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This is a great explanation! I bought my first cryptocurrency a year ago, and very much feel that doing so is necessary in order to protect myself against the covid insanity that devalued fiat currency everywhere.

I also think that if the global digital passport gets implemented worldwide, we'll see an alternate economy spring up everywhere that will be based on crypto, and I want to be prepared for that.

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Jan 4, 2022Liked by Mathew Crawford

Ernst Wolff on engineered collapse of current financial systems and fiat currencies:

https://youtu.be/W6HtPufV_ok

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Jan 4, 2022Liked by Mathew Crawford

Bitcoin is the embodiment of a brilliant idea. That has got to be worth something in the information age.

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Jan 4, 2022Liked by Mathew Crawford

Mathew, is bitcoin related to Covid in an “old money” vs. “new money” way?

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author

At the moment I don't have enough time to write more than to say "follow the links". There will be some aspect of "new money" ascendence as there is with any technological development, and it will be more extreme than usual because "a whole monetary system" dwarfs "a search engine" or an "ithingy" or an "online virtue signal orgy platform" or even Excel, and by a lot.

But the fundamental purpose is to avoid the pitfalls of the asymmetry of technology:

https://roundingtheearth.substack.com/p/the-monetary-wars-part-iv

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The "new money" that is planned as part of The Great Reset is CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency). It is digital but has nothing to do with current crypto currencies such as BTC.

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Jan 4, 2022Liked by Mathew Crawford

If you are interested in blockchain stuff for more than coins then check out qortal.org

True peer to peer with no exchanges for transactions.

Very low power. It can run on a Raspberry Pi.

Smart contracts already in use.

They currently use Litecoin as their on/off ramp to the fiat world. On the Qortal network they already have functional demos that are in use for chat apps and buy/sell Litecoin with smart contracts. It is more like a protocol than just a coin.

I run it on an old 8 GB RAM, 2.3 GHz CPU system running Kubuntu (minimalist install) and it runs fine. The amount I mint (their term for mining) covers electricity and bandwidth it uses. Not a get rich quick type of blockchain which is good.

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I see Litecoin as sandboxing for future Bitcoin, so I don't like to promote systems that depend on it to newcomers because the underlying value of those systems could take a hit along the way. It's better for the people who feel "somewhat veteran" with the new systems to play in those sandboxes to learn where all this can go, then build it on the winning network (likely Bitcoin).

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Not sure what to think about bitcoin - is its huge environmental footprint true? And how to reconcile that digital currency is part of the goal / trojan horse of these "health passports"? You know far more about this than I, curious your thoughts ...

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"is its huge environmental footprint true?"

The current monetary system requires the world's largest military for security in management of its dominance and the petrodollar system.

All monetary systems require energy for security. Bitcoin is the solution to the game theoretic optimization problem for finding the least amount of energy it takes to create security.

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Jan 4, 2022Liked by Mathew Crawford

Bitcoin and its proof-of-work (PoW) system is incredible. Its incentive structure drives miners to find the cheapest energy in order to be profitable, and in turn that energy secures the network (as Mathew points out). Where is energy the cheapest? Stranded energy, so energy that would have been wasted anyway, e.g at the end of power grids or flare offs etc. And renewable energy, which means the bitcoin mining is a catalyst in that industry. So contrary to what the legacy media has to say, bitcoin is also an energy revolution for the good.

With regards to governments goal of using digital currencies, true, this is a huge concern. CBDC (central bank digital currency) as its name suggest is controlled by a central bank, so its highly centralised, run by the government, so very corruptible and an effective tool for control. This can't happen with Bitcoin. Bitcoin is completely decentralised, so no single person or small group can control it, changes to the network can only happen if the whole network agrees to it. Governments hate Bitcoin for that reason, they lose control. Bitcoin separates money from government.

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Jan 4, 2022Liked by Mathew Crawford

I tried to contribute and edit a post on campfire.wiki but I see no way to create an account. There's a link to login, but not to create an account.

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Wiki credentials are kept within Operation Uplift. You can ask to join Operation Uplift by emailing OperationUpliftTeam@gmail.com.

