriti i verifikovati svaku uplatu.
Priroda novca se promenila od fiziÄkog predmeta koji moĹžete da nosite, prenesete i autentifikujete do digitalnih bitova koje mora da Äuva i verifikuje treÄa strana koja kontroliĹĄe njihov prenos.
Odricanjem od gotovine u korist âudobnihâ digitalnih plaÄanja, mi takoÄe stvaramo sistem u kome dajemo ogromna ovlaĹĄÄenja onima koji bi poĹželeli da nas tlaÄe.
Platforme za digitalno plaÄanje postale su osnova distopijskih autoritarnih metoda kontrole, poput onih koje kineska vlada koristi za nadgledanje disidenata i spreÄava graÄane, Äije ponaĹĄanje im se ne svidja, da kupuju robu i plaÄaju usluge.
Bitcoin nudi alternativu centralno kontrolisanom digitalnom novcu sa sistemom koji nam vraÄa prirodu koriĹĄÄenja keĹĄa â Äovek Äoveku, ali u digitalnom obliku.
Bitcoin je digitalno sredstvo koje se izdaje i prenosi preko mreĹže meÄusobno povezanih raÄunara, od koji svaki od njih samostalno potvrÄuje da svi ostali igraju po pravilima.
Bitcoin MreĹža
Odakle PotiÄe Bitcoin?
Bitcoin je izumela osoba ili grupa poznata pod pseudonimom Satoshi Nakamoto, oko 2008. godine.
Niko ne zna Satoshijev identitet, a koliko znamo, oni su nestali i o njima se godinama niĹĄta nije Äulo.
11.februara 2009. godine, Satoshi je pisao o ranoj verziji Bitcoin-a na mreĹžnom forumu za cypherÂpunkere, ljude koji rade na tehnologiji kriptografije i koji su zabrinuti za privatnost i slobodu pojedinca.
Iako ovo nije prvo zvaniÄno objavljivanje Bitcoin-a, sadrĹži dobar rezime Satoshi-jevih motiva.
Razvio sam novi P2P sistem e-keĹĄa otvorenog koda pod nazivom Bitcoin. Potpuno je decentralizovan, bez centralnog servera ili pouzdanih stranki, jer se sve zasniva na kripto dokazima umesto na poverenju. [âŚ]
Osnovni problem konvencionalne valute je potpuno poverenje koje je potrebno za njeno funkcionisanje. Centralnoj banci se mora verovati da necĚe devalvirati valutu, ali istorija tradicionalnih valuta je puna primera krĹĄenja tog poverenja. Bankama se mora verovati da drĹže naĹĄ novac i prenose ga elektronskim putem, ali one ga daju u talasima kreditnih balona sa deliÄem rezerve. Moramo im verovati sa naĹĄom privatnoĹĄÄu, verovati im da necĚe dozvoliti da kradljivci identiteta pokradu naĹĄe raÄune. Njihovi ogromni reĹžijski troĹĄkovi onemogucĚavaju mikro placĚanja.
Generaciju ranije, viĹĄekorisniÄki time-sharing raÄunarski sistemi imali su sliÄan problem. Pre pojave jake enkripcije, korisnici su morali da imaju pouzdanje u zaĹĄtitu lozinkom kako bi zaĹĄtitili svoje fajlove [âŚ]
Tada je jaka enkripcija postala dostupna ĹĄirokim masama i viĹĄe nije bilo potrebno poverenje. Podaci bi se mogli osigurati na naÄin koji je fiziÄki bio nemogucĚ za pristup drugima, bez obzira iz kog razloga, bez obzira koliko je dobar izgovor, bez obzira na sve.
Vreme je da imamo istu stvar za novac. Uz e-valutu zasnovanu na kriptografskom dokazu, bez potrebe da verujete posredniku trecĚe strane, novac moĹže biti siguran i transakcije mogu biti izvrĹĄene bez napora. [âŚ]
ReĹĄenje Bitcoin-a je koriĹĄcĚenje peer-to-peer mreĹže za proveru dvostruke potroĹĄnje. Ukratko, mreĹža radi poput distribuiranog servera vremenskih Ĺžigova, obeleĹžavajuÄi prvu transakciju koja je potroĹĄila novÄicĚ. Potrebna je prednost prirode informacije koju je lako ĹĄiriti, ali je teĹĄko uguĹĄiti. Za detalje o tome kako to funkcioniĹĄe, pogledajte Älanak o dizajnu na bitcoin.org
Satoshi Nakamoto
Koje Probleme ReĹĄava Bitcoin?
Razdvojimo neke od Satoshi-jevih postova kako bismo uvideli razloge njegove motivacije.
âRazvio sam novi P2P sistem e-keĹĄa otvorenog koda.â
P2P je skraÄenica za peer to peer i ukazuje na sistem u kojem jedna osoba moĹže da komunicira sa drugom bez ikoga u sredini, kao medjusobno jednaki.
MoĹžete se setiti P2P tehnologija za razmenu datoteka poput Napster-a, Kazaa-e i BitTorrrent-a, koje su prve omoguÄile ljudima da dele muziku i filmove bez posrednika.
Satoshi je dizajnirao Bitcoin kako bi omoguÄio ljudima da razmenjuju e-keĹĄ, elektronski keĹĄ, bez prolaska preko posrednika na pribliĹžno isti naÄin.
Softver je otvorenog koda, ĹĄto znaÄi da svako moĹže videti kako funkcioniĹĄe i doprineti tome.
Ne treba da verujemo ni u ĹĄta ĹĄto je Satoshi napisao u svom postu o tome kako softver radi.
MoĹžemo pogledati kod i sami proveriti kako to funkcioniĹĄe. Ĺ taviĹĄe, moĹžemo promeniti funkcionalnost sistema promenom koda.
âPotpuno je decentralizovan, bez centralnog servera ili pouzdanih stranki âŚâ
Satoshi napominje da je sistem decentralizovan kako bi se razlikovao od sistema koji imaju centralnu kontrolu.
Prethodne pokuĹĄaje stvaranja digitalne gotovine poput DigiCash-a od strane Davida Chaum-a podrĹžavao je centralni server, raÄunar ili skup raÄunara koji je bio odgovoran za izdavanje i verifikaciju plaÄanja pod kontrolom jedne korporacije.
Takve, centralno kontrolisane privatne ĹĄeme novca, bile su osuÄene na propast; ljudi se ne mogu osloniti na novac koji moĹže nestati kada kompanija prestane sa poslovanjem, bude hakovana, pretrpi pad servera ili je zatvori vlada.
Bitcoin odrĹžava mreĹža pojedinaca i kompanija ĹĄirom sveta.
Da bi se Bitcoin iskljuÄio, bilo bi potrebno iskljuÄiti desetine do stotine hiljada raÄunara ĹĄirom sveta u isto vreme, zauvek, od kojih su mnogi na nepoznatim lokacijama.
Bila bi to beznadeĹžna igra, jer bi svaki napad ove prirode jednostavno podstakao stvaranje novih Bitcoin Ävorova ili raÄunara na mreĹži.
â⌠sve se zasniva na kripto dokazima umesto na poverenjuâ
Internet, a u stvari i veÄina savremenih raÄunarskih sistema, izgraÄeni su na kriptografiji, metodi prikrivanja informacija, tako da je moĹže dekodirati samo primalac informacije.
Kako se Bitcoin oslobaÄa potrebe za poverenjem? Umesto da verujemo nekome ko kaĹže âJa sam Alisaâ ili âImam 10 $ na raÄunuâ, moĹžemo koristiti kriptografsku matematiku da bismo izneli iste Äinjenice na naÄin koji je vrlo lako verifikovati od strane primaoca dokaza ali ga je nemoguÄe falsifikovati.
Bitcoin u svom dizajnu koristi kriptografsku matematiku kako bi uÄesnicima omoguÄio da provere ponaĹĄanje svih ostalih uÄesnika, bez poverenja u bilo koju centralnu stranku.
âMoramo im verovati [bankama] sa naĹĄom privatnoĹĄÄu, verovati im da neÄe dozvoliti da kradljivci identiteta pokradu naĹĄe raÄuneâ
Za razliku od koriĹĄÄenja vaĹĄeg bankovnog raÄuna, sistema digitalnog plaÄanja ili kreditne kartice, Bitcoin omoguÄava dvema stranama da obavljaju transakcije bez davanje bilo kakvih liÄnih podataka.
Centralizovana skladiĹĄta potroĹĄaÄkih podataka koji se Äuvaju u bankama, kompanijama sa kreditnim karticama, procesorima plaÄanja i vladama, predstavljaju pravu poslasticu za hakere.
Kao dokaz Satoshi-jeve poente sluĹži primer iz 2017. godine kada je Equifax masovono kompromitovan, kada su hakeri ukrali identifikacione i finansijske podatke za viĹĄe od 140 miliona ljudi.
Bitcoin odvaja finansijske transakcije od stvarnih identiteta.
Na kraju krajeva, kada nekome damo fiziÄki novac, on nema potrebu da zna ko smo, niti treba da brinemo da Äe nakon naĹĄe razmene moÄi da iskoristi neke informacije koje smo mu dali da ukrade joĹĄ naĹĄeg novca.
ZaĹĄto ne bismo oÄekivali isto, ili Äak i bolje, od digitalnog novca?
âCentralnoj banci se mora verovati da neÄe devalvirati valutu, ali istorija tradicionalnih valuta je puna primera krĹĄenja tog poverenja.â
Pojam tradicionalna valuta, odnosi se na valutu izdatu od strane vlade i centralne banke, koju vlada proglaĹĄava zakonskim sredstvom plaÄanja.
Istorijski, novac je nastao od stvari koje je bilo teĹĄko proizvesti, koje su bile lake za proveravanje i transport, poput ĹĄkoljki, staklenih perli, srebra i zlata.
Kad god bi se neĹĄto koristilo kao novac, postojalo je iskuĹĄenje da se stvori viĹĄe toga.
Ako bi neko pronaĹĄao vrhunsku tehnologiju za brzo stvaranje velike koliÄine neÄega, ta stvar bi izgubila vrednost.
Evropski naseljenici uspeli su da liĹĄe afriÄki kontinent bogatstva trgujuÄi staklenim perlicama koje su se lako proizvodile za ljudske robove.
Isto se dogodilo sa ameriÄkim indijancima, kada su kolonisti otkrili naÄin brze proizvodnje vampum ĹĄkoljki, koje su starosedeoci smatrali retkim.
Vremenom, ĹĄirom sveta ljudi su shvatili da je samo zlato dovoljno retko da deluje kao novac, bez straha da bi neko drugi mogao da ga stvori u velikim koliÄinama.
Polako smo preĹĄli sa svetske ekonomije koja je koristila zlato kao novac na onu gde su banke izdavale papirne sertifikate kao dokaz posedovanja tog zlata.
Nixon je okonÄao meÄunarodnu konvertibilnost ameriÄkog dolara u zlato 1971. godine, privremenim reĹĄenjem, koje je ubrzo postalo trajno.
Kraj zlatnog standarda omoguÄio je vladama i centralnim bankama da imaju punu dozvolu da poveÄavaju novÄanu masu po svojoj volji, razredjujuÄi vrednost svake novÄanice u opticaju, poznatije kao umanjenje vrednosti.
Iako je izdata od strane vlade, suĹĄtinska tradicionalna valuta je novac koji svi znamo i svakodnevno koristimo, ipak je relativno novo iskustvo u opsegu svetske istorije.
Moramo verovati naĹĄim vladama da ne zloupotrebljavaju njegovo ĹĄtamparije, i ne treba nam puno muke da nadjemo primere krĹĄenja tog poverenja.
U autokratskim i centralno planiranim reĹžimima gde vlada ima prst direktno na maĹĄini za novac, kao ĹĄto je Venecuela, valuta je postala gotovo bezvredna.
Venecuelanski Bolivar preĹĄao je sa 2 bolivara za 1 ameriÄki dolar, koliko je vredeo 2009. godine, na 250.000 bolivara za 1 ameriÄki dolar 2019. godine.
Pogledajte koliko novÄanica je bilo potrebno za kupovinu piletine u Venecueli posle hiperinflacije.
Satoshi je Ĺželeo da ponudi alternativu tradicionalnoj valuti Äija se ponuda uvek nepredvidivo ĹĄiri.
Da bi spreÄilo umanjenje vrednosti, Satoshi je dizajnirao novÄani sistem gde je zaliha bila fiksna i izdavana po predvidljivoj i nepromenjivoj stopi.
PostojaÄe samo 21 milion Bitcoin-a.
MeÄutim, svaki Bitcoin se moĹže podeliti na 100 miliona jedinica koje se sada nazivaju satoshis (sats-ovi), ĹĄto Äe Äiniti ukupno 2,1 kvadriliona satoshi-a u opticaju oko 2140. godine.
Pre Bitcoin-a nije bilo moguÄe spreÄiti beskrajnu reprodukciju digitalnih sredstava.
Kopirati digitalnu knjigu, audio datoteku ili video zapis i poslati ga prijatelju, je jeftino i lako.
Jedini izuzeci od toga su digitalna sredstva koja kontroliĹĄu posrednici.
Na primer, kada iznajmite film sa iTunes-a, moĹžete ga gledati na vaĹĄem ureÄaju samo zato ĹĄto iTunes kontroliĹĄe distribuciju tog filma i moĹže ga zaustaviti nakon perioda njegovog iznajmljivanja.
SliÄno tome, vaĹĄa banka kontroliĹĄe vaĹĄ digitalni novac. Zadatak banke je da vodi evidenciju koliko novca imate.
Ako ga prenesete nekom drugom, oni Äe odobriti ili odbiti takav prenos.
Bitcoin je prvi digitalni sistem koji sprovodi oskudicu bez posrednika i prvo je sredstvo poznato ÄoveÄanstvu Äija je nepromenljiva ponuda i raspored izdavanja poznat unapred.
Ni plemeniti metali poput zlata nemaju ovo svojstvo, jer uvek moĹžemo iskopati sve viĹĄe i viĹĄe zlata ukoliko je to isplativo.
Zamislite da otkrijemo asteroid koji sadrĹži deset puta viĹĄe zlata nego ĹĄto ga imamo na zemlji.
Ĺ ta bi se dogodilo sa cenom zlata uzimajuÄi u obzir tako obilnu ponudu? Bitcoin je imun na takva otkriÄa i manipulisanje nabavkom.
Jednostavno je nemoguÄe proizvesti viĹĄe od toga (21 miliona).
âPodaci bi se mogli osigurati na naÄin koji je fiziÄki bio nemoguÄ za pristup drugima, bez obzira iz kog razloga, bez obzira koliko je dobar izgovor, bez obzira na sve. [âŚ] Vreme je da imamo istu stvar za novac â
NaĹĄe trenutne metode obezbeÄivanja novca, poput stavljanja u banku, oslanjaju se na poverenje nekome drugom da Äe obaviti taj posao.
Poverenje u takvog posrednika ne zahteva samo sigurnost da on neÄe uÄiniti neĹĄto zlonamerno ili glupo, veÄ i da vlada neÄe zapleniti ili zamrznuti vaĹĄa sredstva vrĹĄeÄi pritisak na ovog posrednika.
MeÄutim, videli smo bezbroj puta da vlade mogu, i zaista uskraÄuju pristup novcu kada se oseÄaju ugroĹženo.
Nekom ko Ĺživi u Sjedinjenim DrĹžavama ili nekoj drugoj visoko regulisanoj ekonomiji moĹžda zvuÄi glupo da razmiĹĄlja da se probudi sa oduzetim novcem, ali to se dogaÄa stalno.
PayPal mi je zamrzao sredstva jednostavno zato par meseci nisam koristio svoj raÄun.
Trebalo mi je viĹĄe od nedelju dana da vratim pristup âsvomâ novcu.
SreÄan sam ĹĄto Ĺživim u Europi, gde bih se bar mogao nadati da Äu potraĹžiti neko pravno reĹĄenje ako mi PayPal zamrzne sredstva i gde imam osnovno poverenje da moja vlada i banka neÄe ukrasti moj novac.
Mnogo gore stvari su se dogodile, i trenutno se deĹĄavaju, u zemljama sa manje slobode.
Banke su se zatvorile tokom kolapsa valuta u GrÄkoj.
Banke na Kipru su koristile kaucije da konfiskuju sredstva od svojih klijenata.
Indijska vlada je proglasila odreÄene novÄanice bezvrednim.
BivĹĄi SSSR, u kojem sam odrastao, imao je ekonomiju pod kontrolom vlade ĹĄto je dovelo do ogromnih nestaĹĄica robe.
Bilo je nezakonito posedovati strane valute kao ĹĄto je ameriÄki dolar.
Kada smo poĹželeli da odemo, mojoj porodici je bilo dozvoljeno da zameni samo ograniÄenu koliÄinu novca po osobi za ameriÄke dolare po zvaniÄnom kursu koji je bio u velikoj meri razliÄit od pravog kursa slobodnog trĹžiĹĄta.
U stvari, vlada nam je oduzela ono malo bogatstva koje smo imali koristeÄi gvozdeni stisak na ekonomiji i kretanju kapitala.
Autokratske zemlje imaju tendenciju da sprovode strogu ekonomsku kontrolu, spreÄavajuÄi ljude da na slobodnom trĹžiĹĄtu povuku svoj novac iz banaka, iznesu ga iz zemlje ili da ga razmene u ne joĹĄ uvek bezvredne valute poput ameriÄkog dolara.
To omoguÄava vladinoj slobodnoj vladavini da primeni sulude ekonomske eksperimente poput socijalistiÄkog sistema SSSR-a.
Bitcoin se ne oslanja na poverenje u treÄu stranu da bi osigurao vaĹĄ novac.
Umesto toga, Bitcoin onemoguÄava drugima pristup vaĹĄim novÄiÄima bez jedinstvenog kljuÄa koji imate samo vi, bez obzira iz kog razloga, bez obzira koliko je dobar izgovor, bez obzira na sve.
DrĹžeÄi Bitcoin, drĹžite kljuÄeve sopstvene finansijske slobode. Bitcoin razdvaja novac i drĹžavu
âReĹĄenje Bitcoin-a je koriĹĄÄenje peer-to-peer mreĹže za proveru dvostruke potroĹĄnje [âŚ] poput distribuiranog servera vremenskih Ĺžigova, obeleĹžavajuÄi prvu transakciju koja je potroĹĄila novÄiÄâ
MreĹža se odnosi na ideju da je gomila raÄunara povezana i da mogu meÄusobno slati poruke.
ReÄ distribuirano znaÄi da ne postoji centralna stranka koja kontroliĹĄe, veÄ da svi uÄesnici koordiniraju medjusobno kako bi mreĹža bila uspeĹĄna.
U sistemu bez centralne kontrole, bitno je znati da niko ne vara. Ideja dvostruke potroĹĄnje odnosi se na moguÄnost troĹĄenja istog novca dva puta.
FiziÄki novac odlazi iz vaĹĄe ruke kad ga potroĹĄite. MeÄutim, digitalne transakcije se mogu kopirati baĹĄ kao muzika ili filmovi.
Kada novac ĹĄaljete preko banke, oni se pobrinu da isti novac ne moĹžete da prebacujete dva puta.
U sistemu bez centralne kontrole potreban nam je naÄin da spreÄimo ovu vrstu dvostruke potroĹĄnje, koja je u suĹĄtini ista kao i falsifikovanje novca.
Satoshi opisuje da uÄesnici u Bitcoin mreĹži rade zajedno kako bi vremenski oznaÄili (doveli u red) transakcije kako bismo znali ĹĄta je bilo prvo.
Zbog toga moĹžemo odbiti sve buduÄe pokuĹĄaje troĹĄenja istog novca.
Satoshi se uhvatio u koĹĄtac sa nekoliko zanimljivih tehniÄkih problema kako bi reĹĄio probleme privatnosti, uniĹĄtavanja vrednosti i centralne kontrole u ââtrenutnim monetarnim sistemima.
Na kraju je stvorio peer to peer mreĹžu kojoj se svako mogao pridruĹžiti bez otkrivanja svog identiteta ili potrebe da veruje bilo kom drugom uÄesniku.
Kako se Bitcoin razvijao u poslednjoj deceniji?
Doprinosi izvornom kodu Bitcoina
Kada je Bitcoin pokrenut, samo nekolicina ljudi ga je koristila i pokrenula Bitcoin softver na svojim raÄunarima za napajanje Bitcoin mreĹže.
VeÄina ljudi u to vreme mislila je da je to ĹĄala ili da Äe se otkriti ozbiljni nedostaci u dizajnu sistema koji Äe ga uÄiniti neizvodljivim.
Vremenom se mreĹži pridruĹžilo sve viĹĄe ljudi koji su pomoÄu svojih raÄunara dodali sigurnost mreĹži.
Ljudi su poÄeli da menjaju Bitcoin-e za robu i usluge, dajuÄi mu stvarnu vrednost. Pojavile su se menjaÄnice valuta koje su menjale Bitcoin-e za gotovo sve tradicionalne valute na svetu.
Deset godina nakon izuma, Bitcoin koriste milioni ljudi sa desetinama do stotinama hiljada Ävorova koji pokreÄu besplatni Bitcoin softver, koji se razvija od strane stotina dobrovoljaca i kompanija ĹĄirom sveta.
Bitcoin mreĹža je porasla kako bi obezbedila vrednost veÄu od stotine biliona dolara.
RaÄunari koji uÄestvuju u zaĹĄtiti Bitcoin mreĹže poznati su kao rudari/majneri.
Oni rade u industrijskim operacijama ĹĄirom sveta, ulaĹžuÄi milione dolara u specijalni rudarski hardver koji radi samo jedno: pobrinuti se da je Bitcoin najsigurnija mreĹža na planeti.
Rudari troĹĄe elektriÄnu energiju kako bi transakcije Bitcoin-a uÄinile sigurnim od modifikacija. BuduÄi da se rudari meÄusobno takmiÄe za oskudan broj Bitcoin-a proizvedenih dnevno, oni uvek moraju da pronalaze najjeftinije izvore energije na planeti da bi ostali profitabilni.
Rudari rade na razliÄitim mestima, od hidroelektrana u dalekim krajevima Kine do vetroparkova u Teksasu, do kanadskih naftnih polja koja proizvode gas koji bi u suprotnom bio odzraÄen ili spaljen u atmosferi.
Iako je Bitcoin popularna tema i o njemu se Äesto raspravlja u medijima, procenjujemo da je samo nekoliko miliona ljudi na svetu poÄelo da redovno ĹĄtedi Bitcoin.
Za mnoge ljude, posebno za one koji nikada nisu Ĺživeli pod represivnim reĹžimima, ovaj izum novog oblika digitalnog novca izvan kontrole vlade moĹže biti veoma izazovan za razumevanje i prihvatanje.
Zato sam ja ovde. Ĺ˝elim da vam pomognem da razumete Bitcoin i budete gospodar svoje buduÄnosti!
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@ 3f770d65:7a745b24
2024-10-29 17:38:20Amber
Amber is a Nostr event signer for Android that allows users to securely segregate their private key (nsec) within a single, dedicated application. Designed to function as a NIP-46 signing device, Amber ensures your smartphone can sign events without needing external servers or additional hardware, keeping your private key exposure to an absolute minimum. This approach aligns with the security rationale of NIP-46, which states that each additional system handling private keys increases potential vulnerability. With Amber, no longer do users need to enter their private key into various Nostr applications.
Amber is supported by a growing list of apps, including Amethyst, 0xChat, Voyage, Fountain, and Pokey, as well as any web application that supports NIP-46 NSEC bunkers, such as Nostr Nests, Coracle, Nostrudel, and more. With expanding support, Amber provides an easy solution for secure Nostr key management across numerous platforms.
Amber supports both native and web-based Nostr applications, aiming to eliminate the need for browser extensions or web servers. Key features include offline signing, multiple account support, and NIP-46 compatibility, and includes a simple UI for granular permissions management. Amber is designed to support signing events in the background, enhancing flexibility when you select the "remember my choice" option, eliminating the need to constantly be signing events for applications that you trust. You can download the app from it's GitHub page, via Obtainium or Zap.store.
To log in with Amber, simply tap the "Login with Amber" button or icon in a supported application, or you can paste the NSEC bunker connection string directly into the login box. For example, use a connection string like this: bunker://npub1tj2dmc4udvgafxxxxxxxrtgne8j8l6rgrnaykzc8sys9mzfcz@relay.nsecbunker.com.
Citrine
Citrine is a Nostr relay built specifically for Android, allowing Nostr clients on Android devices to seamlessly send and receive events through a relay running directly on their smartphone. This mobile relay setup offers Nostr users enhanced flexibility, enabling them to manage, share, and back up all their Nostr data locally on their device. Citrineâs design supports independence and data security by keeping data accessible and under user control.
With features tailored to give users greater command over their data, Citrine allows easy export and import of the database, restoration of contact lists in case of client malfunctions, and detailed relay management options like port configuration, custom icons, user management, and on-demand relay start/stop. Users can even activate TOR access, letting others connect securely to their Nostr relay directly on their phone. Future updates will include automatic broadcasting when the device reconnects to the internet, along with content resolver support to expand its functionality.
Once you have your Citrine relay fully configured, simply add it to the Private and Local relay sections in Amethyst's relay configuration.
Pokey
Pokey for Android is a brand new, real-time notification tool for Nostr. Pokey allows users to receive live updates for their Nostr events and enabling other apps to access and interact with them. Designed for seamless integration within a user's Nostr relays, Pokey lets users stay informed of activity as it happens, with speed and the flexibility to manage which events trigger notifications on their mobile device.
Pokey currently supports connections with Amber, offering granular notification settings so users can tailor alerts to their preferences. Planned features include broadcasting events to other apps, authenticating to relays, built-in Tor support, multi-account handling, and InBox relay management. These upcoming additions aim to make Pokey a fantastic tool for Nostr notifications across the ecosystem.
Zap.store
Zap.store is a permissionless app store powered by Nostr and your trusted social graph. Built to offer a decentralized approach to app recommendations, zap.store enables you to check if friends like Alice follow, endorse, or verify an appâs SHA256 hash. This trust-based, social proof model brings app discovery closer to real-world recommendations from friends and family, bypassing centralized app curation. Unlike conventional app stores and other third party app store solutions like Obtainium, zap.store empowers users to see which apps their contacts actively interact with, providing a higher level of confidence and transparency.
Currently available on Android, zap.store aims to expand to desktop, PWAs, and other platforms soon. You can get started by installing Zap.store on your favorite Android device, and install all of the applications mentioned above.
Android's openness goes hand in hand with Nostr's openness. Enjoy exploring both expanding ecosystems.
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@ 3f770d65:7a745b24
2024-10-29 17:34:34Amber
Amber is a Nostr event signer for Android that allows users to securely segregate their private key (nsec) within a single, dedicated application. Designed to function as a NIP-46 signing device, Amber ensures your smartphone can sign events without needing external servers or additional hardware, keeping your private key exposure to an absolute minimum. This approach aligns with the security rationale of NIP-46, which states that each additional system handling private keys increases potential vulnerability. With Amber, no longer do users need to enter their private key into various Nostr applications.
Amber is supported by a growing list of apps, including Amethyst, 0xChat, Voyage, Fountain, and Pokey, as well as any web application that supports NIP-46 NSEC bunkers, such as Nostr Nests, Coracle, Nostrudel, and more. With expanding support, Amber provides an easy solution for secure Nostr key management across numerous platforms.
Amber supports both native and web-based Nostr applications, aiming to eliminate the need for browser extensions or web servers. Key features include offline signing, multiple account support, and NIP-46 compatibility, and includes a simple UI for granular permissions management. Amber is designed to support signing events in the background, enhancing flexibility when you select the "remember my choice" option, eliminating the need to constantly be signing events for applications that you trust. You can download the app from it's GitHub page, via Obtainium or Zap.store.
To log in with Amber, simply tap the "Login with Amber" button or icon in a supported application, or you can paste the NSEC bunker connection string directly into the login box. For example, use a connection string like this: bunker://npub1tj2dmc4udvgafxxxxxxxrtgne8j8l6rgrnaykzc8sys9mzfcz@relay.nsecbunker.com.
Citrine
Citrine is a Nostr relay built specifically for Android, allowing Nostr clients on Android devices to seamlessly send and receive events through a relay running directly on their smartphone. This mobile relay setup offers Nostr users enhanced flexibility, enabling them to manage, share, and back up all their Nostr data locally on their device. Citrineâs design supports independence and data security by keeping data accessible and under user control.
With features tailored to give users greater command over their data, Citrine allows easy export and import of the database, restoration of contact lists in case of client malfunctions, and detailed relay management options like port configuration, custom icons, user management, and on-demand relay start/stop. Users can even activate TOR access, letting others connect securely to their Nostr relay directly on their phone. Future updates will include automatic broadcasting when the device reconnects to the internet, along with content resolver support to expand its functionality.
Once you have your Citrine relay fully configured, simply add it to the Private and Local relay sections in Amethyst's relay configuration.
Pokey
Pokey for Android is a brand new, real-time notification tool for Nostr. Pokey allows users to receive live updates for their Nostr events and enabling other apps to access and interact with them. Designed for seamless integration within a user's Nostr relays, Pokey lets users stay informed of activity as it happens, with speed and the flexibility to manage which events trigger notifications on their mobile device.
Pokey currently supports connections with Amber, offering granular notification settings so users can tailor alerts to their preferences. Planned features include broadcasting events to other apps, authenticating to relays, built-in Tor support, multi-account handling, and InBox relay management. These upcoming additions aim to make Pokey a fantastic tool for Nostr notifications across the ecosystem.
Zap.store
Zap.store is a permissionless app store powered by Nostr and your trusted social graph. Built to offer a decentralized approach to app recommendations, zap.store enables you to check if friends like Alice follow, endorse, or verify an appâs SHA256 hash. This trust-based, social proof model brings app discovery closer to real-world recommendations from friends and family, bypassing centralized app curation. Unlike conventional app stores and other third party app store solutions like Obtainium, zap.store empowers users to see which apps their contacts actively interact with, providing a higher level of confidence and transparency.
Currently available on Android, zap.store aims to expand to desktop, PWAs, and other platforms soon. You can get started by installing Zap.store on your favorite Android device, and install all of the applications mentioned above.
Android's openness goes hand in hand with Nostr's openness. Enjoy exploring both expanding ecosystems.
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@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf
2025-05-24 17:01:16For years American bitcoin miners have argued for more efficient and free energy markets. It benefits everyone if our energy infrastructure is as efficient and robust as possible. Unfortunately, broken incentives have led to increased regulation throughout the sector, incentivizing less efficient energy sources such as solar and wind at the detriment of more efficient alternatives.
The result has been less reliable energy infrastructure for all Americans and increased energy costs across the board. This naturally has a direct impact on bitcoin miners: increased energy costs make them less competitive globally.
Bitcoin mining represents a global energy market that does not require permission to participate. Anyone can plug a mining computer into power and internet to get paid the current dynamic market price for their work in bitcoin. Using cellphone or satellite internet, these mines can be located anywhere in the world, sourcing the cheapest power available.
Absent of regulation, bitcoin mining naturally incentivizes the build out of highly efficient and robust energy infrastructure. Unfortunately that world does not exist and burdensome regulations remain the biggest threat for US based mining businesses. Jurisdictional arbitrage gives miners the option of moving to a friendlier country but that naturally comes with its own costs.
Enter AI. With the rapid development and release of AI tools comes the requirement of running massive datacenters for their models. Major tech companies are scrambling to secure machines, rack space, and cheap energy to run full suites of AI enabled tools and services. The most valuable and powerful tech companies in America have stumbled into an accidental alliance with bitcoin miners: THE NEED FOR CHEAP AND RELIABLE ENERGY.
Our government is corrupt. Money talks. These companies will push for energy freedom and it will greatly benefit us all.
Microsoft Cloud hiring to "implement global small modular reactor and microreactor" strategy to power data centers: https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/microsoft-cloud-hiring-to-implement-global-small-modular-reactor-and-microreactor-strategy-to-power-data-centers/
If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.
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@ 52b4a076:e7fad8bd
2025-04-28 00:48:57I have been recently building NFDB, a new relay DB. This post is meant as a short overview.
Regular relays have challenges
Current relay software have significant challenges, which I have experienced when hosting Nostr.land: - Scalability is only supported by adding full replicas, which does not scale to large relays. - Most relays use slow databases and are not optimized for large scale usage. - Search is near-impossible to implement on standard relays. - Privacy features such as NIP-42 are lacking. - Regular DB maintenance tasks on normal relays require extended downtime. - Fault-tolerance is implemented, if any, using a load balancer, which is limited. - Personalization and advanced filtering is not possible. - Local caching is not supported.
NFDB: A scalable database for large relays
NFDB is a new database meant for medium-large scale relays, built on FoundationDB that provides: - Near-unlimited scalability - Extended fault tolerance - Instant loading - Better search - Better personalization - and more.
Search
NFDB has extended search capabilities including: - Semantic search: Search for meaning, not words. - Interest-based search: Highlight content you care about. - Multi-faceted queries: Easily filter by topic, author group, keywords, and more at the same time. - Wide support for event kinds, including users, articles, etc.
Personalization
NFDB allows significant personalization: - Customized algorithms: Be your own algorithm. - Spam filtering: Filter content to your WoT, and use advanced spam filters. - Topic mutes: Mute topics, not keywords. - Media filtering: With Nostr.build, you will be able to filter NSFW and other content - Low data mode: Block notes that use high amounts of cellular data. - and more
Other
NFDB has support for many other features such as: - NIP-42: Protect your privacy with private drafts and DMs - Microrelays: Easily deploy your own personal microrelay - Containers: Dedicated, fast storage for discoverability events such as relay lists
Calcite: A local microrelay database
Calcite is a lightweight, local version of NFDB that is meant for microrelays and caching, meant for thousands of personal microrelays.
Calcite HA is an additional layer that allows live migration and relay failover in under 30 seconds, providing higher availability compared to current relays with greater simplicity. Calcite HA is enabled in all Calcite deployments.
For zero-downtime, NFDB is recommended.
Noswhere SmartCache
Relays are fixed in one location, but users can be anywhere.
Noswhere SmartCache is a CDN for relays that dynamically caches data on edge servers closest to you, allowing: - Multiple regions around the world - Improved throughput and performance - Faster loading times
routerd
routerd
is a custom load-balancer optimized for Nostr relays, integrated with SmartCache.routerd
is specifically integrated with NFDB and Calcite HA to provide fast failover and high performance.Ending notes
NFDB is planned to be deployed to Nostr.land in the coming weeks.
A lot more is to come. đď¸ď¸ď¸ď¸ď¸ď¸
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@ bf47c19e:c3d2573b
2025-05-24 16:13:51Originalni tekst na bitcoin-balkan.com.
Pregled sadrĹžaja
- Definisanje novca
- Ĺ ta je sredstvo razmene?
- Ĺ ta je obraÄunska jedinica?
- Ĺ ta je zaliha vrednosti?
- ZaĹĄto su vaĹžne funkcije novca?
- Novac Gubi Funkciju: AlhemiÄar iz Njutonije
- Eksploatacija pomoÄu Novca: Agri Perle
- Novac Gubi Funkciju 2. Deo: Kejnslandski Bankar
- Da li nas novac danas eksploatiĹĄe?
- Ĺ ta je novac, i zaĹĄto trebate da brinete?
- Efikasnija UĹĄteda Novca
- Zasluge
- Molim vas da ĹĄerujete!
Google izveĹĄtava o stalnom poveÄanju interesa u svetu za pitanje âĹ ta je novac?â koji se postavlja iz godine u godinu, od 2004. do 2021., a sa naglim porastom nakon finansijske krize 2008. godine.
I izgleda se da niko nema dobar odgovor za to.
GodiĹĄnji proseci meseÄnih interesa za pretragu. 100 predstavlja najveÄi interes za pretragu tokom Äitavog perioda, koji se dogodio u decembru 2019. Podaci sa Google Trends-a.
MeÄutim, odgovaranje na ovo naizgled jednostavno pitanje pomoÄi Äe vam da razjasnite ulogu novca u vaĹĄem Ĺživotu. Jednom kada shvatite kako novac funkcioniĹĄe, taÄno Äete videti i zaĹĄto svet danas ludi â i ĹĄta uÄiniti povodom toga. Zato hajde da se udubimo u to.
Na pitanje ĹĄta je novac, veÄina ljudi otvori svoje novÄanike i pokaĹže nekoliko novÄanica â âevo, ovo je novac!â
Ali po Äemu se ove novÄanice razlikuju od stranica vaĹĄe omiljene knjige? Pa, naravno, zavod za izradu novÄanica te zemlje je odĹĄtampao te novÄanice iz vaĹĄeg novÄanika kako bi se oduprla falsifikovanju, i svi ih koriste da bi kupili odredjene stvari.
MeÄutim, NemaÄka Marka imala je sva ova svojstva u proĹĄlosti â ali preduzeÄa danas ne prihvataju te novÄanice. Zapravo, graÄani NemaÄke su poÄetkom dvadesetih godina proĹĄlog veka spaljivali papirne Marke kako bi grejali svoje domove. Marka je imala veÄu vrednost kao papir za potpalu nego kao novac!
1923. nemaÄka valuta poznata kao Marka bila je jeftinija od uglja i drveta!
Pa ĹĄta to Äini novac, novcem?
Ispostavilo se da ovo nije pitanje na koje je lako dati odgovor.
Definisanje novca
Novac nije fiziÄka stvar poput novÄanice dolara. Novac je druĹĄtveni sistem koji koristimo da bismo olakĹĄali trgovinu robom i uslugama. MeÄutim, tokom istorije fiziÄka monetarna dobra igrala su kljuÄnu ulogu u druĹĄtvenom sistemu novca, Äesto kao znakovi koji predstavljaju vrednost u monetarnom sistemu. Ovaj sistem ima tri funkcije: 1) Sredstvo Razmene, 2) ObraÄunsku Jedinicu i 3) Zalihu Vrednosti.
Odakle dolaze ove funkcije, i zaĹĄto su one vredne?
Ĺ ta je sredstvo razmene?
Sredstvo razmene je neko dobro koje se obiÄno razmenjuje za drugo dobro. NajÄeĹĄÄe objaĹĄnjenje za to kako su se pojavila sredstva razmene glasi otprilike ovako: Boris ima jeÄam i Ĺželeo bi da kupi ovcu od Marka. Marko ima ovce, ali Ĺželi samo piliÄe. Ana ima piliÄe, ali ona ne Ĺželi jeÄam ili ovce.
To se naziva problem sticaja potreba: dve strane moraju da Ĺžele ono ĹĄto druga ima da bi mogle da trguju. Ako se Ĺželje dve osobe ne podudaraju, oni moraju da pronaÄu druge ljude sa kojima Äe trgovati dok svi ne pronaÄu dobro koje Ĺžele.
Ljudi koji trguju robom i uslugama moraju da imaju potrebe koje se podudaraju.
Vremenom, veoma je verovatno da Äe se odreÄena vrsta robe, poput pĹĄenice, pojaviti kao sredstvo razmene jer su je mnogi ljudi Ĺželeli. UzimajuÄi pĹĄenicu kao primer: pĹĄenica je reĹĄila âsticaje potrebaâ u mnogim zanatima, jer Äak i ako onaj koji prima pĹĄenicu a nije Ĺželeo da je koristi za sebe, znao je da Äe je neko drugi Ĺželeti.
Ovo nazivamo prodajnost imovine.
PĹĄenica je dobar primer dobra za prodaju jer svi moraju da jedu, a od pĹĄenice se pravi hleb. PĹĄenica ima vrednost kao sastojak hleba i kao dobro koje olakĹĄava trgovinu reĹĄavanjem problema âsticaja potrebaâ.
Razmislite o svojoj Ĺželji da dobijete viĹĄe novÄanica u eurima ili drugoj valuti. Ne moĹžete da jedete novÄanice da biste preĹživeli, a i ne bi vam bile od velike koristi ako poĹželite da ih koristite kao graÄevinski materijal za vaĹĄu kuÄu. MeÄutim, znate da sa tim novÄanicama moĹžete da kupite hranu i kuÄu.
Stvarne fiziÄke novÄanice su beskorisne za vas. NovÄanice su vam dragocene samo zato ĹĄto Äe ih drugi prihvatiti za stvari koje su vama korisne.
Tokom dugog perioda istorije, novac je evoluirao do te mere da monetarno dobro moĹže imati vrednost, a da to dobro ne sluĹži za bilo koju drugu âsuĹĄtinskuâ upotrebu, poput hrane ili energije. Umesto toga, njegova upotreba je zaliha vrednosti i jednostavna zamena za drugu robu u bilo kom trenutku koji poĹželite.
Ĺ ta jedno dobro Äini poĹželjnijim i prodajnijim od drugog dobra?
Deljivost
Definicija: Sposobnost podele dobra na manje koliÄine.
LoĹĄ Primer: Dijamante je teĹĄko podeliti na manje komade. Za zajednicu od hiljada ljudi koji dnevno izvrĹĄe milione transakcija, dijamanti Äine loĹĄe sredstvo razmene. PreviĹĄe su retki i nedeljivi da bi se koristili za mnoge transakcije.
UjednaÄenost
Definicija: SliÄnost pojedinaÄnih jedinica odredjenog dobra.
LoĹĄ Primer: Krave nisu ujednaÄene â neke su veÄe, neke manje, neke bolesne, neke zdrave. Sa druge strane, unca Äistog zlata je jednoliÄna â jedna unca je potpuno ista kao sledeÄa. Ovo svojstvo se takoÄe Äesto naziva zamenljivost.
Prenosivost
Definicija: LakoÄa transporta dobra.
LoĹĄ Primer: Krava nije baĹĄ prenosiva. Zlatnici su priliÄno prenosivi. Papirne novÄanice su joĹĄ prenoĹĄljivije. Knjiga u kojoj se jednostavno beleĹži vlasniĹĄtvo nad tim vrednostima (poput Rai kamenog sistema ili digitalnog bankovnog raÄuna) je neverovatno prenosiva, jer nema fiziÄkog dobra koje treba nositi sa sobom za kupovinu. Postoji samo sistem za evidentiranje vlasniĹĄtva nad tim vrednostima u nematerijalnom obliku.
Kako dobro postaje sredstvo razmene?
Dobra postaju, i ostaju sredstva razmene zbog svoje univerzalne potraĹžnje, takoÄe poznate kao njihova prodajnost, Äemu pomaĹžu svojstva koja su gore nabrojana.
Mnogo razliÄitih dobara mogu u razliÄitoj meri delovati kao sredstva razmene u ekonomiji. Danas, naĹĄa globalna ekonomija koristi valute koje izdaju drĹžave, zlato, pa Äak i robu poput nafte kao sredstvo razmene.
Ĺ ta je obraÄunska jedinica?
