Category: Op-Ed
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No Backdoor on Human Rights: Why Encryption Cannot Be Compromised
In April 2019, the UK issued an Online Harms White Paper to announce its campaign to rein in “harmful speech” on social media sites such as Facebook and TikTok. The public consultation period has ended and a full consultation response is expected in Spring 2020. (Initial Consultation Response here.) Legislation to criminalize freedom of speech…
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Cryptocurrency Is Agorism in Action
The book “New Libertarian Manifesto” (NLM) by libertarian-anarchist Samuel E. Konkin III (SEK3) launched a movement that has grown amazingly over the last few decades: Agorism. This is the movement of peaceful revolution through counter-economics. Counter-economics is “the study or practice of all peaceful human action which is forbidden by the State.” Agorists, SEK3 wrote,…
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Bitcoin and Doomsday Preppers — Would Crypto Have Any Survival Value If SHTF?
As so-called “doomsday prepping” grows in popularity thanks to news of coronavirus lockdown in Chinese cities, red flag gun laws and rampant Fed stimulus in the U.S., preparedness enthusiasts are asking about the viability of bitcoin in a SHTF situation. From cautious, light investor, to vehement denigrator of the “NSA-created surveillance money,” there is no…
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Wendy McElroy: Crypto is Banking for Anarchists and Average People
“What I love about Bitcoin is that instead of some rich old guy on Wall Street, young poor people are the ones getting rich” —Eric Finman No Longer Is Economic Sovereignty Just for Politicians and Bankers “Cryptocurrency is for the rich”; this pernicious myth causes people to resent crypto and be suspicious of it. An…
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There’s No Such Thing as Tainted Bitcoins
All bitcoins are created equal. But in the eyes of blockchain forensics firms, some bitcoins are more equal than others. If these companies are to be believed, coins that have been used in criminal transactions are ‘tainted,’ destined to be forever linked with nefarious activity. The reality, however, is far different, for ‘taint’ is solely…
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Overwriting Satoshi: Kraken Exec Says Bitcoin Wasn’t Built for Payments, Isn’t Peer-to-Peer
As Director of Business Development for popular crypto exchange Kraken, when Dan Held speaks, people listen. As such, his recent 46-tweet diatribe on why the “payments narrative” for bitcoin is flawed grabbed the attention of many, tickling the ears of hardcore Lighting Network fans and bitcoin core maximalists alike. His argument is prima facie absurd,…
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Wendy McElroy: The Narrative and Philosophy of Cryptocurrency
“The central banks of Britain, Japan, the euro zone, Sweden and Switzerland have grouped up to assess potential use cases for digital currencies. Talk of such currencies gained momentum after Facebook announced plans last year to introduce a cryptocurrency called libra,” – CNBC. In the light of such developments, it is evident that those who…
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What Is the Ideal Block Size and Fee Cost?
Many of the debates around block size in Bitcoin operate under the false premise that the question can even be properly answered by a central authority. But markets are better at deciding these questions and block sizes and fee costs should be worked out by miners and users, not development committees. Also read: How is…
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Why User Experience Is Crypto’s True ‘Killer App’
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nGX1o38Ues&w=560&h=349] There’s been a lot of buzz in the space recently about the importance of user experience. Kim Dotcom’s proclamation that “Mass utility is going to lead to mass adoption,” speaks to this. Peter Schiff’s bitcoin wallet fiasco, CZ’s claim that centralized exchanges are safer than private wallets, and promises of a still undependable…
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Unnecessary Evil: How Government Regulations Kill Crypto Startups and Encourage Crime
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTYkdEU_B4o&w=560&h=349] Thanks to the EU’s most recent money laundering directive, a small business called Post-a-coin, which sold cute postcards pre-loaded with tiny amounts of bitcoin, is being forced to shut down. Meanwhile, the most heinous criminals in history are continuing to facilitate violence, trafficking and laundering of cash with impunity. Also Read: Why the…