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Ah, thank you.

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I'm not claiming Bitcoin is useless or anything like that, but it has a more storied genesis than most people realize-

"Bitcoin originated with an anonymous person or group with the alias Satoshi Nakamoto. Miles has already noted that the name roughly translates to “Central Intelligence,” though lots of people hedge on this and say it could be translated as “wisdom from the central land” or something like that. Others point to actual people with the name, such as Dorian Satoshi Nakamoto, who has been suspected of being Bitcoin’s creator. What’s curious about Dorian Nakamoto is that he lived just two blocks from Hal Finney in Temple City, a suburb of Los Angeles. Hal Finney, now deceased, was the first person after Satoshi to use Bitcoin. The first recorded Bitcoin transaction was between Satoshi and Finney. Finney claimed he never knew who Satoshi really was, and many suspect Finney to be the real Satoshi. So it’s highly curious that Dorian, who was born Satoshi Nakamoto and later adopted the English name, lived just two blocks away but claims to have never known or heard of Hal Finney, and vice versa." http://mileswmathis.com/bitfraud.pdf

"NFTs and Bitcoin are about Money Laundering" http://mileswmathis.com/nft.pdf

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Interesting possibility, and I'm certainly in no position to dispute the matter. Though I'm more inclined to believe the "elite" had a hand in it by way of the CIA than a lone "criminal mastermind"... :) The handwritten passport is an interesting detail.

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In 1996 the NSA published a framework that sure looks a lot like blockchain. The implementations came later. That's the earliest I've seen it.

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So from what gather , not as a math expert and that , is that there is utility in crypto . Bitcoin itself has some very interesting proposals that come from its finite nature but has an initial problem of unequal distribution . The initial creators and buy ins created wealth out of thin air , or rather shifting it from another exclusive scheme of money creation . I recall watching all the fist currency videos out at the time that preceded Bitcoin and then Bitcoin was having these town halls . Then my friend used Bitcoin to buy pot, because it had the promise of not being traced . The non traceable promises ignited its use in black market trade , even though it was promoting its utility in cheaper exchange cost of currency . I suppose cheaper exchange cost and anonymity was the utility it was selling . But then these wild fluctuations of value was occurring and my friends $500 worth went up fast , and fell snd rose. Some black market sites got things moving along .

While the banking system created privileged aristocrats Bitcoin seemed to able to exploitable by tyrants as well , even those same money making aristocrats . If someone can steal millions or billions from the people in a banana republic they could convert it to Bitcoin and disappear. And if that could happen with such thieves the same tyrants behind legacy money creation could also utilize it . That was my early assessment .

A friend of mine , investment banker, created the crypto fund in Canada . (The greedy fucks financing it , fucked him out of the stake in the end . He already did the work so he has another fund coming out soon). When he was putting the fund together for registering it and such , he had to figure how to evaluate crypto . And gave gave me some fun examples and stories . Like in some place in Africa people use phone data as a currency . People are able to transfer data from one phone to another and that became a “ I got no cash on me, hey do you want some data?” Exchange .

The other thing my friend went into was the amount of energy it takes to do things like mine more Bitcoin and the energy of the blockchain accounting thingo ( sure you guys have names for it).

What I think was agreed on was that the block chain has the utility and is likely where the advancement will occur. Because it solves other issues in finance around the tracking and exchange of commodities .

I think Bitcoin carries on because of greedy people that want it to stay high , and not because it’s egalitarian . So it’s kind of the same bullshit as the other legacy in that way .

It’s really the concept that has this great potential , but also screams control and tyranny as well. Initially it has this promise of decentralization of control , but everyone can feel and know deep down it also has a very concerning potential of absolute centralization as well. The legacy money is not running away or threatened by crypto . I think it’s quite the opposite . They are licking their lips and happily promoting it as an alternative to their power .

Because a blockchain system of exchange can be established around all major commodities , a single commodity coin can be created that acts as a representation of all commodity . The all commodity crypto then represents GDP and acts as a true representation of value in material goods . The floating fiat , like Bitcoin somehow gets rolled into it to ensure buy in and retaining of power. And a beautiful accounting of blockchain representing commodities ( semi finite). As a currency is born .