Stvari se komplikuju kada u ekonomiji postoji mnogo robe koja se prodaje. Äak i sa samo 5 dobara, postoji 10 âkurseva razmeneâ izmeÄu svake robe kojih svi u ekonomiji moraju da se sete: 1 svinja se menja za 15 piliÄa, 1 pile se menja za 15 litara mleka, desetak jaja se menja za 15 litara mleka, i tako dalje. Ako ekonomija ima 50 dobara, meÄu njima postoji 1.225 âkurseva razmeneâ!
Sredstvo za merenje vrednosti
Zamislite obraÄunsku jedinicu kao sredstvo za merenje vrednosti. Umesto da se seÄamo vrednosti svakog dobra u poredjenju sa drugim dobrima, mi samo treba da se setimo vrednosti svakog dobra u poredjenju sa jednim dobrom â obraÄunskom jedinicom.
Umesto da se setimo 1.225 kurseva razmene kada imamo 50 proizvoda na trĹžiĹĄtu, mi treba da zapamtimo samo 50 cena.
Na primer, ne treba da se seÄamo da litar mleka vredi 1/15 piletine ili desetak jaja, moĹžemo da se samo setimo da litar mleka koĹĄta 1USD.
PoreÄenje dobara je lakĹĄe sa obraÄunskom jedinicom
ObraÄunska jedinica takoÄe olakĹĄava uporeÄivanje vrednosti i donoĹĄenje odluka. Zamislite da pokuĹĄavate da kupite par Nike Air Jordan patika kada ih jedan prodavac prodaje za jedno pile, a drugi za 50 klipova kukuruza.
Ĺ ta je zaliha vrednosti?
Do sada smo gledali samo primere transakcija koje se odvijaju u odreÄenom trenutku u vremenu.
MeÄutim, ljudi vrĹĄe transakcije tokom vremena â oni ĹĄtede novac i troĹĄe ga kasnije. Da bi odredjeno dobro moglo da funkcioniĹĄe pravilno kao monetarno dobro, ono treba da odrĹži vrednost tokom vremena.
Novac koji vremenom dobro drĹži vrednost daje njegovom imaocu viĹĄe izbora kada Äe taj novac da potroĹĄi.
To znaÄi da prodajnost dobra ukljuÄuje njegovu sposobnost da odrĹži vrednost tokom vremena.
Ĺ ta jedno dobro Äini boljom zalihom vrednosti od drugog dobra?
Trajnost
Definicija: Sposobnost dobra da vremenom zadrĹži svoj oblik.
LoĹĄ Primer: Jagode Äine loĹĄu zalihu vrednosti jer se lako oĹĄtete i brzo trunu.
Odluka je daleko lakĹĄa ako jedan prodavac naplaÄuje 150 USD, a drugi 200 USD â odmah je oÄigledno koja je bolja ponuda jer su vrednosti izraĹžene u istoj jedinici.
TeĹĄke za Proizvodnju
Definicija: TeĹĄkoÄe koje ljudi imaju u proizvodnji veÄe koliÄine dobra.
LoĹĄ Primer: Papirne novÄanice predstavljaju loĹĄu zalihu vrednosti jer banke i vlade mogu jeftino da ih naprave.
Sa zlatom je suprotno â u ponudi se nalazi ograniÄena koliÄina uprkos velikoj potraĹžnji za njim, jednostavno zato ĹĄto ga je vrlo teĹĄko iskopati iz zemlje. Ova ograniÄena ponuda osigurava da svaka jedinica zlata odrĹži vrednost tokom vremena.
Kako dobra postaju zalihe vrednosti?
Dobro postaje zaliha vrednosti ako se vremenom pokaĹže trajnim i teĹĄkim za proizvodnju.
Samo Äe vreme pokazati da li je neko dobro zaista trajno i da li ga je teĹĄko proizvesti. Zbog toga neki oblici novca su postojali vekovima pre nego ĹĄto je neko otkrio naÄin da ih proizvede viĹĄe, i na kraju se to dobro viĹĄe nije koristilo kao novac.
Ovo je priÄa o ĹĄkoljkama, Rai kamenju i mnogim drugim oblicima novca tokom istorije.
Zlato je primer dobra koje je hiljadama godina sluĹžilo kao dobra zaliha vrednosti. Zlato se ne razgraÄuje tokom vremena i joĹĄ uvek ga je teĹĄko proizvesti. Hiljadama godina alhemiÄari su bezuspeĹĄno pokuĹĄavali da sintetiĹĄu zlato iz jeftinih materijala.
Äak i sa danaĹĄnjim naprednim rudarskim tehnikama, svake godine svi svetski rudnici zlata zajedno mogu da proizvedu samo 2% od ukupne ponude zlata u prometu.
TeĹĄkoÄe u proizvodnji zlata daju izuzetno visok odnos âzaliha i protokaâ: zaliha je broj postojeÄih jedinica, a protok su nove jedinice stvorene tokom odreÄenog vremenskog perioda. Svake godine se stvori vrlo malo novih jedinica zlata, iako je potraĹžnja za zlatom obiÄno vrlo velika.
KombinujuÄi ovo sa deljivoĹĄÄu, ujednaÄenoĹĄÄu i prenosivoĹĄÄu zlata, nije ni Äudo ĹĄto je zlato ÄoveÄanstvu sluĹžilo kao monetarno dobro tokom poslednjih 5.000 godina. PoĹĄto je zlato teĹĄko proizvesti, moĹžemo ga nazvati teĹĄkim novcem (hard money).
Kao rezultat toga, svoju vrednost je u velikoj meri zadrĹžao kroz milenijume. Cena veÄine dobara i usluga u pogledu zlata zapravo se vremenom smanjivala kao rezultat tehnoloĹĄkih inovacija, koje sve proizvode Äine jeftinijim.
Uzmimo na primer cene hrane prema praÄenju Kancelarije za hranu i poljoprivredu UN-a: sa obzirom na skokove u poljoprivrednoj tehnologiji tokom poslednjih 60 godina, cene hrane drastiÄno su pale kada se procenjuju u zlatu. To Äak i vaĹži uprkos Äinjenici da obiÄni ljudi retko koriste zlato za kupovinu stvari.
Cene hrane su padale u pogledu zlata tokom proteklih 60 godina, i mnogo pre toga (FAO Indeks Cena Hrane u Zlatu)
Zaliha vrednosti omoguÄava ljudima da uĹĄtede novac kako bi mogli da ga ulaĹžu u pokretanje preduzeÄa i obrazovanje, poveÄavajuÄi produktivnost druĹĄtva.
Monetarna dobra koja dobro Äuvaju vrednost takoÄe podstiÄu dugoroÄniji pogled na Ĺživot, ili kratke vremenske preference. Pojedinac moĹže da radi 10 godina, uĹĄtedi odredjeno monetarno dobro koje je dobra zaliha vrednosti, i nema potrebe da se plaĹĄi da Äe njegova uĹĄteÄevina biti izbrisana krahom trĹžiĹĄta ili poveÄanjem ponude tog dobra.
ZaĹĄto su vaĹžne funkcije novca?
Kada neki oblik novca izgubi bilo koju od svojih vaĹžnih funkcija kao ĹĄto su sredstvo razmene, obraÄunska jedinica i zaliha vrednosti, celokupna ekonomija i druĹĄtvo mogu da se rastrgnu.
Tokom istorije Äesto vidimo grupe ljudi koje eksploatiĹĄu druge iskoriĹĄÄavajuÄi nesporazume o novcu i vaĹžnosti njegovih funkcija.
SledeÄe, proÄi Äu kroz istoriju novca, prvo hipotetiÄki da bih ilustrovao poentu, a zatim Äu preÄi na stvarne istorijske primere. Kroz ove primere videÄemo ĹĄtetne efekte na druĹĄtva u sluÄajevima kada se izgubi samo jedna od tih kljuÄnih funkcija novca.
Novac Gubi Funkciju: AlhemiÄar iz Njutonije
Kroz istoriju, mnoga dobra su dolazila i odlazila kao oblici novca. Na Ĺžalost, kada se neki oblik novca ukine, ponekad postoji grupa ljudi koja eksploatiĹĄe drugi oblik manipuliĹĄuÄi tim novcem.
Hajde da pogledamo hipotetiÄko selo zvano Njutonija da bismo razumeli kako dolazi do ove eksploatacije.
Zelene perle postaju Novac
Tokom stotina godina ribolova u obliĹžnjoj reci, stanovnici Njutonije sakupljali su zelene perle iz vode. Zrnca su mala, lagana, izdrĹžljiva, jednoliÄna i retko se pojavljuju u reci. Ljudi prvo priĹželjkuju perle zbog svoje lepote. Na kraju, seljani shvataju da svi drugi Ĺžele perle â one se vrlo lako mogu prodati. Zrnca uskoro postaju sredstvo razmene i obraÄunska jedinica u selu: pile je 5 zrna, vreÄa jabuka 2 zrna, krava 80 zrna.
Ukupna ponuda perli je priliÄno konstantna i cene se vremenom ne menjaju mnogo. Seoski stareĹĄina je uveren da moĹže da se opustiti u poslednjim danima ĹživeÄi od svoje velike zalihe perli.
AlhemiÄar stvara viĹĄe perli
Seoski alhemiÄar je poĹželeo da bude bogat Äovek, ali nije voleo da vredno radi na tome. Umesto da traĹži perle u reci ili da prodaje vrednu robu drugim seljanima, on sedeo je u svojoj laboratoriji. Na kraju je otkrio kako da lako stvori stotine perli sa malo peska i vatre.
Seljani koji su tragali za perlama u reci bili su sreÄni ako bi svaki dan pronaĹĄli po 1 zrno. AlhemiÄar je mogao da proizvede stotine uz malo napora.
AlhemiÄar troĹĄi svoje perle
BuduÄi da je bio priliÄno zao, alhemiÄar nije svoj metod pravljenja zrna delio ni sa kim drugim. Stvorio je sebi joĹĄ viĹĄe perli i poÄeo da ih troĹĄi za dobra na trĹžiĹĄtu u Njutoniji. Tokom sledeÄih meseci, alhemiÄar je kupio farmu piliÄa, nekoliko krava, finu svilu, posteljine i ogromno imanje. On je imao priliku da kupi ova dobra po normalnim cenama na trĹžiĹĄtu.
AlhemiÄarevo troĹĄenje ostavljalo je seljanima mnogo perli, ali malo njihove vredne robe.
Svi seljani su se oseÄali bogatima â imali su tone perli! MeÄutim, polako su primetili da i svi ostali takodje imaju tone.
Cene poÄinju da rastu
UzgajivaÄ piliÄa primetio je da sva roba koju je trebalo da kupi na pijaci poskupela. DĹžak jabuka sada se prodaje za 100 perli â 50 puta viĹĄe od njihove cene pre nekoliko meseci!
Iako je sada imao hiljade perli, uskoro bi mogao da ostane bez njih zbog ovih cena. Pitao se â da li zaista moĹže sebi da priuĹĄti da prodaje svoje piliÄe za samo 5 perli po komadu? Morao je i on da podigne svoje cene.
Jednostavno reÄeno, kao rezultat alhemiÄarevog troĹĄenja njegovih novostvorenih perli, bilo je previĹĄe perli koje su jurile premalo dobara â pa su cene porasle.
Kupci robe bili su spremni da potroĹĄe viĹĄe perli da bi kupili potrebna dobra. Prodavci robe su trebali da naplate viĹĄe da bi bili sigurni da su zaradili dovoljno da kupe potrebna dobra za sebe.
BuduÄi da su cene svih dobara porasle, moĹžemo reÄi da se vrednost svake perle smanjila.
Nejednakost bogatstva raste
Seoski stareĹĄina, koji je vredno radio da saÄuva hiljade perli, sada se naĹĄao osiromaĹĄenim i gladnim. U meÄuvremenu, alhemiÄar je udobno sedeo na svom velikom imanju sa kravama, piliÄima i slugama koji su se brinuli za svaki njegov hir.
AlhemiÄar je efikasno ukrao bogatstvo celog sela, tako ĹĄto je jeftino proizvodio perle i koristio ih za kupovinu vredne robe.
Ono ĹĄto je najvaĹžnije, kupio je robu pre nego ĹĄto je trĹžiĹĄte shvatilo da je viĹĄe perli u opticaju i da ima manje robe, ĹĄto je dovelo do rasta cena. Ova dodatna proizvodnja perli nije dodala korisnu robu ili usluge selu.
Eksploatacija pomoÄu Novca: Agri Perle
NaĹžalost, priÄa o alhemiÄaru iz Njutonije nije u potpunosti hipotetiÄka. Ovaj prenos bogatstva kroz stvaranje novca ima istorijske i moderne presedane.
Na primer, afriÄka plemena su nekada koristila staklene perle, poznate kao âagri perleâ, kao sredstvo razmene. U to vreme plemenskim ljudima je bilo veoma teĹĄko da prave staklene perle, i one su predstavljale teĹžak novac unutar njihovog plemenskog druĹĄtva.
Niko nije mogao jeftino da proizvede perle i koristiti ih za kupovinu skupe, vredne robe poput kuÄa, hrane i odeÄe.
Sve se promenilo kada su stigli Evropljani, i primetili upotrebu staklenih perli kao novca.
U to vreme, Evropljani su mogli jeftino da stvaraju staklo u velikim koliÄinama. Kao rezultat toga, Evropljani su poÄeli tajno da uvoze perle i koriste ih za kupovinu dobara, usluga i robova od Afrikanaca.
Vremenom se iz Afrike izvlaÄila vredna roba i ljudi, dok je plemenima ostajalo mnogo perli i malo robe.
Perle su izgubile veÄi deo vrednosti zbog inflacije uzrokovane snabdevanjem od strane Evropljana.
Rezultat je bio osiromaĹĄenje afriÄkih plemena i bogaÄenje Evropljana, kako to ovde objaĹĄnjava monetarni istoriÄar Bezant Denier.
Dragocena roba je kupljena jeftino proizvedenim monetarnim dobrom.
Profitiranje na proizvodnji novca: Emisiona dobit
Ova priÄa ilustruje kako se bogatstvo prenosi kada jedna grupa moĹže jeftino da proizvodi monetarno dobro.
Razlika izmeÄu troĹĄkova proizvodnje monetarnog dobra i vrednosti tog monetarnog dobra poznata je kao emisiona dobit, eng. seignorage.
Kada je monetarno dobro mnogo vrednije od troĹĄkova proizvodnje, ljudi Äe proizvesti viĹĄe od monetarnog dobra da bi uhvatili profit od emisione dobiti.
Na kraju Äe ova poveÄana ponuda dovesti do pada vrednosti monetarnog dobra. To je zbog zakona ponude i potraĹžnje: kada se ponuda poveÄava, cena (poznata i kao vrednost) dobra opada.
Novac Gubi Funkciju 2. Deo: Kejnslandski Bankar
U priÄi o Njutoniji, alhemiÄar je otkrio naÄin da se od malo peska jeftino stvori viĹĄe zelenih perli. To se u stvarnosti odigralo kroz trgovinu izmeÄu Evropljana i Afrikanaca, priÄom o agri perlama. MeÄutim, ove priÄe su pomalo zastarele â mi viĹĄe ne trgujemo robom za perle.
Da bismo nas doveli do modernog doba, hajde da promenimo neka imena u naĹĄoj priÄi:
- Selo Njutonija postaje drĹžava koja se zove Kejnsland
- AlhemiÄar postaje bankar
- Seoski stareĹĄina postaje penzioner
- Zelene perle postaju zlato, koje niko ne moĹže jeftinije da stvori â Äak ni bankar.
Bankar Menja Papirne NovÄanice za Zlato
Kao i u stvarnosti, bankar u ovoj priÄi nema formulu ili trik da stvori viĹĄe zlata. MeÄutim, bankar bezbedno Äuva zlato u vlasniĹĄtvu svakog graÄanina Kejnslanda. Bankar daje svakom graÄaninu po jednu potvrdu za svaku uncu zlata koje ima u svom trezoru.
Te potvrde se mogu iskoristiti u bilo koje vreme za stvarno zlato. Papirne potvrde ili novÄanice su mnogo pogodnije za plaÄanje nego noĹĄenje zlata kroz supermarket.
GraÄani su sreÄni â oni imaju prikladno sredstvo plaÄanja u vidu bankarevih novÄanica, i znaju da niko ne moĹže da ukrade njihovo bogatstvo falsifikujuÄi viĹĄe zlata.
GraÄani na kraju poÄinju da plaÄaju u potpunosti papirnim novÄanicama, ne trudeÄi se nikad da zamene svoje novÄanice za zlato. Na kraju, novÄanice postaju âdobre kao i zlatoâ â svaka predstavlja fiksnu koliÄinu zlata u bankarevom trezoru.
Ukupno kruĹži 1.000.000 novÄanica, od kojih je svaka otkupljiva za jednu uncu zlata. 1.000.000 unci zlata sedi u bankarevom trezoru. Svaka novÄanica je u potpunosti podrĹžana u zlatu.
StareĹĄina koji je saÄuvao sve svoje perle u priÄi o Njutoniji sada je penzioner u Kejnslandu, koji svoje zlato drĹži u banci i planira da ugodno Ĺživi od novÄanica koje je dobio zauzvrat.
Hajde da u ovu priÄu dodamo i novi lik: premijera Kejnslanda. Premijer naplaÄuje porez od graÄana i koristi ga za plaÄanje javnih usluga poput policije i vojske. Premijer takoÄe drĹži vladino zlato kod bankara.
Bankar Menja Papirne NovÄanice za Dug
Premijer Ĺželi da osigura da nacionalno zlato ostane na sigurnom, pa banku ĹĄtiti policijom. Bankar i premijer se zbog toga zbliĹžavaju, pa premijer traĹži uslugu. TraĹži od bankara da kreira 200.000 novÄanica za premijera, uz obeÄanje da Äe mu premijer vratiti za pet godina. Premijeru su novÄanice potrebne za finansiranje rata. GraÄani Kejnslanda borili su se protiv veÄih poreza zbog finansiranja rata, pa je morao da se obrati bankaru.
Bankar se slaĹže da izradi novÄanice, ali pod jednim uslovom: bankar uzima deo od 10.000 novÄanica za sebe. Premijer prihvata posao kojim bankar âkupuje drĹžavni dugâ. Sada je u opticaju 1.200.000 novÄanica, potpomognutih kombinacijom 1.000.000 unci zlata i ugovorom o dugu sa vladom za 200.000 novÄanica.
Premijer troĹĄi svoje nove novÄanice na bombe kupujuÄi ih od dobavljaÄa iz domaÄe vojne industrije, a bankar sebi kupuje veliki luksuzni stan.
DobavljaÄ iz vojne industrije koristi sve nove novÄanice koje je dobio od premijera da kupi amonijum nitrat (Äubrivo koje se koristi u bombama) za proizvodnju bombi. Sve njegove kupovine poveÄavaju cenu Äubriva za uzgajivaÄe pĹĄenice u Kejnslandu, pa oni podiĹžu cenu pĹĄenice.
Kao uzrok toga, pekar koji kupuje pĹĄenicu treba da podigne cenu svog hleba da bi ostao u poslu. Na taj naÄin cene u Kejnslandu poÄinju da rastu, baĹĄ kao ĹĄto su to Äinile u Njutoniji kada su nove perle uĹĄle u opticaj.
Papirne NovÄanice ViĹĄe Ne Predstavljaju Zlato
Penzioner nailazi na finansijski Äasopis u kojem se pominje premijerov dogovor da se zaduĹži za finansiranje rata. Obzirom da je mudar, on zna da bombe loĹĄe vraÄaju ulaganje i sumnja da Äe premijer ikada da vrati svoj dug.
Ako on âpodmiriâ svoj dug, to bi ostavilo 1.200.000 novÄanica u opticaju sa samo 1.000.000 unci zlata da bi ih podrĹžalo, obezvreÄujuÄi njegovu uĹĄteÄevinu. VeÄ oseÄa stisak u dĹžepu zbog porasta cena, i on odluÄuje da se uputi u lokalnu banku i preda svoje novÄanice i zameni ih za zlato, koje niko ne moĹže da napravi u veÄoj koliÄini.
Kada penzioner stigne u banku, on zatiÄe i mnoge druge okupljene oko banke. Svi oni se nadaju da Äe uzeti zlato koje predstavljaju njihove novÄanice. GraÄani Kejnslanda sa pravom se plaĹĄe da njihove novÄanice gube na vrednosti â oni to veÄ oseÄaju zbog porasta cena.
Vrata su zakljuÄana, sa obaveĹĄtenjem bankara na njima:
Po nalogu premijera, onom koji se plaĹĄi za stabilnost ove bankarske institucije, ova banka viĹĄe neÄe podrĹžavati konvertibilnost papirnih novÄanica u zlato. Hvala vam!
Gomila se razilazi, ostavljena sa jednim izborom: da zadrĹže svoje novÄanice, koje sada vrede manje od 1 unce zlata. GraÄani sa dovoljno finansijske stabilnosti odluÄuju da uloĹže svoje novÄanice u kupovinu akcija banke i kompanija vojne industrije, koje dobro posluju jer mogu da kupuju stvari pre nego ĹĄto se poveÄaju trĹžiĹĄne cene.
Mnogi ljudi nisu u moguÄnosti da investiraju â oni moraju da gledaju kako njihove zarade stagniraju i kako njihova uĹĄteÄevina polako ali sigurno gubi vrednost.
Penzioner, koji se nadao da Äe Ĺživeti od novÄanica koje je zaradio tokom svojih 40 radnih godina, sada 40 sati nedeljno provodi iza kase u lokalnoj prodavnici, pitajuÄi se gde je sve poĹĄlo po zlu.
Dug Nikada Nije OtplaÄen
ProĹĄlo je nekoliko godina, a premijerov dug prema banci dolazi na naplatu. BuduÄi da je potroĹĄio svih 200.000 novÄanica na bombe, koje nemaju baĹĄ dobar povraÄaj ulaganja, on nema novÄanice koje moĹže da vrati banci. Plus, premijer Ĺželi da kupi joĹĄ bombi za svoj rat.
Bankar uverava premijera da je sve u redu. Bankar Äe napraviti novi ugovor o dugu za 600.000 novÄanica, koji bi trebao da stigne na naplatu u narednih 5 godina. Premijer moĹže da iskoristi 200.000 od tih novih 600.000 novÄanica da vrati svoj prvobitni dug prema banci, zadrĹži joĹĄ 300.000 da kupi joĹĄ bombi i da 100.000 bankaru da bi mu platio njegove usluge.
To nastavlja da se deĹĄava â svaki put kada dug dospeva na naplatu, bankar stvara viĹĄe novÄanica za vraÄanje starijih dugova i daje premijeru joĹĄ viĹĄe novca za troĹĄenje. Ovaj ciklus se nastavlja.
Ĺ ta se deĹĄava u Kejnslandu?
- Oni koji prvi dobiju nove novÄanice, gledaju kako se njihovo bogatstvo poveÄava
- To ukljuÄuje bankara, premijera, vladu i sve one koji mogu da pristupe moguÄnostima za investiranje u preduzeÄa koja prva dobiju nove novÄanice (finansijske, vojne itd.).
- Cene roba rastu
- Cene se ne poveÄavaju ravnomerno â one se poveÄavaju gde god nove novÄanice prvo uÄu u ekonomiju i od tog trenutka imaju efekat talasa na trĹžiĹĄta. U naĹĄem primeru prvo raste cena amonijum nitrata, zatim cena pĹĄenice, pa cena hleba. A tek na kraju zarade obiÄnih ljudi.
- Ĺ tednja i Ĺživotni standard opĹĄte populacije se smanjuju
- NajviĹĄe pate oni koji Ĺžive od plate do plate i ne mogu da ulaĹžu. Äak i oni koji su u moguÄnosti da investiraju podloĹžni su hirovima trĹžiĹĄta. Mnogi su prisiljeni da prodaju svoje investicije po niskim cenama tokom pada trĹžiĹĄta samo da bi platili svoje dnevne potrebe.
- Razlika u prihodima i bogatstvu izmeÄu bogatih i siromaĹĄnih se poveÄava
- Bogatstvo opĹĄte populacije se smanjuje, dok se bogatstvo onih koji su blizu mesta gde se troĹĄe nove novÄanice poveÄava. Rezultat je disparitet koji se vremenom samo proĹĄiruje.
Da li nas novac danas eksploatiĹĄe?
PriÄa o Njutoniji i stvarna priÄa o agri perlama u Africi deluju pomalo zastarelo. PriÄa o Kejnslandu, meÄutim, deluje neobiÄno poznato. U naĹĄem svetu cene robe uvek rastu, i vidimo rekordne nivoe nejednakosti u bogatstvu.
U poslednjem odeljku ovog naĹĄeg Älanka Ĺ ta je novac, proÄi Äu kroz nastanak bankarstva i korake koji su bili potrebni da se doÄe do danaĹĄnjeg sistema, gde banke i vlade saraÄuju u kontroli ekonomije i samog novca.
Ĺ ta su banke, i odakle su one doĹĄle?
Pojava bankarstva verovatno se dogodila da bi olakĹĄala poljoprivrednu trgovinu i da bi poveÄala pogodnosti. Iako su se mnoga druĹĄtva na kraju konvergirala ka upotrebi zlata i srebra kao novca, ovi metali su bili teĹĄki i opasni za noĹĄenje kao tovar. MeÄutim, u mnogim sluÄajevima ih nije ni trebalo prevoziti. Uzmite ovaj primer:
Grad treba da plati poljoprivrednicima na selu za Ĺžito, a poljoprivrednici gradskoj vojsci za zaĹĄtitu od varvara. U ovom dogovoru zlato se kreÄe u oba smera: prema poljoprivrednicima u selu kako bi im se platilo Ĺžito, i nazad u grad da bi se platila vojska. Da bi olakĹĄali ove transakcije, preduzetnici su stvorili koncept banke. Banka je zlato Äuvala u sigurnom trezoru i izdavala novÄanice od papira. Svaka priznanica je predstavljala potvrdu da njen imaoc poseduje odreÄenu koliÄinu zlata u banci. Imaoc novÄanice je u svako doba mogao da uzme svoje zlato nazad vraÄanjem te novÄanice banci.
Korisnici banke mogli su lakĹĄe da trguju sa novÄanicama od papira, i onaj koji poseduje novÄanice mogao je da preuzme njihovo fiziÄko zlato u bilo kom trenutku. To je te novÄanice uÄinilo âdobrim kao i zlatoâ.
Banke su izdrĹžavale svoje poslovanje naplaÄujuÄi od kupaca naknadu za skladiĹĄtenje zlata ili pozajmljivanjem dela zlata i zaraÄunavanjem kamata na njega. Trgovina na ovaj naÄin je mogla da se odvija sa laganim novÄanicama od papira umesto sa teĹĄkim vreÄama zlatnika.
Ovakva praksa sa transakcijama, koriĹĄÄenjem papirne valute potpomognute monetarnim dobrima, verovatno je zapoÄela u Kini u 7. veku.
Na kraju se proĹĄirila Evropom 1600-ih, a svoj zalet dobila je u Holandiji sa bankama poput Amsterdamske Wisselbanke. NovÄanice Wisselbank-e Äesto su vredele viĹĄe od zlata koje ih je podrĹžavalo, zbog dodane vrednosti njihovih pogodnosti.
Uspon nacionalnih âcentralnih banakaâ
Tokom vekova, zlato je poÄelo da se sakuplja u trezorima banaka, jer su ljudi viĹĄe voleli pogodnosti transakcija sa novÄanicama.
Na kraju, nacionalne banke u vlasniĹĄtvu vlada preuzele su ulogu Äuvanja zlata od privatnih banaka koje su zapoÄeli preduzetnici.
Nacionalne papirne valute potpomognute zlatnim rezervama u nacionalnim bankama zamenile su novÄanice iz privatnih banaka. Sve nacionalne valute bile su jednostavno potvrde za zlato koje se nalazilo u trezoru nacionalne banke.
Ovaj sistem je poznat kao zlatni standard â sve valute su jednostavno predstavljale razliÄite teĹžine zlata.
U gornjem levom uglu novÄanice moĹžete videti da piĹĄe da je novÄanica âzamenljiva za zlatoâ. Savremeni dolari nemaju ovaj natpis, ali inaÄe izgledaju vrlo sliÄno. Izvor
Zlatni sistem je postojao veÄi deo vremena, sve do Prvog svetskog rata. Vladama je bilo teĹĄko da prikupe novac za ovaj rat putem poreza, pa su morale da budu kreativne.
Kada vlade troĹĄe viĹĄe nego ĹĄto zaraÄuju na porezima, to se naziva deficitna potroĹĄnja.
Kako vlade mogu ovo da urade? Vlade to rade tako ĹĄto pozajmljuju novac prodavajuÄi svoj dug.
Tokom Prvog svetskog rata, vlade su graÄanima i preduzeÄima prodavale vrstu duga koja se naziva ratna obveznica. Kada graÄanin kupi ratnu obveznicu, on preda svoj novac vladi i dobije papir u kojem je stajalo vladino obeÄanje da Äe vlasniku obveznice vratiti novac, plus kamate, za nekoliko godina.
Plakat koji obaveĹĄtava graÄane, traĹžeÄi od njih da kupe ratne obveznice â ĹĄto predstavlja zajam vladi. Izvor
Centralne banke âmonetizujuâ drĹžavni dug
MeÄutim, graÄani i preduzeÄa nisu bili voljni da kupe dovoljno ratnih obveznica za finansiranje Prvog svetskog rata.
Vlade se nisu predale â pa su zatraĹžile od svojih nacionalnih âcentralnih banakaâ da one kupe ove obveznice. Centralne banke su otkupile obveznice, ali ih nisu platile valutom potpomognutom postojeÄim zlatnim rezervama, kao ĹĄto su to Äinili graÄani i banke prilikom kupovine obveznica.
Centralne banke su umesto toga davale vladi novu, sveĹže ĹĄtampanu papirnu valutu potpomognutu samo obveznicom. Ovu valutu podrĹžalo je samo obeÄanje da Äe im vlada vratiti dugove. Ovo je poznato kao monetizacija duga.
BuduÄi da su ratne obveznice i valuta samo komadi papira, one su lake i jeftine za proizvodnju i mogu se napraviti u ogromnim koliÄinama. Ono ĹĄto ograniÄava proizvodnju i jednog i drugog je poverenje.
Ima smisla da se neko rastane od svog teĹĄko steÄenog novca da kupi drĹžavnu obveznicu, samo ako veruje da Äe vlada da vrati svoj dug, plus kamate. Centralna banka je âkrajnji kupacâ, ĹĄto znaÄi da Äe ona da kupi drĹžavne obveznice kada to niko drugi neÄe da uradi.
Zapamtite, centralnu banku gotovo da niĹĄta ne koĹĄta da kupi drĹžavne obveznice, jer oni sami ĹĄtampaju valutu da bi ih kupili.
Zamislite da pridjete najskupljem automobilu u autosalonu â koji koĹĄta 100.000 USD. Mislite da je automobil lep, ali taj novac biste radije potroĹĄili na lepĹĄi stan â tako da ste spremni da platite samo 40.000 USD za taj auto.
Sada, hajde da zamislimo da imate ĹĄtampaÄ za novac i da vas koĹĄta samo 50 USD za mastilo i papir da bi iĹĄtampali 1.000.000 USD. Vi biste odmah kupili auto, Äak i ako biste morali da se cenkate sa drugim Äovekom, i da ga na kraju platite 150.000 USD!
Ista stvar se deĹĄava kada centralna banka kupuje obveznice (dugove) od vlade. Centralna banka moĹže da stvori valutu toliko jeftino, da su spremni da plate i viĹĄe nego ĹĄto bi drugi platili ove obveznice i nastaviÄe da ih kupuju Äak i kada niko drugi ne bude Ĺželeo.
Monetizacija duga uzrokuje inflaciju
Kada centralne banke monetizuju drĹžavni dug, funkcija novca kao zalihe vrednosti poÄinje da se nagriza. Vlada troĹĄi novi novac koji je dobila od svoje centralne banke na ratnu robu, obroke i joĹĄ mnogo toga.
Cene roba rastu od ove novoĹĄtampane valute koja kruĹži kroz ekonomiju. Kada se cene poveÄavaju, to znaÄi da se vrednost svake jedinice valute smanjuje. Svi koji drĹže valutu sada imaju manje vrednosti. Danas to nazivamo sporim gubitkom funkcije zalihe vrednosti u novÄanoj inflaciji.
Za NemaÄku nakon Prvog svetskog rata monetizacija duga izazvala je totalni slom NemaÄke ekonomije i stvorila uslove za rast faĹĄizma.
Kao deo sporazuma o prekidu vatre koji je okonÄao Prvi svetski rat, NemaÄka je pobednicima morala da plati ogroman novac. NemaÄkoj vladi je bio preko potreban novac, pa su prodale obveznice (dug) Rajhsbanci, nemaÄkoj centralnoj banci.
Ovaj postupak doveo je do toga da je vlada ĹĄtampala toliko maraka (tadaĹĄnja nemaÄka valuta) da je tempo inflacije u NemaÄkoj ubrzan u hiperinflaciju poÄetkom 1920-ih. Cena vekne hleba za samo 4 godine popela se sa 1,2 marke na 428 biliona maraka.
Tokom i posle Prvog svetskog rata, SAD, Britanija, Francuska i mnoge druge vlade pratile su NemaÄku u ĹĄtampanju valute potpomognute drĹžavnim dugom.
To je dovelo do toga da su graÄani Ĺželeli da svoju papirnu valutu zamene za zlato, baĹĄ kao i penzioner iz priÄe o Kejnslandu.
MeÄutim, mnoge vlade su suspendovale konvertibilnost svojih valuta u zlato. Ovim potezom vlade su primorale svoje graÄane da drĹže nacionalnu papirnu valutu i gledaju kako se njihova uĹĄteda smanjuje u vrednosti.
Da bi mogle da nastave da ĹĄtampaju novac i da bi ga troĹĄile na nepopularne programe za koje nisu mogle da skupljaju poreze za finansiranje â poput ratova.
Bretton Woods: Novi monetarni sistem
Nakon razaranja koja su donela dva svetska rata, vlade su uspostavile novi globalni monetarni sistem prema Bretton Woods-ovom sporazumu iz 1944. godine.
Prema ovom sporazumu, valuta svake drĹžave konvertovala se po fiksnom kursu sa ameriÄkim dolarom. AmeriÄki dolar je zauzvrat predstavljao zlato po stopi od 35 USD za jednu trojsku uncu zlata*.
Sve globalne valute su stoga joĹĄ uvek bile jednostavna reprezentacija zlata, putem ameriÄkih dolara kao posrednika. Redovni graÄani viĹĄe nisu mogli da otkupljuju svoje valute za zlato iz Sjedinjenih DrĹžava. MeÄutim, strane centralne banke mogle bi da doÄu u Sjedinjene DrĹžave da bi zamenile dolare za zlato po stopi od 35 USD za jednu uncu zlata.
MeÄutim, vlada Sjedinjenih DrĹžava nije uvek drĹžala dovoljno zlata da podrĹži sve dolare u opticaju. AmeriÄka vlada nastavila je da finansira proĹĄirene socijalne i vojne programe prodajom drĹžavnog duga svojoj centralnoj banci, Federalnim rezervama, koja je poveÄala ponudu dolara bez poveÄanja ponude zlata koja podupire te dolare.
*Trojna unca je standardna mera Äistog zlata i ima malo veÄu teĹžinu od normalne unce.
Propast Bretton Woods-a
Tokom 1970-ih, sve veÄi troĹĄkovi rata u Vijetnamu i stranih vlada koje su otkupljivale svoje dolare za zlato, stvorili su pritisak na Trezor Sjedinjenih DrĹžava.
Ponuda dolara je porasla, dok je zlato u posedu Sjedinjenih DrĹžava opalo. Od 1950. pa do poÄetka 1970-ih, rezerve zlata koje je drĹžala vlada Sjedinjenih DrĹžava smanjile su se za viĹĄe od 50%, sa 20 metriÄkih tona na samo 8 metriÄkih tona.
Godine 1970. drĹžava je imala zlata u vrednosti od samo 12 biliona dolara po zvaniÄnom kursu od 35 dolara za trojsku uncu zlata. Tokom ovog istog vremenskog perioda, ukupna ponuda ameriÄkih dolara otiĹĄla je sa oko 32 biliona USD na skoro 70 biliona USD.
ZvaniÄne rezerve zlata u SAD-u su naglo padale od 1950. do 1970. godine, dok su se dolari u opticaju poveÄavali. Izvor: Wikipedia, DollarDaze.org
AmeriÄka vlada nije bila u stanju da potkrepi dolare zlatom od 35 dolara po trojnoj unci, ĹĄto dovelo do rizika za Äitav globalni monetarni sistem.
PoÄetkom sedamdesetih godina, trojna unca zlata trebala je da vredi 200 USD da bi u potpunosti podrĹžala sve ameriÄke dolare u opticaju. ReÄeno na drugi naÄin, Sjedinjene DrĹžave su pokuĹĄavale da kaĹžu svetu da jedan dolar vredi 1/35 trojne unce zlata, ali u stvarnosti dolar je vredeo samo 1/200 trojne unce.
Kad su strane vlade trebale da pribave dolare za meÄunarodnu trgovinu i rezerve, bile su opeljeĹĄene. Francuska vlada je to shvatila ĹĄezdesetih godina proĹĄlog veka i poÄela je da prodaje svoje ameriÄke dolare za zlato po zvaniÄnom kursu od 35 dolara za trojsku uncu zlata.
Zemlje su poÄinjale da se bude iz ĹĄeme ameriÄke vlade. SAD su krale bogatstvo putem emisione dobiti, prodajuÄi dolare za 1/35 trojne unce zlata, kada su vredeli samo 1/200 trojske unce.
Nixonov Ĺ ok ulazi u âtradicionalniâ novac
Da bi kuÄa od karata mogla da ostane na mestu, predsednik Nixon je 1971. najavio da Äe ameriÄka vlada privremeno da obustavi konvertibilnost dolara u zlato.
Strane vlade viĹĄe nisu mogle da polaĹžu pravo na zlato svojim papirnim dolarima, a dolar viĹĄe nije bio âpoduprtâ zlatom. Nixon je tvrdio da Äe ovo stabilizovati dolar.
50 godina kasnije, kristalno je jasno da je ovo samo pomoglo dolaru da izgubi vrednost i da ovaj âprivremeniâ program joĹĄ uvek traje.
Pre 1971. godine, sve globalne valute bile su vezane za ameriÄki dolar putem Bretton Woods-ovog sporazuma. Kada je Nixon promenio ameriÄki dolar iz dolara podrĹžanog u zlatu u dolar podrĹžan dugom, ovim je promenio i svaku drugu valutu na Zemlji.
Sam je uÄinio da se celokupna svetska ekonomija zasniva na dugovima. Valute viĹĄe nisu predstavljale zlato, veÄ su predstavljale vrednost drĹžavnog duga.
Zlatni Standard se nikada nije vratio
Konvertibilnost ameriÄkih dolara u zlato â zlatni standard â nikada se nije vratio.
Od 1971. godine, Äitav globalni monetarni sistem pokreÄe se tradicionalnim âfiatâ valutama: poverenjem u vladine institucije da odrĹžavaju valutni sistem.
VeÄina valuta podrĹžana je kombinacijom duga njihove vlade i drugih tradicionalnih valuta poput dolara i evra. Papirne valute viĹĄe nisu podrĹžane zlatom, imovinom koja je viĹĄe od 5000 godina sluĹžila kao teĹžak novac.
Danas vas vlade prisiljavaju da plaÄate porez u njihovoj valuti i manipuliĹĄu saznanjima oko novca kako bi osigurale da potraĹžnja za njihovom valutom ostane velika.
To im omoguÄava da neprestano ĹĄtampaju viĹĄe valuta, da bi je potroĹĄili na vladine projekte, uzrokujuÄi inflaciju cena koja jede i smanjuje bogatstvo i plate.
AmeriÄka vlada sada prodaje drĹžavne obveznice (dugove), poznate kao obveznice Trezora SAD, eng. US Treasuries, komercijalnim bankama u zamenu za ameriÄke dolare.
Vlada koristi te dolare za finansiranje svog budĹžetskog deficita. Komercijalne banke prodaju mnoge obveznice Trezora SAD, koje su kupile, ameriÄkoj centralnoj banci, Federalnim Rezervama.
Federalne rezerve plaÄaju komercijalnim bankama sveĹže ĹĄtampanim novcem âpomoÄu raÄunara i upisivanjem koliÄine na raÄunâ, kako je rekao bivĹĄi predsednik Fed-a Ben Bernanke.
Ove komercijalne banke Äesto zaraÄuju samo kupujuÄi obveznice Trezora SAD od drĹžave i prodajuÄi ih centralnoj banci. Kupujte nisko, prodajte visoko.
Centralne banke ovaj proces kupovine drĹžavnog duga â odnosno pozajmljivanja novca drĹžavi â nazivaju operacijama otvorenog trĹžiĹĄta.
Kada centralna banka odjednom kupi velike iznose duga, oni to nazivaju kvantitativnim ublaĹžavanjem. Centralne banke javno najavljuju kupovinu drĹžavnog duga, ali vrlo malo ljudi razume ĹĄta to zapravo znaÄi.
Euro, jen i svaka druga valuta koja se danas koristi funkcioniĹĄu sliÄno kao ameriÄki dolar.
Da li Äe SAD ikada vratiti svoj nacionalni dug? NeobiÄna stvar u vezi sa drĹžavnim dugom SAD-a je ta ĹĄto vlada poseduje ĹĄtampariju potrebnu za njegovu otplatu.
Kao rezultat toga, kada vlada duguje novac, oni samo pozajme joĹĄ viĹĄe novca da bi otplatile taj dug, poveÄavajuÄi nacionalni dug.
Ako vam ovo zvuÄi kao Ponzijeva piramidalna ĹĄema, to je zato ĹĄto ona to i jeste â najveÄa Ponzijeva ĹĄema u istoriji. Kao i svaka Ponzijeva ĹĄema, nastaviÄe se sve dok su ljudi koji kupuju Ponzijevu ĹĄemu budu uvereni da Äe im biti plaÄeno nazad.
Ako ljudi i nacije prestanu da se zaduĹžuju i koriste ameriÄke dolare jer nemaju poverenja u ameriÄku vladu ili vide da cena robe raste (tj. dolar postaje sve manje vredan), potraĹžnja za dolarom Äe opadati, ĹĄto Äe izazvati zaÄaranu spiralu.
Ova spirala Äesto zavrĹĄi u hiperinflaciji, kao ĹĄto smo videli u novijoj istoriji sa Jugoslavijom, Venecuelom, Argentinom, Zimbabveom i mnogim drugim drĹžavama.
Ovo je naÄin kako funkcioniĹĄe novac na vaĹĄem bankovnom raÄunu. Novac svake nacije na svetu pati od istih problema kao i perle i novÄanice u priÄama o Njutoniji i Kejnslandu.
Kako banke i vlade kradu tvoj novac?
