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Following the news that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is charging crypto protocol Algorands creators and issuers for selling unregistered securities, crypto enthusiasts are sharing an old clip of SEC head Gary Gensler praising Algorand when he was a professor at MIT back in 2019. But what does Gensler really say in this lecture?

Essentially, the speech is pro-crypto but barely focused on Algorand itself. Gensler praised Algorand at the end of his speech when he was asked how crypto could become more decentralized. Algorand was used as an example by the SEC chair, but he admitted that the protocol still had flaws; the issue of who would edit the software was unresolved, for one, but more importantly it remained unclear whether crypto tokens were securities. Gensler then criticized decentralized exchanges, saying they werent necessarily decentralized.

Despite the lecture not actually focusing on Algorand, its an interesting watch. The lecture came with disclaimers, nuances, and unsettled dilemmas. Gensler opened his speech with a positive note on crypto and blockchain, comparing their impact on FinTech with the telephones impact on the stock exchange.

Gensler explained the original aims and ideological principles of the early cypherpunks and Bitcoin proponents rather succinctly. He said that the intranet evolved into the internet, bringing more decentralization, but that blockchain advocates dream to make the internet truly a decentralized network. He spoke fondly of Hal Finney and proudly remarked that Satoshi Nakamoto uploaded Bitcoins code on Github with an MIT open-source license.

Read more: Gary Gensler still backing the SEC to be the best crypto regulator

Caution and criticism of cryptocurrency provided a balance to Genslers pro-crypto words. When he spoke in 2019, he said crypto wasnt ready to receive huge amounts of venture capital but venture capital had poured $30 billion into crypto in the past 18 months. The SEC chair warned that crypto is rife with fraud and scams, and that mass adoption would take five or ten years at best.

One of the most interesting points that Gensler raised throughout the lecture was that despite the fact that crypto was acting as an agent of change by, for example, spurring central banks to move closer to digital payments, crypto itself may not be the change-agent.

The lecture is a recommended listen for anyone interested in crypto and raises many nuances and complex issues which are still being debated today. For anyone keen to understand Genslers thoughts on crypto, this lecture is a good place to start.

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What did Gary Gensler really say when he promoted Algorand? - Protos

Proof of Work (PoW) is a consensus algorithm used in blockchain networks to validate transactions and create new blocks. It requires participants, known as miners, to solve complex mathematical problems using their computational resources. Once a miner successfully solves the problem, they can add the next block to the blockchain and are rewarded with newly minted cryptocurrency coins and transaction fees. PoW serves as a security measure for decentralized networks, making it difficult for any single entity to compromise the integrity of the blockchain. The history of PoW as a concept predates cryptocurrencies, with its origins traced back to the early 1990s when researchers Cynthia Dwork and Moni Naor proposed it as a method to deter spam and denial-of-service attacks. In 2009, Bitcoins creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, adopted PoW as the consensus mechanism for the Bitcoin blockchain, recognizing its potential to secure a decentralized network and prevent double-spending. Since then, PoW has become the foundation for many other cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash.

Full analysis : The Building Blocks of Trust: Decrypting Proof of Work in the Cryptocurrency World.

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The Building Blocks of Trust: Decrypting Proof of Work in the ... - OODA Loop

Bitcoin (BTC -4.17%) seems unstoppable right now, after breaking through the $30,000 price point. The world's most popular crypto really appears to be separating from the pack, and is now up 85% for the year. Regulators seem like they're willing to leave it alone and the Federal Reserve looks like it might be finished tightening. All are very good reasons Bitcoin sentiment right now is overwhelmingly bullish.

However, there is one issue that has been dogging Bitcoin for years, and that's the environmental impact of Bitcoin mining. Increasingly, Bitcoin is being included as part of the global climate change agenda, and that is going to impact not just how investors perceive it, but also how regulators around the world view it.

Over the past 12 months, the case against Bitcoin on purely environmental and climate change grounds has been ramping up. In September 2022, the White House put out an official report detailing the energy consumption of different cryptocurrencies, and Bitcoin figured prominently in the report.While modern proof-of-stake blockchains are remarkably energy-efficient, older proof-of-work blockchains such as Bitcoin are not.

Image source: Getty Images.