No phone ? No ability to exchange ! Creates a necessity for individual computing and tracking and absolutely eliminates anonymity and privacy and entirely puts power into the hands of a few.

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If I understand correctly the data requirements of a crypto increase over time as all the exchanges of the chain are attached along the way . So, I think a modification of the problem is likely out there . And likely brains are thinking about all these problems . But I am also thinking about the idea of a blockchain containing scientific literature that would be increasingly requiring greater and greater capacity . For commodities it’s not a big deal to have done kind of historical cut off , but for something like scientific literature that doesn’t make sense

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We have some very small investments in bitcoin and ripple. Basically only because we don't want to lose everything (think of it as coercion).

I don't believe in them one iota. Tulips come to mind. And the CDBCs are just pure evil.

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When the global scheme falls apart, everything will become local and paid for in precious metal. That is the parallel alternative that needs building now. Also, no electricity, no crypto. Poof!

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Jan 10, 2022·edited Jan 10, 2022

Electricity may be temporaily not available but noone will be able to take btc/crypto away from you. Unlike fiat currencies deposited at banks or CBDC when implemented following the current financial systems collapse.

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Jan 10, 2022·edited Jan 10, 2022

Do you mean CBDC? if so, cbdc has nothing to do with current crypto currencies except for being digital. Btc is not centrally controlled. CBDC will be.

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I must have been thinking of Central Dank Bigital Coins.

Yes I realize they're a separate beast, but not completely separate. The idea that bitcoin was a precurser for them is not out of the question.

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Blockchain technology is nothing short of revolutionary. Money (bitcoins etc) is just one implementation of it. It is the one that gets all the press and attention but in reality is just a small part.

Imagine companies selling their shares directly to the purchasers with no middle men taking their cut. Companies would save 15-20% for initial share offerings and shareholders would not pay commissions to buy or sell their shares.

There was a small energy company in Canada that took its supply chain management department from 40 people down to 6 by using blockchain technology to implement smart contracts with their suppliers.

That is just a small glimpse into what is possible. Think beyond the coin.

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That! Few ppl realize the potential and impact on out lives.

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Jan 5, 2022·edited Jan 5, 2022

I still wonder if this wouldn't be an excellent way to scuttle excess capital. Next breaking point reached? Scuttle it and poof, capital gone for all but the top players who run the casino.

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Nice. So I wasn't aware of "Brave" but I started with PRE (Presearch) browser private search engine about a year ago. They give slices of PRE token (1/4 for each search) when I signed up, the token was trading for 0.08 cents, I was shocked the other day to see it in the .40 range. I never bought any at 0.08 cents, just accumulated free tokens with using search (have like 122 now). I like these search engines that reward, and are none tracking / private. I have invested in some strong use case crypto projects (BTC,ETH,ALGO,XLM,Matic ect.) SHIB/DOGE as well. Its been fun, learned a lot over the last year.

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I am on your other posting today and commenting more about a magazine model subscription . But thought to jump back here to leave a comment about how blockchain can be used to secure scientific inquiry from censorship , by tying the data files into the blockchain . This way a “wallet “

Memory card can be able to move the information where big government might censor such things .

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Let’s say whistleblower loads the data . It then get tied into blockchain and dissipates and makes the info known , hopefully without being able to trace the source

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bitcoin = bitcon

I said this since I first heard of it back in 2017.

I have zero-bit of sympathy for any sob stories regarding it.

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What leads you to that conclusion?

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1. They control us by controlling the money supply - ref Mayer Redshield

2. Why would they relent that control? Would you? They have killed countless people for much less!

3. India and China already have leery looks at it. I scanned that China has already done something about it.

4. Look at the nature of bitcon: if it is supposed to be an independent or parallel medium of exchange, why does it trade with fiat money? A nothing medium of exchange having value in itself is absurd.

5. A stroke of a pen will send it into the ether where it belongs. A simple law which states thus will suffice: " Only transactions or stores of any kind involving legal tender medium of exchange are recognised and enforceable." I recall a story where two brothers in South Africa absconded with in excess of $100m in bitcons. The aggrieved investors went to the specialist financial police there, who merely giggled! Why? Because bitcons were not recognised as legitimate things - like monopoly money.