Tokom vekova, stigli smo do monetarnog sistema u kojem banke i vlade mogu da ĹĄtampaju novu valutu za finansiranje svojih operacija i svojih prijatelja u zloÄinu, dok kradu bogatstvo svojih graÄana.
Ĺ ta Äe se desiti sa svetom kada novac bude mogao da ĹĄtampa svaki narod na planeti?
- Bogatstvo onih koji su blizu pravljenja nove valute se poveÄava
- Vlada i politiÄki povlaĹĄÄena klasa ljudi, imaju pristup novoĹĄtampanom novcu pre svih ostalih, pa mogu da ga potroĹĄe pre nego ĹĄto cene porastu. Na ovaj efekat pokazao je ekonomista Richard Cantillon sredinom 1700-ih i poznat je kao Cantillonov Efekat.
- Cena robe raste (poznato kao inflacija
- Ne raste sve roba istovremeno u ceni. Roba blizu mesta gde se proizvodi nova valuta â finansijski sektor i vlada â prva raste, i odatle uzrokuje efekt talasa na cene.
- Inflacija se Äesto predstavlja kao promena cene potroĹĄaÄke korpe, poznata kao Indeks PotroĹĄaÄkih Cena, eng. Consumer Price Index (CPI). Vlada ima alate za manipulisanje ovim brojem kako bi osigurala da se ona Äini niskom i stabilnom, kao ĹĄto je objaĹĄnjeno u naĹĄem Älanku o inflaciji.
- Finansijska imovina Äesto primeÄuje ogromnu inflaciju, ali bankari to ne nazivaju inflacijom â oni kaĹžu da naĹĄa ekonomija cveta! Nakon ĹĄto su ameriÄke Federalne rezerve uÄetvorostruÄile ponudu ameriÄkih dolara u ĹĄest godina nakon finansijske krize 2008. godine, banke koje su dobile te nove dolare, kupile su akcije i obveznice, stvarajuÄi ogroman balon u cenama ove imovine.
- Ĺ tednja i Ĺživotni standard stanovniĹĄtva se smanjuju
- Plate su jedna od poslednjih âcenaâ u ekonomiji koja se prilagoÄava, jer se Äesto poveÄavaju samo jednom godiĹĄnje. U meÄuvremenu, cene dnevnih potrepĹĄtina te osobe koja zaradjuje platu neprestano rastu kako novi novac kruĹži ekonomijom.
- NajviĹĄe su pogoÄeni oni koji Ĺžive od plate do plate â a to je 70% Amerikanaca.
- Razlike u prihodima izmeÄu bogatih i siromaĹĄnih se poveÄavaju, kao ĹĄto se vidi na grafikonu ispod.
*Koncentracija dohotka na vrhu naglo je porasla od 1970-ih
ZaĹĄto i dalje imamo isti monetarni sistem?
Ako ovaj sistem bogate joĹĄ viĹĄe obogaÄuje, a siromaĹĄne joĹĄ viĹĄe osiromaĹĄuje, dovodeÄi do politiÄke nestabilnosti, zaĹĄto ga onda ne bismo promenili?
NajveÄi razlog zaĹĄto se niĹĄta ne menja je verovatno to ĹĄto puno toga ne znamo o samom sistemu. Svi svakodnevno koristimo valute svojih vlada, ali veÄina nas ne razume kako sistem funkcioniĹĄe i ĹĄta on Äini naĹĄim druĹĄtvima.
Obrazovni sistem, mediji i finansijski struÄnjaci neprestano nam govore da je monetarni sistem previĹĄe komplikovan da bi ga normalni ljudi razumeli. Mnogi od nas se zato i ne trude da pokuĹĄaju.
JoĹĄ nekoliko razloga zaĹĄto ovaj sistem nastavlja da opstaje:
- Mnogo je ljudi koji imaju direktnu korist od ĹĄtampanja novog novca.
- Ti ljudi ne Ĺžele nikakve promene i bore se da zadrĹže tu mocĚ.
- Nacionalne valute su Äesto pogodne
- Kreditne kartice, online bankarstvo i joĹĄ mnogo toga Äine upravljanje nacionalnim valutama i njihovo troĹĄenje lakim i jednostavnim.
- GraÄani moraju da plaÄaju porez u svojoj nacionalnoj valuti
- To stvara potraĹžnju za tom valutom od svih graÄana, poveÄavajuÄi njenu vrednost.
- Glavna meÄunarodna trĹžiĹĄta, poput nafte, denominirana su u dolarima.
- Nafta je potrebna svakoj zemlji na planeti, ali poĹĄto mnogi ne mogu da je proizvode, moraju da je kupuju na meÄunarodnim berzama. Od 1970-ih na ovim berzama gotovo sva nafta se prodaje za dolare, ĹĄto stvara potraĹžnju za dolarima. Da bi se odmaknule od ovog sistema, zemlje bi trebale da pronaÄu novu valutu ili robu za trgovinu naftom, ĹĄto zahteva vreme i rizike.
- Nije postojala dobra alternativa
- Uz globalnu ekonomiju u realnom vremenu, naĹĄ sistem digitalnog bankarstva koji koristi nacionalne valute je pogodan. Transakcija u tvrdom novcu poput zlata bila bi previĹĄe nezgrapna za danaĹĄnji svet. Digitalna valuta pod nazivom Bitcoin, predstavljena 2009. godine, je rastuÄa alternativa koja nudi Ävrst novac koji se kreÄe brzinom interneta.
Ĺ ta je novac, i zaĹĄto trebate da brinete?
Novac je alat koji olakĹĄava razmenu dobara. Kao i svako drugo dobro, novac se pridrĹžava zakona ponude i potraĹžnje â poveÄanje potraĹžnje poveÄaÄe njegovu vrednost, a poveÄanje ponude smanjiÄe njegovu vrednost.
Na ovaj naÄin novac se ne razlikuje od kuÄe ili piletine. MeÄutim, velika prodajnost novca znaÄi da je potraĹžnja za njim uvek velika. Kao rezultat, novac mora biti teĹžak za proizvodnju (a samim tim i ograniÄen u ponudi) ili Äe ga onaj ko ga moĹže napraviti, stvoriti toliko, da vremenom viĹĄe neÄe sluĹžiti kao zaliha vrednosti. Uskoro Äe izgubiti svoje funkcije kao sredstvo razmene i obraÄunske jedinice.
Najbolji novac u datoj ekonomiji je onaj koji se najslobodnije kreÄe â svi ga Ĺžele, lako je obaviti transakcije sa njim i koji sa vremenom dobro drĹži svoju vrednost. Nijedan novac nije savrĹĄen u svemu ovome, a neki istiÄu jednu funkciju novca na ĹĄtetu drugih.
Iako se istorija ne ponavlja, ona se rimuje, a usponi i padovi monetarnih sistema imaju jasne ritmove. Uspon i pad monetarnog sistema Äesto sledi opĹĄti obrazac koji smo videli u priÄama o agri perlama i Kejnslandu: pojavljuje se odredjenji oblik novca koji pomaĹže ljudima da efikasnije trguju i ĹĄtede, ali na kraju gubi na vrednosti kada neko shvati kako da ga jeftino stvori u velikoj koliÄini. MeÄutim, tokom dugog perioda vremena, monetarni sistemi su se poboljĹĄali u sve tri funkcije novca.
Na primer, zlato je tokom vremena dobro sluĹžilo kao zaliha vrednosti. MeÄutim, naĹĄa meÄusobno povezana ekonomija ne bi mogla efikasno da funkcioniĹĄe ako bi trebalo da fiziÄko zlato zamenimo robom i uslugama. Mnogo je lakĹĄe kretati se na papirnom i digitalnom novcu, ali istorija nam govori da su vlade i bankari iskoristili ove oblike novca za kraÄu bogatstva putem inflacije.
DanaĹĄnji globalni monetarni sistem je vrlo zgodan, a digitalna plaÄanja i kreditne kartice olakĹĄavaju troĹĄenje novca. Ovo skriva stalnu inflaciju koja nagriza vrednost svake jedinice novca i dovodi do sve veÄeg jaza u bogatstvu.
Nadam se da je ovaj Älanak proĹĄirio vaĹĄe razumevanje novca i njegove uloge u druĹĄtvu. Ovo je samo poÄetak svega ĹĄto treba istraĹžiti o novcu: za kasnije su saÄuvane teme o inflaciji, kamatnim stopama, pozajmljivanju, poslovnim ciklusima i joĹĄ mnogo toga.
Efikasnija UĹĄteda Novca
MoĹžda se pitate kako zaĹĄtititi svoju ĹĄtednju kada svaki oblik Äesto koriĹĄÄenog novca i investicija pati od inflacije ponude â koja umanjuje vrednost i prenosi bogatstvo onima koji mogu da stvore novac ili investiciju. MoĹžda se Äini da se niĹĄta na planeti danas ne moĹže kvalifikovati kao âteĹžakâ novac, ali dve stvari ipak ostaju: zlato i njegov noviji roÄak Bitcoin. Obe ove stvari je neverovatno teĹĄko proizvesti, a jedna od njih se kreÄe brzinom interneta i moĹže se Äuvati u vaĹĄem mozgu.
Ako Ĺželite da saznate viĹĄe o Bitcoin-u kao sredstvu za zaĹĄtitu vaĹĄe uĹĄteÄevine, proÄitajte ovde. Ako ste veÄ spremni za kupovinu Bitcoin-a, pogledajte moj vodiÄ za kupovinu Bitcoin-a. MoĹžete poÄeti sa investiranjem sa samo 5 ili 10 âŹ.
Zasluge
Hvala svima koji su pomogli u izradi i ureÄivanju ove serije o novcu: @ck_SNARKS, @CryptoRothbard, Neil Woodfine, Emil Sandstedt, Taylor Pearson, Parker Lewis, Jason Choi, mojoj porodici i mnogim drugima.
Hvala svima koji su ovo inspirisali i razvili kljuÄne ideje koje su ovde primenjene: Friedrich Hayek, Carl Menger, Ludwig Von Mises, Murray Rothbard, Saifedean Ammous, Dan Held, Pierre Rochard, Stephan Livera, Michael Goldstein, i mnogi drugi.
Molim vas da ĹĄerujete! Ako vam je ovaj Älanak otvorio oÄi o tome kako funkcioniĹĄe naĹĄ novac i finansijski sistem, kontaktirajte me ili ostavite komentar!
Ako vam se sviÄa moj rad, molim vas da ga podelite sa svojim prijateljima i porodicom. Cilj mi je da svima pruĹžim pogled u ekonomiju i na to kako ona utiÄe na njihov Ĺživot.
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@ e3ba5e1a:5e433365
2025-04-15 11:03:15Prelude
I wrote this post differently than any of my others. It started with a discussion with AI on an OPSec-inspired review of separation of powers, and evolved into quite an exciting debate! I asked Grok to write up a summary in my overall writing style, which it got pretty well. I've decided to post it exactly as-is. Ultimately, I think there are two solid ideas driving my stance here:
- Perfect is the enemy of the good
- Failure is the crucible of success
Beyond that, just some hard-core belief in freedom, separation of powers, and operating from self-interest.
Intro
Alright, buckle up. Iâve been chewing on this idea for a while, and itâs time to spit it out. Letâs look at the U.S. government like Iâd look at a codebase under a cybersecurity auditâOPSEC style, no fluff. Forget the endless debates about what politicians should do. Thatâs noise. I want to talk about what they can do, the raw powers baked into the system, and why we should stop pretending those powers are sacred. If thereâs a hole, either patch it or exploit it. No half-measures. And yeah, Iâm okay if the whole thing crashes a bitâfailureâs a feature, not a bug.
The Filibuster: A Security Rule with No Teeth
You ever see a firewall rule thatâs more theater than protection? Thatâs the Senate filibuster. Everyone acts like itâs this untouchable guardian of democracy, but hereâs the deal: a simple majority can torch it any day. Itâs not a law; itâs a Senate preference, like choosing tabs over spaces. When people call killing it the ânuclear option,â I roll my eyes. Nuclear? Itâs a button labeled âpress me.â If a party wants it gone, theyâll do it. So why the dance?
I say stop playing games. Get rid of the filibuster. If youâre one of those folks who thinks itâs the only thing saving us from tyranny, fineâpush for a constitutional amendment to lock it in. Thatâs a real patch, not a Post-it note. Until then, itâs just a vulnerability begging to be exploited. Every time a party threatens to nuke it, theyâre admitting itâs not essential. So letâs stop pretending and move on.
Supreme Court Packing: Because Nineâs Just a Number
Hereâs another fun one: the Supreme Court. Nine justices, right? Sounds official. Except itâs not. The Constitution doesnât say nineâitâs silent on the number. Congress could pass a law tomorrow to make it 15, 20, or 42 (hitchhikerâs reference, anyone?). Packing the court is always on the table, and both sides know it. Itâs like a root exploit just sitting there, waiting for someone to log in.
So why not call the bluff? If youâre in powerâsay, Trumpâs back in the gameâsay, âIâm packing the court unless we amend the Constitution to fix it at nine.â Force the issue. No more shadowboxing. And honestly? The courtâs got way too much power anyway. Itâs not supposed to be a super-legislature, but here we are, with justicesâ ideologies driving the bus. Thatâs a bug, not a feature. If the court werenât such a kingmaker, packing it wouldnât even matter. Maybe we should be talking about clipping its wings instead of just its size.
The Executive Should Go Full Klingon
Letâs talk presidents. Iâm not saying they should wear Klingon armor and start shouting âQaplaâ!ââthough, letâs be real, thatâd be awesome. Iâm saying the executive should use every scrap of power the Constitution hands them. Enforce the laws you agree with, sideline the ones you donât. If Congress doesnât like it, theyâve got tools: pass new laws, override vetoes, orâhereâs the big oneâcut the budget. Thatâs not chaos; thatâs the system working as designed.
Right now, the real problem isnât the president overreaching; itâs the bureaucracy. Itâs like a daemon running in the background, eating CPU and ignoring the user. The presidentâs supposed to be the one steering, but the administrative stateâs got its own agenda. Let the executive flex, push the limits, and force Congress to check it. Norms? Pfft. The Constitutionâs the spec sheetâstick to it.
Let the System Crash
Hereâs where I get a little spicy: Iâm totally fine if the government grinds to a halt. Deadlock isnât a disaster; itâs a feature. If the branches canât agree, let the president veto, let Congress starve the budget, let enforcement stall. Donât tell me about âessential services.â Nothingâs so critical it canât take a breather. Shutdowns force everyone to the tableâdebate, compromise, or expose whoâs dropping the ball. If the public loses trust? Good. Theyâll vote out the clowns or live with the circus they elected.
Think of it like a server crash. Sometimes you need a hard reboot to clear the cruft. If voters keep picking the same bad admins, well, the country gets what it deserves. Failureâs the best teacherâway better than limping along on autopilot.
States Are the Real MVPs
If the feds fumble, states step up. Right now, states act like junior devs waiting for the lead engineer to sign off. Why? Federal money. Itâs a leash, and itâs tight. Cut that cash, and states will remember theyâre autonomous. Some will shine, others will tankâlooking at you, California. And Iâm okay with that. Let people flee to better-run states. No bailouts, no excuses. States are like competing startups: the good ones thrive, the bad ones pivot or die.
Could it get uneven? Sure. Some states might turn into sci-fi utopias while others look like a post-apocalyptic vidya game. Thatâs the pointâcompetition sorts it out. Citizens can move, markets adjust, and failureâs a signal to fix your act.
Chaos Isnât the Enemy
Yeah, this sounds messy. States ignoring federal law, external threats poking at our seams, maybe even a constitutional crisis. Iâm not scared. The Supreme Courtâs there to referee interstate fights, and Congress sets the rules for state-to-state play. But if it all falls apart? Still cool. States can sort it without a babysitterâitâll be ugly, but freedomâs worth it. External enemies? Theyâll either unify us or break us. If we canât rally, we donât deserve the win.
Centralizing power to avoid this is like rewriting your app in a single thread to prevent race conditionsâsure, itâs simpler, but youâre begging for a deadlock. Decentralized chaos lets states experiment, lets people escape, lets markets breathe. States competing to cut regulations to attract businesses? Thatâs a race to the bottom for red tape, but a race to the top for innovationâworkers might gripe, but theyâll push back, and the tensionâs healthy. Bring itâlet the cage match play out. The Constitutionâs checks are enough if we stop coddling the system.
Why This Matters
Iâm not pitching a utopia. Iâm pitching a stress test. The U.S. isnât a fragile porcelain doll; itâs a rugged piece of hardware built to take some hits. Let it fail a littleâfilibuster, court, feds, whatever. Patch the holes with amendments if you want, or lean into the grind. Either way, stop fearing the crash. Itâs how we debug the republic.
So, whatâs your take? Ready to let the system rumble, or got a better way to secure the code? Hit me upâIâm all ears.
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@ 3283ef81:0a531a33
2025-05-24 18:20:45Aliquam eu turpis sed enim ultricies scelerisque\ Duis posuere congue faucibus
Praesent pretium orci ante, et faucibus lectus euismod a
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@ c066aac5:6a41a034
2025-04-05 16:58:58Iâm drawn to extremities in art. The louder, the bolder, the more outrageous, the better. Bold art takes me out of the mundane into a whole new world where anything and everything is possible. Having grown up in the safety of the suburban midwest, I was a bit of a rebellious soul in search of the satiation that only came from the consumption of the outrageous. My inclination to find bold art draws me to NOSTR, because I believe NOSTR can be the place where the next generation of artistic pioneers go to express themselves. I also believe that as much as we are able, were should invite them to come create here.
My Background: A Small Side Story
My father was a professional gamer in the 80s, back when there was no money or glory in the avocation. He did get a bit of spotlight though after the fact: in the mid 2000âs there were a few parties making documentaries about that era of gaming as well as current arcade events (namely 2007âsChasing GhostsandThe King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters). As a result of these documentaries, there was a revival in the arcade gaming scene. My family attended events related to the documentaries or arcade gaming and I became exposed to a lot of things I wouldnât have been able to find. The producer ofThe King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters had previously made a documentary calledNew York Dollwhich was centered around the life of bassist Arthur Kane. My 12 year old mind was blown: The New York Dolls were a glam-punk sensation dressed in drag. The music was from another planet. Johnny Thundersâ guitar playing was like Chuck Berry with more distortion and less filter. Later on I got to meet the Galaga record holder at the time, Phil Day, in Ottumwa Iowa. Phil is an Australian man of high intellect and good taste. He exposed me to great creators such as Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Shakespeare, Lou Reed, artists who created things that I had previously found inconceivable.
I believe this time period informed my current tastes and interests, but regrettably I think it also put coals on the fire of rebellion within. I stopped taking my parents and siblings seriously, the Christian faith of my family (which I now hold dearly to) seemed like a mundane sham, and I felt I couldnât fit in with most people because of my avant-garde tastes. So I write this with the caveat that there should be a way to encourage these tastes in children without letting them walk down the wrong path. There is nothing inherently wrong with bold art, but Iâd advise parents to carefully find ways to cultivate their childrenâs tastes without completely shutting them down and pushing them away as a result. My parents were very loving and patient during this time; I thank God for that.
With that out of the way, lets dive in to some bold artists:
Nicolas Cage: Actor
There is an excellent video by Wisecrack on Nicolas Cage that explains him better than I will, which I will linkhere. Nicolas Cage rejects the idea that good acting is tied to mere realism; all of his larger than life acting decisions are deliberate choices. When that clicked for me, I immediately realized the man is a genius. He borrows from Kabuki and German Expressionism, art forms that rely on exaggeration to get the message across. He has even created his own acting style, which he calls Nouveau Shamanic. He augments his imagination to go from acting to being. Rather than using the old hat of method acting, he transports himself to a new world mentally. The projects he chooses to partake in are based on his own interests or what he considers would be a challenge (making a bad script good for example). Thus it doesnât matter how the end result comes out; he has already achieved his goal as an artist. Because of this and because certain directors donât know how to use his talents, he has a noticeable amount of duds in his filmography. Dig around the duds, youâll find some pure gold. Iâd personally recommend the filmsPig, Joe, Renfield, and his Christmas film The Family Man.
Nick Cave: Songwriter
What a wild career this man has had! From the apocalyptic mayhem of his band The Birthday Party to the pensive atmosphere of his albumGhosteen, it seems like Nick Cave has tried everything. I think his secret sauce is that heâs always working. He maintains an excellent newsletter calledThe Red Hand Files, he has written screenplays such asLawless, he has written books, he has made great film scores such asThe Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, the man is religiously prolific. I believe that one of the reasons he is prolific is that heâs not afraid to experiment. If he has an idea, he follows it through to completion. From the albumMurder Ballads(which is comprised of what the title suggests) to his rejected sequel toGladiator(Gladiator: Christ Killer), he doesnât seem to be afraid to take anything on. This has led to some over the top works as well as some deeply personal works. Albums likeSkeleton TreeandGhosteenwere journeys through the grief of his sonâs death. The Boatmanâs Callis arguably a better break-up album than anything Taylor Swift has put out. Heâs not afraid to be outrageous, heâs not afraid to offend, but most importantly heâs not afraid to be himself. Works Iâd recommend include The Birthday PartyâsLive 1981-82, Nick Cave & The Bad SeedsâThe Boatmanâs Call, and the filmLawless.
Jim Jarmusch: Director
I consider Jimâs films to be bold almost in an ironic sense: his works are bold in that they are, for the most part, anti-sensational. He has a rule that if his screenplays are criticized for a lack of action, he makes them even less eventful. Even with sensational settings his films feel very close to reality, and they demonstrate the beauty of everyday life. That's what is bold about his art to me: making the sensational grounded in reality while making everyday reality all the more special. Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is about a modern-day African-American hitman who strictly follows the rules of the ancient Samurai, yet one can resonate with the humanity of a seemingly absurd character. Only Lovers Left Aliveis a vampire love story, but in the middle of a vampire romance one can see their their own relationships in a new deeply human light. Jimâs work reminds me that art reflects life, and that there is sacred beauty in seemingly mundane everyday life. I personally recommend his filmsPaterson,Down by Law, andCoffee and Cigarettes.
NOSTR: We Need Bold Art
NOSTR is in my opinion a path to a better future. In a world creeping slowly towards everything apps, I hope that the protocol where the individual owns their data wins over everything else. I love freedom and sovereignty. If NOSTR is going to win the race of everything apps, we need more than Bitcoin content. We need more than shirtless bros paying for bananas in foreign countries and exercising with girls who have seductive accents. Common people cannot see themselves in such a world. NOSTR needs to catch the attention of everyday people. I donât believe that this can be accomplished merely by introducing more broadly relevant content; people are searching for content that speaks to them. I believe that NOSTR can and should attract artists of all kinds because NOSTR is one of the few places on the internet where artists can express themselves fearlessly. Getting zaps from NOSTRâs value-for-value ecosystem has far less friction than crowdfunding a creative project or pitching investors that will irreversibly modify an artistâs vision. Having a place where one can post their works without fear of censorship should be extremely enticing. Having a place where one can connect with fellow humans directly as opposed to a sea of bots should seem like the obvious solution. If NOSTR can become a safe haven for artists to express themselves and spread their work, I believe that everyday people will follow. The banker whose stressful job weighs on them will suddenly find joy with an original meme made by a great visual comedian. The programmer for a healthcare company who is drowning in hopeless mundanity could suddenly find a new lust for life by hearing the song of a musician who isnât afraid to crowdfund their their next project by putting their lighting address on the streets of the internet. The excel guru who loves independent film may find that NOSTR is the best way to support non corporate movies. My closing statement: continue to encourage the artists in your life as Iâm sure you have been, but while youâre at it give them the purple pill. You may very well be a part of building a better future.
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@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf
2025-05-24 16:01:21@matt_odell don't you even dare not ask about nostr!
â Kukks (Andrew Camilleri) (@MrKukks) May 18, 2021
Nostr first hit my radar spring 2021: created by fellow bitcoiner and friend, fiatjaf, and released to the world as free open source software. I was fortunate to be able to host a conversation with him on Citadel Dispatch in those early days, capturing that moment in history forever. Since then, the protocol has seen explosive viral organic growth as individuals around the world have contributed their time and energy to build out the protocol and the surrounding ecosystem due to the clear need for better communication tools.
nostr is to twitter as bitcoin is to paypal
As an intro to nostr, let us start with a metaphor:
twitter is paypal - a centralized platform plagued by censorship but has the benefit of established network effects
nostr is bitcoin - an open protocol that is censorship resistant and robust but requires an organic adoption phase
Nostr is an open communication protocol that can be used to send messages across a distributed set of relays in a censorship resistant and robust way.
â- Anyone can run a relay.
â- Anyone can interact with the protocol.
â- Relays can choose which messages they want to relay.
â- Users are identified by a simple public private key pair that they can generate themselves.Nostr is often compared to twitter since there are nostr clients that emulate twitter functionality and user interface but that is merely one application of the protocol. Nostr is so much more than a mere twitter competitor. Nostr clients and relays can transmit a wide variety of data and clients can choose how to display that information to users. The result is a revolution in communication with implications that are difficult for any of us to truly comprehend.
Similar to bitcoin, nostr is an open and permissionless protocol. No person, company, or government controls it. Anyone can iterate and build on top of nostr without permission. Together, bitcoin and nostr are incredibly complementary freedom tech tools: censorship resistant, permissionless, robust, and interoperable - money and speech protected by code and incentives, not laws.
As censorship throughout the world continues to escalate, freedom tech provides hope for individuals around the world who refuse to accept the status quo. This movement will succeed on the shoulders of those who choose to stand up and contribute. We will build our own path. A brighter path.
My Nostr Public Key: npub1qny3tkh0acurzla8x3zy4nhrjz5zd8l9sy9jys09umwng00manysew95gx
If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.
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@ bc6ccd13:f53098e4
2025-05-24 15:55:20It wasnât so long ago that the mainstream conversation around population was exclusively focused on the dangers of overpopulation. The fatal flaws in the Malthusian theory had yet to be disproven clearly and obviously by observable demographic trends. Thatâs been gradually changing, and while itâs hardly a mainstream consensus, concerns about falling birthrates and the risk of population collapse have taken over the population conversion on the political right, and sometimes beyond.
Thereâs no questioning the data at this point. Fertility rates over most of the world have been in precipitous decline, and if the current trajectory continues, global population will peak very soon and fall rather dramatically. And even the falling population itself is much less of a threat than the aging population that will inevitably precede it. Having a large cohort of older and retired people and a small cohort of young workers is an existential threat to the modern welfare state, and to the entire credit-based fiat monetary system that supports it. But thatâs a subject for another day.
There are a multitude of different theories that attempt to explain why this is happening. Iâll name some of the most common ones:
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Increased education and employment opportunities for women
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Urbanization
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Economic factors
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Access to contraception
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Changing social and cultural norms
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Delayed marriage
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Improvements in infant mortality rates
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Government policies
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Environmental concerns
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Pornography
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Feminism
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Endocrine disrupting chemicals
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Dating apps
Most rational thinkers agree there must be multiple factors playing a role. But the fact that the problem is so wide-spread, and populations that seem to be resisting the trend are so rare, shows that the strongest underlying factors are cross-culturally powerful and not easily resisted or reversed with marginal cultural differences and standard public policy efforts.
While populations that resist the trend are rare, they are not quite non-existent. A few groups stand out for their persistently high fertility rates. On a geographic basis, sub-Saharan Africa is the only major region still maintaining above-replacement fertility rates. For various reasons, I donât think Africa is the most useful place to look for answers on whatâs causing the decline elsewhere or how it could be reversed. One reason is that Africa seems to be following the global pattern, just with a lag. In another few decades the data may look very different, just like it does for South America today compared to 20 years ago.
In my opinion, a more useful place to look for data is in smaller population sub-groups within a geographic area that have fertility rates significantly higher than the general population levels. Rural populations in general have higher fertility rates than urban populations, but the difference isnât really enough to consider it significant. The groups that fit this category well seem to be exclusively religious. These include certain Christian denominations in the traditional Anabaptist category including the Amish, Mennonites, and Hutterites, Muslims in some areas, and Jews, particularly the most orthodox sects. Mormons recently fell out of the high-fertility religious group category, which would also make for some interesting research.
It would be fascinating to compare these groups and see what they have in common outside just being religious in nature. I donât have the knowledge to make that comparison. Instead, Iâm going to focus on the group thatâs often referenced and analyzed by people without much personal knowledge, the Amish.
I have read numerous articles and comments that reference the Amish to support this or that theory on the cause of falling fertility. One thing I notice is an obvious lack of understanding of the Amish culture, which leads to faulty arguments that donât reflect reality. This isnât surprising, given the insular and poorly-understood nature of the culture, the plethora of ridiculously incorrect âAmishâ reality TV shows and pop culture myths, and the fact that the number of people with firsthand knowledge of Amish culture from an insider perspective who also write about demographic trends on any public platform is probably zero.
Well, was zero. Iâm about to make that one.
My Qualifications
Since Iâm claiming to have this knowledge, itâs only fair to give a little background as to how I got it. I choose to stay anonymous on the internet, and given that this is personal information that could make it significantly easier to dox me, Iâll be deliberately vague.
My parents were both born in Amish families. They didnât stay, opting to leave the Amish church and culture before getting married and starting their family. My grandparents were all Amish, and all my cousins and most of my extended family remain Amish to this day. My parents didnât move out of the Amish community, staying in the area and joining a conservative Mennonite church that was about the closest thing to being Amish without actually being Amish. The Mennonite community has a generally good relationship with and a lot of respect for the Amish community, given their deep similarities and shared history and cultural background.
I grew up interacting regularly with Amish relatives, neighbors and community members, speaking the Pennsylvania Dutch my parents taught us and used exclusively at home. Iâm very certain that a real deep understanding of Amish culture is almost impossible without speaking their language, just like many other cultures around the world. The Amish speak English as their second language, but there are aspects of their culture that arenât spoken about in English.
This lifelong proximity to and interaction with the Amish community has, I believe, given me some unique insights into the factors supporting their high fertility rates that no amount of academic research will ever uncover.
Who are the Amish?
First, some basics.
The Amish are a traditionalist Christian denomination. The way to understand the Amish is as a religious denomination first, and a culture second. Getting the two mixed up makes it impossible to understand why the Amish live the way they do.
Sure, their unique lifestyles makes them noteworthy as a group. But that lifestyle is based on and maintained by their religious beliefs and convictions.
Fundamentally, the Amish attempt to live out the Gospel as Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount. They believe their church has done so historically, and that the best way to make sure they keep doing so in the future is to view any changes to their traditional lifestyle with extreme skepticism and resistance.
The two primary doctrines that separate them from the mainstream Protestant Reformation, which is their groupâs origin, are the doctrines of nonconformity and nonresistance. They apply the doctrine of nonconformity, the command to âbe not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of Godâ in both a spiritual and a practical sense. They believe that Christians are to be radically different from non-Christians, both in their beliefs and attitudes, and in their lifestyle and appearance. And they apply the command to âresist not evilâ, nonresistance, to mean that itâs a sin to use physical force or violence against another person for any reason whatsoever. They donât make any exception for military service of any type, which they object to as a matter of conscience, or for self-defense, which they refuse to engage in even if it means death for themselves or their family.
The Amish do not practice infant baptism. Their young people must choose to be baptized and formally become members of the church, usually in their late teens or early twenties. As part of the baptism ceremony, they make a vow to remain faithful to God and the church until death. The Amish, as a church, interpret this vow to mean that the new church member will remain a member of the Amish church for life. Leaving the Amish church after making this vow and being baptized is viewed as breaking the vow, and is the justification for their practice of shunning, or the ban. Those who do so are cut off from contact with the community in various ways. Typically they wonât eat a meal with a shunned person, ride in a car a shunned person is driving, or do business with a shunned person. That includes immediate family. Failure to enforce this shunning against someone, even your own child, can result in running afoul of the church leadership and also being excommunicated and shunned.
This punishment, however, only applies to people who leave the church after baptism. Those young people who choose not to be baptized and leave the church instead are free to be treated just like any other non-Amish person, although their family essentially disown them and treat them like a shunned person anyway, if theyâre especially strict and upset about the betrayal of Amish values.
Most Amish people donât believe that the Amish are the only true church, or that only Amish people are true Christians. Most are accepting of other conservative Anabaptist denominations, and respect their values and practices as a different but valid way to be Christian. Church teaching strongly suggests that those who fall under the ban are living in sin and wonât make it to heaven. Most individuals, though, probably wouldnât agree with that in every case if they were free to give their true opinion on the issue.
The Amish maintain a fertility rate of around 6 to 7 children per woman. Some recent research suggests this may be starting to fall somewhat, but the data isnât extensive enough to make a solid judgement yet.
There are a wide variety of different âflavorsâ of Amish in different areas of the US, a fact theyâre very aware of. The data strongly indicates that the most conservative and technologically primitive communities have slightly higher fertility rates and significantly higher retention rates of young people.
Why do the Amish Maintain High Fertility Rates?
Okay, enough background. Time to dive into the reasons I believe the Amish maintain their historically high fertility rate despite living in a developed, modern economy surrounded by people with dramatically sub-replacement fertility rates.
I thought long and hard about the best way to approach this. Going through a list of factors topically seemed like the obvious one. But the more I thought it through, the less I liked it. For one, how do you arrange the factors? Order of importance? How do you decide that? Also, the factors are so inter-related that theyâll be very tough to separate and understand individually. Finally, it seems dry and boring. Nobody needs that.
So Iâm going to try something different. Iâm going to approach it from a narrative angle. Iâll try to describe the life of a typical Amish person, from birth to death, in a chronological way. Thatâs the best approach to present it in a way that makes the culture relatable, while also tying the different factors together logically.
Iâll describe the experience for both men and women as best I can, and try to present the various factors encouraging high fertility as I see them at the appropriate part of the story.
This will likely be an article that gets revised later to address any questions that come up, so donât consider it the final word on the subject.
Alright, time to get started.
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First off, this might seem obvious, but the typical Amish baby is born into a large family. On average, theyâll have 5 or 6 siblings, and more is not at all uncommon. Families of 10 wonât raise an eyebrow, and 12-16 children arenât unheard of, especially in the past when mortality was higher and second marriages were more common among younger widowers who went on to have children with their second wife. Humans are social creatures, and the environment and people we grow up surrounded by have a strong influence on our frame of reference. Studies have shown that women are very unlikely to have more children than their mother had. The number of siblings in your family, and in families you observe and interact with, doesnât determine the number of children you will have, but it does strongly influence the number of children you feel is a ânormalâ amount. That makes it a kind of ratchet effect, where itâs very unlikely that a generation raised in homes with one or two children will go on to have larger families of their own collectively.
This cultural norm of large families establishes a kind of inertia that normalizes high fertility right from birth. Amish children grow up surrounded by siblings, observing, and as they get older, helping with the care and maintenance of a large family. All their relatives, cousins and extended family are also likely to belong to large families. The average Amish child grows up with dozens of first cousins, and sometimes hundreds of more distant cousins, many of whom they likely know well and socialize with regularly. This experience establishes a mental framework where a large family is assumed to be the default. And there is no stronger human tendency than the urge to fit in with the people around you.
Amish children grow up with strong gender norms taught from a very young age. The Amish culture follows strict and conservative gender roles. Boys and men do male things, girls and women do female things, and there is little effort or desire to create any overlapping space.
Boys grow up doing traditionally masculine things. They play outside, do chores on the farm, help their dad with his work, probably get a BB gun before age 10, go hunting and fishing, play sports, and generally prepare for a lifetime of physical labor and providing for a wife and family.
Girls grow up doing traditionally feminine things. They help care for younger siblings, help with housework, play with dolls, learn to cook and preserve food, learn to sew, and generally prepare for a lifetime of caring for and raising children and maintaining a large household.
Itâs a common misconception that the Amish are mostly farmers who live off the land, subsistence style. Thatâs not at all accurate. While there are still Amish who make their living farming, at least in some areas, that has become the exception. The large scale of modern agriculture means it takes a lot of acres and a lot of machinery to run a profitable commercial farming operation. The Amish reject the use of most modern agricultural machinery, which makes them uncompetitive in commercial agriculture outside more niche markets like dairy, produce, or greenhouses. And the fact that they live in small geographic communities with large families means they quickly buy up all available farmland in an area until they price themselves out of the market. Prime farmland in heavy Amish farming communities like Lancaster, Pennsylvania routinely sells for over $25,000 per acre, which is more than a commercial crop farming operation might bring in over a lifetime.
So the Amish have moved away from a primarily agriculture based economy to various other occupations. In some areas they work in RV factories. Most work in trades, primarily construction. Many are masons, carpenters, cabinet builders, mechanics, welders, etc.
But they reject the ownership of cars, so they still use their characteristic horses and buggies for transportation. In reality, they use cars for most of their transportation needs. But they donât own cars or have driverâs licenses, so they rely on âAmish taxi driversâ to chauffer them around. The men hire a driver to take them to and from work, if they work in construction or some other job outside the home. The women hire a driver take them to town for their shopping or for other errands. The exception is church. Theyâre still required to drive to church in a horse and buggy, so every family must keep a horse for that reason, as a bare minimum. In many cases thatâs the only time they ever use a horse and buggy, and if it werenât for that requirement they wouldnât own one at all.
But that requirement means every Amish family must own enough land to keep a horse, which takes a few acres and a small barn at minimum. This forces them to live in rural areas and raise their families in a somewhat agricultural environment, even if their occupation wouldnât require that at all. So there are always chores for the children, animals to care for, and space to play outside with their siblings.
Amish children grow up with very limited exposure to mainstream cultural pressures. Their mothers inevitably raise them at home until they start school. They donât have TV or cell phones, so they arenât exposed to any mainstream culture on a daily basis.
The Amish have their own schools, typically small one room schools within walking distance of all the families who attend. The teachers are often young single people, always Amish. They primarily teach basic academics: reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, history, etc. While the Amish speak both English and Pennsylvania Dutch, many Amish children are first exposed to English on a daily basis when they start school. School is taught in English, although there is limited teaching of the High German the Amish use in their church services.
Amish children attend school until 8th grade. The schools run the minimum number of days required by the state, usually 160. There is no higher education beyond grade 8. No Amish attend college.
Amish children are taught from little up that they are not like other people. The differences between their culture and mainstream culture are emphasized, and Amish culture is praised as the ideal, at a religious level. They're taught that the way to do whatâs right is to do what the church asks, and those who donât do what the church asks are in the wrong.
The Amish rate and describe everyone on a scale from âhighâ to âlowâ. A person who isnât Amish, who isnât a Christian, is a âhighâ person, or an âEnglishâ person. To go from being Amish to being âEnglishâ is the worst, most damning, failure imaginable. The Amish are âlowâ people. The more strict and traditional an Amish sect, the âlowerâ they are. Being âlowâ is seen as a virtue. Other conservative Christian denominations, particularly other Anabaptist groups, are also considered âlowâ people and generally viewed favorably, but they arenât as âlowâ as the Amish.
Amish boys grow up expecting to start work full time at age 14, and to work at some type of trade or physical labor. There are no white-collar career tracks, essentially. Entrepreneurship is encouraged, and many young Amish men start their own construction crew or home business in their 20s or 30s after a few years of experience working for someone else. Often Amish boys start off working for and with their dad, in whatever trade or business he operates. But if theyâre not interested in that particular occupation, theyâre free to find another. Amish businesses and tradesmen are always willing to hire young Amish boys and train them in a craft. A good work ethic is considered a virtue, and Amish are known for their skilled craftsmanship and willingness to work harder than the competition. These traits are taught and encouraged from little on up.
Amish men as a whole do very well financially. For one, they start working and developing skills and work ethic a decade earlier than the typical college graduate. The trades pay well, and of course anyone could take advantage of that, but the mainstream narrative discourages men from pursuing a trade career by labeling it low status and keeping them in education until their prime years to gain a work ethic are past. Itâs not uncommon for young Amish men just out of 8th grade to land a job on a carpentry crew for $25-30 an hour. With bonuses, some of them are bringing in $90k/year before age 20. Another advantage young Amish men have is lower expenses. They can certainly find places to spend their money, typically hobbies like hunting and fishing, but things like expensive designer clothes and accessories or overpriced car payments arenât really an option. They also benefit from the Amish exemption to Social Security taxes. The Amish donât pay into or collect Social Security. More on that later, but it helps immensely to keep more of your paycheck in your early prime working years.
Amish girls grow up expecting to get married at a young age and raise a large family as a traditional housewife. Amish girls arenât encouraged to have a âcareerâ, and the idea would be silly to them. They are expected to work, but the work is either helping their mom with the household, working on the family farm or business, or doing something like teaching school or working at an Amish farmerâs market to pass the time between leaving school and marriage. Itâs never viewed as a permanent occupation, because marriage and motherhood is the default aspirational lifestyle. A common job for young Amish girls is working as a âmaidâ to help a new mother with housework at the end of pregnancy and for the first few months after childbirth. All new mothers can get this type of help if they want, and it will usually be a younger sister, cousin, or niece of appropriate age. Otherwise the community will find a suitable girl whoâs available for the job. A âmaidâ will sometimes travel to a different Amish community for this reason, given how large extended families are and how frequently Amish families move across the country to a different community. This is often an opportunity for them to attract the attention of a young man outside their local community, and is one of the only ways for a long-distance relationship and marriage to begin.
Amish young people are expected to live with their parents until marriage, with very few exceptions. Theyâre also typically expected to work for their dad in the family business for no pay, and to give any earnings they make at a day job outside the home to their parents. This is typically expected until age 21, or until they get married, whichever comes first. More recently, with the rising cost of land and housing, itâs becoming more common to make age 18 the cutoff. And when a young couple is engaged, the parents typically allow them to start saving their income for their future household. This practice helps parents offset some of the expenses of raising such large families, along with the fact that no money is spent on higher education. It also provides one strong incentive to marry as early as possible.
Amish culture revolves around family and the community. Extended families are large, and people are expected to know and interact with their family. Conversation with a stranger at a social event invariably starts by asking their name, then asking who their parents, grandparents, and other relatives are until some distant family connection or a mutual acquaintance is found. Since the Amish community has a small pool of family names, and tends to heavily favor certain Biblical first names, enough people end up with the same name to make things really confusing. People are often identified by two or three generations of their family, for example âSam Yoderâs Johnâs Amosâ for an Amos Yoder whoâs father was John Yoder and grandfather Sam Yoder.
Social activities are either family events or church events, or both. Weddings and funerals are the main social functions other than church services, and people are expected to attend as many as possible among their family and extended family, regardless of the distance. Given the large family sizes, most Amish have dozens of first cousins and many more distant cousins. Weddings and funerals can be almost weekly events. These are church events as well, so much of the local Amish community will usually attend. It will be an all day event, with the women and girls preparing a lunch and dinner for everyone. After the meal, the women and girls will wash the dishes and clean up, while the men sit around and talk. No cell phones, remember. Talking is the main form of social interaction. Topics typically include work, family news, hunting and fishing stories (Amish men hunt and fish with the same enthusiasm typical American men watch sports), horses, and interesting or funny stories about family and friends. Those with a knack for entertaining oratory are well respected and appreciated in the Amish community.