And that's not all. Greenpeace recently launched a new advertising campaign against Bitcoin called "Change the Code, not the Climate."The goal, says Greenpeace, is to clean up Bitcoin. And it will use many of the tactics that it has brought to bear against the oil and gas industry to make its point. For example, in March, Greenpeace placed a giant, 11-foot "Skull of Satoshi"(named for Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous founder of Bitcoin) right next to the New York City offices of Fidelity Investments, which now offers Bitcoin options for retail investors.

On April 9, The New York Times published a controversial expos on just how bad Bitcoin is for the environment, focusing on the energy consumption of Bitcoin mining. While many in the crypto community panned the article as being biased and factually inaccurate, the big-picture view is that climate change is a very important issue right now, and a lot of people -- including some lawmakers and regulators -- are very passionate about it.

As I see it, there are two possible scenarios. The most likely scenario is that Bitcoin manages to shake off this controversy once again, as it has over its 14-year history. Years ago, economists and academics were publishing the same kinds of reports, and what has really changed? Yes, Bitcoin miners have embraced cleaner forms of energy, but Bitcoin shows no signs of changing its proof-of-work protocol that requires crypto mining. And even the Canadian artist who created the "Skull of Satoshi" artwork has now recanted after tremendous blowback from the Bitcoin community.

But I think something fundamentally changed in September 2022. That's when Ethereum transformed from a proof-of-work blockchain into a proof-of-stake blockchain, immediately reducing its energy consumption by 99.99%. If Ethereum can do this, why can't Bitcoin? That's what makes the current Greenpeace ad campaign more effective than it might have been several years ago. When it talks about "changing the code," it's talking about changing from a proof-of-work blockchain into a proof-of-stake blockchain. Whatever you might think about Greenpeace, that doesn't seem like a radical, unreasonable request.

Moreover, big institutional investors such as BlackRock may have boxed themselves into a corner on this issue. BlackRock has been at the forefront of the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investment agenda, and has pushed for greener, more sustainable investments.So how does that square with a policy of embracing Bitcoin, which is arguably the least green crypto that exists?

That being said, Bitcoin is clearly the top crypto investment on the planet right now. It's hard to make a case for any other crypto when Bitcoin is up 85% for the year. So I'm not trying to throw cold water on a scorching-hot Bitcoin rally. I hold Bitcoin in my portfolio, and I'm bullish that it can hit some pretty outrageous price targets in the future.

But I'm also a realist. Look at the automotive industry, for example. Once activists decided to take it on, things forever changed. Is it possible to watch TV these days without seeing ads for electric vehicles? Right now, there are plans in California to ban gas-powered vehicles by 2035, and the EPA just proposed rigorous new emission standards for vehicles.You can't simply ignore an issue, and I'm concerned that some people in the Bitcoin community have their heads in the sand when it comes to climate change.

Bitcoin is a fantastic long-term investment. But if you start to see the narrative about Bitcoin change, it's worth taking note. Any hint of legal or regulatory overreach on this issue in the U.S.should be a wakeup call for Bitcoin bulls because it might just be the only factor that can squelch the current Bitcoin rally.

Link:

Bitcoin Is Easily the Best Crypto to Buy Right Now, but Keep Your ... - The Motley Fool

Cryptocurrencies have been making headlines for the past few years, as the market has seen an unprecedented rise in value and popularity. From Bitcoin to Ethereum, these digital currencies have become a mainstream phenomenon, attracting the attention of investors, traders, and even governments. In this article, we explore the rise of cryptocurrencies, their impact on the financial industry, and what the future holds for this exciting and dynamic market. If you are interested in Crypto investment, you may also consider knowing about the Limmer Coin.

Cryptocurrencies are digital or virtual tokens that use cryptography for security and operate on a decentralized network. Unlike traditional currencies that are issued by governments or central authorities, cryptocurrencies are created through a process called mining, where users solve complex mathematical equations to validate transactions and earn rewards. This decentralized and transparent system allows for fast, secure, and low-cost transactions, without the need for intermediaries like banks or payment processors.

Bitcoin, the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, was created in 2009 by an unknown person or group of people using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin's main goal was to create a decentralized payment system that would allow for secure and anonymous transactions without relying on third parties. Since its inception, Bitcoin has grown in popularity and value, reaching an all-time high of almost $65,000 in April 2021.