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1. The point of Bitcoin is that there is now less control by any central source.

2. Yes, they will fight for it. No doubt about it. That war has begun, which is what this Substack documents (hopefully with some solutions).

3. China also gave up naval capitalism. It was and still is the wrong game theoretic move. China is in a tougher spot than many realize, and that's a complex story that I may tell in some other articles.

4. Any two currencies can be traded, fiat or not. Why does gold trade with fiat money? I don't know what "nothing medium of exchange" means.

5. If the stroke of a pen is that powerful, then we've already lost all freedom, and this conversation is pointless. Assuming we have agency, which I do, I can make my own decisions.

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I appreciate this pari passu rebuttal. Let's get it on! :)

1. ? The Australian govt via the Treasurer has hinted at bitcon regulations. If they allow bitcon to flourish, they will lose control. And it does not make sense to have two, in effect, legal tender media.

2. They don't have to fight. They can simply declare it. You are talking about the literal life blood of any non-barter society. Also, why should those who have the means to mine and set up bitcon have control of real assets? This is a form of inventing "money" out of thin ether. Why should society transfer the control of money to some private individuals? That is, why should society further privatise its control of money? I know that in the USA money is privatised.

3. Non sequitur.

4. Gold works alongside fiat money. It does not attempt to gain independence. And gold has intrinsic value. Are bitcons not nothing? They are numbers on computers. We need to remember that "money" is only a means or medium of exchange. It is nothing in itself. That was why I said it is absurd to place on value on a nothing. This is different to place a value on a fiat currency since it is backed by a state. What is bitcon backed by? Does not the wild volatility indicate its speculative nature? Can you imagine currencies fluctuate like bitcon? Take a suit case of US dollars to a deserted island and see. Or to another planet.

5. I am surprised that you even mentioned the obvious. What freedom do we have? They can kill and lock us up at anytime. They can impoverish us at will. Tell me: what prevents China, India or any other country from enacting a law that I mentioned?

What did Brandon do with the laws and EOs? Did he not merely sign them with a pen?

Did you say you can make your own decisions? Really? Have not had to adapt and compromise? If so, what real freedom do you possess?

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The claim of gold's "intrinsic" value are strange. Nobody ever defines "intrinsic" when they say this, except to mention people use it in small amounts of electronics or as teeth. This notion is never connected to money except in some vague notion of scarcity that would never occur. But scarcity is the driver of valuation.

But I'm going to bow out of these debates since they've taken place many times on the internet, and because I would need to write articles of substantial length just to explain each sentence. I've done that some in the educational materials that I linked to, but I'm guessing you haven't viewed them yet.

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You have already defined "intrinsic".

"But I'm going to tap out...." :)

It was fun while it lasted...

When it comes to accounting, economic, general finance concepts, and law, I read no one other than textbooks.

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1. What can Josh do with 6 States and a couple of territories all doing their own thing. Won't there be 9 currencies in Australia in 24 months?

2. Time to break 5 arrows.

3. Reserve Bank, NZ

4. I've heard that Gold isn't really Gold a lot of the time.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/fake-gold-wafer-rbc-canadian-mint-1.4368801

5. Agree it's a joke. Do billionaires even have agency?

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1. Wishful thinking. Even then we will still beat NZ!

2. They will break you first!

3. NZ RB will do as it is told...

4. Yes. Fort Knox is actually Fort Knot. I think the Germans were pissed.

5. This billionaire needs no agency!

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I’ve been in crypto for a while. For anyone that is interested in a deeper dive, Bitcoin has several forks, in that there are multiple chains that share the same genesis block. Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash and Bitcoin SV (Satoshi’s Vision) all have the same origin. For me, Bitcoin SV is the closest to the original creation. I use it everyday. I highly recommend Twetch, which is a blockchain based Twitter alternative. There may be some haters that pile on to these comments, but my transaction cost less than $.01 and minting NFTs is extremely easy.

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