Of course the women do their fair share of talking as well, in the kitchen while cleaning up after the meal, and later in the living room where they join the men after the domestic work is done. The main topics of conversation always revolve around family, immediate and extended. News travels through the Amish community faster than any social media platform, because nothing builds Amish female status more than being the first to call with the news that great uncle so-and-so was injured in a farming accident or nephew so-and-so has a new baby, along with all the pertinent details about the name, size, and health of the baby and how the mother is doing and how many grandchildren that makes in total for the lucky grandparents.
While the adults are talking, the children are free to play either inside or preferably outside. Trampolines, climbing trees, playing in the hayloft, tag, volleyball, and softball are favorite activities at various ages. The younger boys and girls typically play together, but as they get older the girls spend more time visiting while the boys prefer more structured sports. Softball is a game for boys, but volleyball is popular with mixed teams of boys and girls at any age.
Visiting relatives or other community families is also a popular social activity, especially on âin-between Sundayâ. The Amish have church every other week, and the week without church is often an opportunity to visit another family. Invitations are not expected or required, and anyone stopping by will be expected to stay for dinner and into the evening. At these type of events, the older children are often expected to sit and visit with the adults. Sitting still and being quiet are mandatory skills, since church services are 2 hours or longer and held in barns or sheds without air conditioning filled with backless wooden benches. Self-discipline is not an optional virtue, because the alternative is physical discipline.
As Amish young people enter their mid teen years, they go from childhood to youth. At a certain age, usually around 15 or 16, they officially become youth and enter the stage everyone is familiar with, ârumspringaâ. Thatâs a Pennsylvania Dutch word that translates to ârunning aroundâ. The Amish use it more as a verb, but pop culture has adopted it as a noun based on some wildly inaccurate reality TV shows and depictions.
The reality is, rumspringa varies widely from community to community, mostly based on what the parents and church leaders tolerate. Remember that Amish church membership is a fully voluntary decision, and Amish young people are free to join or not, as they decide. Late teens is the typical age for that decision. In the meantime, they are free to make their own decisions, subject to their parentsâ rules. Breaking the rules can mean that at some point, they wonât be welcome to live in their parentsâ household any more. Thatâs a fairly strong deterrent to the most extreme infractions.
At this stage, young Amish men will be buying their own horse and buggy, and both boys and girls will be permitted to attend the Sunday night âsingingâ. This is a social activity held at someone's house on Sunday evening, involving all the youth in the community coming together for dinner, playing volleyball, and singing German hymns together. The purpose is to provide a somewhat controlled social environment for young men and women to interact and hopefully meet their future spouse. Dating couples can attend together, and dates are permitted after the formal activities, with the young men often driving their date home late at night before finally heading home themselves.
Depending on the tolerance of the community, the informal activities can be a bit more permissive than singing hymns and playing volleyball. Often the buggies will become a typical teenage party scene, with alcohol, smoking, a radio, illicit smartphones and DVD players, and some less-than-reserved interaction between boys and girls. The punishment for getting caught can be severe, but in many cases the adults tend to turn a blind eye to whatâs happening, and let the young people do as they please.
A lot more could be said about the dynamics of this cultural practice, but specifics vary so much between communities that I donât think thereâs much value in doing so. The point I think is relevant to this discussion is the question of sex.
Thereâs no reason to go off into the weeds on how much, if any, sex occurs. Premarital sex is absolutely forbidden. Does it happen anyway? Humans being human, certainly. How much? Probably very little in most cases. Getting pregnant, or getting someone pregnant, is the one transgression with inevitable life-changing consequences. The âshotgun weddingâ is alive and well among the Amish, and getting a girl pregnant means marrying her or being expelled from the Amish community permanently, no exceptions. Besides that, getting pregnant outside of marriage is the most disgraceful and shameful thing a girl could do. It happens very very rarely, put it that way.
So casual sex within the community is basically off the table. What about casual sex with âEnglishâ people? This is where the Amish cultural practices play a big role. The Amish dress very distinctly. They canât go anywhere in their traditional clothes without being instantly recognized. They also donât drive cars, so going somewhere means getting a ride with someone. And their parents will usually keep an eye on their plans and whereabouts. So letâs imagine how an Amish teenager might go about finding a casual sexual encounter.
First off, getting ahold of a cell phone would be essential. They need some way to communicate with the outside world, and coordinate with their âpartner in crime.â A lot of Amish teenagers do this, often with the help of slightly older people who have left the Amish, but keep ties with the community, maybe an older sibling or cousin. These are often the same people who buy alcohol for Amish teens.
Then, they need to get some non-Amish clothes. Remember, every trip away from home will take a willing driver, a plausible excuse in a community where everyone knows everyone, and the guarantee of being immediately recognized if seen in public. And the Amish parents know who the âbad kidsâ are, the ones who left but are willing to help their younger relatives and friends break the rules. Getting caught hanging around with them will probably mean a lot less trust and a lot less freedom in the future.
For the girls, a change of âEnglishâ clothes and a new hairstyle will let them blend in quite well. Of course, they canât be caught leaving or coming home in those clothes, or have the clothes found at home. Lots of logistical hurdles everywhere. For the boys, they have a very distinctive haircut. A new change of clothes wonât fix that. Thereâs really no way for them to hide the fact that theyâre Amish, even if the accent and the lack of a driverâs license donât give them away.
Assuming they manage all that, and sneak away from home undetected, how will they find someone to hook up with? Theyâre very insulated from popular culture, and probably not at all comfortable in typical social situations. For the girls, thereâs the added risk that an accidental pregnancy, or even just getting caught, would ruin their reputation and any chance of marriage and a family in the Amish community. So theyâre unlikely to even try, unless theyâre already fully intending to leave the Amish for good. That only really happens if they have a guy ready to marry them outside the Amish community, for reasons Iâll get into more later. Briefly, the Amish culture and schooling leaves women poorly prepared to support themselves outside that culture.
For the boys, thereâs the typical difficulty men face in finding casual sexual partners. Multiply that by the difficulty of not having a car or driverâs license, not being experienced in mainstream social norms, plus that obvious and undisguisable Amish haircut. And all that ignores the lifelong teaching that casual sex is sinful and wrong, and those who engage in it are going against the teachings of God and the church. The entire culture is specifically designed to discourage casual sex as strongly as possible, and it does an excellent job at that.
Why does that matter? Well, humans are all very much the same, with the same desires and instincts. And sex is one of the strongest of those desires. The Amish are certainly no different.
So the Amish religious practice and culture offers a very simple choice. You can choose sex outside of marriage, which will be difficult or impossible, occasional at best, and if you get caught will mean expulsion from the community your life is rooted in, and even if you donât get caught will mean youâre committing a mortal sin that will keep you out of heaven if you donât repent and change. Or, you can get married and have all the sex you want, and be respected and rewarded for it.
Thatâs really all it takes to sell the idea of marriage to most men.
When a couple does decide to get engaged, of course with permission from the girlâs father, the wedding happens within a reasonably short time, in acknowledgement of the temptation young people face in that situation.
So letâs take a little closer look at the gender differences between the choice to stay single or to marry. Itâs helpful to lay out the different life paths available, and how they play out over time.
There are very few Amish who remain single throughout their life, and almost all of them are women. So letâs look at it through a manâs perspective first. What kind of life can a single Amish man expect?
First off, a lifetime of celibacy. Thereâs hardly any need to go further, thatâs a deal breaker for most men. If they choose to stay single for some reason, most will leave the Amish completely rather than accept those terms.
So maybe itâs more useful to look at incentives for early marriage, which is the norm. Iâm a strong believer that incentives create outcomes, so Iâll be taking a hard look at incentives throughout this article.
Young people are expected to live with their parents until marriage, in most cases. Remember, no going off to college either. So from age 14 on, theyâre stuck living with Mom and Dad, working full time, and not even keeping their own income. That gets old fast. Getting married, moving out, and starting a family looks better every day. Besides that, Amish women do a lot to improve the lives of their men. The Amish are well known for their delicious food. Well, thatâs because the Amish women cook and bake. As a single guy, moving out of Momâs house means not getting delicious home-cooked food every day. And they donât have an iPhone to order DoorDash either, so itâs pizza delivery, hiring a driver to go to a restaurant, or whatever you can cook yourself. And Amish boys donât grow up learning how to cook, thatâs womenâs work. Same with making clothes. Amish mothers and wives sew clothes for their families, since theyâre forbidden to wear commercially available clothes in general. So a single guy is dependent on his mom for new clothes as well. Same with washing clothes. Most Amish have fairly modern clothes washing machines, although they donât use dryers. But washing and folding clothes isnât a job most boys grow up doing, so theyâre pretty lost if they have to try it.
All in all, there arenât a lot of upsides to staying single longer than absolutely necessary. There are plenty of benefits to marriage, though. For one, marriage is seen as a necessary step to full maturity as a man. Itâs even expressed as a visible marker. Single young men typically stay clean-shaven. Once they get married, shaving is completely forbidden, and they are required to grow out a full beard. So the difference between married and single men is obvious at first glance, and is acknowledged as a marker of full maturity.
Then of course thereâs the sexual access. No explanation needed.
Then there are all the benefits of an improved lifestyle a stay-at-home wife provides. That includes cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, caring for a garden, preserving food, helping with farm work or chores, and helping with his business. Many Amish wives are very involved in their husbandâs career or business, whether thatâs managing the bookkeeping, working in the greenhouses, or helping with daily chores on the farm. While most Amish communities use quite modern household appliances, powered with batteries, kerosene, or air pressure, the work of maintaining a household is still much more involved than for the typical American household. Especially when it comes to sewing, which very few American women do at all, but which took a large percentage of womenâs time only a few generations ago. Among the Amish it still does.
Iâm only focusing on the incentives for marriage right now, because thatâs the first step. Of course, most married couples today donât have 5-8 children, so thereâs more to the story. But universal marriage, particularly early marriage, is an essential part of the puzzle.
Shifting focus to the women, here the picture is even more clear. Almost all lifelong single Amish people are women, and thatâs not by choice. The Amish still maintain the âold maidâ category that used to be part of mainstream culture. Single Amish women are almost invariably single because no man offered to marry them. Hereâs why.
If single life is unappealing for Amish men, itâs positively bleak for women. Marriage and family life is the aspirational goal theyâre taught from little up. And for good reason.
With their eighth-grade education, and without a driverâs license and car, their income earning potential is very limited. Most young women who arenât busy on the farm or with the family business work as schoolteachers, housecleaners, babysitters, or cooks and servers at Amish restaurants or farmersâ markets. None of these jobs pay well. Enough to buy a few personal items, but not enough to buy a house or support even one person. And while it might be acceptable for a single Amish man to eventually buy a house and move out, at some point in his late 20s or early 30s, itâs really not acceptable at any age for an Amish old maid. Those old maids typically end up living with their parents, caring for them in old age, working the same type of jobs young girls do, and probably hoping that at some point an older widower with a family will show up and propose.
Marriage has massive lifestyle benefits for women, even more so than for men. Amish men typically do well financially, and often work in construction as well, or have friends and relatives who do. Amish houses are very nice and well constructed to say the least, and the wife gets the house she wants, the way she wants it. Being stingy with a house for your wife isnât part of an Amish manâs mentality. Amish women are well rewarded for all their hard work keeping house, with a house theyâll be happy keeping. And of course a nice farm or at least some acreage, with space for a big garden, a barn for any animals, and space for greenhouses or whatever she needs for any home business ambitions she might have.
Along with that, Amish women have a lot of flexibility when it comes to spending money. Many Amish women handle most of the family finances. And the money her husband earns is family money, not his money. While the husband has final say in financial decisions, most Amish men donât say no to their wivesâ purchase requests often. Married Amish women have access to all the creature comforts the church allows to make their lives as pleasant as possible.
When it comes to status, the benefits are just as clear. Amish life revolves around family, and nothing is higher status than a thriving family of your own. The Amish version of posting exotic vacation pictures on Instagram is showing up to a social function with your new baby. Itâs the automatic center of attention for weeks, until a newer baby show up in the community. And the default topic of conversation is always a womanâs children and their growth and development. Young girls grow up dreaming of the day they can join those conversations, and old maids are always outsiders in a certain sense, pitied by everyone else for their misfortune.
Being an old maid means being poor, low status, pitied by other women, and destined to live with your parents until they pass, with your only bitter-sweet consolation being the role of aunt to your dozens of nieces and nephews and maid to your sisters and sisters-in-law through their many pregnancies. Getting married means access to a manâs income, a nice new house just the way you want it, a farm, and an automatic status boost as a mother and eventually grandmother who always has lots to contribute to the conversation at social events.
As you can imagine, the incentives strongly favor marriage from both directions. Men benefit through improved lifestyle, status, and access to sex. Women benefit through improved lifestyle, economic opportunity, and status in the social hierarchy.
Given that the selection pool for potential partners is limited, mostly to the local Amish community, or occasionally another Amish community if thereâs some interaction through family ties or social events, assortative mating is the norm. Young people can be choosy, sure. But they already know most of the people in their potential mating pool, and have probably known those people for most of their lives. They have a pretty good idea how desirable they are to potential partners, and the girls especially have to think long and hard about turning down a suitor. Men are always the initiators of a relationship, and the risk of turning down an eligible man and then never getting another offer, ending up as a dreaded old maid, is always lurking in the back of their minds.
Besides that, both men and women have multiple ways to improve their spouseâs life. Women are much more than just sexual objects. Their domestic role actually raises their husbandâs standard of living significantly, in a way he canât access as a single man. And men are all valuable to women, both for resources and for status as a wife and mother. Even a very average husband or wife is a massive lifestyle boost over remaining single.
By now it should be pretty clear why marriage is almost universal among the Amish, and marriage at what most would consider a young age (19-23) is more common than not. And I havenât even mentioned any religious teaching, because frankly I donât think thatâs a major force on an individual level. The religious beliefs shape the social and material landscape, and that landscape provides the practical incentives that cause people to make the choices they do. The fact that an Amish interpretation of the Bible encourages marriage and children is one layer removed from the reasons individual 20-year-old Amish men and women choose to get married.
I pointed out earlier that getting married and having a high birthrate, or even getting married young and having a high birthrate, are not exactly the same thing. Plenty of married couples today have one, two, or even no children, even if they got married young enough to have ten if they chose to do so. So why are the Amish different?
Thereâs the too-obvious answer: they donât allow the use of contraceptives. Occamâs razor and all, but it deserves a bit more explanation. After all, the Catholic Church doesnât allow the use of contraceptives either, and look how well thatâs working out for them. Of course the enforcement mechanism doesnât have the teeth among Catholics that it has among the Amish, but thatâs not the whole story. If they were motivated enough, thereâd be a way to space the children out more, maybe end up without quite so many, without anyone knowing. That doesnât happen, because the contraceptive ban is a dead letter when couples want to have as many children as possible, which the Amish typically do.
Again, Iâll go back to incentives. What are the incentives to have children specifically, as many as possible, and not just get married and âplan for a family one dayâ?
For one, status. For both men and women, a large family is a marker of high status. Parents are respected and honored for doing a good job of raising well-adjusted children.
Children are also less of a financial burden for the Amish. Their children are raised well, but not in a financially intensive way thatâs become expected today. They donât have to buy a new car or SUV to fit the family, they donât buy every child a boatload of expensive electronic gadgets every birthday and Christmas, they donât have to pay for frequent vacations or college tuition, and they donât have to eat out or pay for takeout or pay for childcare or a house cleaner since the wife is handling all those domestic roles herself. And the Amish donât practice helicopter parenting, so children are much more free to play and amuse themselves without constant supervision from their parents. They donât have to be driven to 17 different weekly structured activities. They have a farm to play on and shelves full of books to read and some toys to play with if the weather is bad, and thatâs about it. And of course as the family grows, the older siblings do a large percentage of the housework and help with the younger children.
The older teenagers that are working outside the home typically give their earnings to their parents, but this basically offsets the cost of raising them, so it isnât really an incentive to have larger families, just the removal of a disincentive.
The strongest real incentive, other than increased status and cultural inertia, that I observe for large families is that the children are the parentsâ retirement plan. The Amish donât work at jobs that offer pensions or benefits. They are exempt from paying into, but also ineligible to receive, Social Security benefits. The Social Security exemption was granted on the basis that the Amish donât need government payments to support them in old age, because the family and community will do that. And they do.
How does this work out in practice? First, the Amish donât practice âretirementâ the way most people think of it. They teach that work is honorable and every able-bodied man should work to support his family and to help those in need. So as long as a man is physically able to work, heâll be employed and supporting himself and his wife. And Amish women move directly from the role of mother to the role of grandmother. Itâs not at all uncommon, in fact, for a womanâs first grandchild to be born before her last child is born. So plenty of Amish children are an aunt or uncle at birth, and have a niece or nephew older than they are. Grandmothers are extremely involved in helping their daughters and daughters-in-law with childcare, so they donât often have a big stretch of free time after their children grow up and move out. And besides that, there are still the significant household responsibilities to attend to.
As a couple gets older and perhaps less able to handle everything on their own, they often move to the home of one of their grown children. Typically not into the home directly, but into whatâs called a âdody hausâ (grandpa house) which might be a small detached house on the same property, or a separate wing of the larger house, like an in-law suite. Here theyâre able to live independently, help care for the grandchildren next door, and still be nearby so their children and grandchildren can give any care they may need in old age. If the couple has an unmarried âold maidâ daughter, sheâll typically still be living with them and will be the primary caregiver.
If someone doesnât have children to care for them, the Amish community will find a way to care for them. Some more distant relative or maybe surviving siblings will step in to help. But the expectation and the rule is that your children and grandchildren will care for you after youâre no longer able to care for yourself. Finding yourself growing old without family is an unfortunate and unpleasant situation, regardless how much the community may try to fill that role. Just as throughout earlier stages of life, social functions and social status revolve around children and family, and anyone without them will be incomplete as a person, something of an inevitable outsider to the joys of life. The best insurance against a lonely and uncomfortable old age is a large family, among which there are certain to be sufficient resources to care for you. Many elderly Amish people die with well over a hundred grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and spend their later years constantly surrounded by children and young people who deeply appreciate and respect them. Being taught and shown that respect toward their own grandparents from a young age is a strong incentive to aspire to the same status one day.
Iâm not sure exactly where this fits, but I should point out somewhere that the Amish have an absolutely zero tolerance policy toward divorce. There are no legitimate grounds for divorce whatsoever, and anyone who initiates a divorce will be excommunicated from the church and shunned. If an Amish personâs spouse initiates divorce proceedings, they wonât cooperate with those proceedings in any way. If the divorce happens through the legal system without their consent anyway, they can remain a church member in good standing only by staying celibate as long as their spouse remains alive. The only acceptable second marriage is in the case of the death of a spouse. In those cases, a quick remarriage is the rule among widows and widowers with young children, since raising a family is seen as a job for a married couple, not a single person.
Itâs hard to say exactly how this stance against divorce influences marriage and fertility. But it certainly limits exposure to the idea of divorce as a âsolutionâ to marriage difficulties, and incentivizes couples to work things out for their own life satisfaction. And it dramatically reduces the financial risks men face in the modern marriage system, where the potential to lose not only their family, but also a significant portion of their material wealth, raises strong disincentives to marriage. The physical realities of married life versus single life in a more low-tech environment probably discourage divorce, but the added threat of complete social and familial ostracization eliminate it almost entirely.
Conclusion
This article is my attempt to provide some insight into the Amish culture that might help us understand the factors causing their unusually high fertility rate. Iâve titled it as part one, because I plan to follow up with some of my personal opinions on how these insights relate to the broader society. I think a lot of the proposed causes of and solutions to the global demographic collapse are completely incorrect, and my opinion is based heavily on my observation of Amish culture. That will be the focus of part two of this article.
Feel free to comment and post questions. My biggest challenge in writing this article is the fact that I take my familiarity with Amish culture for granted to some degree, so I struggled to choose which points are relevant to understanding the culture for an outsider. Iâm sure I skipped over plenty of important details that may leave readers feeling confused, so Iâll do my best to answer any questions you post, and update the article with pertinent information I missed.
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@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3
2025-05-24 15:06:32I was just updating our potential points, now that we know who won MVP, who made All NBA 1st team, and which teams are still alive for the title, and it turns out that no matter who wins the title @gnilma will win this contest.
Congratulations, @gnilma!
This is just further proof that @gnilma is our NBA Guru.
Let me know where you want your 7k in winnings sent.
https://stacker.news/items/988245
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@ 3f770d65:7a745b24
2024-06-17 18:56:54Several months ago, nostr:npub1hqaz3dlyuhfqhktqchawke39l92jj9nt30dsgh2zvd9z7dv3j3gqpkt56s and I set out to do tackle a task that had never been done before throughout Nostr's short history. We decided adopt the "go big, or go home" mentality and give our best effort to Purple Pill all of the nostr:npub167n5w6cj2wseqtmk26zllc7n28uv9c4vw28k2kht206vnghe5a7stgzu3r conference.
We couldn't accomplish this monumental task without the help of the Nostr community. From every day Nostriches and plebs, to legendary developers putting their blood, sweat, and tears into building this new protocol, to several companies within the Nostr ecosystem, everyone was going to need to do their part to turn this dream into a reality.
The mission
For the original vision of Nostr at BTC Prague, we planned on supporting the smallest available booth and a small panel on the secondary stage. The plan was for any Nostr developer to contribute what they could and then use the Nostr booth as a central hub to onboard users to their applications, provide support to their users, and meet the community. I embarked on my first crowdfunding journey and was able to initially raise over 10M sats thanks to the greater Nostr community donating towards our efforts.
Shortly afterwards, I was approached by nostr:npub1dtgg8yk3h23ldlm6jsy79tz723p4sun9mz62tqwxqe7c363szkzqm8up6m from Satlantis. He had planned on doing a mainstage presentation at BTC Prague on his new Nostr powered application. He asked me if I wanted to combine our efforts to upgrade the Nostr booth to the largest booth possible to give Nostr an even larger presence. I reached out to Avi and several other trusted Nostriches to see their opinions on this potential upgrade and everyone seemed to agree that we should continue with the "go big, or go home" mentality and try our best to Purple Pill all of Prague.
Now with a larger goal at hand, we were able to garner even more support from the Nostr community in addition by adding Highlighter from nostr:npub1l2vyh47mk2p0qlsku7hg0vn29faehy9hy34ygaclpn66ukqp3afqutajft and Primal from nostr:npub16c0nh3dnadzqpm76uctf5hqhe2lny344zsmpm6feee9p5rdxaa9q586nvr as larger contributors.
The final tallies for funds raised were 16M+ sats from the greater Nostr community and 38M+ sats raised from Satlantis, Primal, and Highlighter. (We did have to raise a little more than originally anticipated because the Bitcoin 58K Gang made the fiat value of Bitcoin dip down for a bit right when we were trying to finalize payment.)
Putting it all together
This support enabled us to secure one of the four large booths at BTC Prague and a main stage panel. Given that these three companies made significant contributions, enabling our acquisition of the largest booth, we decided that it was logical to feature these companies more prominently. However, it was crucial to strike a delicate balance here. While emphasizing that this booth represented the Nostr community and was a true community effort, we also wanted to acknowledge and showcase those who made it possible. These companies could have opted for smaller individual booths, but their collaboration in a unified space demonstrates Nostr's principles of openness and interoperabilityâdemonstrating that everyone and everything can work together seamlessly.
Therefore, we included as many logos across the Nostr ecosystem as possible throughout our iconography.
And, we also had a dedicated area of the booth highlighting our larger contributors.
The results exceeded all expectations. For three days during the BTC Prague conference, the Nostr booth was continuously bustling with activity. Attendees ranged from individuals who had never heard of Nostr before to those who were curious, active users within the ecosystem, and developers creating the applications we use daily. It was a remarkable community effort, with unexpected volunteers stepping up to onboard new users and provide support. Recognizing our busy schedules and flocks of new Nostriches hatching, they chose to assist in our efforts, offering help, and answering questions. It was a truly inspiring experience. Despite the busyness, the enthusiasm and support of so many people made each day enjoyable and dynamic, ensuring there was never a dull moment and we were always surrounded by friends.
Booth takeaways
As this was our very first attempt at doing something like this, I'd like to do a personal post mortem and highlight many of our successes and even some areas where I feel we can improve upon in the future.
Several Nostriches went above and beyond, helping onboard people and answer questions for three days straight. nostr:npub17plqkxhsv66g8quxxc9p5t9mxazzn20m426exqnl8lxnh5a4cdns7jezx0 nostr:npub1spdnfacgsd7lk0nlqkq443tkq4jx9z6c6ksvaquuewmw7d3qltpslcq6j7 nostr:npub1v0lxxxxutpvrelsksy8cdhgfux9l6a42hsj2qzquu2zk7vc9qnkszrqj49 nostr:npub1k6tqlj78cpznd0yc74wy3k0elmj4nql87a3uzfz98tmj3tuzxywsf0dhk6 nostr:npub1md39ua3h2s7204a7v5p9sdxmxx9qc7m4kr3r6naeuwfznad6d7nsxpctp9 nostr:npub1arkn0xxxll4llgy9qxkrncn3vc4l69s0dz8ef3zadykcwe7ax3dqrrh43w nostr:npub1zga04e73s7ard4kaektaha9vckdwll3y8auztyhl3uj764ua7vrqc7ppvc were the lifeblood of the booth, always answering questions themselves or referring them to others if they were unable to help, didn't know the answer or were busy at the time. You all put in the work and deserve much credit and thanks. Even nostr:npub1995y964wmxl94crx3ksfley24szjr390skdd237ex9z7ttp5c9lqld8vtf was helping with onboarding!
Additionally, beyond general use case questions, we also had many developers stop by and answer many more technical questions for those wanting to learn a bit more too. nostr:npub1zach44xjpc4yyhx6pgse2cj2pf98838kja03dv2e8ly8lfr094vqvm5dy5 nostr:npub1v0lxxxxutpvrelsksy8cdhgfux9l6a42hsj2qzquu2zk7vc9qnkszrqj49 nostr:npub1arkn0xxxll4llgy9qxkrncn3vc4l69s0dz8ef3zadykcwe7ax3dqrrh43w nostr:npub1l2vyh47mk2p0qlsku7hg0vn29faehy9hy34ygaclpn66ukqp3afqutajft were often seen answering more technical questions on various developmental topics.
Identifying areas for improvement is challenging, as the entire team of Nostriches performed exceptionally well, exceeding expectations. The event was a whirlwind of activity, with constant engagement and zero downtime. Volunteers seamlessly rotated at the front counter answering questions and distributing items to attendees. (Thanks nostr:npub1cgcwm56v5hyrrzl5ty4vq4kdud63n5u4czgycdl2r3jshzk55ufqe52ndy . Your nostr.how and nostrapps.com business cards were a HUGE help here!)
Full disclosure, I personally didn't leave the booth for three days all that much for two reasons. 1) Because I love to #GrowNostr and talk to people and 2) Because I was worried that the booth would turn into a corporate Primal or Satlantis show. However, this wasn't the case. While these teams did have a large presence with many team members all wearing t-shirts, none of my fears became a reality. If people asked questions about Nostr in general, that was discussed. If people asked questions about Primal or Satlantis, that was discussed. I personally recommended numerous social apps, Damus, Amethyst, Primal, Nostur, Nos.social - all of them. The booth was a true decentralized effort and I absolutely did not need to worry as much as I did, but I felt like I had an obligation to fulfill and I wanted to be there to see it through.
If I had to choose an area that needed improvement, I'd say that the three Satlantis women that nostr:npub1dtgg8yk3h23ldlm6jsy79tz723p4sun9mz62tqwxqe7c363szkzqm8up6m brought with him were supposed to shadow some of us to learn more about Nostr, so that they could then use this information to do the initial intake booth questions before making the referral to those with more information, but this just didn't happen. We were all so busy. Sorry! It was just too hard to coordinate. Maybe in the future we can prepare a bit more in this area. Although, nostr:npub1hz5alqscpp8yjrvgsdp2n4ygkl8slvstrgvmjca7e45w6644ew7sewtysa did a fantastic job, jumping right in there head first!
Secondly, we could have improved our television capabilities. We rotated from showing the live dashboard from the booth's Zap.stream livestream, to showing Primal.net/explore Nostr statistics, to showing nostr:npub1lelkh3hhxw9hdwlcpk6q9t0xt9f7yze0y0nxazvzqjmre3p98x3sthkvyz 's Nostr Documentary on loop, to playing the Satlantis promotional video. The majority of the time our TV was playing the same Nostr Documentary. It's great! I love that video, but we may be able to work out a better schedule and rotation mechanism in the future to showcase more content equally. Plus, I don't want to always be on the TV. I don't want people getting the wrong idea.
Nostr takeaways
After speaking with hundreds of people at BTC Prague, I feel that I've discovered the best way to describe Nostr.
Nostr has a portable digital social identity, allowing you to be in control of your digital social identity for the very first time, allowing you to take your entire social graph with you, every time you use a different application from Nostr's ecosystem.
Nostr is the social glue that binds all of your apps together.
In general, at BTC Prague, while explaining Nostr to people, the digital social identity route was what clicked with the most people. From there, it's not a long stretch to understand building a reputation and web of trust either.
Many people do not use the "Other Stuff" and explaining to them how to use these applications is hard. People want a native application.
Damus, Primal, and Amethyst seem to be the number one apps that people are using, with maybe Primal being the number one altogether? This is probably due to Primal being available on Android, iOS, and the web. Also, many people don't know that Damus still supports Zaps via the Nostr script workaround. I had to show many how to enable Zaps.
Everyone wants Nostr at their conference
There is significant interest in featuring Nostr at various conferences. Although not everyone has reached out, numerous individuals at BTC Prague expressed enthusiasm about incorporating a Nostr booth, along with several Nostr talks and sessions, into their upcoming events. They recognize the critical role Nostr and free speech play globally and acknowledge Nostr's popularity within the Bitcoin community. However, they also understand that more work is needed, and we must continue our efforts to onboard and engage new users.
I have two primary observations on this matter:
-
The community effort demonstrated here serves as a blueprint for success. We have proven that this approach to growing Nostr is effective, desired, and necessary. The engagement at our booth and attendance at our panels prove this with ease.
-
This fundraising initiative is likely a one-time effort. I cannot, in good conscience, continue to ask the community to bootstrap these endeavors. If we are to sustain these booths and promote Nostr at similar conferences, the conference organizers themselves must provide substantial support or discounts to foster broader Nostr adoption. While I understand that conferences entail significant operational costs, it is not feasible for Nostr developers and the broader Nostr community to finance these efforts continuously. Additionally, I would not feel comfortable requesting financial contributions from you all again for this purpose.
Looking forward
Will we do _this _again? I don't know. While our initial endeavor was a complete success, it would be unfortunate to cease our efforts just as we are gaining momentum.
Avi and I have a lot to discuss between ourselves and a lot to discuss with all of you.
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Thank you nostr:npub1dtgg8yk3h23ldlm6jsy79tz723p4sun9mz62tqwxqe7c363szkzqm8up6m nostr:npub1l2vyh47mk2p0qlsku7hg0vn29faehy9hy34ygaclpn66ukqp3afqutajft nostr:npub16c0nh3dnadzqpm76uctf5hqhe2lny344zsmpm6feee9p5rdxaa9q586nvr for making all of this possible. Thank you to every single Nostrich that donated your hard earned sats to make this possible. Thank you to all of the developers that built all of this to make all of this possible. Thank you to everyone else <3
Keep building.
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@ 21335073:a244b1ad
2025-03-15 23:00:40I want to see Nostr succeed. If you can think of a way I can help make that happen, Iâm open to it. Iâd like your suggestions.
My scheduleâs shifting soon, and I could volunteer a few hours a week to a Nostr project. I wonât have more total time, but how I use it will change.
Why help? I care about freedom. Nostrâs one of the most powerful freedom tools Iâve seen in my lifetime. If I believe that, I should act on it.
I donât care about money or sats. Iâm not rich, I donât have extra cash. That doesnât drive meâfreedom does. Iâm volunteering, not asking for pay.
Iâm not here for clout. Iâve had enough spotlight in my life; it doesnât move me. If I wanted clout, Iâd be on Twitter dropping basic takes. Cloutâs easy. Freedomâs hard. Iâd rather help anonymously. No speaking at eventsâsmall meetups are cool for the vibe, but big conferences? Not my thing. Iâll never hit a huge Bitcoin conference. Itâs just not my scene.
That said, I could be convinced to step up if itâd really boost Nostrâas long as itâs legal and gets results.
In this space, Iâd watch for social engineering. I watch out for it. Iâm not here to make friends, just to help. No shadeâyou all seem greatâbut Iâve got a full life and awesome friends irl. I donât need your crew or to be online cool. Connect anonymously if you want; Iâd encourage it.
Iâm sick of watching other social media alternatives grow while Nostr kinda stalls. I could trash-talk, but Iâd rather do something useful.
Skills? Iâm good at spotting social media problems and finding possible solutions. I wonât overhype myselfâthatâs weirdâbut if youâre responding, you probably see something in me. Perhaps you see something that I donât see in myself.
If you need help now or later with Nostr projects, reach out. Nostr onlyânothing else. Anonymous contactâs fine. Even just a suggestion on how I can pitch in, no project attached, works too. đ
Creeps or harassment will get blocked or Iâll nuke my simplex code if it becomes a problem.
https://simplex.chat/contact#/?v=2-4&smp=smp%3A%2F%2FSkIkI6EPd2D63F4xFKfHk7I1UGZVNn6k1QWZ5rcyr6w%3D%40smp9.simplex.im%2FbI99B3KuYduH8jDr9ZwyhcSxm2UuR7j0%23%2F%3Fv%3D1-2%26dh%3DMCowBQYDK2VuAyEAS9C-zPzqW41PKySfPCEizcXb1QCus6AyDkTTjfyMIRM%253D%26srv%3Djssqzccmrcws6bhmn77vgmhfjmhwlyr3u7puw4erkyoosywgl67slqqd.onion
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@ bc575705:dba3ed39
2025-03-13 05:57:10In our hyper-connected age, the concept of "Know Your Customer" (KYC) has morphed from a regulatory necessity into a pervasive surveillance apparatus, subtly eroding our fundamental liberties. While purported to combat financial crime, KYC has become a tool for mass surveillance, data exploitation, and the gradual dismantling of personal privacy. Letâs embark on a comprehensive exploration of this system, exposing its inherent flaws and advocating for a paradigm shift towards decentralized financial sovereignty.
Beyond the Surface: The Intricate Web of KYC Data Collection
KYC transcends mere identity verification; it's a deep dive into the minutiae of our lives. Consider the breadth and depth of data extracted:
Geographic Surveillance: Proof of address requirements delve into historical residency, creating granular maps of our movements. Combined with location data from mobile devices and online activity, this paints a comprehensive picture of our physical presence.
Financial Autopsy: KYC dissects our financial lives with surgical precision. Income sources, asset declarations, and transaction histories are meticulously cataloged. Algorithmic analysis reveals spending habits, investment strategies, and even potential political affiliations.
Behavioral Predictive Modeling: AI algorithms analyze our financial behavior, predicting future actions and preferences. This data is invaluable for targeted advertising, but also for social engineering and political manipulation.
Biometric Invasiveness: Facial recognition, iris scans, and voice analysis create permanent, immutable records of our physical selves. These biometrics are highly sensitive and vulnerable to breaches, potentially leading to identity theft and even physical harm.
Social Network Mapping: KYC extends beyond individuals, mapping our social and professional networks. Institutions analyze our connections, identifying potential risks based on our associations. This has a chilling effect on free association and dissent, as individuals become hesitant to associate with those deemed "risky."
Psychometric Profiling: With the increase of online tests, and the collection of online data, companies and states can build psychometric profiles. These profiles can be used to predict actions, and even manipulate populations.
The Fallacy of Security: KYC's Ineffectiveness and the Rise of the Surveillance State
Despite its claims, KYC fails to effectively combat sophisticated financial crime. Instead, it creates a system of mass surveillance that disproportionately targets law-abiding citizens.
The Scourge of False Positives: Automated KYC systems frequently generate false positives, flagging innocent individuals as potential criminals. This can lead to financial exclusion, reputational damage, and even legal persecution.
A Ticking Time Bomb: Centralized KYC databases are prime targets for hackers, putting vast amounts of sensitive personal information at risk. Data breaches can lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and even physical harm.
The State's Panopticon: KYC empowers governments to monitor the financial activities of their citizens, creating a powerful tool for surveillance and control. This can be used to suppress dissent, target political opponents, and enforce conformity.
The Criminals Advantage: Sophisticated criminals easily bypass KYC using shell companies, money laundering, and other techniques. This makes KYC a system that punishes the innocent, and gives the criminals a false sense of security for the data collected.
Decentralized Alternatives: Reclaiming Financial Sovereignty and Privacy
In the face of this encroaching surveillance state, decentralized technologies offer a path to financial freedom and privacy.
Cryptocurrency | A Bastion of Financial Freedom: Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies provide censorship-resistant alternatives to traditional financial systems. They empower individuals to transact freely, without the need for intermediaries or government oversight.
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) | Democratizing Finance: DeFi platforms offer a range of financial services, including lending, borrowing, and trading, without the need for traditional banks. These platforms are built on blockchain technology, ensuring transparency, security, and accessibility.
Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) | Empowering Individuals: SSI solutions enable individuals to control their own digital identities, without relying on centralized authorities. This allows for secure and private verification of identity, without the need to share sensitive personal information with every service provider.
Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs) | Shielding Your Data: Technologies like zero-knowledge proofs, homomorphic encryption, and secure multi-party computation can be used to protect personal data while still allowing for necessary verification.
Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) | Creating new forms of governance: DAOs provide new ways for groups to organize, and make decisions. They provide a transparent way to pool resources, and make decisions.
A Call to Action: Defending Our Digital Rights and Building a Decentralized Future
We cannot passively accept the erosion of our fundamental freedoms. We must actively defend our digital rights and demand a more just and equitable financial system.
Advocate for Robust Privacy Laws: Demand stronger regulations that limit the collection and use of personal data.
Champion Decentralized Technologies: Support the development and adoption of cryptocurrencies, DeFi platforms, and other decentralized solutions.
Educate and Empower: Raise awareness about the dangers of KYC and state surveillance.
Cultivate Critical Thinking: Question the narratives presented by governments and corporations.
Build Decentralized Communities: Join and support decentralized communities that are working to build a more free and open financial system.
Demand transparency from all data collection: Insist that all data collection is open, and that there are strong penalties for those that misuse data.
The fight for financial freedom is a fight for human freedom. Let us stand together and reclaim our digital sovereignty.
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@ 95cbd62b:a5270126
2025-05-24 14:06:33Trong tháťi Äấi cĂ´ng ngháť sáť phĂĄt triáťn mấnh máş˝, nhu cáş§u tĂŹm kiáşżm máťt náťn tảng tĂch hᝣp Äáş§y Äáť§ tiáťn Ăch, an toĂ n vĂ thân thiáťn váťi ngưáťi dĂšng ngĂ y cĂ ng tÄng cao. OK22 ÄĂŁ chᝊng minh váť tháşż cáť§a mĂŹnh khĂ´ng cháť lĂ máťt náťn tảng giải trĂ tráťąc tuyáşżn, mĂ còn lĂ máťt cĂ´ng c᝼ cĂ´ng ngháť thĂ´ng minh ph᝼c v᝼ máťi nhu cáş§u trong Äáťi sáťng sáť. Váťi thiáşżt káşż giao diáťn 100% tiáşżng Viáťt vĂ khả nÄng tưƥng thĂch trĂŞn máťi thiáşżt báť tᝍ mĂĄy tĂnh Äáşżn Äiáťn thoấi, OK22 mang Äáşżn cho ngưáťi dĂšng trải nghiáťm mưᝣt mĂ , dáť sáť d᝼ng vĂ hoĂ n toĂ n bảo máşt. Äưᝣc phĂĄt triáťn trĂŞn náťn tảng cĂ´ng ngháť hiáťn Äấi, OK22 háť trᝣ ngưáťi dĂšng quản lĂ˝ thĂ´ng tin cĂĄ nhân, tháťąc hiáťn giao dáťch nhanh chĂłng, lưu trᝯ dᝯ liáťu an toĂ n vĂ tiáşżp cáşn cĂĄc tiáťn Ăch cĂ´ng ngháť tiĂŞn tiáşżn máťt cĂĄch dáť dĂ ng, káť cả váťi ngưáťi máťi sáť d᝼ng.
Máťt trong nhᝯng Äiáťm mấnh náťi báşt cáť§a OK22 chĂnh lĂ khả nÄng táťą Äáťng hĂła trong xáť lĂ˝ tĂĄc v᝼, giĂşp tiáşżt kiáťm tháťi gian vĂ táťi ưu hĂła hiáťu suẼt lĂ m viáťc. Náťn tảng Äưᝣc trang báť háť tháťng bảo máşt cao cẼp, bảo váť táťi Äa quyáťn riĂŞng tư vĂ tĂ i sản sáť cáť§a ngưáťi dĂšng. OK22 còn cung cẼp háť tháťng háť trᝣ tráťąc tuyáşżn 24/7, giĂşp ngưáťi dĂšng giải quyáşżt máťi vẼn Äáť nhanh chĂłng mĂ khĂ´ng báť giĂĄn Äoấn. DĂš lĂ máťt cĂĄ nhân Äang tĂŹm kiáşżm cĂ´ng c᝼ quản lĂ˝ tĂ i chĂnh cĂĄ nhân, máťt doanh nghiáťp nháť cáş§n náťn tảng Äáť xáť lĂ˝ ÄĆĄn hĂ ng vĂ thanh toĂĄn, hay máťt nhĂłm cáťng Äáťng cáş§n khĂ´ng gian káşżt náťi sáť â OK22 Äáťu cĂł tháť ÄĂĄp ᝊng linh hoất vĂ hiáťu quả. KhĂ´ng nhᝯng váşy, nháť tĂch hᝣp nhiáťu tĂnh nÄng như thĂ´ng bĂĄo táťą Äáťng, Äáťng báť dᝯ liáťu ÄĂĄm mây, vĂ tĂch hᝣp API máť, OK22 còn dáť dĂ ng káşżt náťi váťi cĂĄc náťn tảng khĂĄc trong háť sinh thĂĄi sáť, giĂşp ngưáťi dĂšng tấo nĂŞn máťt mĂ´i trưáťng lĂ m viáťc vĂ sinh hoất thĂ´ng minh.