The rise of cryptocurrencies has had a profound impact on the financial industry, disrupting traditional banking and payment systems. Cryptocurrencies offer several advantages over traditional currencies, such as lower transaction fees, faster settlement times, and increased privacy and security. They also provide an alternative investment opportunity, as many investors see them as a store of value and a hedge against inflation.

However, the lack of regulation and the volatility of the cryptocurrency market has also raised concerns among policymakers and regulators. Cryptocurrencies are not backed by any tangible assets and their value is subject to speculation and market sentiment, which can result in significant price swings. Moreover, cryptocurrencies have been used for illegal activities like money laundering and terrorism financing, which has prompted governments to consider stricter regulations and oversight.

Despite the challenges and uncertainties surrounding the cryptocurrency market, many experts believe that cryptocurrencies are here to stay and will continue to grow and evolve. The increasing acceptance and adoption of cryptocurrencies by mainstream institutions and investors, such as Tesla and PayPal, have given them more legitimacy and credibility. Moreover, the development of new technologies like blockchain and smart contracts has opened up new possibilities for the use of cryptocurrencies in various industries and applications.

One of the most promising developments in the cryptocurrency space is the emergence of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). CBDCs are digital versions of traditional currencies that are issued and backed by central banks. Unlike cryptocurrencies, CBDCs are centralized and regulated, which makes them more stable and less volatile. CBDCs could potentially offer the benefits of cryptocurrencies, such as fast and secure transactions, while also providing the stability and trust of traditional currencies.

Cryptocurrencies have come a long way since the birth of Bitcoin in 2009, and their impact on the financial industry and the broader economy cannot be ignored. While the future of cryptocurrencies is uncertain, it is clear that they have the potential to disrupt and transform traditional banking and payment systems. As the cryptocurrency market continues to evolve and mature, it is crucial for regulators, policymakers, and investors to strike a balance between innovation and regulation, to ensure the long-term sustainability and stability of this exciting and dynamic market.

In addition, the rise of cryptocurrencies is a fascinating and complex phenomenon that has captured the imagination of investors, traders, and technologists around the world. While the cryptocurrency market is still in its early stages and faces many challenges, it is clear that it has the potential to disrupt and transform the financial industry and beyond. The future of cryptocurrencies is uncertain, but one thing is certain: they are here to stay, and their impact on the world will be felt for years to come. As the market continues to evolve and mature, it is essential for stakeholders to work together to ensure that the benefits of cryptocurrencies are maximized, while the risks and challenges are minimized. Only then can we realize the full potential of this exciting and dynamic market.

(Disclaimer: Devdiscourse's journalists were not involved in the production of this article. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Devdiscourse and Devdiscourse does not claim any responsibility for the same.)

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The Rise of Cryptocurrencies - Exploring the Mainstream Phenomenon - Devdiscourse

In news that covers social media, trading and cryptocurrencies, Elon Musks Twitter has partnered with the popular eToro retail trading platform. This integration will allow Twitter users to view market charts through the social media app, via an already-existing connection with the TradingView API, and then to click through to eToro, where stocks and cryptocurrencies can be bought and sold.

To anyone who follows the overlapping Twitter communities known as fintwit and CT (meaning financial Twitter and crypto Twitter, respectively), the eToro integration will make perfect sense. Twitter has become an arena in which finance and crypto information is circulated first and fastest, and where market sentiment can be both gauged and, in the case of some large accounts, influenced.

With regard to social media and retail trading, eToro told Finance Magnates that: Twitter has become a crucial part of the retail investing community its where millions of ordinary investors go every day to access financial news, share knowledge and converse.

Chart from Vanda Research

During last years FTX collapse, crypto Twitter proved itself to be adept at investigative work and direct, real-time analysis, tearing into the details of what was occurring around FTX, Alameda Research, and the main protagonists (Sam Bankman-Fried and Caroline Ellison) often before the mainstream press got to grips with the issues involved.

Keep Reading

Elon Musk, CEO of Twitter, CEO and Chief Engineer of SpaceX, and CEO and Product Architect of Tesla.

And, when it comes to Twitters owner, Elon Musk, it appears that a tie-in with eToro matches up with his long-term plans for the social media platform, as during the Morgan Stanley conference on March 7th, Musk stated of Twitter: I think its possible to become the biggest financial institution in the world, just by providing people with convenient payment options.