KhĂ´ng dᝍng lấi áť ÄĂł, OK22 Äang ngĂ y cĂ ng máť ráťng hᝣp tĂĄc váťi cĂĄc Äáťi tĂĄc láťn trong nhiáťu lÄŠnh váťąc như giĂĄo d᝼c tráťąc tuyáşżn, thưƥng mấi Äiáťn táť, chÄm sĂłc sᝊc kháťe vĂ tĂ i chĂnh cĂĄ nhân. Náťn tảng khĂ´ng ngᝍng cáşp nháşt nhᝯng cĂ´ng ngháť tiĂŞn tiáşżn như AI, blockchain vĂ dᝯ liáťu láťn (Big Data) nháşąm mang lấi trải nghiáťm ngưáťi dĂšng táťi ưu vĂ ÄĂĄp ᝊng nhu cáş§u ngĂ y cĂ ng Äa dấng cáť§a cáťng Äáťng Viáťt. Váťi táťc Äáť xáť lĂ˝ nhanh, giao diáťn tráťąc quan vĂ Äáť tin cáşy cao, OK22 khĂ´ng cháť ÄĆĄn thuáş§n lĂ máťt ᝊng d᝼ng cĂ´ng ngháť â mĂ còn lĂ ngưáťi bấn Äáťng hĂ nh tin cáşy trong hĂ nh trĂŹnh sáť hĂła cáť§a ngưáťi Viáťt. Trong tưƥng lai gáş§n, OK22 hᝊa háşšn sáş˝ tráť thĂ nh náťn tảng cĂ´ng ngháť khĂ´ng tháť thiáşżu trong máťi gia ÄĂŹnh, táť chᝊc vĂ doanh nghiáťp, ÄĂłng vai trò then cháťt trong viáťc thĂşc ÄẊy chuyáťn Äáťi sáť toĂ n diáťn vĂ phĂĄt triáťn báťn vᝯng.
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@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf
2025-05-24 14:01:35Influencers would have you believe there is an ongoing binance bank run but bitcoin wallet data says otherwise.
- binance wallets are near all time highs
- bitfinex wallets are also trending up
- gemini and coinbase are being hit with massive withdrawals thoughYou should not trust custodians, they can rug you without warning. It is incredibly important you learn how to hold bitcoin yourself, but also consider not blindly trusting influencers with a ref link to shill you.
If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.
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@ 3f770d65:7a745b24
2024-05-22 18:30:14Chef's notes
For the dough, combine the water, yeast, honey, and olive oil in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add 3 cups flour, then the salt, and mix. While mixing, add 1 more cup of flour, or enough to make a soft dough. Knead the dough on low to medium speed for about 10 minutes until smooth, sprinkling it with flour, if necessary, to keep it from sticking to the bowl. When the dough is ready, turn it out onto a floured board and knead by hand a dozen times. It should be smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a well-oiled bowl and turn it several times to cover it lightly with oil. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel. Allow the dough to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Divide the dough into 6 equal parts and roll each one into a smooth ball. Place the balls on a baking sheet and cover them with a damp towel. Allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes. Use immediately, or refrigerate for up to 4 hours.
If you've chilled the dough, take it out of the refrigerator approximately 30 minutes ahead to let it come to room temperature. Roll and stretch each ball into a rough 8-inch circle and place them all on baking sheets sprinkled with cornmeal. (You will be able to fit 2 pizzas on each 18 by 13-inch baking sheet.) You may also use a cast iron skillet if so desired.
Details
- â˛ď¸ Prep time: 45 minutes
- đł Cook time: 15 minutes
- đ˝ď¸ Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups warm (100 to 110 degrees F) water
- 2 packages dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 3 tablespoons good olive oil
- 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for kneading
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 500 degrees
- Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on your desired level of crisp.
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@ c9badfea:610f861a
2025-05-24 12:55:17Before you post a message or article online, let the LLM check if you are leaking any personal information using this prompt:
Analyze the following text to identify any Personally Identifiable Information (PII): <Your Message>
Replace
<Your Message>
with your textIf no PII is found, continue by modifying your message to detach it from your personality. You can use any of the following prompts (and further modify it if necessary).
Prompt â 1 - Reddit-Style
Convert the message into a casual, Reddit-style post without losing meaning. Split the message into shorter statements with the same overall meaning. Here is the message: <Your Message>
Prompt â 2 - Advanced Modifications
``` Apply the following modifications to the message: - Rewrite it in lowercase - Use "u" instead of "you" - Use "akchoaly" instead of "actually" - Use "hav" instead of "have" - Use "tgat" instead of "that" - Use comma instead of period - Use British English grammar
Here is the message:
``` Prompt â 3 - Neutral Tone
Rewrite the message to correct grammar errors, and ensure the tone is neutral and free of emotional language: <Your Message>
Prompt â 4 - Cross Translation Technique
Translate the message into Chinese, then translate the resulting Chinese text back into English. Provide only the final English translation. Here is the message: <Your Message>
Check the modified message and send it.
âšď¸ You can use dialects to obfuscate your language further. For example, if you are from the US, you can tell the LLM to use British grammar and vice versa.
â ď¸ Always verify the results. Don't fully trust an LLM.
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@ 3f770d65:7a745b24
2024-02-24 18:01:19February 24, 2024 - Nostr Nests, the premier decentralized audio platform powered by the Nostr protocol, announces the launch of its highly anticipated version 2.0 beta release. This major update brings complete integration with Nostr, a redesigned user interface, and a host of powerful features, making it easier than ever to connect, collaborate, and create in an open and censorship-resistant environment.
Originally launched in January 2023 as Nostr Plebs Spaces, Nostr Nests quickly gained traction as a haven for audio-based interactions across the Nostr protocol. The official rebrand to Nostr Nests in February 2023 further solidified its position as the go-to platform for chatting, jamming, micro-conferences, live podcast recordings, and more with the onboarding of users, shows, and content from around the globe.
Version 2.0 marks a significant leap forward:
Seamless Nostr Integration: Nostr Nests 2.0 was built from the ground up to be a full fledged Nostr client, enabling a truly decentralized experience with direct Nostr authentication. No need for separate accounts, logins, or verification posts. Login with your current Nostr keys via nsecBunker or NIP-07 extensions such as Alby, Nostr Connect, or Nostore for iOS.
Discoverability and User Choice: Find your favorite live audio events like never before, not only on NostrNests.com, but also via a variety of Nostr clients that support live events such as Amethyst, Snort, Iris, Flockstr, Nostrudel, Wherostr and more. Install Nostr Nests as a PWA on Android, iOS, or your favorite desktop operating system.
Redesigned Interface: Navigate with ease thanks to a streamlined and intuitive layout. Find scheduled events, discover communities, and manage your interactions effortlessly.
Enhanced Functionality: Host events with flexible permission settings, record and store audio directly from your Nest, be in charge of your data while you chat on your customized relays, leverage advanced moderation tools for a smooth and secure experience, and broadcast it all across the Nostr protocol. Experience value for value with Zap enabled profiles and chat announcements.
Multi-lingual: Access Nostr Nests in your native language. Nostr Nests supports over a dozen languages, making Nostr Nests a truly global platform for our users. Open Source: The platform's code is fully open-source under the MIT license, welcoming community contributions and fostering transparency. Submit issues and pull requests on GitHub to shape the future of Nostr Nests.
Nostr Nests 2.0 empowers individuals and communities to:
Connect: Host and attend audio events with like-minded people based on shared interests, making new friends along the way or reconnecting with old ones.
Collaborate: Jam with musicians, brainstorm with colleagues, or conduct insightful interviews in a live audio setting.
Express Yourself: Share your voice, thoughts, and ideas with the world in an uncensored and secure environment via text chats as well as audio conversations.
Build Communities: Foster vibrant, customizable communities around shared passions, hobbies, or professional pursuits.
Whether you're a musician, podcaster, entrepreneur, or simply someone who enjoys meaningful audio interactions, Nostr Nests 2.0 invites you to join the conversation. Visit NostrNests.com today and experience the future of social audio.
Join and contribute to the Nostr Nests community:
Website: https://NostrNests.com
GitHub: https://github.com/nostrnests/nests
Current Features:
Nostr Integration: * Sign-in * Live events * Scheduled events * Zaps * Public chat * Reactions * Room presence * Relays (default or custom) * Social sharing * Follow/Unfollow * Profile creation * Profile Editing * Lobby filtering
Lobby: * Active rooms * Scheduled rooms * Filter by global or following * Create new room * View profile
Create room: * Create custom room * Customizable banner * Preselected colors * Custom image (static or animated) * Schedule room * Use default relays or custom relays
Rooms: * Stage and audience * Add/Remove people to/from stage * Public chat (ability to hide/view on mobile) * Raise hand * Mute/Unmute own mic * Mute others (Mod or Host) * Zap * Reactions * Edit profile * View profile * Share to Nostr * Stream audio (coming soon) (Mod or Host) * Record audio (Mod or Host) * Access room recordings (Mod or Host)
Sign-in: * Sign-in as guest to listen only * Create new Nostr profile * Use existing Nostr profile
Future Features:
- Chat zaps, chat reactions, mutes, etc.
- Support additional nsecBunkers
- More room customization options
- Monetization options for creators
- And more!
Please note: While Nostr Nests 2.0 marks a significant step forward, this release should be considered beta software. Users may encounter occasional bugs or unforeseen issues as we continue to refine and optimize the platform. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work towards a fully polished experience.
Known Issues:
- A lot! It's very new and very beta!
- Sign-in user flow for direct links to rooms
- Mobile UI alignment
- Mobile UI chat bar
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@ 21335073:a244b1ad
2025-03-12 00:40:25Before I saw those X right-wing political âinfluencersâ parading their Epstein binders in that PR stunt, Iâd already posted this on Nostr, an open protocol.Â
âToday, the worldâs attention will likely fixate on Epstein, governmental failures in addressing horrific abuse cases, and the influential figures who perpetrate such actsâyet few will center the victims and survivors in the conversation. The survivors of Epstein went to law enforcement and very little happened. The survivors tried to speak to the corporate press and the corporate press knowingly covered for him. In situations like these social media can serve as one of the only ways for a survivorâs voice to be heard.Â
Itâs becoming increasingly evident that the line between centralized corporate social media and the state is razor-thin, if it exists at all. Time and again, the state shields powerful abusers when itâs politically expedient to do so. In this climate, a survivor attempting to expose someone like Epstein on a corporate tech platform faces an uphill battleâthereâs no assurance their voice would even break through. Their story wouldnât truly belong to them; itâd be at the mercy of the platform, subject to deletion at a whim. Nostr, though, offers a lifelineâa censorship-resistant space where survivors can share their truths, no matter how untouchable the abuser might seem. A survivor could remain anonymous here if they took enough steps.Â
Nostr holds real promise for amplifying survivor voices. And if youâre here daily, tossing out memes, take heart: youâre helping build a foundation for those who desperately need to be heard.â
That post is untouchableâno CEO, company, employee, or government can delete it. Even if I wanted to, I couldnât take it down myself. The post will outlive me on the protocol.Â
The cozy alliance between the state and corporate social media hit me hard during that right-wing X âinfluencerâ PR stunt. Elon owns X. Elonâs a special government employee. X pays those influencers to post. We donât know who else pays them to post. Those influencers are spurred on by both the government and X to manage the Epstein case narrative. It wasnât survivors standing there, grinning for photosâit was paid influencers, gatekeepers orchestrating yet another chance to re-exploit the already exploited.
The bond between the state and corporate social media is tight. If the other Epsteins out there are ever to be unmasked, I wouldnât bet on a survivorâs story staying safe with a corporate tech platform, the government, any social media influencer, or mainstream journalist. Right now, only a protocol can hand survivors the power to truly own their narrative.
I donât have anything against ElonâIâve actually been a big supporter. Iâm just stating it as I see it. X isnât censorship resistant and they have an algorithm that they choose not the user. Corporate tech platforms like X can be a better fit for some survivors. X has safety tools and content moderation, making it a solid option for certain individuals. Grok can be a big help for survivors looking for resources or support! As a survivor, you know what works best for you, and safety should always come firstâkeep that front and center.
That said, a protocol is a game-changer for cases where the powerful are likely to censor. During China's # MeToo movement, survivors faced heavy censorship on social media platforms like Weibo and WeChat, where posts about sexual harassment were quickly removed, and hashtags like # MeToo or "woyeshi" were blocked by government and platform filters. To bypass this, activists turned to blockchain technology encoding their storiesâlike Yue Xinâs open letter about a Peking University caseâinto transaction metadata. This made the information tamper-proof and publicly accessible, resisting censorship since blockchain data canât be easily altered or deleted.
I posted this on X 2/28/25. I wanted to try my first long post on a nostr client. The Epstein cover up is ongoing so itâs still relevant, unfortunately.
If you are a survivor or loved one who is reading this and needs support please reach out to: National Sexual Assault Hotline 24/7 https://rainn.org/
Hours: Available 24 hours
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@ 8bf578f4:b6303c41
2025-05-24 12:19:50test
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@ 3f770d65:7a745b24
2024-01-23 20:28:37For Bitcoin enthusiasts seeking a haven for like-minded individuals and a chance to experience Bitcoin adoption in its purest form, El Salvador and Bitcoin Beach often come to mind. This is no coincidence, given El Salvador's pioneering role in making bitcoin legal tender. However, the Bitcoin ecosystem extends beyond national borders, with vibrant communities emerging around the world where bitcoin thrives in everyday transactions. One such example is the inspiring grassroots movement of Bitcoin Jungle in rural Costa Rica. Driven by a shared passion for Bitcoin and the "pura vida" spirit, a group of Bitcoiners has established a thriving community centered on a circular Bitcoin economy. This is the essence of Bitcoin Jungle.
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What is Bitcoin Jungle?
Bitcoin Jungle is an open-source community project focused on bringing the Bitcoin ecosystem to life in Costa Rica, particularly in the "Golden Triangle" area â Dominical, Uvita, Ojochal, Platanillo, and Tinamaste. Their mission is to build a circular bitcoin economy and a thriving community centered around bitcoin.
Focus:
- Bitcoin adoption: Encourage businesses and individuals to accept and use bitcoin as a form of payment.
- Education and resources: Provide educational materials and resources about Bitcoin and the Lightning Network to both businesses and individuals.
- Community building: Create a strong and supportive community of Bitcoin enthusiasts in Costa Rica.
- Boost to local economy: Increased tourist and resident spending through Bitcoin adoption to benefit local businesses.
- Financial inclusion: Bitcoin's borderless nature and ease of use offers financial inclusion for unbanked or underbanked populations.
Achievements:
- Bitcoin Jungle app: Developed a mobile wallet app built on the Bitcoin Lightning Network, facilitating easy bitcoin transactions within the community for both Android and iOS.
- Business adoption: Helped over 250 businesses in the "Golden Triangle" accept Bitcoin payments.
- Map and directory: Created a map and directory showcasing businesses accepting bitcoin in the area.
- Grassroots movement: Established a strong community identity around bitcoin and "pura vida" values.
- Integrate Sinpe: Allow sending of bitcoin payments to 90% of the Costa Rican population, both individuals and businesses.
Who's behind Bitcoin Jungle?
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The success of Bitcoin Jungle can be attributed to the convergence of two crucial drivers: passionate Bitcoin enthusiasts and skilled community leaders. Each individual, attracted by the unique allure of the "Golden Triangle" in Costa Rica, brought their diverse skillsets and collective ambition to the table, resulting in this organically developed and thriving hub of Bitcoin adoption. These skillsets ranging from technical, to personal, to community outreach, to spiritual and more, are a synergistic blend of expertise and shared vision, serving as the foundational layer for Bitcoin Jungle's continued progress.
Bitcoin Freedom Festival
Building upon the momentum of their inaugural Nostr unconference held at Awake in Uvita, Costa Rica, in March 2023, Bitcoin Jungle successfully hosted their first Bitcoin conference, the Bitcoin Freedom Festival, last week at the same venue. This conference took place during January 18-21, 2024, bringing together Bitcoiners and like minded, freedom loving folks from across the world.
The inaugural Bitcoin Freedom Festival, hosted by Bitcoin Jungle, offered a diverse and engaging lineup for attendees. Participants delved into the world of Bitcoin through a variety of talks, panels, and workshops catering to both technical and non-technical audiences. Attendees engaged in interactive sessions on building sustainable Bitcoin economies, fostering inclusivity within the ecosystem, and navigating the legal landscape of Bitcoin businesses. Speakers explored the potential of Bitcoin beyond finance, delving into its impact on social change, environmental sustainability, and spiritual connections. Beyond Bitcoin related themes, attendees were graced with various cultural sessions and ceremonies from local indigenous tribes and family-friendly events such as fruit tasting, hot chocolate creation, and hula hooping. For those that wanted to add decentralized communication talks to their schedule, attendees joined a Nostr panel hosted by yours truly along with several other Nostriches.
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Awake describes themselves as "a catalyst for humanity's awakening, celebrating life and serving as a community, retreat center, and hub for individual and collective growth" or the spiritual arm of Bitcoin's ethos, connecting human's together and to nature. Awake is essentially a Bitcoin Citadel.
Bitcoin transcends the function of a mere currency to symbolize the primal layer of existence that harmonizes our myriad experiences. It illuminates our collective path, encouraging truth, integrity, and unity, as we rise above the inner and outer forces that have historically suppressed the individual and humanity.
It seems poetic and fitting that Awake is located in the heart of Bitcoin Jungle, their co-founder Govinda, is also one of the founding members of Bitcoin Jungle, and Awake hosted both Nostrica and the Bitcoin Freedom Festival.
Bitcoin Marketplace
Beyond the conversations of conferences and networking opportunities, the Bitcoin Freedom Festival offered a taste of the future with its bustling Bitcoin Marketplace. This dedicated area brought together dozens of local merchants and vendors from the neighboring Bitcoin farmers' market, showcasing the possibilities of Bitcoin in everyday life. HODLing bitcoin is cool, but the real super power unlocks when you spend your bitcoin for everyday goods.
From delicious tropical fruits and local treats to handcrafted snacks, clothing, jewelry, artwork, and trinkets, the vendors represented the early adopters of Bitcoin Jungle's initiative. In collaboration with Bitcoin Jungle, each vendor utilized a compact mobile Point of Sale system powered by BTCPay server. These user-friendly devices, complete with thermal receipt printers, empowered vendors to seamlessly accept bitcoin payments, directly deposited to their Bitcoin Jungle wallets.
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This wasn't just a marketplace; it was a living, breathing testament to the growing acceptance of bitcoin within the local community. Attendees could witness firsthand the ease and convenience of using bitcoin for everyday purchases. The atmosphere buzzed with a sense of shared purpose and enthusiasm as vendors and customers alike embraced the innovative power of Bitcoin. From buying the freshest mango from a local farmer to picking up a unique handcrafted souvenir, participants experienced the thrill of being part of a pioneering community actively shaping a new economic landscape, all from within the Costa Rican jungle.
Where can you spend Bitcoin in Costa Rica?
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Bitcoin adoption in Costa Rica extends beyond the "Golden Triangle", encompassing over 250 locations spread across the country. While the densest concentration lies within Uvita, the beating heart of Bitcoin Jungle, businesses accepting Bitcoin can be found throughout the nation.
These locations are conveniently accessible on the Bitcoin Jungle map, both within the mobile app and on their website. You may browse Bitcoin Jungle's interactive map to discover various businesses and locations that accept bitcoin, searching by category and location.
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Rest assured, you won't be scrambling for mobile reception in most cities and towns. For example, Uvita and Dominical boast excellent mobile coverage with major carriers like Claro blanketing the area, providing your mobile bitcoin transactions the bandwidth they need. While mobile data is readily available, many cafes, restaurants, and shops in both towns offer free Wi-Fi for even greater connectivity. This connectivity extends across most of Costa Rica too, with many local businesses boasting high speed fiber connections.
If you happen to visit a business that isn't directly using the Bitcoin Jungle app or accepting bitcoin, there's a high probability that they're using Sinpe. This will indirectly allow you to spend your bitcoin virtually anywhere in Costa Rica.
What is Sinpe Movil?
Sinpe serves as the backbone of Costa Rican mobile payments, enabling instant transfers between bank accounts, individuals, and certain businesses. With an impressive 90% penetration rate, Sinpe has become the dominant payment method for everyday transactions.
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Thanks to Bull Bitcoin, the Bitcoin Jungle app now supports Sinpe, allowing you to convert your bitcoin into Costa Rican colones directly within the Sinpe network. This means you can seamlessly top up your Sinpe wallet with bitcoin or send bitcoin to an existing Sinpe wallet, effectively spending bitcoin and having it being converted to fiat for the local merchant on the fly.
Do you need the Bitcoin Jungle app?
The short answer: No! You can use whatever you want!
When it comes to spending your Bitcoin in Costa Rica, you have two primary options: utilizing the Sinpe mobile payment system through the Bitcoin Jungle app, or conducting direct Lightning Network transactions at participating businesses.
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- Over 250 locations in Costa Rica accept Bitcoin payments directly through the Lightning Network. Here, you can utilize your preferred Bitcoin Lightning wallet for seamless and instant transactions.
- The Bitcoin Jungle app is required if you want to convert your bitcoin to colones and utilize them within the Sinpe network. This opens up a wider range of spending options throughout Costa Rica, as Sinpe boasts a 90% penetration rate.
Not everyone will be able to install the Bitcoin Jungle application. For example, if you are visiting Costa Rica from the USA, with a USA phone, there's a high probability that you will not be able to install the Bitcoin Jungle application via Google Play Store or Apple App Store due to region locking. You may have to manually install the Android APK or join Apple's TestFlight program.
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While the Bitcoin Jungle app offers a convenient gateway for spending bitcoin with Sinpe in Costa Rica, its requirement for mobile phone number registration might deter some privacy-conscious users, particularly experienced Bitcoiners accustomed to self-custody solutions. Fortunately, for those seeking a purely pseudonymous experience, an array of robust mobile Lightning wallets exist and all work as expected.
Personal Experiences
My wife and I first explored Bitcoin Jungle in March 2023, witnessing the early stages of Bitcoin adoption. Now, upon my return for the Bitcoin Freedom Festival, I was astounded to find the number of accepting businesses almost doubled. This remarkable growth, directly attributed to the previous "Nostrica Unconference" with its near 300 Bitcoin enthusiasts, fuels my optimism for an even greater surge following this recent event. Witnessing firsthand the enthusiastic response of local merchants reaffirms my belief in Bitcoin.
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This trip, eager to share this experience with family, I brought my wife and children, armed with four Bitcoin Lightning wallets connected to my Lightning node at home. We embarked on a family vacation, using the Lightning Network exclusively for day-to-day purchases from breakfast treats to souvenirs. From coffee for my wife and pipa fria for my son to fresh fruit for my daughter and delicious meals for all of us, each transaction was seamless and effortless. This culminated in a memorable visit to Seba's, Uvita's premier restaurant, where we enjoyed both food and adult beverages â all paid for with bitcoin.
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This experience wasn't just about personal convenience; it was a testament to the growing acceptance and integration of bitcoin within the local community. Witnessing how families, from coffee shops to fine dining, can seamlessly operate, empowers me to envision a future where Bitcoin flourishes.
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Reaching Bitcoin Jungle involves some planning due to its distance from San Jose Airport. The journey takes approximately 3.5-4 hours by car, offering the most flexibility for exploring the region, attending excursions, and maximizing your itinerary. Car rentals are readily available, though ride-sharing, buses, and even small plane flights are alternative options, depending on your budget and preferences. While Uvita's downtown area features walkable access to many amenities, having a rental vehicle is recommended for exploring the full scope of the Golden Triangle's attractions. For example, my family visited jungle canopy zip lines, jungle cacao tours, waterfalls, and multiple beaches.
Conclusions
Bitcoin Jungle is a successful community-driven, grassroots project, showcasing the potential of Bitcoin adoption and integration beyond El Salvador. We often hear about Bitcoin Beach or how El Salvador is "Bitcoin Country", but I'd wager that Bitcoin adoption is on par or even higher with local merchants in Bitcoin Jungle.
Bitcoin Jungle is a beautiful paradise showcasing freedom at every corner, allowing you to spend bitcoin at nearly every corner. If you're a Bitcoiner seeking a vibrant, welcoming community and a real-world Bitcoin experience, look no further than Bitcoin Jungle. I highly recommend it. Pura vida!
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@ 90c656ff:9383fd4e
2025-05-24 12:11:01Since its creation, Bitcoin has marked a turning point in the digital money revolutionâbut its evolution didnât stop at the original concept of decentralized transactions. Over the years, new technological solutions have been developed to expand its capabilities, making it more efficient and versatile. Among these innovations, smart contracts and the Lightning Network stand out, enabling increased functionality and scalability of the network, and ensuring a faster, cheaper, and more accessible system.
Smart contracts on Bitcoin
Smart contracts are programs that automatically execute certain actions when predefined conditions are met. Although the concept is more commonly associated with other networks, Bitcoin also supports smart contracts, especially through upgrades like Taproot.
- Smart contracts on Bitcoin enable functionalities such as:
01 - Conditional payments: Transactions that are only completed if certain rules are met, such as multi-signatures or specific time conditions.
02 - Advanced fund management: Use of multi-signature wallets, where different parties must approve a transaction before it is processed.
03 - Enhanced privacy: With the Taproot upgrade, smart contracts can be more efficient and indistinguishable from regular transactions, improving privacy across the network.
Although smart contracts on Bitcoin are simpler than those on other platforms, this simplicity is a strengthâit preserves the network's security and robustness by avoiding complex vulnerabilities.
Lightning Network: scalability and instant transactions
One of the biggest challenges Bitcoin faces is scalability. Since the original network was designed to prioritize security and decentralization, transaction speed can be limited during periods of high demand. To address this issue, the Lightning Network was createdâa second-layer solution that enables near-instant transactions with extremely low fees.
The Lightning Network works by creating payment channels between users, allowing them to conduct multiple transactions off-chain and recording only the final balance on the main Bitcoin blockchain or timechain. Key advantages include:
01 - Speed: Transactions are completed in milliseconds, making Bitcoin more suitable for daily payments.
02 - Low fees: Since transactions occur off-chain, fees are minimal, allowing for viable microtransactions.
03 - Network decongestion: By moving many transactions to the Lightning Network, Bitcoinâs main chain becomes more efficient and less congested.
In summary, Bitcoin continues to evolve technologically to meet the demands of a global financial system. Smart contracts increase its functionality, offering greater flexibility and security in transactions. The Lightning Network improves scalability, making Bitcoin faster and more practical for everyday use. With these innovations, Bitcoin remains at the forefront of the financial revolution, proving that despite its initial limitations, it continues to adapt and grow as a truly decentralized and global monetary system.
Thank you very much for reading this far. I hope everything is well with you, and sending a big hug from your favorite Bitcoiner maximalist from Madeira. Long live freedom!
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@ 6389be64:ef439d32
2025-02-27 21:32:12GA, plebs. The latest episode of Bitcoin And is out, and, as always, the chicanery is running rampant. Letâs break down the biggest topics I covered, and if you want the full, unfiltered rant, make sure to listen to the episode linked below.
House Democratsâ MEME Act: A Bad Joke?
House Democrats are proposing a bill to ban presidential meme coins, clearly aimed at Trumpâs and Melaniaâs ill-advised token launches. While grifters launching meme coins is bad, this bill is just as ridiculous. If this legislation moves forward, expect a retaliatory strike exposing how politicians like Pelosi and Warren mysteriously amassed their fortunes. Will it pass? Doubtful. But itâs another sign of the governmentâs obsession with regulating everything except itself.
Senate Bankingâs First Digital Asset Hearing: The Real Target Is You
Cynthia Lummis chaired the first digital asset hearing, andâsurprise!âit was all about control. The discussion centered on stablecoins, AML, and KYC regulations, with witnesses suggesting Orwellian measures like freezing stablecoin transactions unless pre-approved by authorities. What was barely mentioned? Bitcoin. They want full oversight of stablecoins, which is really about controlling financial freedom. Expect more nonsense targeting self-custody wallets under the guise of stopping âbad actors.â
Bank of America and PayPal Want In on Stablecoins
Bank of Americaâs CEO openly stated theyâll launch a stablecoin as soon as regulation allows. Meanwhile, PayPalâs CEO paid for a hat using Bitcoinânot their own stablecoin, Pi USD. Why wouldnât he use his own product? Maybe he knows stablecoins arenât what theyâre hyped up to be. Either way, the legacy financial system is gearing up to flood the market with stablecoins, not because they love crypto, but because itâs a tool to extend U.S. dollar dominance.
MetaPlanet Buys the Dip
Japanâs MetaPlanet issued $13.4M in bonds to buy more Bitcoin, proving once again that institutions see the writing on the wall. Unlike U.S. regulators who obsess over stablecoins, some companies are actually stacking sats.
UK Expands Crypto Seizure Powers
Across the pond, the UK government is pushing legislation to make it easier to seize and destroy crypto linked to criminal activity. While they frame it as going after the bad guys, itâs another move toward centralized control and financial surveillance.
Bitcoin Tools & Tech: Arc, SatoChip, and Nunchuk
Some bullish Bitcoin developments: ARC v0.5 is making Bitcoinâs second layer more efficient, SatoChip now supports Taproot and Nostr, and Nunchuk launched a group wallet with chat, making multisig collaboration easier.
The Bottom Line
The state is coming for financial privacy and control, and stablecoins are their weapon of choice. Bitcoiners need to stay focused, keep their coins in self-custody, and build out parallel systems. Expect more regulatory attacks, but donât let them distract youâjust keep stacking and transacting in ways they canât control.
đ§ Listen to the full episode here: https://fountain.fm/episode/PYITCo18AJnsEkKLz2Ks
đ° Support the show by boosting sats on Podcasting 2.0! and I will see you on the other side.
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@ 3f770d65:7a745b24
2023-12-15 13:32:24A year ago today, a single tweet from Jack Dorsey set in motion a cascade of events that would redefine my life. His call to explore Nostr resonated with me, a testament to the respect he held. Little did I know that this nudge would unlock a year of unparalleled growth, both in the virtual world and beyond.
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Jack Dorsey's endorsement of Nostr resonated deeply with me amidst rising concerns about Twitter's focus under Elon Musk. Over the preceding months, the platform's impending shift in direction had prompted me to explore alternative social media options. I initially joined the BitcoinHackers.org Mastodon server, seeking a new community. However, the server's primarily cross-posting nature resulted in limited engagement, leaving me feeling disconnected and yearning for a more meaningful social experience.
Jackâs Tweet could not have come at a more pivotal moment.
Coincidentally, a year later, I often describe Nostrâs usefulness stating that people will understand decentralization and censorship resistant communication when they need to most. I guess this applied to me back then. I needed Nostr and these features more than ever a year ago.
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Immediately upon joining Nostr and fueled by the spirit of Nostr's decentralized ethos, I identified a pivotal need in the community and promptly launched NostrPlebs.com in response to Elon Musk's controversial $8 verification rollout on Twitter. This service empowered users to claim their online identities, offering a self-directed alternative to the centralized verification system. Initially a humble service for close friends, NostrPlebs.com swiftly garnered significant interest, becoming a pioneering Nostr services provider.
Recognizing the growing demand for alternative social audio experiences, I also founded NostrNests.com. This initiative, started during the migration from Twitter and Twitter Spaces, aimed to provide an alternative platform for fostering connections, building communities, and engaging with various content through audio-based interactions. If we were going to leave Twitter behind, we needed a social audio replacement. I recruited developers and designers to help make this a reality and launched Nostr Plebs Spaces in January 2023 with a rebrand to NostrNests.com in February 2023.
Driven by Nostr's intoxicating enthusiasm and the hope to build a better world, I dedicated myself to on-boarding new Nostriches, aiming to expand the protocol's reach and foster this new thriving community. My DMs were on fire as I helped countless new Nostriches on both Twitter and Nostr. I had found my calling.
My commitment to advocating for Nostr's potential led me to deliver numerous talks at Bitcoin and Nostr conferences over the past twelve months. I explored the crucial role of decentralized and censorship resistant social communication, emphasizing its alignment with the core values of the Bitcoin ecosystem when applicable. My presentations addressed diverse themes, including value for value, decentralized principles, and general protocol introductions if the audiences were unfamiliar with Nostr.
My speaking career with Nostr began in an unconventional setting: Nostrica, the "unconference" in the Uvita, Costa Rica. It was there that I had the privilege of meeting Jack Dorsey in person and giving him a warm "Nostrich hug" and, surprisingly, I had the honor of sharing a stage with Jack and with other incredibly talented developers. This unexpected turn set the stage for a whirlwind of speaking engagements, each one solidifying my passion for decentralization and open communication.
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Following Nostrica, I took the stage at the Bitcoin Builders Conference in Miami, immersing myself in a panel discussion on Nostrâs importance. My message of Nostr's potential resonated further at the Canadian Bitcoin Conference in Toronto, where I engaged with freedom loving Canadians who looked forward to embracing the power of decentralized communication.
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Venturing beyond North America, I had the opportunity to speak at the Baltic Honeybadger Conference in Riga, Latvia. This conference, held in the historic city of Riga, provided a platform to connect with European Bitcoiners for the first time and discuss the importance of censorship-resistant communication in the face of growing online restrictions and how Nostr aligned with the Bitcoin ethos, how both protocols go hand-in-hand, stating that âthe purple pill helps the orange pill go downâ.
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Most recently, my speaking engagements returned to the US to share my Nostr insights at the Nostrville conference in Nashville - the very first US Nostr conference.
If one aspect of my travels stands out more than others, itâs that the conference buzz wasn't just confined to the stage; the real magic happened beyond the spotlights. Sharing laughter and stories with friends and forging new connections and building relationships over shared meals, parties, and impromptu gatherings were the hidden gems that truly enriched these life-changing experiences.
The past year has been marked by significant growth and development, fueled by the invaluable love and support from the Nostr community. Numerous individuals, encountered online and at conferences, have become trusted friends and colleagues. These connections, building these true relationships, have enriched my personal life and solidified my commitment to Nostr as a protocol for innovation and freedom. Nostr may have opened up new professional doors and fostered professional growth for me, but if Iâm being honest, the people and the community are more important to me. Itâs the meaningful relationships and friendships that I truly hold dear. I eagerly await future opportunities to connect and I cannot wait until the next time when weâre all together again.
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@ 90c656ff:9383fd4e
2025-05-24 12:06:36Throughout history, money has always been under the control of central authorities, such as governments and banks. These intermediaries have set the rules of the financial system, controlled the issuance of currency, and overseen transactions. However, with the emergence of Bitcoin, a new paradigm began to take shape: decentralized money. This transformation represents a profound shift in how people store and transfer value, challenging the traditional financial model.
- The traditional model: centralized money
01 - Dependence on intermediaries: To carry out transactions, people rely on banks, governments, and other regulatory entities.
02 - Inflation and devaluation: Central banks can print money endlessly, often leading to a loss in purchasing power.
03 - Censorship and restrictions: Access to money can be denied for political, bureaucratic, or institutional reasons, limiting individualsâ financial freedom.
Despite being the dominant model for centuries, the centralized system has shown its vulnerabilities through numerous economic and political crises. It was in this context that Bitcoin emerged as an innovative alternative.
- The revolution of decentralized money
01 - Elimination of intermediaries: Transactions can be made directly between users, without the need for banks or financial companies.
02 - Limited and predictable supply: Bitcoin has a fixed cap of 21 million units, preventing the inflation caused by excessive money printing.
03 - Censorship resistance: No entity can block or prevent transactions, ensuring full financial freedom.
04 - Self-custody: Each user can hold their own funds without relying on a bank or any other institution.
This paradigm shift has a significant impact not only on the financial system but also on how people interact with money and protect their wealth.
Challenges and opposition to financial decentralization
The transition to a decentralized financial system faces several challenges, the main one being resistance from traditional institutions. Banks and governments see Bitcoin as a threat to their control over money and seek to regulate or limit its adoption.
There are also technical and educational barriers. Many people still do not fully understand how Bitcoin works, which can hinder its adoption. However, as more people become aware of the benefits of decentralized money, its use is likely to grow.
In summary, the shift from a centralized financial system to a decentralized one represents one of the most significant transformations of the digital era. Bitcoin leads this movement by offering a censorship-resistant, transparent, and accessible alternative. Despite opposition from the traditional system, the decentralization of money continues to gain momentum, providing greater autonomy and financial freedom to people around the world. This revolution is not just technological, but also social and economicâredefining the way the world understands and uses money.
Thank you very much for reading this far. I hope everything is well with you, and sending a big hug from your favorite Bitcoiner maximalist from Madeira. Long live freedom!
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@ 94a6a78a:0ddf320e
2025-02-19 21:10:15Nostr is a revolutionary protocol that enables decentralized, censorship-resistant communication. Unlike traditional social networks controlled by corporations, Nostr operates without central servers or gatekeepers. This openness makes it incredibly powerfulâbut also means its success depends entirely on users, developers, and relay operators.
If you believe in free speech, decentralization, and an open internet, there are many ways to support and strengthen the Nostr ecosystem. Whether you're a casual user, a developer, or someone looking to contribute financially, every effort helps build a more robust network.
Hereâs how you can get involved and make a difference.
1ď¸âŁ Use Nostr Daily
The simplest and most effective way to contribute to Nostr is by using it regularly. The more active users, the stronger and more valuable the network becomes.
â Post, comment, and zap (send micro-payments via Bitcoinâs Lightning Network) to keep conversations flowing.\ â Engage with new users and help them understand how Nostr works.\ â Try different Nostr clients like Damus, Amethyst, Snort, or Primal and provide feedback to improve the experience.
Your activity keeps the network alive and helps encourage more developers and relay operators to invest in the ecosystem.
2ď¸âŁ Run Your Own Nostr Relay
Relays are the backbone of Nostr, responsible for distributing messages across the network. The more independent relays exist, the stronger and more censorship-resistant Nostr becomes.
â Set up your own relay to help decentralize the network further.\ â Experiment with relay configurations and different performance optimizations.\ â Offer public or private relay services to users looking for high-quality infrastructure.
If you're not technical, you can still support relay operators by subscribing to a paid relay or donating to open-source relay projects.
3ď¸âŁ Support Paid Relays & Infrastructure
Free relays have helped Nostr grow, but they struggle with spam, slow speeds, and sustainability issues. Paid relays help fund better infrastructure, faster message delivery, and a more reliable experience.
â Subscribe to a paid relay to help keep it running.\ â Use premium services like media hosting (e.g., Azzamo Blossom) to decentralize content storage.\ â Donate to relay operators who invest in long-term infrastructure.
By funding Nostrâs decentralized backbone, you help ensure its longevity and reliability.
4ď¸âŁ Zap Developers, Creators & Builders
Many people contribute to Nostr without direct financial compensationâdevelopers who build clients, relay operators, educators, and content creators. You can support them with zaps! âĄ
â Find developers working on Nostr projects and send them a zap.\ â Support content creators and educators who spread awareness about Nostr.\ â Encourage builders by donating to open-source projects.
Micro-payments via the Lightning Network make it easy to directly support the people who make Nostr better.
5ď¸âŁ Develop New Nostr Apps & Tools
If you're a developer, you can build on Nostrâs open protocol to create new apps, bots, or tools. Nostr is permissionless, meaning anyone can develop for it.
â Create new Nostr clients with unique features and user experiences.\ â Build bots or automation tools that improve engagement and usability.\ â Experiment with decentralized identity, authentication, and encryption to make Nostr even stronger.
With no corporate gatekeepers, your projects can help shape the future of decentralized social media.
6ď¸âŁ Promote & Educate Others About Nostr
Adoption grows when more people understand and use Nostr. You can help by spreading awareness and creating educational content.
â Write blogs, guides, and tutorials explaining how to use Nostr.\ â Make videos or social media posts introducing new users to the protocol.\ â Host discussions, Twitter Spaces, or workshops to onboard more people.
The more people understand and trust Nostr, the stronger the ecosystem becomes.
7ď¸âŁ Support Open-Source Nostr Projects
Many Nostr tools and clients are built by volunteers, and open-source projects thrive on community support.
â Contribute code to existing Nostr projects on GitHub.\ â Report bugs and suggest features to improve Nostr clients.\ â Donate to developers who keep Nostr free and open for everyone.
If you're not a developer, you can still help with testing, translations, and documentation to make projects more accessible.
đ Every Contribution Strengthens Nostr
Whether you:
âď¸ Post and engage daily\ âď¸ Zap creators and developers\ âď¸ Run or support relays\ âď¸ Build new apps and tools\ âď¸ Educate and onboard new users
Every action helps make Nostr more resilient, decentralized, and unstoppable.
Nostr isnât just another social networkâitâs a movement toward a free and open internet. If you believe in digital freedom, privacy, and decentralization, now is the time to get involved.
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@ 9e69e420:d12360c2
2025-02-17 17:12:01President Trump has intensified immigration enforcement, likening it to a wartime effort. Despite pouring resources into the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arrest numbers are declining and falling short of goals. ICE fell from about 800 daily arrests in late January to fewer than 600 in early February.
Critics argue the administration is merely showcasing efforts with ineffectiveness, while Trump seeks billions more in funding to support his deportation agenda. Increased involvement from various federal agencies is intended to assist ICE, but many lack specific immigration training.
Challenges persist, as fewer immigrants are available for quick deportation due to a decline in illegal crossings. Local sheriffs are also pressured by rising demands to accommodate immigrants, which may strain resources further.
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@ 3f770d65:7a745b24
2023-10-13 15:14:42Nostr Nests Background:
Social audio is important because it provides a new and engaging way for people to connect, learn, share their stories, and build their communities. It is also a valuable tool for businesses and organizations to reach their audiences and build relationships. With this in mind, I knew that having an audio space outside of Twitter Spaces would be vital for nostr adoption, and set out to make this happen in January 2022.
The current Nostr Nests is a fork of the open source Jam System project, with custom user interface, Nostr npub verification, and several enhancements such as account restoration, discovery, and a minimal API. It served as a great starting point for a Nostr audio space, providing users all over the world with a platform for daily shows, weekly podcasts, and places for Nostriches to meetup and chat live with one another. Itâs a great success. However, itâs not a complete success and it will never be in its current form.
It has always been a dream of mine for Nostr Nests to be a full blown Nostr client, instead of loosely integrating Nostr into Jam's existing account verification system. My dream and vision for Nests is for anyone to be able to host a Nest on their own server or infrastructure and use Nostr NIP-53 Live Activities to publish their Nest to their Nostr relays, allowing anyone with a compatible client to discover and join their Nest. This is similar to how Zap.stream works on Snort and Amethyst clients. This functionality also helps decentralize Nostr Nests, so not one entity runs the audio backend. It is my hope to provide easy access to the open source code and installation instructions on https://nostrnests.org for all.
Several months ago, the groundwork for building Nests as a proper Nostr client began, but has since stopped. Even with open sourcing the project and seeking developer help, these efforts have failed. This bounty is another attempt at getting this project off of the ground and allowing those that use Nostr Nests on a daily basis to pledge their sats to help fund this project.
As my vision for Nostr Nests is a very large project, this project will be split into two bounties. The first bounty will aim to have the rewrite of Nostr Nests be feature compatible with the Jam System forked version with several quality of life enhancements. The second bounty aims to cover application customizations, feature additions, and individual Nest customizations (icons, badges, emojis, etc.) to provide Nest owners with tools to build their community and reward their participants and listeners.
Initial Nostr Nests Scope: (The word Room will be used here to be less confusing. A room is an individual Nest.)
Room Presence * Raising/lowering hand to speak * Reactions * Zaps * Exiting stage
Room Management * Removing and adding people to stage and moderators * Changing room information * Handling stage exit logic
Room Discovery * Allowing users to discover Nests * NIP-53 in clients * Homepage
Room Chat * NIP-28 * Individual Nest chats * Reactions to comments * Zaps to comments * Replies
Design * Design UI elements for new components such as an improved homepage, Nest discovery, etc. * Must be compatible with the existing design.
Audio * General Room audio * Backend and frontend
Groundwork: * The groundwork for Nests has begun and is located on our private Git * https://git.semisol.dev/NostrPlebs/nests/
Nests users: Please pledge your sat donation to help get this project built.
Developers: Please reach out if you have any questions.
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@ 3f770d65:7a745b24
2023-07-31 12:53:38The following is a collection of Tweets posted on Twitter that documented my entire heart surgery process, from finding out I had an issue, through the surgery, and finally throughout my recovery process. If Elon decides to remove old and unpaid content, I do not want this part of my life to vanish from the Internet. At the time, it was extremely important for my mental health to talk about this whole process and it was therapeutic in my recovery process, reading all of the responses as all of Bitcoin Twitter was behind my success. Thank you all of your kind words, love, and support during this whole process. May my Tweets live on through nostr.
...
Nov 28, 2021 I had open heart surgery 4 days before my 3rd b-day. I've led a healthy & active life since then, zero issues. I had an echocardiogram last week. The results were not good. Heart valve replacement may be in my near future. I am freaking the fuck out. I'll know more on Dec 6th. đŤ
Dec 6, 2021 Update: I had my cardiologist appointment today. He said to not worry for now and continue to exercise and live life. In 3 months get another echo done. He doesn't believe the previous other results since I have zero symptoms and wants to do his own interpretation.
Dec 6, 2021 He said if the other results were correct, I may need valve replacement in 6 months to 3 years. However, he doesn't believe the local hospital's results as I said above. He can't form an opinion just yet. He said not to worry over and over again. For now, I'm staying positive!
Mar 7, 2022 Well, it's been three months. I had my follow up this morning. I have severe pulmonic regurgitation. I now need to speak with a specialist and see what my options are for surgery. Neat. đ
Apr 12, 2022 Well, it looks like I'll need full open heart surgery again to replace my pulmonic valve. Bonus: I'll be part pig. So, I have that going for me. I was assuming that if I had to have this done it would be much less invasive, so I'm not overly impressed at the moment. đŤ¤
May 11, 2022 Today I had to get a CT scan of my heart in preparation for the May 27th surgery. All went well. I have no other heart issues. It's looking like I'll be in the hospital for 4-7 days, depending on how fast I recover. I should be fully 100% recovered by the end of August. â¤ď¸
May 20, 2022 My grandfather with me 39 years ago, days after my open heart surgery. He taught me to hunt, fish, golf, and I'm sure taught me a thing or two about drinking beer and partying. đ He was a great man. He won't physically be with me next Friday, but I'm sure he'll be watching over.
May 25, 2022 Two more sleeps. My mind is racing with an incredible amount of thoughts and emotions now. It's overwhelming. I love you all. Thanks for all of your replies and DMs over the last couple days, weeks, and months. I appreciate it immensely. â¤ď¸â¤ď¸â¤ď¸
May 25, 2022 Two more sleeps. My mind is racing with an incredible amount of thoughts and emotions now. It's overwhelming. I love you all. Thanks for all of your replies and DMs over the last couple days, weeks, and months. I appreciate it immensely. â¤ď¸â¤ď¸â¤ď¸
May 27, 2022 LET'S GO! I am alive and doing well. I was on a ventilator until 8pm. That was horrible. I will read all of the comments that you all posted on Katie's updates. Now I need to rest. They want to get me up and walk at 11pm. 𤯠I love you all and your support had helped so much đ§Ąđ§Ą
May 28, 2022 The amount of love, compassion, caring, and appreciation from everyone blows my mind. Thanks for all of your comments and DMs. The positivity though all is this has helped me get through dark times and now it's helping me get through pain. You are helping me immensely. đ¤Żâ¤ď¸đ§ĄđŞ
May 28, 2022 Today has been a rough day. Lots of chest pain when breathing. But, I apparently am doing something right, because I have been upgraded to a regular room. No more ICU for this guy! My ICU nurse told my new nurse that I'm strong. â¤ď¸đŞđĽ
May 29, 2022 Using this to document my journey. Last night was not good at all. I had tachycardia and AFib for hours. It was scary as fuck having my heart beat the way it was at 160bpm. They gave me new medication to bring it down and stop the AFib irregular heartbeat. It's now at 101.
May 29, 2022 I was very scared. Katie was able to come and stay the night with me and be my personal care nurse. That made me feel much better having her here with me. Hopefully the meds continue to do what they're supposed to. Fuck. Anyways, I may not Tweet much today. Love you all. â¤ď¸
May 30, 2022 Today has mostly been a great day progress wise. I ate a lot. I've walked more today than I have previously. My doctor told me I might be going home tomorrow, it all depends on what happens with my last drainage tube. Fingers crossed that it's draining properly now. đŞâ¤ď¸
May 31, 2022 Morning walk crushed. Breakfast crushed. Feeling stronger. My drainage tube is still draining so we'll see what the surgeon says, but I probably won't be coming home today according to my nurse. It may be another day. Better to be safe. I'm feeling good though. Let's go! đŞđŞâ¤ď¸â¤ď¸
Jun 1, 2022 Today's plans: Crush morning walk, crush breakfast, CRUSH MY LAST X-RAY AND HEAD THE HELL HOME! Fingers crossed. đ¤đ¤â¤ď¸â¤ď¸đŞđŞ
Jun 1, 2022 On my morning walk I went into a slight AFib. The nurse and PA said since I hadn't had my morning meds to control that yet, that that could be the cause. They're going to increase meds and monitor me for another 24 hours. That sucks, but again, I'd rather be safe. Ugh.
Jun 2, 2022 GM! I miss my kids. I miss wearing normal clothes. I miss my house. I miss my doggy. I better go home today or I guess I'll just keep working to get well enough to go home. đ I'm still progressing forward. I have a chest x-ray scheduled later this morning. Fingers crossed.
Jun 2, 2022 I JUST GOT CLEARED TO HEAD HOME AFTER LUNCH. FUCK YEAH. LET'S GOOOOOOđŞđŞđŞ
Jun 2, 2022 I am home! I have some family that needs some loving. Enjoy the rest of your day!
Jun 4, 2022 Last night I slept in bed thanks to a reclining pillow, the first night our living room chair. I was so happy to sleep in my own bed. I walked around our yard about 9 times yesterday. My goal is to do that plus a little more every day. I'm still in a lot of pain, but meds help.
Jun 4, 2022 I still have a long way to go recovery wise, but having Katie and the kids here helping me along the way makes it easier and gives me a reason to keep pushing forward through this. Thanks again for all of your past and future support. You all are fantastic.
Jun 6, 2022 My wife went back to work today. My son and daughter are in charge of taking care of me. My kids are fantastic. They made me breakfast already and helped me check all of my vitals. My daughter really shines here. She's such a little nurse and caretaker. â¤ď¸â¤ď¸
Jun 6, 2022 I'm still in pain, but I'm not in as much pain as I was a couple days ago. I'm walking around a little better and a little more every day. I really hate just sitting around and not doing anything, but it's hard to do much else besides watch TV. I am enjoying my patio though. đŞ
Jun 16, 2022 It's been a while. It's time to update this thread! I am doing great, IMO. I have lots of energy. I feel great. I can do a lot more than I previously could. I still have a limited range of motion due to my sternum being broken and still healing. i.e. I can't wash my back or legs.
Jun 16, 2022 I started back to work yesterday. I was cleared to do 20 hours this week by my doctor and I'm hoping to be cleared full time next week. I work from home, so if I can sit in front of a TV, I can sit in front of a computer, right?
Jun 16, 2022 My home nurses have been absolutely fantastic.đ My kids make me breakfast every morning. And I could not have done any of this without my rock star wife. Words can't describe how much she's done for me throughout all of this. I am looking forward to continuing to improve. âĽď¸
Jun 16, 2022 You all have been absolutely wonderful through all of this too. I appreciate all of your love, support, and check-ins. Seriously. It means more than you know.
I have a check-up at the end of the month to make sure all is well. I'll update again in a couple weeks after that appt.
Jun 28, 2022 My doctor said everything looks great. He said it doesn't look like I had open heart surgery a month ago.đŞ He said I have zero restrictions and that I can resume normal life. I can drive and I can go out on my boat! â¤ď¸â¤ď¸â¤ď¸ I'm so happy right now! đĽđ
Jul 15, 2022 I started cardiac rehab this week. After 2 sessions the nurse said I'm on "Week 4" already. She doesn't believe with my initial intake stress test if I'll really be able to improve on it that much. 𤣠TL;DR I am a rock star and kicking ass. Feeling great. Life's great. đ
Aug 28, 2022 Yesterday was 3 months since my open heart surgery. I'm going great! I'd guess essentially back to normal. My sternum is still not fully healed, that'll take more time, but energy and capability are basically back to what I was like last summer. I'm very happy with the results.
Aug 28, 2022 I'm very happy to be able to exercise daily, go boating on the weekends AND swim and paddleboard. I was annoyed that I couldn't do these things a month ago. I had a cardiologist appt. two weeks ago. He said he hopes the valve lasts me the rest of my life and to see him in a year.
Aug 28, 2022 As a final post to this thread, I want to thank each and every one of you again that commented, liked, shared and DMed me throughout all of this. The love and support from Twitter and the #Bitcoin community was unfathomable. You all made a difference in my life and my recovery.â¤ď¸
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@ fd208ee8:0fd927c1
2025-02-15 07:37:01E-cash are coupons or tokens for Bitcoin, or Bitcoin debt notes that the mint issues. The e-cash states, essentially, "IoU 2900 sats".
They're redeemable for Bitcoin on Lightning (hard money), and therefore can be used as cash (softer money), so long as the mint has a good reputation. That means that they're less fungible than Lightning because the e-cash from one mint can be more or less valuable than the e-cash from another. If a mint is buggy, offline, or disappears, then the e-cash is unreedemable.
It also means that e-cash is more anonymous than Lightning, and that the sender and receiver's wallets don't need to be online, to transact. Nutzaps now add the possibility of parking transactions one level farther out, on a relay. The same relays that cannot keep npub profiles and follow lists consistent will now do monetary transactions.
What we then have is * a transaction on a relay that triggers * a transaction on a mint that triggers * a transaction on Lightning that triggers * a transaction on Bitcoin.
Which means that every relay that stores the nuts is part of a wildcat banking system. Which is fine, but relay operators should consider whether they wish to carry the associated risks and liabilities. They should also be aware that they should implement the appropriate features in their relay, such as expiration tags (nuts rot after 2 weeks), and to make sure that only expired nuts are deleted.
There will be plenty of specialized relays for this, so don't feel pressured to join in, and research the topic carefully, for yourself.
https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/60.md https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/61.md
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@ e3ba5e1a:5e433365
2025-02-13 06:16:49My favorite line in any Marvel movie ever is in âCaptain America.â After Captain America launches seemingly a hopeless assault on Red Skullâs base and is captured, we get this line:
âArrogance may not be a uniquely American trait, but I must say, you do it better than anyone.â
Yesterday, I came across a comment on the song Devil Went Down to Georgia that had a very similar feel to it:
America has seemingly always been arrogant, in a uniquely American way. Manifest Destiny, for instance. The rest of the world is aware of this arrogance, and mocks Americans for it. A central point in modern US politics is the deriding of racist, nationalist, supremacist Americans.
Thatâs not what I see. I see American Arrogance as not only a beautiful statement about what it means to be American. I see it as an ode to the greatness of humanity in its purest form.
For most countries, saying âour nation is the greatestâ is, in fact, twinged with some level of racism. I still donât have a problem with it. Every group of people should be allowed to feel pride in their accomplishments. The destruction of the human spirit since the end of World War 2, where greatness has become a sin and weakness a virtue, has crushed the ability of people worldwide to strive for excellence.
But I digress. The fears of racism and nationalism at least have a grain of truth when applied to other nations on the planet. But not to America.
Thatâs because the definition of America, and the prototype of an American, has nothing to do with race. The definition of Americanism is freedom. The founding of America is based purely on liberty. On the God-given rights of every person to live life the way they see fit.
American Arrogance is not a statement of racial superiority. Itâs barely a statement of national superiority (though it absolutely is). To me, when an American comments on the greatness of America, itâs a statement about freedom. Freedom will always unlock the greatness inherent in any group of people. Americans are definitionally better than everyone else, because Americans are freer than everyone else. (Or, at least, thatâs how it should be.)
In Devil Went Down to Georgia, Johnny is approached by the devil himself. He is challenged to a ridiculously lopsided bet: a golden fiddle versus his immortal soul. He acknowledges the sin in accepting such a proposal. And yet he says, âGod, I know you told me not to do this. But I canât stand the affront to my honor. I am the greatest. The devil has nothing on me. So God, Iâm gonna sin, but Iâm also gonna win.â
Libertas magnitudo est
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@ 3f770d65:7a745b24
2023-07-18 14:24:15We say that Stackchain is the gamification of buying bitcoin, however itâs much larger than that. Itâs about building. Itâs more than just Bitcoiners having fun in a bear market, stacking sats, doing what they were going to be doing anyway. Itâs about building a community. Who would have known that the simple act of buying bitcoin, creating memes, and having laughs would have grown into the phenomena that it is today? No one could have foreseen the community and the relationships that have been built, all because of Stackchain.
This is the story of two Bitcoiners that met through Stackchain and ended up building a Nostr business together.
Last year during the early days of Stackchain, I met a fellow Stackchainer who just seemed to click with me. His name was Semisol. We seemed to get along great, have lots of laughs, and we both wanted to build with Stackchain. We wanted to take our Stackchain passion and technical skills to grow Stackchain, to help it flourish. Together, we brainstormed about how to build a website for Stackchain, we wanted to build an application so that Stackchain could survive off of Twitter, to make Stackchain its own platform. As a former entrepreneur, this truly excited me. While our hearts and our minds were in the right place, Stackchain wasnât ready for this.
In the beginning, we saw Stackchainâs potential to grow and we tried to steer Stackchain with growth plans and business proposals. It took us a while to realize that no one can control Stackchain and especially in the early days, it was way too hard to even suggest moving forward with anything. That is, except for our beloved Stackjoin proposal. Everything else flopped.
In the end, Semisol, as a talented developer, moved on to other areas of interest, where he could contribute, and grow a platform. He reached out to me several times and told me to try something called Nostr. I gave Nostr a try and laughed at him. I told him that Nostr was barely usable, had a horrible user experience, and just was not worth my time. I didnât realize that we just didnât need to build it.
Fast forward a few months later and I noticed several Bitcoin developers were talking about Nostr, which even managed to gain the attention of Jack Dorsey. In mid-December 2022, I tried Nostr again. This time it clicked with me. Nostr was to social communication what Bitcoin was to money. Decentralized. Censorship resistant. Open source. People were building.
After reading and studying the protocol, I quickly realized that I was able to provide a service for not only myself to utilize, but also for many of my Stackchain friends that were starting to get curious about Nostr. I bought the domain name nostrplebs.com and started Nostr Plebs, a Nostr service provider. Nostr Plebs was filling a need for both myself and the Nostr ecosystem. I was able to build, to feel like I was contributing to the space and through this, provide a service that was wanted and needed by others. My entrepreneurial thirst was quenched. I finally had my Bitcoin adjacent business.
Nostr Plebs was an instant and overwhelming success. I clearly needed help. I immediately thought about my old Stackchainer friend, Semisol. Based on our previous conversations, I knew that he not only had the drive to build a service, but also had the technical skills needed. Together, we built the first NIP-05 ID service provider for Nostr. Together, we continue to grow our Nostr services, providing microservices to help grow the Nostr ecosystem. From ID services, to email, to Lightning addresses, to directory services, to audio communications, Nostr Plebs is a prominent name in the Nostr ecosystem.
Stackchain allowed two like minded Bitcoiners to find one another, discuss their passions and skills for building, and to ultimately build a service provider together. Due to all of this, I say Stackchain is beautiful. Itâs beautiful because weâre not the only ones building. Stackchain embodies builders. Whether youâre building Stackchain content, building your bitcoin stack, building the community, or branching out and building new businesses, it all started with a simple $5 bitcoin purchase. Thatâs the beauty of it.
This article is featured in Stackchain Magazine Volume One, launching on July 18, 2023. You can order your copy today at Proof of Ink.
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@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d
2025-05-24 11:01:40Singapore, May 14, 2025 â NEUTRON, the leading Lightning Network infrastructure provider in Asia, is announcing a new partnership with Cobo, a globally trusted digital asset custody platform.
Through this collaboration, Cobo will integrate Neutronâs Lightning Network API, enabling real-time, cost-effective Bitcoin transactions across its services.
Neutronâs mission is to make the Lightning Network the financial backbone for modern Bitcoin use, bridging traditional finance with Bitcoinâs borderless, decentralized economy.
âWeâre thrilled to partner with Cobo, a trusted leader in custodial services, to further accelerate Bitcoin infrastructure across Asia,â said Albert Buu, CEO of Neutron.Â
âAt Neutron, we are committed to providing enterprise businesses with easy and efficient integration into the Lightning Network, enabling next-generation global real-time settlement solutions.
âThis partnership will not only drive innovation but also empower businesses across Asia with the fast, secure, and cost-effective benefits of Bitcoin payments.â
Neutron: The Lightning Engine for Bitcoin Adoption
Neutron provides a comprehensive API suite that allows businesses to instantly access the power of the Lightning Network, Bitcoinâs second-layer protocol designed for high-speed, scalable, and low-fee payments.
The integration is part of Neutronâs broader vision to equip forward-thinking institutions with the tools needed to participate in the next generation of Bitcoin utility.
Lightning-Powered Custody for the Next Era of Finance
Coboâs integration of Neutronâs API gives institutional clients an additional option for BTC settlement, making Lightning Network access more programmable and easier to integrate within their existing systems.
âAt Cobo, weâve built our custody platform to combine uncompromising security with the scalability institutions need to grow,â said Dr. Changhao Jiang, CTO and Co-Founder of Cobo.
âIntegrating Neutronâs Lightning Network API allows us to offer real-time, low-cost Bitcoin settlement at scale without compromising on trust or performance. Together, weâre laying the groundwork for faster, more efficient Bitcoin infrastructure across Asia.â
About Neutron
Neutron is Asiaâs leading Bitcoin infrastructure company, helping businesses and individuals unlock the power of the Lightning Network, specializing in Lightning-as-a-Service.
nThrough its scalable API platform, mobile app, and lending product, Neutron empowers businesses and individuals to send, receive, save, and build with Bitcoin.
Want to bring Lightning into your product or platform? Reach out to our team at sales@neutron.me or visit us at www.neutron.meAbout Cobo
Cobo is a trusted leader in digital asset custody and wallet infrastructure, providing an all-in-one platform for organizations and developers to easily build, automate, and scale their digital asset businesses securely.
Founded in 2017 by blockchain pioneers and headquartered in Singapore, Cobo is trusted by more than 500 leading digital asset businesses globally, safeguarding billions of dollars in assets.
Today, Cobo offers the industryâs only unified wallet platform that integrates all four digital asset wallet technologies â Custodial Wallets, MPC Wallets, Smart Contract Wallets, and Exchange Wallets.
Committed to the highest security standards and regulatory compliance, Cobo has a zero-incident track record and holds ISO 27001, SOC2 (Type 1 and Type 2) certifications, as well as licenses in multiple jurisdictions.
Recognized for its industry-leading innovations, Cobo has received accolades from prestigious entities such as Hedgeweek and Global Custodian. For more information, please visit www.cobo.com
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@ 8bad92c3:ca714aa5
2025-05-24 11:01:08Marty's Bent
It's been a hell of a week in Austin, Texas. The Texas Energy & Mining Summit was held at Bitcoin Park Austin on Tuesday and yesterday. Around 200 people from across the energy sector and the mining sector convened to discuss the current state of bitcoin mining, how it integrates with energy systems, and where things are going in the near to medium term. Representatives from ERCOT, Halliburton, and some of the largest mining companies in the world were in attendence. Across town, Bitcoin++ is holding their conference on mempools, which is fitting considering there is currently an ongoing debate about mempool policy and whether or not Bitcoin Core should eliminate the data limit on OP_RETURN.
I've had the pleasure of participating in both events. At the Texas Energy & Mining Summit I opened up the two-day event with the opening panel on why Texas is perfectly suited not only for bitcoin mining but for the bitcoin industry in general. Texas is a state that highly values private property rights, low taxes, and free market competition. It's become clear to me over the four years that I've lived in Texas that it is an incredible place to start a bitcoin business. The energy down here (pun intended) is palpable.
I also hosted the ending panel with Nick Gates from Priority Power, Will Cole from Zaprite and Jay Beddict from Foundry about what we have to look forward to through the rest of the year. I think the consensus was pretty clear on the panel, there's never been a more bullish setup for bitcoin historically. The political support we're getting here in the United States, the institutional adoption that we're seeing, and the fervor around protocol level development are all pointing in the right direction. Even though the discussions around protocol development can be contentious at times, it's a signal that people really care about this open source monetary protocol that we're all building on. We all agreed that Bitcoin has never been more de-risked than it is today. That is not to say that there aren't any risk.
We also discussed the problem with mining pool centralization and the FPPS payout scheme and why people need to be paying attention to it. But I think overall, things are looking pretty good right now.
Yesterday I also had the pleasure of running the live desk at Bitcoin++ speaking with many of the developers building out the protocol layer and layers above bitcoin. It's always extremely humbling to sit down and speak with the developers because they are so damn smart. Brilliant people who really care deeply about bitcoin. Even though many of them have very different views about the state of bitcoin and how to build it out moving forward. I view my role on the live desk is simply to try to get everybody's perspective. Not only on the OP_RETURN discussion, but on the future of bitcoin and how the protocol progresses from a technical perspective.
I had many conversations. The first with Average Gary and VNPRC, who are working on hashpools, which are attempting to solve the mining pool centralization and privacy problems that exists by using ecash. Hashpool gives miners the ability to exchange hash shares for ehash tokens. that are immediately liquid and exchangeable for bitcoin over the lightning network. Solving the consistent payout and liquidity problem that miners are always trying to solve. Currently FPPS payout schemes are the way they solve these problems. I'm incredibly optimistic about the hashpools project.
I also had the pleasure of speaking with SuperTestNet and Dusty Daemon, who are both focused on making bitcoin more inherently private at the protocol layer and on the lightning network. I think Dusty's work on splicing is very underappreciated right now and is something that you should all look into. Dusty also explained an idea he has that would make CoinJoin coordination much easier by creating a standardized coordination protocol. I'm going to butcher the explanation here, But I think the general idea is to create a way for people to combine inputs by monitoring the lightning network and looking for individual actors who are looking to rebalance channels and opportunistically set up a collaborative transaction with them. This is something I think everyone should look into and champion because I think it would be incredibly beneficial to on-chain privacy. As Bitcoin scales and gets adopted by millions and billions of people over the next few decades.
I also had the pleasure of speaking with Andrew Poelstra and Boerst about cryptography and block templates. For those of you who are unaware, Andrew Poelstra the Head of Research at Blockstream and on the cutting edge of the cryptography that bitcoin uses and may implement in the future. We had a wide ranging discussion about OP_RETURN, FROST, Musig2, Miniscript, quantum. resistant cryptographic libraries, and how Bitcoin Core actually works as a development project.
I also spoke with Liam Egan from Alpen Labs. He's working on ZK rollups on Bitcoin. Admittedly, this is an area I haven't explored too deeply, so it was awesome to sit down with Liam and get his perspective. Alpen Labs is leveraging BitVM to enable their rollups.
I highly recommend if and when you get the time to check out the YouTube stream of the Live Desk. A lot of very deep, technical conversations, but if you're really interested to learn how bitcoin actually works and some of the ideas that are out there to make it better, this is an incredible piece of content to watch. I'm about to head over for day two of Bitcoin++ to run the Live Desk again. So if you get this email before we go live make sure you subscribe to the YouTube channel and tune in for the day.
One thing I will say. Last night, there was a debate about OP_RETURN and I think it's important to note that despite how vitriolic people may get on Twitter, it's always interesting to see people with diametrically opposed views get together and have civil debates. It's obvious that everyone involved cares deeply about bitcoin. Having these tough conversations in person is very important. Particularly, civil conversations. I certainly think yesterday's debate was civil. Though, I will say I think that as bitcoiners, we should hold ourselves to a higher standard of decorum when debates like this are had.
Tyler Campbell from Unchained mentioned that it is insane that there was such a small group of people attending this particular debate about the future of a two trillion dollar protocol. Bitcoin is approaching $100,000 again as I type and no one in big tech, no one in big finance outside of people looking for bitcoin treasury plays is really paying attention to what's happening at the protocol level. This is simply funny to observe and probably a good thing in the long run. But, Meta, Stripe, Apple, Visa, Mastercard and the Teslas of the world are all asleep at the wheel as we build out the future of money.
The $1 Trillion Basis Trade Time Bomb
The massive basis trade currently looming over financial markets represents a systemic risk that dwarfs previous crises. As James Lavish warned during our conversation, approximately $1 trillion in leveraged positions exist within this trade - ten times larger than those held by Long-Term Capital Management before its 1998 collapse. These trades employ staggering leverage ratios between 20x to 100x just to make minuscule basis point differences profitable. The Brookings Institution, which Lavish describes as a "tacit research arm of the Fed," has published a paper explicitly warning about this trade's dangers.
"The Brookings Institution came out with a solution... instead of printing money this time, the Fed will just take the whole trade off of the hedge funds books. Absolutely, utterly maniacal. The thought of the Fed becoming a hedge fund... it's nuts." - James Lavish
What makes this situation particularly alarming is how an unwind could trigger cascading margin calls throughout interconnected financial markets. As Lavish explained, when positions begin unwinding, prices move dramatically, triggering more margin calls that force more selling. This "powder keg behind the scenes" is being closely monitored by sophisticated investors who understand its destructive potential. Unlike a controlled demolition, this unwinding could quickly become chaotic, potentially forcing unprecedented Fed intervention.
Check out the full podcast here for more on Bitcoin's role as the neutral reserve asset, nation-state mining strategies, and the repeal of SAB 121's impact on banking adoption.
Headlines of the Day
Panama City Signs Deal for Bitcoin Municipal Payments - via X
U.S. Economy Polls Show Falling Confidence in Trump Leadership - via CNBC
Jack Mallers's Bitcoin Bank Targets $500 Trillion Market - via X
Bitcoin Decouples From Markets With 10% Gain Amid Asset Slump - via X
Looking for the perfect video _to push the smartest person you know from zero to one on bitcoin? Bitcoin, Not Crypto is a three-part master class from Parker Lewis and Dhruv Bansal that cuts through the noiseâcovering why 2
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@ 3f770d65:7a745b24
2023-07-07 17:05:06Zaps on Nostr are payments that can be sent to other users as a way of tipping, showing appreciation, or providing feedback to content creators. Zaps utilize the Bitcoin Lightning network for payments. These are transmitted over the Lightning network instantly with essentially zero transaction fees.
Zaps represent the only fundamentally new innovation in social media. Everything else is a distraction. - Jack Dorsey
Zaps were publicly introduced in February 2023 with the release of NIP-57 which defined a new Nostr event type called "Lightning Zaps". Zap request events grab the data from a Lightning invoice, namely the payment amount, payee, and payer and then forms a new event that can be captured by relays and displayed by clients.
https://nostr.build/p/nb3285.png
Zaps are a great way to show appreciation for content that one consumes on Nostr or to simply tip someone for their time and effort. To send a Zap, you simply need to tap or click on the Lightning bolt icon next to the profile or note that you want to tip or proceed in an exchange of value for value. You will then be prompted to enter the amount of satoshis you want to send. Once you have sent the Zap, the recipient will be notified and the payment will be instantly sent over the Lightning network.
Zaps are better than traditional payment methods.
- They are fast and efficient.
- Zaps are transmitted over the Lightning network, so you can be sure that your payment will be received instantly.
- They have no transaction fees. This makes them a more cost-effective way to send payments.
- They are easy to use. Sending a zap is as simple as clicking on a button. You do not need to create a Lightning invoice or worry about the technical details of the Lightning network.
- If you are looking for a way to show appreciation for content on Nostr or to simply send payments to other users, then Zaps are a great option.
Zaps are also a fun and friction-less introduction to Bitcoin and the Lightning network. Since Zaps are integrated with many Lightning wallets, the wallets communicates back to Nostr that the payment was successful and the Zap amount is now displayed and tallied on the user's note or user's profile.
The following Bitcoin Lightning Wallets are NIP-57 compatible, meaning that they communicate with Nostr as mentioned above:
Custodial Wallets: * strike.army * vida.page * stacker.news * Bitcoin Jungle * ln.tips (LightningTipBot) * Geyser * Bitcoin Beach * Current (Client+Wallet) * Wallet of Satoshi * Zebedee * Alby * AnonSats * Strike
Self Custodial Solutions: * BTCPay Server * nostdress
Value for value is a relatively new way of thinking about value on the Internet. It is based on the idea that value should be exchanged directly between users, without the need for a third party. This makes it more efficient, more secure, more privacy-preserving, and directly provides value to content creators.
Nostr is one of the first protocols to implement value for value on a large scale. It is already being used by thousands of users to send payments and provide feedback for a variety of purposes. As Nostr and the Lightning network continues to grow, value for value is likely to become even more popular.
Nostr just passed an incredible milestone, surpassing one million Zaps being sent on Nostr in roughly three months time. Those statistics are fairly incredible seeing as the concept of value for value is still not fully understood by the general public and Nostr utilizes Bitcoin's Lightning network as a payment network, which isn't adopted by everyone yet.
https://nostr.build/i/b9def1af659f1c16b08ca5af31b4877232493338d5b3220943b3d0c96b83533b.jpg
One of the most important concepts about Zaps is that Zaps are better than "Likes". Social media and social networking platforms have taught us over the past two decades that Likes are a way to indicate the value of a piece of content. However, these Likes have no value. Likes are hollow. By replacing Likes with Zaps, we are transforming a meaningless action into an action that has true value, monetary value.
https://nostr.build/p/nb5963.gif
We're building the value for value economy on Nostr, one Zap at at time.
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@ 94a6a78a:0ddf320e
2025-02-12 15:05:48Azzamo is more than just a relay providerâitâs a high-performance network designed to make Nostr faster, smoother, and more reliable for everyone. Whether you're posting notes, zapping sats, sharing media, or sending DMs, Azzamo keeps your Nostr experience seamless and efficient.
Nostr is unstoppable, but not all relays are the same. Some are slow, unreliable, or disappear overnight, while others get overloaded, making message delivery inconsistent. Azzamo is built differentlyâoffering fast, stable, and globally distributed relays to ensure low-latency, high-speed connections, no matter where you are.
đ Premium Relays for Maximum Performance
Azzamo Premium Relays are optimized for speed, reliability, and uptime, available exclusively to Premium users:
đĄ Azzamo Premium Relays:
- Europe:
wss://relay.azzamo.net
- America:
wss://us.azzamo.net
- Asia:
wss://asia.azzamo.net
Add Azzamo Premium Time to unlock unlimited, high-speed access across these global relays.
đ Get Premium: azzamo.net/premium
đ Freemium Relays â Free for Everyone
Azzamo believes in keeping Nostr open and accessible to all. Thatâs why we offer free relays for everyone, with no rate limits for Premium members
đĄ Freemium Relays:
- Free Relay:
wss://nostr.azzamo.net
â Open to all. - Inbox Relay:
wss://inbox.azzamo.net
â Reliable for DMs & group messages.
By offering both free and premium options, Azzamo ensures that anyone can use Nostr, while also funding the infrastructure that keeps it running smoothly.
đĄď¸ Minimal Moderation, Maximum Transparency
Nostr is about free speech, but that doesnât mean zero moderation. Azzamo follows a minimal moderation policy to keep relays functional and spam-free while maintaining transparency in enforcement.\ \ đŤ Spam & network abuse\ đŤ Illegal content (CSAM, fraud, malware, scams)\ đŤ Impersonation & identity abuse
We also maintain a public Ban API for transparent moderation decisions.
đ More on our Ban API: azzamo.net/introducing-the-azzamo-ban-api
đ Get Started with Azzamo Relays Today!
đ Connect now:\ đĄ
wss://nostr.azzamo.net
(Freemium Free Relay)\ đŹwss://inbox.azzamo.net
(Freemium Inbox Relay)\ đĄwss://relay.azzamo.net
(Premium Europe Relay)\ đĄwss://us.azzamo.net
(Premium Americas Relay)\ đĄwss://asia.azzamo.net
(Premium Asia Relay)Nostr is growing fast. Make sure your relays can keep up. đ
azzamo #grownostr #nostr #relay #relays #premiumrelay #paidrelay
- Europe:
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@ eb0157af:77ab6c55
2025-05-24 18:01:14Vivek Ramaswamyâs company bets on distressed bitcoin claims as its Bitcoin treasury strategy moves forward.
Strive Enterprises, an asset management firm co-founded by Vivek Ramaswamy, is exploring the acquisition of distressed bitcoin claims, with particular interest in around 75,000 BTC tied to the Mt. Gox bankruptcy estate. This move is part of the companyâs broader strategy to build a Bitcoin treasury ahead of its planned merger with Asset Entities.
According to a document filed on May 20 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Strive has partnered with 117 Castell Advisory Group to âidentify and evaluateâ distressed Bitcoin claims with confirmed legal judgments. Among these are approximately 75,000 BTC connected to Mt. Gox, with an estimated market value of $8 billion at current prices.
Essentially, Strive aims to acquire rights to bitcoins currently tied up in legal disputes, which can be purchased at a discount by those willing to take on the risk and wait for eventual recovery.
In a post on X, Striveâs CFO, Ben Pham, stated:
âStrive intends to use all available mechanisms, including novel financial strategies not used by other Bitcoin treasury companies, to maximize its exposure to the asset.â
The company also plans to buy cash at a discount by merging with publicly traded companies holding more cash than their stock value, using the excess funds to purchase additional Bitcoin.
Mt. Gox, the exchange that collapsed in 2014, is currently in the process of repaying creditors, with a deadline set for October 31, 2025.
In its SEC filing, Strive declared:
âThis strategy is intended to allow Strive the opportunity to purchase Bitcoin exposure at a discount to market price, enhancing Bitcoin per share and supporting its goal of outperforming Bitcoin over the long run.â
At the beginning of May, Strive announced its merger plan with Asset Entities, a deal that would create the first publicly listed asset management firm focused on Bitcoin. The resulting company aims to join the growing number of firms adopting a Bitcoin treasury strategy.
The corporate treasury trend
Striveâs initiative to accumulate bitcoin mirrors that of other companies like Strategy and Japanâs Metaplanet. On May 19, Strategy, led by Michael Saylor, announced the purchase of an additional 7,390 BTC for $764.9 million, raising its total holdings to 576,230 BTC. On the same day, Metaplanet revealed it had acquired another 1,004 BTC, increasing its total to 7,800 BTC.
The post Bitcoin in Striveâs sights: 75,000 BTC from Mt. Gox among its targets appeared first on Atlas21.
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@ eb0157af:77ab6c55
2025-05-24 18:01:13According to the ECB Executive Board member, the launch of the digital euro depends on the timing of the EU regulation.
The European Central Bank (ECB) is making progress in preparing for the digital euro. According to Piero Cipollone, ECB Executive Board member and coordinator of the project, the technical phase âis proceeding quickly and on schedule,â but moving to operational implementation still requires political approval of the regulation at the European level.
Speaking at the âVoices on the Futureâ event organized by Ansa and Asvis, Cipollone outlined a possible timeline:
âIf the regulation is approved at the start of 2026 â in the best-case scenario for the European legislative process â we could see the first transactions with the digital euro by mid-2028.â
Cipollone also highlighted Europeâs current dependence on electronic payment systems managed by non-European companies:
âToday in Europe, whenever we donât use cash, any transaction online or at the supermarket has to go through credit cards, with their fees. The payment system relies on companies that arenât based in Europe. You can see why it would make sense to have a system fully under our control.â
For the ECB board member, the digital euro would act as a direct alternative to cash in the digital world, working like âa banknote you can spend anywhere in Europe for any purpose.â
The digital euro project is part of the ECBâs broader strategy to strengthen the independence of Europeâs financial system. According to Cipollone and the Central Bank, Europeâs digital currency would be a key step toward greater autonomy in electronic payments, reducing reliance on infrastructure and services outside the European Union.
The post ECB: digital euro by mid-2028, says Cipollone appeared first on Atlas21.
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@ daa41bed:88f54153
2025-02-09 16:50:04There has been a good bit of discussion on Nostr over the past few days about the merits of zaps as a method of engaging with notes, so after writing a rather lengthy article on the pros of a strategic Bitcoin reserve, I wanted to take some time to chime in on the much more fun topic of digital engagement.
Let's begin by defining a couple of things:
Nostr is a decentralized, censorship-resistance protocol whose current biggest use case is social media (think Twitter/X). Instead of relying on company servers, it relies on relays that anyone can spin up and own their own content. Its use cases are much bigger, though, and this article is hosted on my own relay, using my own Nostr relay as an example.
Zap is a tip or donation denominated in sats (small units of Bitcoin) sent from one user to another. This is generally done directly over the Lightning Network but is increasingly using Cashu tokens. For the sake of this discussion, how you transmit/receive zaps will be irrelevant, so don't worry if you don't know what Lightning or Cashu are.
If we look at how users engage with posts and follows/followers on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, etc., it becomes evident that traditional social media thrives on engagement farming. The more outrageous a post, the more likely it will get a reaction. We see a version of this on more visual social platforms like YouTube and TikTok that use carefully crafted thumbnail images to grab the user's attention to click the video. If you'd like to dive deep into the psychology and science behind social media engagement, let me know, and I'd be happy to follow up with another article.
In this user engagement model, a user is given the option to comment or like the original post, or share it among their followers to increase its signal. They receive no value from engaging with the content aside from the dopamine hit of the original experience or having their comment liked back by whatever influencer they provide value to. Ad revenue flows to the content creator. Clout flows to the content creator. Sales revenue from merch and content placement flows to the content creator. We call this a linear economy -- the idea that resources get created, used up, then thrown away. Users create content and farm as much engagement as possible, then the content is forgotten within a few hours as they move on to the next piece of content to be farmed.
What if there were a simple way to give value back to those who engage with your content? By implementing some value-for-value model -- a circular economy. Enter zaps.
Unlike traditional social media platforms, Nostr does not actively use algorithms to determine what content is popular, nor does it push content created for active user engagement to the top of a user's timeline. Yes, there are "trending" and "most zapped" timelines that users can choose to use as their default, but these use relatively straightforward engagement metrics to rank posts for these timelines.
That is not to say that we may not see clients actively seeking to refine timeline algorithms for specific metrics. Still, the beauty of having an open protocol with media that is controlled solely by its users is that users who begin to see their timeline gamed towards specific algorithms can choose to move to another client, and for those who are more tech-savvy, they can opt to run their own relays or create their own clients with personalized algorithms and web of trust scoring systems.
Zaps enable the means to create a new type of social media economy in which creators can earn for creating content and users can earn by actively engaging with it. Like and reposting content is relatively frictionless and costs nothing but a simple button tap. Zaps provide active engagement because they signal to your followers and those of the content creator that this post has genuine value, quite literally in the form of moneyâsats.
I have seen some comments on Nostr claiming that removing likes and reactions is for wealthy people who can afford to send zaps and that the majority of people in the US and around the world do not have the time or money to zap because they have better things to spend their money like feeding their families and paying their bills. While at face value, these may seem like valid arguments, they, unfortunately, represent the brainwashed, defeatist attitude that our current economic (and, by extension, social media) systems aim to instill in all of us to continue extracting value from our lives.
Imagine now, if those people dedicating their own time (time = money) to mine pity points on social media would instead spend that time with genuine value creation by posting content that is meaningful to cultural discussions. Imagine if, instead of complaining that their posts get no zaps and going on a tirade about how much of a victim they are, they would empower themselves to take control of their content and give value back to the world; where would that leave us? How much value could be created on a nascent platform such as Nostr, and how quickly could it overtake other platforms?
Other users argue about user experience and that additional friction (i.e., zaps) leads to lower engagement, as proven by decades of studies on user interaction. While the added friction may turn some users away, does that necessarily provide less value? I argue quite the opposite. You haven't made a few sats from zaps with your content? Can't afford to send some sats to a wallet for zapping? How about using the most excellent available resource and spending 10 seconds of your time to leave a comment? Likes and reactions are valueless transactions. Social media's real value derives from providing monetary compensation and actively engaging in a conversation with posts you find interesting or thought-provoking. Remember when humans thrived on conversation and discussion for entertainment instead of simply being an onlooker of someone else's life?
If you've made it this far, my only request is this: try only zapping and commenting as a method of engagement for two weeks. Sure, you may end up liking a post here and there, but be more mindful of how you interact with the world and break yourself from blind instinct. You'll thank me later.
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@ 3f770d65:7a745b24
2023-02-21 01:55:08Habla is a new blogging platform that's based on Nostr. Or as various Nostr client developers like to call it:
"A way to get Derek Ross to stop sending walls of text".
You can edit posts, which is very nice.
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@ e3ba5e1a:5e433365
2025-02-05 17:47:16I got into a friendly discussion on X regarding health insurance. The specific question was how to deal with health insurance companies (presumably unfairly) denying claims? My answer, as usual: get government out of it!
The US healthcare system is essentially the worst of both worlds:
- Unlike full single payer, individuals incur high costs
- Unlike a true free market, regulation causes increases in costs and decreases competition among insurers
I'm firmly on the side of moving towards the free market. (And I say that as someone living under a single payer system now.) Here's what I would do:
- Get rid of tax incentives that make health insurance tied to your employer, giving individuals back proper freedom of choice.
- Reduce regulations significantly.
-
In the short term, some people will still get rejected claims and other obnoxious behavior from insurance companies. We address that in two ways:
- Due to reduced regulations, new insurance companies will be able to enter the market offering more reliable coverage and better rates, and people will flock to them because they have the freedom to make their own choices.
- Sue the asses off of companies that reject claims unfairly. And ideally, as one of the few legitimate roles of government in all this, institute new laws that limit the ability of fine print to allow insurers to escape their responsibilities. (I'm hesitant that the latter will happen due to the incestuous relationship between Congress/regulators and insurers, but I can hope.)
Will this magically fix everything overnight like politicians normally promise? No. But it will allow the market to return to a healthy state. And I don't think it will take long (order of magnitude: 5-10 years) for it to come together, but that's just speculation.