As for whether Twitter would be earning income from the business it sends eToros way, the trading platform was currently unable to disclose commercial details of the deal.

David Sacks, former COO at PayPal

Lets rewind for a moment to the early days of Elon Musks career, when, back in 1999, he founded X.com. This was an FDIC-insured online bank, which subsequently merged with Peter Thiels Confinity Inc, and the new entity became PayPal (which was already being operated by Confinity), with PayPal later acquired, in 2002, by Ebay.

David Sacks, the former COO of PayPal, once explained that X.com and Confinity merged to consolidate the fledgling market for email-based payments, while in 1999, Elon Musk believed that after trusting the internet for information and then commerce, we were at the third stage now where people are ready to use the internet as their main financial repository.

20 years later, in a conference at Davos, PayPal's Co-Founder Luke Nosek outlined how, originally, the mission of PayPal was to create a global currency that was independent of interference by these corrupt cartels of banks and governments that were debasing their currencies.

The oldest of the above-mentioned historical quotes goes back over two decades, and Noseks words outline what were radical-sounding ideas, but, might echoes of those ways of thinking be playing out now through Musks current manoeuvrings with Twitter?

Luke Nosek, Co-Founder at PayPal, Managing Partner at Gigafund.

In a recent development that resonates back to Musks early company X.com (along with SpaceX, the Tesla Model X, and even Musks son, who is named X AE A-XII), Twitter Inc actually no longer exists as a company, as it has been merged into a new entity called X Corp, which itself is held by parent corporation X Holdings Corp.

And, in October 2022, Musk tweeted that: Buying Twitter is an accelerant to creating X, the everything app.

Buying Twitter is an accelerant to creating X, the everything app

This relates to Musks ambition for an app which may become similar to WeChat in China. WeChat, owned by TenCent Holdings, serves over one billion users through an extensive range of functions, including social media, messaging, payments, conferencing and broadcasting.

By the way, Musk bought back the X.com domain from PayPal in 2017, because it had great sentimental value. You can go and visit, but theres not much there.

Something you might notice, looking over the original highly disruptive intent for PayPal, is a resemblance to the ways that Bitcoin advocates talk about cryptocurrency; and, Elon Musk has demonstrated varying degrees of openness towards blockchain payment systems.

In 2021, Tesla invested $1.5 billion into BTC (of which it later sold around 75%), and, from March to May 2021 it accepted BTC for payments in the US before suspending the system. Its also no secret that Musk has an affection, either sincere or tongue-in-cheek, for Dogecoin as evidenced when he temporarily changed the Twitter logo to a Doge sign last week.

For the ultimate speculation around Musk and his relationship to crypto, you can even find theories alleging that Musk himself is Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin (a suggestion Musk, not surprisingly, has denied).

While Musk-as-Satoshi may be a stretch too far, its not far-fetched to suspect that Musk could have moved in the same circles as the Bitcoin creator. Musk, Thiel, Sacks and Nosek are all members of whats known as the 'PayPal Mafia' (a cohort of influential tech entrepreneurs linked through their times at PayPal), and Thiel has speculated that, while he was still working at PayPal, he may have crossed paths with Satoshi at a 2000 financial cryptography conference in Anguilla.

Returning to Elon Musk's current plans, its evident that for over two decades Musk has held an interest in establishing new methods of digital payment, and in disrupting existing institutions, and that these interests align partly with the goals prevalent in Bitcoin and cryptocurrency circles. It seems now that through Twitter, or X his proposed everything app, Musk may be able to approach these long-standing aims along a new path.

In news that covers social media, trading and cryptocurrencies, Elon Musks Twitter has partnered with the popular eToro retail trading platform. This integration will allow Twitter users to view market charts through the social media app, via an already-existing connection with the TradingView API, and then to click through to eToro, where stocks and cryptocurrencies can be bought and sold.

To anyone who follows the overlapping Twitter communities known as fintwit and CT (meaning financial Twitter and crypto Twitter, respectively), the eToro integration will make perfect sense. Twitter has become an arena in which finance and crypto information is circulated first and fastest, and where market sentiment can be both gauged and, in the case of some large accounts, influenced.

With regard to social media and retail trading, eToro told Finance Magnates that: Twitter has become a crucial part of the retail investing community its where millions of ordinary investors go every day to access financial news, share knowledge and converse.