And since there's a high correlation between those who believe government can fix problems by taking more control and demanding that only credentialed experts weigh in on a topic (both points I strongly disagree with BTW): I'm a trained actuary and worked in the insurance industry, and have directly seen how government regulation reduces competition, raises prices, and harms consumers.
And my final point: I don't think any prior art would be a good comparison for deregulation in the US, it's such a different market than any other country in the world for so many reasons that lessons wouldn't really translate. Nonetheless, I asked Grok for some empirical data on this, and at best the results of deregulation could be called "mixed," but likely more accurately "uncertain, confused, and subject to whatever interpretation anyone wants to apply."
https://x.com/i/grok/share/Zc8yOdrN8lS275hXJ92uwq98M
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@ 3c506452:fef9202b
2025-05-24 10:55:21Kia ora ra!
I thought I'd look into the claim made by Tim Ferriss and see if these sentence patterns are able to give a brief overview of te reo and it's structure.
I initially struggled to stick with a single sentence as it didn't accurately reflect how the reo is actually spoken so I have included what I feel are the most "normal" sounding structures that one will probably encounter.
Here is the full list:
1. The apple is red.
E whero te tae o te aporo / E whero te aporo.\ He whero te tae o te aporo / He whero te aporo.\ Ko te aporo e whero nei te tae / Ko te aporo e whero nei tona tae.\ E whero ana te tae o te aporo.\ He aporo whero / Ko te aporo whero.
2. It is John's apple.
Ma John te aporo / Na John te aporo.\ He aporo ma John / He aporo na John.\ Ko te aporo a John / Ko ta John aporo.
3. I give John the apple.
Mahaku te aporo e hoatu ma John.\ E hoatu ana te aporo ki a John.\ Ko te aporo e hoatu nei e au ki a John.\ E hoatu ana mahana.
4. We give him the apple.
Ma ma[ua/tou] te aporo e hoatu ma John.\ E hoatu ana te aporo ki a John.\ Ko te aporo e hoatu nei e ma[ua/tou] ki a John.\ E hoatu ana mahana.
5. He gives it to John.
Mahana e hoatu ma John / Nahana i hoatu ma John.\ E hoatu ana ki a John.\ E hoatu ana mahana.
6. She gives it to him.
Mahana e hoatu mahana / Nahana i hoatu mahana.\ Mahana e hoatu / Nahana i hoatu.\ E hoatu ana ki a ia.\ E hoatu ana mahana.
7. Is the apple red?
E whero te tae o te aporo? / E whero te aporo?\ He whero te tae o te aporo?/ He whero te aporo?\ Ko te aporo e whero nei te tae? / Ko te aporo e whero nei tona tae?\ E whero ana te tae o te aporo?\ He aporo whero? / Ko te aporo whero?
8. The apples are red.
E whero te tae o nga aporo / E whero nga aporo.\ He whero te tae o nga aporo / He whero nga aporo.\ Ko nga aporo e whero nei te tae / Ko nga aporo e whero nei ona tae.\ E whero ana te tae o nga aporo.\ He aporo whero / Ko nga aporo whero.
9. I must give it to him.
Hoatu e au te mea ki a ia.\ Hoatu e au mahana.\ Mahaku e hoatu mahana.\ Me hoatu ki a ia.\ E hoatu ai mahana.
10. I want to give it to her.
Mahaku noa e hoatu.\ Waiho mahaku e hoatu.
- I'm going to know tomorrow. Apopo ka mohio ai / Aoake te ra ka mohio ai.\ Ka mohio au apopo / Ka mohio au a aoake te ra.
12. I can't eat the apple.
Ehara i te mea mahaku te aporo te kai.
13. I have eaten the apple.
Kua kai ke au i te aporo.\ Kua pau te aporo te kai i au.\ Nahaku te aporo i kai.\ Ko te aporo nahaku nei i kai ai.\ He mea kai e au te aporo.
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@ eb0157af:77ab6c55
2025-05-24 18:01:12A new study reveals: 4 out of 5 Americans would like the US to convert some of its gold into Bitcoin.
A recent survey conducted by the Nakamoto Project revealed that a majority of Americans support converting a portion of the United Statesâ gold reserves into Bitcoin. The survey, carried out online by Qualtrics between February and March 2025, involved 3,345 participants with demographic characteristics representative of US census standards. Most respondents expressed a desire to convert between 1% and 30% of the gold reserves into BTC.
Troy Cross, co-founder of the Nakamoto Project, stated:
âWhen given a slider and asked to advise the US government on the right proportion of Bitcoin and gold, subjects were very reluctant to put that slider on 0% Bitcoin and 100% gold. Instead, they settled around 10% Bitcoin.â
One significant finding from the research is the correlation between age and openness to Bitcoin: younger respondents showed a greater inclination toward the cryptocurrency compared to older generations.
A potential US strategy
Bo Hines, a White House advisor, is promoting an initiative for the Treasury Department to acquire Bitcoin by selling off a portion of its gold. Under the proposed plan, the government could acquire up to 1 million BTC over the next five years.
To finance these purchases, the government plans to sell Federal Reserve gold certificates. The proposal aligns with Senator Cynthia Lummisâ 2025 Bitcoin Act, which aims to declare Bitcoin a critical national strategic asset.
Currently, the United States holds 8,133 metric tons of gold, valued at over $830 billion, and about 200,000 BTC, valued at $21 billion.
The post The majority in the US wants to convert part of the gold reserves into Bitcoin appeared first on Atlas21.
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@ 1d7ff02a:d042b5be
2025-05-24 10:15:40ŕşŕşťŕşŕşŞŕťŕş§ŕşŕşŤŕşźŕş˛ŕşŕşĄŕşąŕşŕşŕş°ŕşĄŕşŕşŕťŕşŤŕşąŕş Bitcoin ŕťŕşŕşąŕşŕşŞŕş´ŕşŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕşľŕťŕşĄŕşľŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşĄŕşŞŕťŕş˝ŕşŕşŞŕşšŕş ŕťŕşŕşˇŕťŕşŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşĄŕşľŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕťŕş˝ŕşŕťŕşŕşŕşĽŕş˛ŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşľŕťŕşŽŕş¸ŕşŕťŕşŽŕşŕťŕşĽŕş°ŕşŕş§ŕťŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşŕťŕşŕťŕşĽŕşŕş°ŕşŞŕşąŕťŕşŕť. ŕťŕşŕťŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşĄŕşŕş´ŕşŕťŕşĽŕťŕş§ ŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşĄŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕş§ŕşŕşŕşŕş Bitcoin ŕťŕşĄŕťŕşŕşŕş¸ŕşŕşĽŕşąŕşŕşŞŕş°ŕşŕş°ŕşŕş´ŕťŕşŞŕşŕşŕşľŕťŕşŞŕşłŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕşŕşŕşĄŕşąŕş ŕşŕťŕťŕťŕşĄŕťŕşŕşŕťŕťŕşŕşťŕşŕşŕťŕşŕş.
ຼາŕşŕş˛ŕťŕşĄŕťŕşŕşŤŕşŕşąŕş?
ŕťŕşŕşˇŕťŕşŕťŕşŕşťŕťŕş˛ŕťŕşŕťŕşĽŕşˇŕťŕşŕşŕşŕşľŕťŕşŕşľŕşŕşśŕťŕş ŕťŕşŽŕşťŕş˛ŕşŕťŕşŕşŕťŕşŕşťŕťŕş˛ŕťŕşŕşŕťŕşŕşŕş§ŕťŕş˛ŕşĽŕş˛ŕşŕş˛ŕťŕş˛ŕşŕťŕşŕş´ŕşŕşŤŕşŕşąŕş. ຼາŕşŕş˛ŕťŕşĄŕťŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŞŕş°ŕşŕťŕşŕşŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşĄŕşŕş´ŕşŕťŕşŤŕşąŕşŕťŕşĽŕş°ŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş°ŕťŕşĄŕşľŕşŕşĄŕşšŕşŕşŕťŕş˛ŕşŕşŕşŕşŕşšŕťŕşŕşˇŕťŕťŕşĽŕş°ŕşŕşšŕťŕşŕş˛ŕşŕťŕşŕťŕş§ŕşĽŕş˛ŕťŕşŕťŕşśŕťŕş. ŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕşąŕşŕşŞŕş´ŕşŕťŕşŕşŕşˇŕťŕşŤŕşźŕşˇŕşŕş˛ŕşŕťŕşŕşĽŕş˛ŕşŕş˛ŕťŕşŕťŕşśŕťŕş ŕşŕťŕťŕşĄŕťŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŞŕşˇŕťŕşŞŕş˛ŕşŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕş°ŕşŤŕşźŕş˛ŕş ŕťŕşĽŕş°ŕşŕşťŕşŕťŕşŕşŕşŕşŕşŕş°ŕşŤŕşźŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş°ŕşŕťŕşťŕşŕşŤŕş˛ŕťŕşĽŕş°ŕşŕťŕş˛ŕşŕşťŕşŕşĽŕş˛ŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşľŕťŕťŕşŕťŕşŕş´ŕşŕşŕşŕşŕşŞŕş´ŕşŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕşąŕťŕş.
ŕťŕşŕşąŕşŕşŤŕşŕşąŕş Bitcoin ŕşŕşśŕťŕşŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕş§ŕş?
Bitcoin ŕşŕşˇŕşŕşŞŕťŕş˛ŕşŕşŕşśŕťŕşŕşŕşťŕşŕşŕşˇŕťŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş´ŕşŕťŕşŕşľŕťŕşŕşąŕş ŕťŕşŽŕşąŕşŕťŕşŤŕťŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŞŕşˇŕťŕşŞŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşĄŕşŕş´ŕşŕťŕşŤŕşąŕşŕşŕşŕşŕşŕşšŕťŕşŕşťŕşŕşŞŕş˛ŕşĄŕş˛ŕşŕťŕşŽŕşąŕşŕťŕşŕťŕş˘ŕťŕş˛ŕşŕťŕş§ŕş§ŕş˛. ŕşŕş´ŕťŕşŕťŕşŕşŕş§ŕťŕş˛ŕşŕşąŕťŕş Bitcoin ລ຾ຼູŕşŕşŞŕş°ŕşŕş°ŕşŕş°ŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŞŕşšŕş (decentralized) ŕťŕşĽŕş°ŕşŕťŕťŕşĄŕşľŕşŕşšŕťŕşŕş§ŕşŕşŕş¸ŕşĄŕşŞŕşšŕşŕşŕş˛ŕş ŕşŕşśŕťŕşŕťŕşŽŕşąŕşŕťŕşŤŕťŕşŕşťŕşŕşŞŕş˛ŕşĄŕş˛ŕşŕşŕşąŕşŕşŞŕş´ŕşŕťŕşŕşŕşˇŕťŕşŕş˛ŕşŕťŕşŕťŕş˘ŕťŕş˛ŕşŕťŕş§ŕş§ŕş˛.
ສິŕťŕşŕşŕşľŕťŕťŕşŽŕşąŕşŕťŕşŤŕťŕşĽŕş˛ŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş Bitcoin ສາລາŕşŕşŞŕş°ŕşŕťŕşŕşŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşĄŕşŕş´ŕşŕťŕşŤŕşąŕşŕşŕşŕşŕşŕşťŕşŕťŕşŕťŕťŕşŕşŕťŕş§ŕşĽŕş˛ŕşŕş´ŕş (real-time). ŕťŕşĽŕş°ŕťŕşŕşˇŕťŕşŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşĄŕş°ŕşŕş¸ŕşŕťŕşŽŕşťŕş˛ŕşĄŕşľŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşĄŕşŕş´ŕşŕşŕşľŕťŕşŕťŕťŕťŕşŕťŕşŕşŕş ລ຾ŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕťŕş˝ŕşŕťŕşŕş ຼາŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş Bitcoin ŕşŕşśŕťŕşŕşŕťŕş˝ŕşŕťŕşŕşŕťŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşĄŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşĄŕşŕş´ŕşŕťŕşŤŕşąŕşŕşĽŕş§ŕşĄŕşŕşŕşŕşŕşšŕťŕşŕşťŕşŕťŕşŕşŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕşľ.
ŕşŕşąŕşŕťŕşŕşŕşľŕťŕťŕşŕşľŕťŕşĄŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşĄŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕş§ŕş:
ŕşŕş°ŕťŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş°ŕşŤŕşźŕş˛ŕşŕşŕşľŕťŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕťŕşŕş: ŕťŕşĄŕşˇŕťŕşŕşŕş˝ŕşŕşŕş˝ŕşŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕş°ŕşŤŕşźŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşŕťŕşŕş´ŕşŕťŕşŕşŕşŕşąŕťŕşŕťŕşŕşľŕşĄ ŕşŕş°ŕşŤŕşźŕş˛ŕş Bitcoin ŕşŕşąŕşŕşĄŕşľŕşŕş°ŕťŕş˛ŕşŕşŕťŕşŕş ŕťŕşŽŕşąŕşŕťŕşŤŕťŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕşˇŕťŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕşłŕşŕş§ŕşŕťŕşŤŕşŕťŕşŞŕş˛ŕşĄŕş˛ŕşŕşŞŕşťŕťŕşŕşŕşťŕşŕşŕş°ŕşŕşťŕşŕşŕťŕťŕşĽŕş˛ŕşŕş˛ŕťŕşŕťŕşŤŕşźŕş˛ŕş.
ŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕťŕş˛ŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş°ŕşŤŕşźŕşŕş 24/7: ŕşŕťŕťŕťŕşŤŕşĄŕşˇŕşŕşŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕş°ŕşŤŕşźŕş˛ŕşŕşŤŕşźŕşąŕşŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕşľŕťŕşĄŕşľŕťŕş§ŕşĽŕş˛ŕťŕşŕşľŕşŕşŕş´ŕş Bitcoin ສາລາŕşŕşŕşˇŕťŕşŕş˛ŕşŕťŕşŕťŕşŕş°ŕşŤŕşźŕşŕşŕťŕş§ŕşĽŕş˛ ŕťŕşŽŕşąŕşŕťŕşŤŕťŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕťŕş˝ŕşŕťŕşŕşŕşĽŕş˛ŕşŕş˛ŕşŞŕş˛ŕşĄŕş˛ŕşŕťŕşŕşľŕşŕşŕşśŕťŕşŕťŕşŕťŕşŕş¸ŕşŕťŕş§ŕşĽŕş˛.
ŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş˝ŕşŕşŕş˝ŕşŕşŕşąŕşŕşŞŕş´ŕşŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕşˇŕťŕş
ŕťŕşĄŕşˇŕťŕşŕşŕş˝ŕşŕşŕş˝ŕşŕşŕşąŕşŕşŞŕş´ŕşŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕşˇŕťŕşŕşŕşľŕťŕşĄŕşľŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş§ŕşŕşŕş¸ŕşĄ ŕťŕşŕşąŕťŕş ສະŕşŕş¸ŕşŕťŕşŕş´ŕşŕşŕťŕşŕşŕşŕş´ŕťŕşŕşŤŕşźŕşˇŕşŕşŕşŕşŕşł ŕşŕşľŕťŕťŕşŕş´ŕťŕşŕşŕşˇŕş§ŕťŕş˛ŕşĄŕşľŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşĄŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕş§ŕşŕťŕťŕşŕşŕşŕş§ŕťŕş˛ Bitcoin ŕşŕşąŕťŕş ŕşŕťŕťŕťŕşĄŕťŕşŕşŤŕşĄŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşĄŕş§ŕťŕş˛ŕşŕş§ŕşŕşĄŕşąŕşŕşŕťŕťŕşĄŕşľŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşĄŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕş§ŕş. ŕťŕşŕťŕťŕşŕşąŕşŕťŕşŕş˛ŕş°ŕşĄŕşľŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş§ŕşŕşŕş¸ŕşĄŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕşťŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŞŕşšŕşŕşŕş˛ŕş ŕťŕşŽŕşąŕşŕťŕşŤŕťŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŞŕşˇŕťŕşŞŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşĄŕşŕş´ŕşŕťŕşŤŕşąŕşŕşŕşŕşŕşŕşťŕşŕťŕşŕşŽŕşŕşŕşŕş°ŕşŤŕşźŕş˛ŕşŕşŕťŕťŕťŕşŕşŕťŕş§ŕşĽŕş˛ŕşŕş´ŕş.
ŕşŕşąŕťŕşŕşŕşąŕťŕş ສິŕťŕşŕşŕşľŕťŕťŕşŽŕşťŕş˛ŕťŕşŤŕşąŕşŕťŕşĄŕťŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕťŕş˛ (delay) ŕťŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŞŕş°ŕťŕşŕşŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşĄŕşŕş´ŕşŕťŕşŤŕşąŕşŕşŕşľŕťŕťŕşŕťŕşŕş´ŕşŕşŕşŕşŕşĄŕş˛ŕťŕşŕşťŕťŕş˛ŕşŕşąŕťŕş ŕşŕťŕťŕťŕşĄŕťŕşŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşĄŕťŕşąŕťŕşŕşŕşťŕşŕşŕşŕşŕşĄŕşšŕşŕşŕťŕş˛.
ŕşŕşťŕşŕťŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş§ŕşŕşŕş¸ŕşĄŕťŕşĽŕş°ŕşŕşťŕşŕşŕş°ŕşŕşťŕş:
ສະŕşŕş¸ŕşŕťŕşŕş´ŕş: ŕşŕş°ŕşŕş˛ŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŞŕş˛ŕşĄŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş´ŕşĄŕťŕşŕş´ŕş ŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕşŕťŕşŕşľŕťŕş ŕťŕşĽŕş°ŕťŕşŕşŕťŕşŕşŕşŕş°ŕşŤŕşźŕş˛ŕş ŕťŕşŽŕşąŕşŕťŕşŤŕťŕşĽŕş˛ŕşŕş˛ŕşŕťŕťŕşŞŕş°ŕşŕťŕşŕşŕşĄŕşšŕşŕşŕťŕş˛ŕşŕşľŕťŕťŕşŕťŕşŕş´ŕşŕťŕşŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕşľ.
ຍຟູŕşŕşŕşąŕş: ລ຾ຼະŕşŕş˝ŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŤŕşźŕş˛ŕşŕş˘ŕťŕş˛ŕş ŕťŕşŕşąŕťŕş ŕşŕş˛ŕşŕş˘ŕş¸ŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕşˇŕťŕşŕş˛ŕşŕťŕşĄŕşˇŕťŕşŕşĽŕş˛ŕşŕş˛ŕşŕťŕş˝ŕşŕťŕşŕşŕşŤŕşźŕş˛ŕşŕťŕşŕşľŕşŕťŕş (circuit breakers) ŕşŕşľŕťŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŞŕş°ŕťŕşŕşŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşĄŕşŕş´ŕşŕťŕşŤŕşąŕşŕşŕşľŕťŕťŕşŕťŕşŕş´ŕş.
ŕşŕşŕşŕşŕşł: ŕşŕşśŕşŕťŕşĄŕťŕşŕşŕş°ŕťŕşŕşąŕşŕşŞŕş´ŕşŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕşľŕťŕşŕťŕťŕşĄŕşľŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş§ŕşŕşŕş¸ŕşĄ ŕťŕşŕťŕşŕş°ŕşŤŕşźŕş˛ŕşŕşŕşŕşŕşŕşłŕşĄŕşľŕşŕş°ŕťŕş˛ŕşŕťŕşŤŕşŕťŕşŕş§ŕťŕş˛ Bitcoin ຍຟາຠŕťŕşĽŕş°ŕşĄŕşľŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕťŕş˛ŕťŕşŕşŕşŕşąŕťŕşŕťŕşŕşľŕşĄŕşŕşľŕťŕşŕťŕş˛ŕşŕş§ŕťŕş˛.
ŕşŕşťŕşŕşŞŕş°ŕşŤŕşźŕş¸ŕş
ŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş˝ŕşŕşŕş˝ŕşŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşĄŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕş§ŕşŕşĽŕş°ŕşŤŕş§ŕťŕş˛ŕş Bitcoin ŕťŕşĽŕş°ŕşŞŕş´ŕşŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕşˇŕťŕşŕť ŕťŕşŕşŕťŕşŕťŕťŕşĽŕşŕş°ŕťŕş§ŕşĽŕş˛ŕşŞŕşąŕťŕşŕşŕşąŕťŕş ŕşŕťŕťŕşĄŕşľŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşĄŕşŞŕşťŕşĄŕťŕşŤŕşŕşŞŕşťŕşĄŕşŕşťŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşŕťŕş ŕťŕşŕş˛ŕş°ŕş§ŕťŕş˛ŕşŕşąŕşŕťŕşŕťŕşĽŕşˇŕťŕşŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕťŕş˛ŕťŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŞŕş°ŕťŕşŕşŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşĄŕşŕş´ŕşŕťŕşŤŕşąŕşŕşŕşľŕťŕťŕşĄŕťŕşŕşŞŕş´ŕťŕşŕşŞŕşłŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕşľŕťŕşŞŕşťŕťŕşŕşŕşťŕşŕşŕťŕťŕşĽŕş˛ŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşľŕťŕťŕşŕťŕşŕş´ŕş.
ສິŕťŕşŕşŕşľŕťŕşŕş§ŕşŕťŕşŽŕşąŕşŕťŕşŕťŕťŕťŕşĄŕťŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕşłŕťŕşŕşťŕş˛ŕşŕşŕşŕťŕş§ŕşĽŕş˛ŕşŕşľŕťŕşŕş§ŕťŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş§ŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş§ŕťŕş˛ŕşĄŕş˛ŕş§ŕş´ŕťŕşŕş˛ŕş° ŕťŕşŕşąŕťŕş ŕťŕşŕşąŕşŕşŕşľŕşŤŕşźŕşˇŕşŤŕşźŕş˛ŕşŕşŕşľ ŕťŕşĽŕťŕş§ŕşŕşśŕťŕşŕşŕş˝ŕşŕşŕş˝ŕş. ŕşŕťŕş§ŕşŕş§ŕş´ŕşŕşľŕşŕşľŕť ŕťŕşŽŕşťŕş˛ŕşŕşśŕťŕşŕşŕş°ŕťŕşŤŕşąŕşŕşŕş°ŕşŞŕş´ŕşŕşŕş´ŕşŕşťŕşŕťŕşĽŕş°ŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕşłŕťŕşŕşľŕşŕşŕş˛ŕşŕşŕşľŕťŕťŕşŕťŕşŕş´ŕşŕşŕşŕş Bitcoin ŕťŕşŕťŕş˘ŕťŕş˛ŕşŕşŕş°ŕťŕşŕťŕş
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2025-02-04 08:29:00President Trump has started rolling out his tariffs, something I blogged about in November. People are talking about these tariffs a lot right now, with many people (correctly) commenting on how consumers will end up with higher prices as a result of these tariffs. While that part is true, Iâve seen a lot of people taking it to the next, incorrect step: that consumers will pay the entirety of the tax. I put up a poll on X to see what people thought, and while the right answer got a lot of votes, it wasn't the winner.
For purposes of this blog post, our ultimate question will be the following:
- Suppose apples currently sell for $1 each in the entire United States.
- There are domestic sellers and foreign sellers of apples, all receiving the same price.
- There are no taxes or tariffs on the purchase of apples.
- The question is: if the US federal government puts a $0.50 import tariff per apple, what will be the change in the following:
- Number of apples bought in the US
- Price paid by buyers for apples in the US
- Post-tax price received by domestic apple producers
- Post-tax price received by foreign apple producers
Before we can answer that question, we need to ask an easier, first question: before instituting the tariff, why do apples cost $1?
And finally, before we dive into the details, let me provide you with the answers to the ultimate question. I recommend you try to guess these answers before reading this, and if you get it wrong, try to understand why:
- The number of apples bought will go down
- The buyers will pay more for each apple they buy, but not the full amount of the tariff
- Domestic apple sellers will receive a higher price per apple
- Foreign apple sellers will receive a lower price per apple, but not lowered by the full amount of the tariff
In other words, regardless of who sends the payment to the government, both taxed parties (domestic buyers and foreign sellers) will absorb some of the costs of the tariff, while domestic sellers will benefit from the protectionism provided by tariffs and be able to sell at a higher price per unit.
Marginal benefit
All of the numbers discussed below are part of a helper Google Sheet I put together for this analysis. Also, apologies about the jagged lines in the charts below, I hadnât realized before starting on this that there are some difficulties with creating supply and demand charts in Google Sheets.
Letâs say I absolutely love apples, theyâre my favorite food. How much would I be willing to pay for a single apple? You might say â$1, thatâs the price in the supermarket,â and in many ways youâd be right. If I walk into supermarket A, see apples on sale for $50, and know that I can buy them at supermarket B for $1, Iâll almost certainly leave A and go buy at B.
But thatâs not what I mean. What I mean is: how high would the price of apples have to go everywhere so that Iâd no longer be willing to buy a single apple? This is a purely personal, subjective opinion. Itâs impacted by how much money I have available, other expenses I need to cover, and how much I like apples. But letâs say the number is $5.
How much would I be willing to pay for another apple? Maybe another $5. But how much am I willing to pay for the 1,000th apple? 10,000th? At some point, Iâll get sick of apples, or run out of space to keep the apples, or not be able to eat, cook, and otherwise preserve all those apples before they rot.
The point being: Iâll be progressively willing to spend less and less money for each apple. This form of analysis is called marginal benefit: how much benefit (expressed as dollars Iâm willing to spend) will I receive from each apple? This is a downward sloping function: for each additional apple I buy (quantity demanded), the price Iâm willing to pay goes down. This is what gives my personal demand curve. And if we aggregate demand curves across all market participants (meaning: everyone interested in buying apples), we end up with something like this:
Assuming no changes in peopleâs behavior and other conditions in the market, this chart tells us how many apples will be purchased by our buyers at each price point between $0.50 and $5. And ceteris paribus (all else being equal), this will continue to be the demand curve for apples.
Marginal cost
Demand is half the story of economics. The other half is supply, or: how many apples will I sell at each price point? Supply curves are upward sloping: the higher the price, the more a person or company is willing and able to sell a product.
Letâs understand why. Suppose I have an apple orchard. Itâs a large property right next to my house. With about 2 minutes of effort, I can walk out of my house, find the nearest tree, pick 5 apples off the tree, and call it a day. 5 apples for 2 minutes of effort is pretty good, right?
Yes, there was all the effort necessary to buy the land, and plant the trees, and water them⌠and a bunch more than I likely canât even guess at. Weâre going to ignore all of that for our analysis, because for short-term supply-and-demand movement, we can ignore these kinds of sunk costs. One other simplification: in reality, supply curves often start descending before ascending. This accounts for achieving efficiencies of scale after the first number of units purchased. But since both these topics are unneeded for understanding taxes, I wonât go any further.
Anyway, back to my apple orchard. If someone offers me $0.50 per apple, I can do 2 minutes of effort and get $2.50 in revenue, which equates to a $75/hour wage for me. Iâm more than happy to pick apples at that price!
However, letâs say someone comes to buy 10,000 apples from me instead. I no longer just walk out to my nearest tree. Iâm going to need to get in my truck, drive around, spend the day in the sun, pay for gas, take a day off of my day job (letâs say it pays me $70/hour). The costs go up significantly. Letâs say it takes 5 days to harvest all those apples myself, it costs me $100 in fuel and other expenses, and I lose out on my $70/hour job for 5 days. We end up with:
- Total expenditure: $100 + $70 * 8 hours a day * 5 days \== $2900
- Total revenue: $5000 (10,000 apples at $0.50 each)
- Total profit: $2100
So Iâm still willing to sell the apples at this price, but itâs not as attractive as before. And as the number of apples purchased goes up, my costs keep increasing. Iâll need to spend more money on fuel to travel more of my property. At some point I wonât be able to do the work myself anymore, so Iâll need to pay others to work on the farm, and theyâll be slower at picking apples than me (less familiar with the property, less direct motivation, etc.). The point being: at some point, the number of apples can go high enough that the $0.50 price point no longer makes me any money.
This kind of analysis is called marginal cost. It refers to the additional amount of expenditure a seller has to spend in order to produce each additional unit of the good. Marginal costs go up as quantity sold goes up. And like demand curves, if you aggregate this data across all sellers, you get a supply curve like this:
Equilibrium price
We now know, for every price point, how many apples buyers will purchase, and how many apples sellers will sell. Now we find the equilibrium: where the supply and demand curves meet. This point represents where the marginal benefit a buyer would receive from the next buyer would be less than the cost it would take the next seller to make it. Letâs see it in a chart:
Youâll notice that these two graphs cross at the $1 price point, where 63 apples are both demanded (bought by consumers) and supplied (sold by producers). This is our equilibrium price. We also have a visualization of the surplus created by these trades. Everything to the left of the equilibrium point and between the supply and demand curves represents surplus: an area where someone is receiving something of more value than they give. For example:
- When I bought my first apple for $1, but I was willing to spend $5, I made $4 of consumer surplus. The consumer portion of the surplus is everything to the left of the equilibrium point, between the supply and demand curves, and above the equilibrium price point.
- When a seller sells his first apple for $1, but it only cost $0.50 to produce it, the seller made $0.50 of producer surplus. The producer portion of the surplus is everything to the left of the equilibrium point, between the supply and demand curves, and below the equilibrium price point.
Another way of thinking of surplus is âevery time someone got a better price than they would have been willing to take.â
OK, with this in place, we now have enough information to figure out how to price in the tariff, which weâll treat as a negative externality.
Modeling taxes
Alright, the government has now instituted a $0.50 tariff on every apple sold within the US by a foreign producer. We can generally model taxes by either increasing the marginal cost of each unit sold (shifting the supply curve up), or by decreasing the marginal benefit of each unit bought (shifting the demand curve down). In this case, since only some of the producers will pay the tax, it makes more sense to modify the supply curve.
First, letâs see what happens to the foreign seller-only supply curve when you add in the tariff:
With the tariff in place, for each quantity level, the price at which the seller will sell is $0.50 higher than before the tariff. That makes sense: if I was previously willing to sell my 82nd apple for $3, I would now need to charge $3.50 for that apple to cover the cost of the tariff. We see this as the tariff âpushing upâ or âpushing leftâ the original supply curve.
We can add this new supply curve to our existing (unchanged) supply curve for domestic-only sellers, and we end up with a result like this:
The total supply curve adds up the individual foreign and domestic supply curves. At each price point, we add up the total quantity each group would be willing to sell to determine the total quantity supplied for each price point. Once we have that cumulative supply curve defined, we can produce an updated supply-and-demand chart including the tariff:
As we can see, the equilibrium has shifted:
- The equilibrium price paid by consumers has risen from $1 to $1.20.
- The total number of apples purchased has dropped from 63 apples to 60 apples.
- Consumers therefore received 3 less apples. They spent $72 for these 60 apples, whereas previously they spent $63 for 3 more apples, a definite decrease in consumer surplus.
- Foreign producers sold 36 of those apples (see the raw data in the linked Google Sheet), for a gross revenue of $43.20. However, they also need to pay the tariff to the US government, which accounts for $18, meaning they only receive $25.20 post-tariff. Previously, they sold 42 apples at $1 each with no tariff to be paid, meaning they took home $42.
- Domestic producers sold the remaining 24 apples at $1.20, giving them a revenue of $28.80. Since they donât pay the tariff, they take home all of that money. By contrast, previously, they sold 21 apples at $1, for a take-home of $21.
- The government receives $0.50 for each of the 60 apples sold, or in other words receives $30 in revenue it wouldnât have received otherwise.
We could be more specific about the surpluses, and calculate the actual areas for consumer surplus, producer surplus, inefficiency from the tariff, and government revenue from the tariff. But I wonât bother, as those calculations get slightly more involved. Instead, letâs just look at the aggregate outcomes:
- Consumers were unquestionably hurt. Their price paid went up by $0.20 per apple, and received less apples.
- Foreign producers were also hurt. Their price received went down from the original $1 to the new post-tariff price of $1.20, minus the $0.50 tariff. In other words: foreign producers only receive $0.70 per apple now. This hurt can be mitigated by shifting sales to other countries without a tariff, but the pain will exist regardless.
- Domestic producers scored. They can sell less apples and make more revenue doing it.
- And the government walked away with an extra $30.
Hopefully you now see the answer to the original questions. Importantly, while the government imposed a $0.50 tariff, neither side fully absorbed that cost. Consumers paid a bit more, foreign producers received a bit less. The exact details of how that tariff was split across the groups is mediated by the relevant supply and demand curves of each group. If you want to learn more about this, the relevant search term is âprice elasticity,â or how much a groupâs quantity supplied or demanded will change based on changes in the price.
Other taxes
Most taxes are some kind of a tax on trade. Tariffs on apples is an obvious one. But the same applies to income tax (taxing the worker for the trade of labor for money) or payroll tax (same thing, just taxing the employer instead). Interestingly, you can use the same model for analyzing things like tax incentives. For example, if the government decided to subsidize domestic apple production by giving the domestic producers a $0.50 bonus for each apple they sell, we would end up with a similar kind of analysis, except instead of the foreign supply curve shifting up, weâd see the domestic supply curve shifting down.
And generally speaking, this is what youâll always see with government involvement in the economy. It will result in disrupting an existing equilibrium, letting the market readjust to a new equilibrium, and incentivization of some behavior, causing some people to benefit and others to lose out. We saw with the apple tariff, domestic producers and the government benefited while others lost.
You can see the reverse though with tax incentives. If I give a tax incentive of providing a deduction (not paying income tax) for preschool, we would end up with:
- Government needs to make up the difference in tax revenue, either by raising taxes on others or printing more money (leading to inflation). Either way, those paying the tax or those holding government debased currency will pay a price.
- Those people who donât use the preschool deduction will receive no benefit, so they simply pay a cost.
- Those who do use the preschool deduction will end up paying less on tax+preschool than they would have otherwise.
This analysis is fully amoral. Itâs not saying whether providing subsidized preschool is a good thing or not, it simply tells you where the costs will be felt, and points out that such government interference in free economic choice does result in inefficiencies in the system. Once you have that knowledge, youâre more well educated on making a decision about whether the costs of government intervention are worth the benefits.
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@ 9e69e420:d12360c2
2025-02-01 11:16:04Federal employees must remove pronouns from email signatures by the end of the day. This directive comes from internal memos tied to two executive orders signed by Donald Trump. The orders target diversity and equity programs within the government.
CDC, Department of Transportation, and Department of Energy employees were affected. Staff were instructed to make changes in line with revised policy prohibiting certain language.
One CDC employee shared frustration, stating, âIn my decade-plus years at CDC, I've never been told what I can and can't put in my email signature.â The directive is part of a broader effort to eliminate DEI initiatives from federal discourse.
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@ eb0157af:77ab6c55
2025-05-24 18:01:11The exchange reveals the extent of the breach that occurred last December as federal authorities investigate the recent data leak.
Coinbase has disclosed that the personal data of 69,461 users was compromised during the breach in December 2024, according to documentation filed with the Maine Attorney Generalâs Office.
The disclosure comes after Coinbase announced last week that a group of hackers had demanded a $20 million ransom, threatening to publish the stolen data on the dark web. The attackers allegedly bribed overseas customer service agents to extract information from the companyâs systems.
Coinbase had previously stated that the breach affected less than 1% of its user base, compromising KYC (Know Your Customer) data such as names, addresses, and email addresses. In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company clarified that passwords, private keys, and user funds were not affected.
Following the reports, the SEC has reportedly opened an official investigation to verify whether Coinbase may have inflated user metrics ahead of its 2021 IPO. Separately, the Department of Justice is investigating the breach at Coinbaseâs request, according to CEO Brian Armstrong.
Meanwhile, Coinbase has faced criticism for its delayed response to the data breach. Michael Arrington, founder of TechCrunch, stated that the stolen data could cause irreparable harm. In a post on X, Arrington wrote:
âThe human cost, denominated in misery, is much larger than the $400m or so they think it will actually cost the company to reimburse people. The consequences to companies who do not adequately protect their customer information should include, without limitation, prison time for executives.â
Coinbase estimates the incident could cost between $180 million and $400 million in remediation expenses and customer reimbursements.
Arrington also condemned KYC laws as ineffective and dangerous, calling on both regulators and companies to better protect user data:
âCombining these KYC laws with corporate profit maximization and lax laws on penalties for hacks like these means these issues will continue to happen. Both governments and corporations need to step up to stop this. As I said, the cost can only be measured in human suffering.â
The post Coinbase: 69,461 users affected by December 2024 data breach appeared first on Atlas21.
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@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d
2025-05-24 10:01:37Bitcoin-focused investment firm Twenty One Capital has made headlines after buying 4,812 BTC worth $458.7 million, making it the third-largest corporate holder of the scarce digital asset.
The move is a big and public one towards becoming the âultimate Bitcoin investment vehicleâ according to its leadership, and is turning heads in both bitcoin and tradfi world.
Tether, the issuer of the worldâs largest stablecoin, bought the bitcoin on behalf of Twenty One Capital.
According to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on May 13, Tether acquired the bitcoin on May 9 at an average price of $95,319 per coin.
Twenty One Capital was launched in April 2025 through a SPAC merger with Cantor Equity Partners, a Cayman Islands-based firm affiliated with Wall Street giant Cantor Fitzgerald. The company is backed by Tether, Bitfinex exchange and Japanese investment giant SoftBank.
Related: Cantor Fitzgerald, Tether and SoftBank Launch $3B Bitcoin Venture
The firm is led by Jack Mallers, founder of the bitcoin payments app Strike, who has been vocal about bitcoin business models.
âWe want to be the ultimate vehicle for the capital markets to participate in Bitcoin⌠building on top of Bitcoin,â said Mallers in an interview. âSo we are a Bitcoin business at our core.â
At launch, Twenty One Capital had 31,500 bitcoin on the balance sheet with plans to get to at least 42,000 BTC.
The breakdown of that initial allocation was 23,950 BTC from Tether, 10,500 BTC from SoftBank and about 7,000 BTC from Bitfinexâall to be converted into equity at $10 per share.
The company is openly modeling its strategy after what Bitcoiners call âSaylorizationââa term coined after Michael Saylor, executive chairman of Strategy, who started large-scale bitcoin accumulation by corporations in 2020.
âTwenty One Capital isnât just stacking sats,â said Bitcoin advocate Max Keiser, âItâs leading a generational shift in corporate capital allocation ⌠Jack Mallers is taking the Saylor playbook and turning it into an arms race.â
The strategy is simple: use bitcoin per share as a metric instead of earnings per share, prioritize bitcoin accumulation over short-term profits, and use the capital markets to fund purchases. Mallers said:
âWe do intend to raise as much capital as we possibly can to acquire bitcoin. We will never have bitcoin per share negative⌠Our intent is to make sure when you are a shareholder of Twenty One that you are getting wealthier in Bitcoin terms.â
The bitcoin purchase was made at a time of growing market momentum.
On May 14, bitcoin hit $105,000 briefly before settling at around $104,000âa 7.5% gain in the past week. Retail buying has also picked up, with purchases under $10,000 up 3.4% over two weeks, suggesting continued bullishness.
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@ a296b972:e5a7a2e8
2025-05-24 09:35:09âAaaach, was fĂźr ein herrlicher Tag!â
In Berlin geht man hochmotiviert an die Arbeit, in der tiefen Ăberzeugung stets die richtigen Entscheidungen zu treffen, die Steuern der Einzahler ausschlieĂlich fĂźr wohlĂźberlegte, notwendige Investitionen auszugeben und Entscheidungen zu treffen, die im dem Umfeld, in dem man sich bewegt, als hĂśchst sinnvoll erachtet werden. Zustimmung von allen Seiten, dann muss es ja richtig sein.
Man fährt im Dienstwagen ins Regierungsviertel, sieht die vielen geschäftigen Menschen, wie sie ebenfalls zur Arbeit eilen. Man freut sich darßber, dass alles so gut läuft, dank der ßberragenden Kompetenz, die man einbringen darf und die das alles ermÜglicht.
In Gedanken klopft man sich auf die Schulter und sagt sich im Stillen: âBist schon ein geiler Typ, der richtig was bewegen kann, bewegen kann.â
Man hat auch schon erkannt, dass die zunehmende Kriminalität, vorzugsweise mit einem unsachgemäà gebrauchten Messer, durch den schlechten Einfluss der sozialen Medien entstanden ist und schon entsprechende MaĂnahmen auf den Weg gebracht, um das durch geleitete MeinungsäuĂerungen, selbstverständlich zum Wohle aller, zu unterbinden. Man ist ja nicht umsonst in diese verantwortungsvolle Position gelangt. âEndlich am Ziel!â
âMesserattacken sind unschĂśn, unschĂśn, aber man muss auch berĂźcksichtigen, dass viele der Attentäter und Attentäterinnen in ihren Herkunftsländern Schlimmes erlebt haben und dadurch traumatisiert wurden. Den betroffenen Traumaopfern kann ja nichts Besseres passieren, als in eine deutsche Psychiatrie zu kommen, wo sie die allerbeste Therapie erfahren, um wieder glĂźckliche Menschen der Gesellschaft zu werden.
**Â **
Und jeder, der nicht die groĂe soziale Aufgabe erkennt, die wir uns gestellt haben und auch effizient umsetzen, muss es eben noch besser erklärt bekommen, erklärt bekommen. Daran mĂźssen wir noch arbeiten. (Muss ich mir notieren, damit ich meinem Sekretär die Anweisung erteile, das in die Wege zu leiten). Und jeder, der sich dagegen sträubt, zeigt damit eindeutig, dass er zum rechten Rand gehĂśrt. Was denen nur einfällt? Da mĂźssen klare Zeichen gesetzt werden, und das muss unter allen Umständen unterbunden werden, unterbunden werden.
**Â **
Sowas schadet der Demokratie, es delegitimiert sieâ.
Zum Schutz der braven BĂźrger arbeitet man auch fleiĂig daran, Deutschland, in neuem Selbstbewusstsein, zur stärksten Kraft in Europa zu machen. Mit der Stationierung von deutschen Soldaten an der Ostfront, pardon, an der Ostflanke, zeigt man dem bĂśsen, aggressiven Russen schon mal, was eine Harke ist. âUnd das ist ja erst der Anfang, der Anfang. Warte nur ab!â
âWas noch? Ach ja, die Wirtschaft. Solange die nicht auf die Barrikaden geht, das sehe ich derzeit nicht, scheint es ja noch keinen akuten Handlungsbedarf zu geben. Darum kĂźmmern wir uns später. Immerhin halten sich die Wirtschaftsprognosen in einem akzeptablen Rahmen und die Priorität (die kann auch nicht jeder richtig setzen) der Investitionen muss derzeit auf dem wichtigsten Bereich, der AufrĂźstung liegen, AufrĂźstung liegen. SchlieĂlich werden wir bald angegriffen.
**Â **
Ich darf nicht vergessen, meinen Sekretär zu beauftragen, meine Bestellung im Feinkostladen abholen zu lassen, sonst gibtâs Zuhause Ărger. Ach ja, und die AnzĂźge und die Wäsche muss auch noch aus der Reinigung abgeholt werden. Darf ich nicht vergessen, nicht vergessen.
**Â **
Wie viele Reinigungen gäbe es nicht, wenn wir Politiker nicht wären, nicht wären. Viele sichere Arbeitsplätze, gut so!
**Â **
Was, schon da? Das ging aber heute schnell. Kein Stau. Ja, der Chauffeur ist schon ein Guter, der weiĂ, wo man lang muss, um Baustellen zu umfahren. Allerdings muss ich ihm bei nächster Gelegenheit noch einmal deutlich sagen, dass er bitte die Sitzheizung frĂźher anzuschalten hat, anzuschalten hat! Dass der sich das immer noch nicht gemerkt hat, unmĂśglich!â
Wen wundert es, wenn in dieser Wonnewelt der Selbstßberschätzung von Unsererdemokratie gesprochen wird, so entrßckt vom Alltag, in einem Raumschiff, dass vÜllig losgelÜst von der Realität ßber allem schwebt.
âIch mĂźsste ja verrĂźckt sein, wenn ich an diesen Zuständen etwas ändern wollte. Warum auch, es läuft doch und mir geht es doch gut. Ich habe ein gutes Einkommen, kann mir allerhand leisten, Haus ist bezahlt, Frau ist gut untergebracht, Kinder sind versorgt, wie die Zeit vergeht. Und wenn ich mal ausscheide, erhalte ich weiter meine BezĂźge und muss nicht an mein VermĂśgen ran, man will ja auch den Kindern was hinterlassen. Schadet ja nicht, wenn ich mich etwas einschränke, und der eine oder andere Job wird schon an mich herangetragen werden, schlieĂlich habe ich ja erstklassige Kontakte, die dem einen oder anderen sicher etwas wert sein werden.
**Â **
Na, dann wollân wir mal wieder, wollân wir mal wieder!â
Dieser Artikel wurde mit dem Pareto-Client geschrieben
*Â *
(Bild von pixabay)
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@ 9e69e420:d12360c2
2025-01-25 22:16:54President Trump plans to withdraw 20,000 U.S. troops from Europe and expects European allies to contribute financially to the remaining military presence. Reported by ANSA, Trump aims to deliver this message to European leaders since taking office. A European diplomat noted, âthe costs cannot be borne solely by American taxpayers.â
The Pentagon hasn't commented yet. Trump has previously sought lower troop levels in Europe and had ordered cuts during his first term. The U.S. currently maintains around 65,000 troops in Europe, with total forces reaching 100,000 since the Ukraine invasion. Trump's new approach may shift military focus to the Pacific amid growing concerns about China.
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@ eb0157af:77ab6c55
2025-05-24 18:01:10Bitcoin adoption will come through businesses: neither governments nor banks will lead the revolution.
In recent years, itâs undeniable that Bitcoin has ceased to be just a radical idea born from the minds of cypherpunks. It is now recognized across the board as a global asset, discussed in the upper echelons of finance, accepted even on Wall Street, purchased by banking groups and included as a âstrategic reserveâ by some nations.
However, the general perception that hovers today regarding Bitcoinâs diffusion is still that of minimal adoption, almost insignificant. Bitcoin exists, certainly, but in fact it is not being used. It is rarely possible to pay in satoshis in commercial establishments. Demand is still extremely low.
Furthermore, the debate on Bitcoin is still practically absent: excluding some local events, some niche media outlets or some timid discussion, today Bitcoin is in fact excluded from general interest. The level of understanding and knowledge of the phenomenon is certainly still very low.
Yet, Bitcoin represents an unprecedented technological improvement, capable of solving many problems inherent in the fiat system in which we live. What could facilitate its diffusion?
Bitcoin becomes familiar when businesses adopt it
When talking about Bitcoin adoption, many look to States. They imagine governments that legislate or accumulate Bitcoin as a âstrategic reserve,â or banks perceived as forward-thinking that would lead technological change, opening up to innovation. But the reality is different: bureaucracy, political constraints, and fear of losing control inherently prevent States and central banks from being pioneers.
What really drives Bitcoin adoption are not States, but businesses. It is the forward-looking entrepreneurs, innovative startups and â eventually â even large multinational companies that decide to integrate Bitcoin into their operating systems that drive adoption. Indeed, the business world has always played a key role in the adoption of new technologies. This was the case, for example, with the internet, e-commerce, mobile telephony, and the cloud. It will also be the case with Bitcoin.
Unlike a State, when a company adopts Bitcoin, it does so for concrete reasons: efficiency, savings, protection, access to new markets, independence from traditional banking circuits, or bureaucratic streamlining. It is a rational choice, not an ideological one, dictated by the intent to improve oneâs competitiveness against the competition to survive in the market.
What is currently missing to facilitate adoption is, in all likelihood, a significant number of businesses that have decided to integrate Bitcoin into their company systems.
Bitcoin becomes ânormalâ when it is integrated into the operational flow of businesses. Holding and framing bitcoin on the balance sheet, paying an invoice, paying salaries to employees in satoshis, making value transfers globally thanks to the blockchain, allowing customers to pay via Lightning Network⌠when all this becomes possible with the same simplicity with which we use the euro or the dollar, Bitcoin stops being alternative and becomes the standard.
Businesses are not just users. They are adoption multipliers. When a company chooses Bitcoin, it is automatically proposing it to customers, employees, suppliers, and institutional stakeholders. Each business adoption equals tens, hundreds, or thousands of new eyes on Bitcoin.
People, after all, trust what they see every day: if your trusted restaurant accepts bitcoin, or if your favorite e-commerce platform uses it to receive international payments, or if your colleague receives it as a salary, then Bitcoin no longer appears to be a mysterious object. It finally begins to be perceived as a real, useful, and functioning tool.
The integration of a technology in companies helps make it understandable, accessible, and legitimate in the eyes of the public. This is how distrust is overcome: by making Bitcoin visible in daily life.
Bitcoin and businesses today
A River Financial report estimates that as of May 2025, only 5% of bitcoin is currently owned by private businesses. A still very small number.
According to research by River, in May 2025 businesses hold just over a million btc (about 5% of available monetary units). More than two-thirds of bitcoin (68.2%) are in the hands of private individuals.
To promote Bitcoin adoption, it is necessary today to support businesses in integrating this standard, leveraging all its enormous opportunities. Among others, this technology allows for fast, economical, and global payments. It eliminates intermediaries, increases transparency and security in value transfers. It removes bureaucratic frictions and allows opening up to a new global market.
Every sector can benefit from Bitcoin: e-commerce, tourism, industry, restaurants, professional services, or any other business. Bitcoin revolutionizes the concept of money, and money is a transversal working tool.
We are still at the beginning, but several signals are encouraging. According to a study by Bitwise and reported by Atlas21, in the first quarter of 2025, a growing number of US companies (+16.11% compared to the previous one) are including Bitcoin in their balance sheets, not just as a financial bet, but as a long-term strategy to protect their assets and access a decentralized monetary system to transfer value worldwide without resorting to financial intermediaries.
Who is driving the change?
Echoing the words of Roy Sheinfeld, CEO of Breez, the true potential of Bitcoin will be unleashed first and foremost from the work of developers, the true architects in designing and refining tools that are increasingly simple and intuitive to use for anyone, regardless of level of expertise. It is the developers â Roy rightly argued â who will enable us to âconquer the world.â
But probably thatâs not enough: the next step is to make Bitcoin a globally accepted technological standard, changing its perception towards the general public. And this is where businesses come into play.
Guided by the market, technological innovation, and the desire to meet user demands, entrepreneurs today represent the fulcrum to accelerate the monetary transition from the current fiat system towards the Bitcoin standard. It is entrepreneurs who transform innovations from opportunities for a few to a reality shared by many.
The adoption of Bitcoin will therefore not arise from a sudden event, nor from the exclusive fruit of enthusiastsâ enthusiasm or from arbitrary political choices decreed by States or regulators.
The future of Bitcoin is built in the places where value is created every day: in companies, in their systems, and in their strategic decisions.
âIf we conquer developers, we conquer the world. If we conquer businesses, we conquer adoption.â
The post The key to Bitcoin adoption is businesses appeared first on Atlas21.
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@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf
2025-05-24 09:01:14People forget Bear Stearns failed March 2008 - months of denial followed before the public realized how bad the situation was under the surface.
Similar happening now but much larger scale. They did not fix fundamental issues after 2008 - everything is more fragile.
The Fed preemptively bailed out every bank with their BTFP program and First Republic Bank still failed. The second largest bank failure in history.
There will be more failures. There will be more bailouts. Depositors will be "protected" by socializing losses across everyone.
Our President and mainstream financial pundits are currently pretending the banking crisis is over while most banks remain insolvent. There are going to be many more bank failures as this ponzi system unravels.
Unlike 2008, we have the ability to opt out of these broken and corrupt institutions by using bitcoin. Bitcoin held in self custody is unique in its lack of counterparty risk - you do not have to trust a bank or other centralized entity to hold it for you. Bitcoin is also incredibly difficult to change by design since it is not controlled by an individual, company, or government - the supply of dollars will inevitably be inflated to bailout these failing banks but bitcoin supply will remain unchanged. I do not need to convince you that bitcoin provides value - these next few years will convince millions.
If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.
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@ eb0157af:77ab6c55
2025-05-24 18:01:09Governor Abbott will have to decide whether to sign the bill establishing a bitcoin reserve for the state.
Texas could become the third U.S. state to set up a strategic bitcoin reserve, following the approval of Senate Bill 21 by the state House, with 101 votes in favor and 42 against.
Lee Bratcher, founder and president of the Texas Blockchain Council, expressed confidence that Governor Greg Abbott will sign the legislative measure. In an interview with The Block, Bratcher said:
âIâve talked to the governor about this personally, and I think he wants to see Texas lead in this way.â
The bill is expected to reach the governorâs desk within a week or two, according to Bratcherâs projections. If signed, Texas would follow in the footsteps of New Hampshire and Arizona in creating a state-held bitcoin reserve.
Despite Texas ranking as the worldâs eighth-largest economy â ahead of many nations â the initial approach to the reserve will be cautious. Bratcher estimates the starting investment will be in the âtens of millions of dollars,â an amount he describes as âmodestâ for an economy the size of Texas. The responsibility for operational decisions would fall to the state comptroller, who acts as an executive accountant in charge of managing and investing public funds.
âMy sense is that it will be in the tens of millions of dollars, which, while it sounds significant, is a very modest amount, for a state the size of Texas.â explained the president of the Texas Blockchain Council.
The road to approval
According to Bratcher, the idea of creating a state bitcoin reserve dates back to 2022 and represents the culmination of years of work by the Texas Blockchain Council. The organization has worked closely with lawmakers who shared the vision of seeing the state accumulate the worldâs leading cryptocurrency. Additionally, Texas has long been home to numerous bitcoin mining companies.
The post Texas one step away from a bitcoin reserve: only the governorâs signature is missing appeared first on Atlas21.
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@ 6a6be47b:3e74e3e1
2025-05-24 08:21:35Hi, frens!
𼳠This is my first post over here, yaaay! Iâm very excited to start this journey. I have lots of posts on my website https://samhainsam.art/ , but I decided to give you a short introduction to me and my artwork. Shall we?
But first, howâs your weekend going? Already dreading Monday, or just enjoying the moment? I hope itâs the latter, but if not, thatâs okay too. Everything passes, and while that might not be the most comforting thought, knowing that it will eventually passâand, most importantly, that we get to decide how to respondâmakes a big difference. Either way, weâre all going to die, so take it as you wish! đ
Anyway, I wanted to share a little something. If youâve visited my shop on Ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/samhainsam/shop , you might have wondered why it seems a bit all over the place. Or maybe you havenât noticed or donât careâbut either way, I thought Iâd clarify.
đźď¸ Iâm a self-taught artist who loves everything related to religion, occultism, paganism, animals, and esotericismâand how all these themes intertwine in our lives. I paint and illustrate inspired by these ideas.
Most of my recent paintings come with a blog post explaining their background. Even before, I always researched the subjects I painted, but lately, Iâve been diving much deeper.
đ¨ My âWheel of the Yearâ series has completely fascinated me. Iâve been learning so many nuggets of wisdom, and discovering how Christianity borrowed or even erased many symbols and traditions to create new narratives. For example, Imbolc was rebranded as Candlemas, and my blog post about the Spanish Inquisition touches on some of these symbols and their impact on both past and present society.
đŚ I also have some paintings just about birdsâI'm a bit of a sucker for them! Shoebills and cassowaries are among my favorites, and I might end up painting them again soon. But you get the picture! If not, why not take a peek at my blog? https://samhainsam.art/blog/
đď¸ You can read something fun and interesting while enjoying my artwork.
Come on over, and letâs have some cool and healthy fun.
Enjoy your weekend, my friends!
Godspeed âĄ
https://stacker.news/items/988069
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@ 9e69e420:d12360c2
2025-01-21 19:31:48Oregano oil is a potent natural compound that offers numerous scientifically-supported health benefits.
Active Compounds
The oil's therapeutic properties stem from its key bioactive components: - Carvacrol and thymol (primary active compounds) - Polyphenols and other antioxidant
Antimicrobial Properties
Bacterial Protection The oil demonstrates powerful antibacterial effects, even against antibiotic-resistant strains like MRSA and other harmful bacteria. Studies show it effectively inactivates various pathogenic bacteria without developing resistance.
Antifungal Effects It effectively combats fungal infections, particularly Candida-related conditions like oral thrush, athlete's foot, and nail infections.
Digestive Health Benefits
Oregano oil supports digestive wellness by: - Promoting gastric juice secretion and enzyme production - Helping treat Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) - Managing digestive discomfort, bloating, and IBS symptoms
Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects
The oil provides significant protective benefits through: - Powerful antioxidant activity that fights free radicals - Reduction of inflammatory markers in the body - Protection against oxidative stress-related conditions
Respiratory Support
It aids respiratory health by: - Loosening mucus and phlegm - Suppressing coughs and throat irritation - Supporting overall respiratory tract function
Additional Benefits
Skin Health - Improves conditions like psoriasis, acne, and eczema - Supports wound healing through antibacterial action - Provides anti-aging benefits through antioxidant properties
Cardiovascular Health Studies show oregano oil may help: - Reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels - Support overall heart health
Pain Management The oil demonstrates effectiveness in: - Reducing inflammation-related pain - Managing muscle discomfort - Providing topical pain relief
Safety Note
While oregano oil is generally safe, it's highly concentrated and should be properly diluted before use Consult a healthcare provider before starting supplementation, especially if taking other medications.
-
@ 1b9fc4cd:1d6d4902
2025-05-24 08:19:41Music in media is like audio umami, the perfect seasoning in a recipe. It has the ability to enhance flavor and provide depth. Daniel Siegel Alonso examines how music is indispensable in enchanting consumers, from the memorable jingles of television commercials to the emotionally charged earworms in viral videos. Its influence is ubiquitous, transforming ordinary content into unforgettable experiences, evoking emotions, and molding cultural trends.
Television Commercials: The Jingle Jungle
Siegel Alonso begins by considering the television commercial. Music is the secret weapon in advertising and marketing, where attention spans can be shorter than the length of a cat video on TikTok. With its catchy melody and simple lyrics, the classic jingle is a masterclass in auditory branding. Do you remember 1971's "I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke"? That was more than just a tune; it was a cultural touchstone.
Today, in modern advertising, music's role transcends nostalgic jingles. Brands now curate full-fledged soundtracks to build an emotional narrative. Take Apple's commercials, for example. They often spotlight indie artists whose songs capture the essence of innovation and simplicity. These choices aren't random; they align with the brand's identity and leave a lasting impression.
Music Videos: The Visual Symphony
Music videos are the perfect union of audio and visual storytelling and have revolutionized how people consume music. These clips are not merely promotional tools but are art forms. At its peak, music videos were cultural events. Nobody took advantage of the medium better than Madonna. Think of her "Justify My Love" videoâa short film that was so subversive that MTV banned it. (Ever the businesswoman, The Material Girl decided to make the controversial video available commercially as a video single, marking the first time a musician released a single in this format in the United States.)
Daniel Siegel Alonso fast forwards to the current age of social media, with channels like YouTube and TikTok breathing new life into the music video. Artists can now connect directly with their audience, bypassing cautious publicists and conservative record company executives. This democratization has led to a surge in creativity. Think about Childish Gambino's cinematic "This is America." The music video sparked widespread discussion and analysis with its in-your-face imagery and complex themes. It wasn't just a song but a statement.
Social Media: The Viral Soundtrack
Music is the magical ingredient in social media that can instantly catapult content into viral fame. Platforms like TikTok have turned short, catchy music clips into a global phenomenon. A 15-second snippet can lead to myriad dance challenges, lip-sync clips, and memes, propelling relatively obscure singers to stardom overnight.
Daniel Siegel Alonso uses Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" as a key example. With its genre-blending sound, the song became a sensation largely thanks to TikTok. Users created countless videos featuring the song, and the track's infectious energy spread like wildfire. The result was a record-breaking run on the Billboard Hot 100âand a Grammy win!
Even Instagram's Stories and Reels leverage songs to enrich their user experience. Whether it's a tearjerker ballad emphasizing heartfelt memories or an aggressive track fueling a workout video, music layers in emotional content that words and images can't achieve.
The Emotional Manipulator
Music's influence in media lies in its power to manipulate emotionsâthe invisible puppeteer tugs at the heartstrings, stirring nostalgia, joy, sadness, or excitement. Filmmakers and content creators understand this well. Imagine watching a horror flick without a creepy soundtrack.
In television shows, music often acts as an additional character on screen. Netflix's "Stranger Things" and HBO's "Game of Thrones" have iconic soundtracks that are instantly recognizable and have even revitalized musicians' careers (think Kate Bush and her iconic song "Running Up That Hill"). These scores aren't just background fodder; they are crucial to storytelling by creating tension and enhancing dramatic moments.
Cultural Shaper
Beyond its emotional impact, music in media also serves as a cultural shaper. It impacts everything from fashion to language and even social movements. Consider MTV's influence and reach at its height in the 1980s and 1990s. The cable channel didn't just air music videos; it created superstars and defined an era, influencing everything from hairdos to political views.
While MTV may not be the behemoth it once was, social media platforms continue the tradition today. Viral music trends can spark global discussions. For instance, the Black Lives Matter movement saw numerous musicians penning powerful anthems that became rallying cries, shared widely on social media. In this context, music transcends entertainment; it's a vehicle for evolution.
Conclusion
In the grand tapestry of media, Daniel Siegel Alonso asserts that music is the thread that weaves everything together. It turns commercials into cultural icons, music videos into visual feasts, and social media content into viral sensations. Its power to elicit emotion, contribute to culture, and tell unique stories makes it an invaluable tool for creators.
If there are stories to tell and products to sell, music will remain at the heart of media, striking the right chords and leaving an unforgettable mark on our collective psyche. Ultimately, it's not just about the notes and melodies; it's about the feelings and memories they arouse, making music the unsung hero in the ever-changing media landscape.
-
@ b17fccdf:b7211155
2025-01-21 17:02:21The past 26 August, Tor introduced officially a proof-of-work (PoW) defense for onion services designed to prioritize verified network traffic as a deterrent against denial of service (DoS) attacks.
~ > This feature at the moment, is deactivate by default, so you need to follow these steps to activate this on a MiniBolt node:
- Make sure you have the latest version of Tor installed, at the time of writing this post, which is v0.4.8.6. Check your current version by typing
tor --version
Example of expected output:
Tor version 0.4.8.6. This build of Tor is covered by the GNU General Public License (https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html) Tor is running on Linux with Libevent 2.1.12-stable, OpenSSL 3.0.9, Zlib 1.2.13, Liblzma 5.4.1, Libzstd N/A and Glibc 2.36 as libc. Tor compiled with GCC version 12.2.0
~ > If you have v0.4.8.X, you are OK, if not, type
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
and confirm to update.- Basic PoW support can be checked by running this command:
tor --list-modules
Expected output:
relay: yes dirauth: yes dircache: yes pow: **yes**
~ > If you have
pow: yes
, you are OK- Now go to the torrc file of your MiniBolt and add the parameter to enable PoW for each hidden service added
sudo nano /etc/tor/torrc
Example:
```
Hidden Service BTC RPC Explorer
HiddenServiceDir /var/lib/tor/hidden_service_btcrpcexplorer/ HiddenServiceVersion 3 HiddenServicePoWDefensesEnabled 1 HiddenServicePort 80 127.0.0.1:3002 ```
~ > Bitcoin Core and LND use the Tor control port to automatically create the hidden service, requiring no action from the user. We have submitted a feature request in the official GitHub repositories to explore the need for the integration of Tor's PoW defense into the automatic creation process of the hidden service. You can follow them at the following links:
- Bitcoin Core: https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/issues/8002
- LND: https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/issues/28499
More info:
- https://blog.torproject.org/introducing-proof-of-work-defense-for-onion-services/
- https://gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/onion-services/onion-support/-/wikis/Documentation/PoW-FAQ
Enjoy it MiniBolter! đ
-
@ eb0157af:77ab6c55
2025-05-24 18:01:08Bitcoin surpasses gold in the United States: 50 million holders and a dominant role in the global market.
According to a new report by River, for the first time in history, the number of Americans owning bitcoin has surpassed that of gold holders. The analysis reveals that approximately 50 million U.S. citizens currently own the cryptocurrency, while gold owners number 37 million. In fact, 14.3% of Americans own bitcoin, the highest percentage of holders worldwide.
Source: River
The report highlights that 40% of all Bitcoin-focused companies are based in the United States, consolidating Americaâs dominant position in the sector. Additionally, 40.5% of Bitcoin holders are men aged 31 to 35, followed by 35.9% of men aged 41 to 45. In contrast, only 13.4% of holders are women.
Source: River
Notably, U.S. companies hold 94.8% of all bitcoins owned by publicly traded companies worldwide. According to the report, recent regulatory changes in the U.S. have made the asset more accessible through financial products such as spot ETFs.
The document also shows that American investors increasingly view the cryptocurrency as protection against fiscal instability and inflation, appreciating its limited supply and decentralized governance model.
For River, Bitcoin offers significant practical advantages over gold in the modern digital era. Its ease of custody, cross-border transfer, and liquidity make the cryptocurrency an attractive option for both individual and institutional investors, the report suggests.
The post USA: 50 million Americans own bitcoin appeared first on Atlas21.
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@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf
2025-05-24 07:01:14Bank run on every crypto bank then bank run on every "real" bank.
â ODELL (@ODELL) December 14, 2022
Good morning.
It looks like PacWest will fail today. It will be both the fifth largest bank failure in US history and the sixth major bank to fail this year. It will likely get purchased by one of the big four banks in a government orchestrated sale. Â
March 8th - Silvergate Bank
March 10th - Silicon Valley Bank
March 12th - Signature Bank
March 19th - Credit Suisse
May 1st - First Republic Bank
May 4th - PacWest Bank?PacWest is the first of many small regional banks that will go under this year. Most will get bought by the big four in gov orchestrated sales. This has been the playbook since 2008. Follow the incentives. Massive consolidation across the banking industry. PacWest gonna be a drop in the bucket compared to what comes next.
First, a hastened government led bank consolidation, then a public/private partnership with the remaining large banks to launch a surveilled and controlled digital currency network. We will be told it is more convenient. We will be told it is safer. We will be told it will prevent future bank runs. All of that is marketing bullshit. The goal is greater control of money. The ability to choose how we spend it and how we save it. If you control the money - you control the people that use it.
If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.
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@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1
2025-05-24 06:07:19Definition: when every single person in the chain responsible for shipping a product looks at objectively horrendous design decisions and goes: yup, this looks good to me, release this. Designers, developers, product managers, testers, quality assurance... everyone.
I nominate Peugeot as the first example in this category.
Continue reading at https://grumpy.website/1665
https://stacker.news/items/988044
-
@ 0c65eba8:4a08ef9a
2025-05-24 15:09:03Why This Matters and Why You're Worth It
You are not here by accident. You are here because a part of you knows you were meant for something more. Not just fleeting romance. Not just swipes, dates, and dead ends. But real, enduring marriages rooted in strength, beauty, reciprocity, and trust. One that leads to family, legacy, and love that doesnât dissolve with time but deepens.
And yet, youâre being asked to do something that most women in history were never asked to do: choose your husband alone. Thatâs an incredible opportunity, but also a staggering risk. Choose well, and you build a joyful, secure life. Choose poorly, and the consequences can be devastating: emotional abuse, financial collapse, custody battles, long-term loneliness, or worse, a family without protection.
For centuries, women were guided. Communities, elders, and traditions helped narrow the field. Your tribe protected you. Your father filtered. Your aunties advised. They knew that mating is not merely emotional, it is economic, genetic, spiritual, and civilizational.
Today, most of those supports are gone. So now you must become the tribe. You must take responsibility for choosing wisely, and you must prepare yourself to be chosen by a man of wisdom, strength, and vision.
Thatâs why what follows is not emotional. Itâs not romantic. Itâs not easy. It is logical, operational, even harsh at times. Because lasting romance is earned by discipline. Because the real joy comes after the good decision is made. This document is your map, not to perfection, but to readiness.
This isnât just about finding happiness. Itâs about avoiding destruction. Iâve coached women for decades. Iâve seen the radiant peace of women who chose well, and the lifelong regret of those who didnât. This isnât theory. This is battlefield-tested. You may not like everything you read, but if you ignore it, you risk everything.
If you feel resistance, offense, or shame as you read, pause. Thatâs your signal. Itâs not an attack. Itâs a mirror. Let it reveal what still needs work. Avoid the temptation to point at men. This isnât about men. This is about you. What you can control. What you can correct. What you can become.
Marriage is not a reward for love. It is a role. Wife. Mother. These are roles of the highest stakes, and therefore the highest standards. Standards you are capable of meeting.
This guide is written with love, not judgment. With concern, not control. Itâs what every wise advisor, mentor, or coach whoâs helped women into happy marriages would tell you. Youâre not alone. But you are responsible.
Read with humility. Audit with courage. Plan with clarity. Change with resolve.
Natural Law Audit and Prescriptive Protocol for Female Readiness for Marriage-Intentional Courtship
Premise: From first principles of evolutionary necessity, behavioral causality, and the operational grammar of reciprocity, readiness for courtship with the intent of long-term pair bonding (marriage) is a function of a womanâs demonstrated ability to perform, signal, and sustain reciprocal value exchange over the duration of the male provisioning cycle. Courtship is a pre-contractual test of such capacity. This document synthesizes an evaluative and prescriptive audit for determining and restoring such readiness.
Meta-Readiness Considerations
I. Life Outcome Clarity and Expectation Calibration
Premise: A woman must understand what outcomes she genuinely seeks from life, maternal, relational, vocational, spiritual, or aesthetic, before selecting a mate. Courtship is a selection process for shared long-term production.
Natural Law Insight: Female wants are expansive and intertemporally unstable. Realism in selecting a partner requires narrowing aspirations to those outcomes reciprocally supportable by a maleâs provisioning capacity. Misalignment between life design and mate capability produces disillusionment and conflict.
Recommendations:
-
Conduct a âLife Outcome Auditâ to articulate non-negotiables vs. preferences.
-
Match aspirations (children, homemaking, lifestyle, location, work-life balance) to realistic provisioning tiers.
-
Recognize that hyperagency (excessive standards) without equivalent demonstrated value violates reciprocity.
-
Document target lifestyle and review against potential partnerâs trajectory during vetting.
Conclusion: Selection must follow vision. A woman who does not know what she wants cannot choose a man who can build it with her.
II. Embedding in Normative Male-Led Communities
Premise: Participating in a structured, ethically-aligned male-led social network dramatically reduces pair-bonding risk and increases quality of mate options.
Natural Law Insight: Communities that enforce sexual modesty, honor reputation, and reward prosocial male leadership mirror Natural Law principles, even if expressed culturally or religiously. These environments serve as distributed vetting and enforcement systems.
Recommendations:
-
Seek participation in conservative religious congregations, traditional civic groups, or equivalent.
-
Avoid transient, libertine, or hyper-individualist networks that degrade accountability.
-
Use community gatekeepers as filters, eligible men will be known, observed, and reputation-bound.
-
Treat integration in such a network as a protective feature and quality signal, not a limitation.
Conclusion: Community is a vector of protection and opportunity. Women embedded in moral-order networks access both higher quality males and functional support for long-term bonding.
I. PHYSICAL FITNESS AND PRESENTATION
Functional Purpose: A womanâs physical presentation is not merely aesthetic, it is informational. It signals fertility, vitality, health, discipline, and self-respect. These traits are instinctively interpreted by men as indicators of long-term reproductive potential and cooperative stability. Sustained male interest begins with visible cues of youth and wellness, but is maintained by consistency in feminine self-maintenance. Being attractive is not about glamour; it is about broadcasting readiness for life partnership.
Operational Criteria:
-
Body Composition: WHR 0.7 Âą 0.05, BMI 18.5â24.9.
-
Grooming: Routine hygiene, maintained hair, nails, skin.
-
Attire: Modest-congruent, form-accentuating without provocation.
-
Posture: Upright, balanced gait, open body language.
-
Non-Verbal Signaling: Frequent smiling, consistent eye contact.
Disqualifiers:
- Obesity, slovenliness, odor, posture collapse, erratic non-verbal cues.
Disqualifier Correction Protocol:
-
Minimum Standard: Restore BMI and WHR to target range, posture correction, grooming compliance.
-
Action Steps:
-
Daily calorie-controlled nutrition plan (90â120 days to compliance).
-
4x/week resistance/postural training.
-
Monthly wardrobe and grooming audit.
-
Mirror practice of expressiveness and gait.
Distinction: Short-term aesthetic changes do not replace sustained behavioral fitness.
II. PSYCHOLOGICAL MATURITY AND EMOTIONAL REGULATION
Functional Purpose: Emotional stability is not optional for pair bonding, it is foundational. A woman who cannot manage her internal state reliably becomes a source of constant stress for her partner, degrading his ability to provide, protect, and lead. Men bond most deeply with women who are consistent, safe, and affirming, not volatile or draining. Maturity means knowing how to pause, self-regulate, and respond thoughtfully rather than impulsively.
Operational Criteria:
-
Self-awareness, stable mood regulation, behavioral consistency.
-
Absence of excessive neuroticism, emotional impulsivity, passive aggression.
Disqualifiers:
- Excessive neuroticism, emotional impulsivity, public displays of instability, passive aggression.
Disqualifier Correction Protocol:
-
Minimum Standard: Self-narrative coherence, routine maintenance, calm conflict responses.
-
Action Steps:
-
30-day emotional trigger journaling.
-
Daily stoic self-inquiry and reframing.
-
90-day blackout on reactive digital communication.
-
Implement and maintain consistent wake/sleep rituals.
-
Avoid all stimulants.
Distinction: Restraint under pressure must be structural, not performative.
III. COGNITIVE AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Functional Purpose: Communication is the method by which needs, boundaries, plans, and responsibilities are negotiated in a family. A woman must be able to communicate her emotional and logistical realities without blame, manipulation, or avoidance. Equally, she must interpret and respect male communication styles and incentives. High-agency men require cooperative, reasoned conversation, not passive-aggressive signaling or emotional coercion.
Operational Criteria:
-
Rational dialogue, introspective clarity, emotional literacy.
-
Absence of GSRRM (Gossip, Shaming, Ridicule, Rallying, Moralizing).
Disqualifiers:
- Use of GSRRM tactics (Gossip, Shaming, Ridicule, Rallying, Moralizing), evasion, blame-shifting.
Disqualifier Correction Protocol:
-
Minimum Standard: Reasoned expression of internal states; dialectical discipline.
-
Action Steps:
-
Daily dialectic journaling (4-week review).
-
Replace projection/blame with inquiry scripting.
-
Weekly event narrative with personal responsibility.
-
Quarterly communication training.
-
Read Become Immune to Manipulation: How They Are Manipulating You (And How to Resist It) by Noah Revoy.
Distinction: Pleasantry and silence differ from communicative reciprocity.
IV. SOCIAL AND COOPERATIVE COMPETENCE
Functional Purpose: Marriage is not an isolated bond, it is embedded in a broader network of families, communities, and social systems. A woman must be able to adapt fluidly to cooperative roles, shifting from girlfriend to wife to mother without resisting the demands of each. Her ability to function harmoniously in social settings, defer to appropriate leadership, and support group cohesion is a strong indicator of her long-term fitness.
Operational Criteria:
-
Conflict de-escalation, status modesty, role fluidity.
-
Absence of contempt, manipulation, sabotage.
Disqualifiers:
- Misapplied contempt (directed at good-faith men or authority), sabotage of cooperative efforts, status-seeking via sexual leverage, or acts of public emasculation.
Disqualifier Correction Protocol:
-
Minimum Standard: Predictable, low-disruption group participation.
-
Action Steps:
-
Weekly feedback log on public interactions.
-
Acts of service in mixed-gender settings.
-
Non-romantic emulation of maternal/wifely behaviors.
-
Quarterly behavioral reviews with mentors or peers.
Distinction: Performative compliance without habituation is void.
V. DOMESTIC, ECONOMIC, AND LIFE-MANAGEMENT SKILLS
Functional Purpose: A stable household requires competence. Budgeting, scheduling, nutrition, and conflict resolution are not luxuries, they are the minimum viable functions of adult partnership. A woman who cannot manage herself will become a burden rather than a support. Readiness for marriage begins with self-sufficiency and extends into shared efficiency.
Operational Criteria:
-
Budgeting, scheduling, self-care, dietary planning.
-
Absence of chaos, compulsive consumption, disorganization.
Disqualifiers:
- Disorganized space, calendar chaos, debt, compulsive shopping, food delivery dependency.
Disqualifier Correction Protocol:
-
Minimum Standard: Domestic order, fiscal responsibility, time-discipline.
-
Action Steps:
-
30-day meal planning and budget logging.
-
Daily scheduling log with deviation analysis.
-
Audit digital purchases and reduce reliance on delivery.
-
14-day abstention from sugar, caffeine.
Distinction: Delegation without demonstrated competence is invalid.
VI. ATTITUDES AND WORLDVIEW ALIGNMENT
Functional Purpose: Every relationship is governed by implicit contracts. A womanâs worldview, what she believes about men, family, and authority, determines how she will perform in a marriage. If she views cooperation as oppression or expects benefits without contribution, she will destroy rather than build. Internal alignment with reciprocal duty and family structure is a non-negotiable foundation.
Operational Criteria:
-
Anti-entitlement, feminine aspiration, hierarchical acceptance.
-
Absence of adversarial ideology or egalitarian contractarianism.
Disqualifiers:
- Egalitarian contractarianism, careerism as identity, adversarial gender worldview.
Disqualifier Correction Protocol:
-
Minimum Standard: Adoption of reciprocal family economy worldview.
-
Action Steps:
-
Weekly entitlement vs obligation journaling.
-
Daily voluntary submission (non-critical contexts).
-
Narrative scripting using duty-driven framing.
-
Filter digital input to remove adversarial gender content.
Distinction: Ideological mimicry does not equal behavioral conversion.
VII. RISK PROFILE AND PAST BEHAVIOR
Functional Purpose: Past behavior is the strongest predictor of future conduct. A womanâs sexual, relational, and reputational history provides data on her loyalty, judgment, and risk to a manâs legacy. Men who are serious about marriage must screen for long-term predictability, not just short-term chemistry. Women who ignore their own histories are not protecting their futures.
Operational Criteria:
-
Modest sexual history, loyalty trend, third-party validation.
-
Absence of casual sex, serial monogamy, public instability.
Disqualifiers:
- History of casual sex, serial monogamy, divorce, paternity ambiguity, public drama.
Disqualifier Correction Protocol:
-
Minimum Standard: Transparent discontinuity with past disqualifiers.
-
Action Steps:
-
Public accounting of relationship past with responsibility acceptance.
-
Minimum 12-month monogamy/celibacy with logs.
-
Elimination of overt sexual signaling across all platforms.
-
Third-party testimonial verification.
Distinction: Claims of transformation without time-bound behavior are void.
Phased Rehabilitation Timeline for Readiness Restoration
Phase 1: Stabilization (Months 1â3)
-
Priority: Risk profile correction, emotional regulation, lifestyle order.
-
Focus: Sexual abstinence, emotional journaling, sleep/nutrition discipline.
Phase 2: Skill-Building (Months 4â6)
-
Priority: Domestic, communicative, and cognitive skills.
-
Focus: Meal budgeting, dialectical journaling, social role practice.
Phase 3: Social Re-Integration (Months 7â9)
-
Priority: Cooperative group behavior and worldview realignment.
-
Focus: Status modesty, deference rituals, ideological detox.
Phase 4: Courtship Re-Entry (Months 10â12)
-
Priority: Testifiability under male scrutiny, courtship conduct.
-
Focus: Third-party vetting system, courtship standards, mate discernment.
VIII. COURTSHIP ENTRY AND MALE VETTING PROTOCOL
Functional Purpose: The purpose of structured courtship and male vetting is to shift mate selection from emotionally reactive behavior to long-term rational strategy. Most modern women are tasked with a role their ancestors never bore alone: selecting a lifelong partner without the protective oversight of tribe, father, or community. This exposes them to profound risk, emotional, financial, sexual, and familial. Vetting is not a lack of faith in love, it is the discipline that makes real love sustainable.
By externalizing judgment to trusted men or professionals, a woman guards herself against the distortions of courtship neurochemistry (oxytocin, dopamine) and social pressure. More importantly, it signals to high-quality men that she values her future family enough to be discerning, and that she respects male judgment and leadership. Just as no wise man commits to a woman without proof of her virtue, no wise woman should commit to a man without proof of his character, stability, and alignment.
Vetting protects not only her body and emotions, but her legacy, and the children who will bear its consequences.
Operational Requirements:
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Demonstrated sobriety from hormonal and emotional bias.
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Third-party male oversight in mate evaluation.
Action Steps:
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Triadic Vetting Structure: Enlist a minimum of two elder males (father, uncle, mentor) who:
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Are happily married 10+ years.
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Possess demonstrated judgment and ethical stability.
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Have no romantic or competitive incentive to deceive.
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Professional Support: If elder males are unavailable, retain a professional (licensed counselor, coach) with contractual duty of candor and no financial conflict of interest.
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Vetting Sessions: All prospective partners undergo:
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Disclosure-based interviews with vetting males.
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Verification of sexual, financial, legal, and familial history.
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Compatibility interrogation (religion, children, discipline, division of labor).
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Hormonal Delay Protocol: Minimum 60-day abstention from physical intimacy until vetting phase is complete.
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Documented Criteria: Maintain a checklist of reciprocal standards the male must meet (providing ability, decision-making, loyalty pattern, worldview alignment).
Rationale: Women under the influence of courtship neurochemicals (oxytocin, dopamine, serotonin) are neurologically biased toward over-valuation of male partners. This distortion is adaptive post-bonding but maladaptive pre-selection. Vetting externalizes judgment to disinterested, higher-agency observers.
Note for Both Sexes:
While this document serves women, the male counterpart should be studied concurrently. Understanding reciprocal obligations fosters selection integrity and eliminates false expectations. No woman should expect to secure a high-agency male without mirroring his investment in functional excellence, and vice versa.
Conclusion to Audit:
Readiness for marriage is a matter of demonstrated, reciprocal, operational fitnessânot sentiment, rhetoric, or intention. This audit functions as both diagnostic and prescriptive framework. Each category of deficiency includes explicit steps for behavioral restitution. The phased timeline and courtship protocol ensure that no woman attempts entry into high-agency courtship without functional repair and reciprocal discernment. A woman prepared for marriage does not merely seek to be chosen; she earns rational preference by manifesting continuous, falsifiable, reciprocal value.
Final Word: You've Got This
You made it. That alone sets you apart. Most never read past the first page of what challenges them.
Now what?
If you identified areas where you fall short, good. That means the audit is working. Donât stop there. Make a plan. Tackle one area at a time. Track progress. Be honest. Be relentless. And if you get stuck, ask. Ask someone older. Someone stable. Someone who has walked this path. Ask a happily married woman with children. Or invest in a professional who can guide you.
You were not meant to do this alone, but you are responsible for doing it honestly.
This path is hard. But so is being alone. So is pretending. So is chasing dreams built on fantasy instead of reality.
The woman who builds herself is the woman who builds a family. And the woman who builds a family, builds a civilization.
Youâre not just choosing a man. Youâre choosing a future.
Make it one worth living.
Common Objections, Honest Answers
âI donât know any men worth putting that much effort in for.â Thatâs not because they donât exist, itâs because the kind of man youâre looking for doesnât advertise himself in chaos. High-value men are selective. They move in ordered circles, and they protect what theyâve built from anyone who might destabilize it. You wonât find them until youâve become the kind of woman who belongs in that world.
âI donât match several of these criteria and I still get plenty of attention from men.â Thereâs a difference between attention and intention. If you were attracting men who want to marry you, youâd be married. Being desired for casual access is not a sign of value, itâs often a sign of availability. Learn to tell the difference.
âReal men shouldnât care about looks or checklists like this.â Real men care about what your appearance and habits say about your discipline, health, and self-respect. Theyâre not looking for shallow beauty, theyâre looking for signs of stability and readiness. Being attractive is not about cosmetics. Itâs about coherence. If you expect a man to invest everything in you, itâs fair that he checks the foundation.
âItâs judgmental, misogynistic, or unkind to talk about women like this.â Judging is what humans do. Youâre judging this article right now. We all judge, because judgment is how we protect ourselves. Men who donât know you canât love you yet, they must judge first. Once they trust you, then love grows. This isnât cruelty. Itâs the path to safety.
âThis is the most autistic, robotic thing Iâve ever read.â It might feel clinical. But the problems it addresses are deadly serious. Your feelings matter, but they wonât save your future. Logic is here to protect what feelings often ruin. Thereâs room for emotion, after the right foundation is laid.
âNo man puts this much effort into judging women.â Some donât. But you donât want those men. Low-effort men are often desperate, flawed, or hiding their own disqualifiers. The kind of man who has the strength to say ânoâ to a woman is the same man who can say âyesâ with purpose, and keep his promise.
âShouldnât love be unconditional?â Love isnât based on your mood swings, but it is based on your virtue. We fall in love with the goodness in people, not just their personalities. Character inspires devotion. The stronger your character, the stronger and more lasting the love you will inspire.
âIf I donât want to change, shouldnât someone love me as I am?â They might, but will they stay? You can love someone and still walk away if the cost is too high. Change isnât about earning love, itâs about keeping it. Becoming better for yourself is the first act of love. Everything else flows from that.
âWhy should I change just to get a man?â You shouldnât. You should change to become your best self, healthier, stronger, more peaceful. That version of you will not only attract the right man, but sheâll enjoy her life more. Becoming marriageable is a side effect of becoming excellent. Do it for you. The right man will just be the reward.
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