Chart from Vanda Research

During last years FTX collapse, crypto Twitter proved itself to be adept at investigative work and direct, real-time analysis, tearing into the details of what was occurring around FTX, Alameda Research, and the main protagonists (Sam Bankman-Fried and Caroline Ellison) often before the mainstream press got to grips with the issues involved.

Keep Reading

Elon Musk, CEO of Twitter, CEO and Chief Engineer of SpaceX, and CEO and Product Architect of Tesla.

And, when it comes to Twitters owner, Elon Musk, it appears that a tie-in with eToro matches up with his long-term plans for the social media platform, as during the Morgan Stanley conference on March 7th, Musk stated of Twitter: I think its possible to become the biggest financial institution in the world, just by providing people with convenient payment options.

As for whether Twitter would be earning income from the business it sends eToros way, the trading platform was currently unable to disclose commercial details of the deal.

David Sacks, former COO at PayPal

Lets rewind for a moment to the early days of Elon Musks career, when, back in 1999, he founded X.com. This was an FDIC-insured online bank, which subsequently merged with Peter Thiels Confinity Inc, and the new entity became PayPal (which was already being operated by Confinity), with PayPal later acquired, in 2002, by Ebay.

David Sacks, the former COO of PayPal, once explained that X.com and Confinity merged to consolidate the fledgling market for email-based payments, while in 1999, Elon Musk believed that after trusting the internet for information and then commerce, we were at the third stage now where people are ready to use the internet as their main financial repository.

20 years later, in a conference at Davos, PayPal's Co-Founder Luke Nosek outlined how, originally, the mission of PayPal was to create a global currency that was independent of interference by these corrupt cartels of banks and governments that were debasing their currencies.

The oldest of the above-mentioned historical quotes goes back over two decades, and Noseks words outline what were radical-sounding ideas, but, might echoes of those ways of thinking be playing out now through Musks current manoeuvrings with Twitter?

Luke Nosek, Co-Founder at PayPal, Managing Partner at Gigafund.

In a recent development that resonates back to Musks early company X.com (along with SpaceX, the Tesla Model X, and even Musks son, who is named X AE A-XII), Twitter Inc actually no longer exists as a company, as it has been merged into a new entity called X Corp, which itself is held by parent corporation X Holdings Corp.

And, in October 2022, Musk tweeted that: Buying Twitter is an accelerant to creating X, the everything app.

Buying Twitter is an accelerant to creating X, the everything app

This relates to Musks ambition for an app which may become similar to WeChat in China. WeChat, owned by TenCent Holdings, serves over one billion users through an extensive range of functions, including social media, messaging, payments, conferencing and broadcasting.

By the way, Musk bought back the X.com domain from PayPal in 2017, because it had great sentimental value. You can go and visit, but theres not much there.

Something you might notice, looking over the original highly disruptive intent for PayPal, is a resemblance to the ways that Bitcoin advocates talk about cryptocurrency; and, Elon Musk has demonstrated varying degrees of openness towards blockchain payment systems.

In 2021, Tesla invested $1.5 billion into BTC (of which it later sold around 75%), and, from March to May 2021 it accepted BTC for payments in the US before suspending the system. Its also no secret that Musk has an affection, either sincere or tongue-in-cheek, for Dogecoin as evidenced when he temporarily changed the Twitter logo to a Doge sign last week.

For the ultimate speculation around Musk and his relationship to crypto, you can even find theories alleging that Musk himself is Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin (a suggestion Musk, not surprisingly, has denied).

While Musk-as-Satoshi may be a stretch too far, its not far-fetched to suspect that Musk could have moved in the same circles as the Bitcoin creator. Musk, Thiel, Sacks and Nosek are all members of whats known as the 'PayPal Mafia' (a cohort of influential tech entrepreneurs linked through their times at PayPal), and Thiel has speculated that, while he was still working at PayPal, he may have crossed paths with Satoshi at a 2000 financial cryptography conference in Anguilla.

Returning to Elon Musk's current plans, its evident that for over two decades Musk has held an interest in establishing new methods of digital payment, and in disrupting existing institutions, and that these interests align partly with the goals prevalent in Bitcoin and cryptocurrency circles. It seems now that through Twitter, or X his proposed everything app, Musk may be able to approach these long-standing aims along a new path.

Read more here:

X Marks the Spot for Twitter and eToro - Finance Magnates