Cryptocurrencies and ICOs are a threat to government because they take away monopoly power to create distributed, consensus-based stores of value. Without that monopoly, war is quite difficult for nation-states. Don't we prefer less war?
The Government Anti-Cryptocurrency Narrative Will Get Louder
7 years ago by lukestokes (75)
$50.08
- Past Payouts $50.08
- - Author $40.18
- - Curators $9.90
156 votes
- + sean-king: $18.792 (100%)
- + teamsteem: $9.668 (30%)
- + themonetaryfew: $2.406 (100%)
- + nanzo-scoop: $1.794 (20%)
- + vortac: $1.738 (20%)
- + ashe-oro: $1.451 (100%)
- + eeks: $1.064 (100%)
- + stimp1024: $1.048 (100%)
- + hanshotfirst: $0.816 (10%)
- + jasonstaggers: $0.806 (100%)
- + tarazkp: $0.702 (20%)
- + churdtzu: $0.701 (100%)
- + kyriacos: $0.543 (50%)
- + ajvest: $0.480 (100%)
- + lichtblick: $0.395 (10%)
- + billbutler: $0.385 (100%)
- + dougkarr: $0.330 (100%)
- + tt-dogg: $0.324 (100%)
- + msp-lovebot: $0.265 (35%)
- + coolbowser: $0.262 (19%)
- … and 136 more
Bah. The decline payment option on @zappl still isn't working. This was supposed to be a decline payment post.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Sadly a lot of things still not working on Zappl....great idea, still needs some work.
Good development team, they will get it right.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Found this after I posted.
https://steemit.com/zappl/@zappl/zappl-maintenance
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I saw that also, but that was 9 hours ago and they are back up. This issue hasn't been fixed yet and I already pointed it out to them once before. :(
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Noted Luke.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Do you not want my upvote then?
You could take the payment and donate it to #utopian-io or some project deemed worthwhile in your own consideration. Or see if @berniesanders will come remove the payment for you (:
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I never mind upvotes, I was just surprised zappl still didn't work as expected. Bernie seems to enjoy protecting the rewards pool via my posts (even though I've never powered down), so he'll do his thing no matter what I say. I have a number of delegations I plan to do, I just need to get organized about them. Maybe that'll be my weekend project.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Bahaha came here to comment about Bernie or someone downvoting this low value post and glad I read this comment before I said anything.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Feel free to ask the people who voted why they did. I get confused why some people get mad at authors as if it's their fault other people voted up the post. If someone wants to downvote it, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
It's just funny so many people do and I wasn't mad at you. Was just getting ready to break out the popcorn and saw it was just a mistake as you had no intention on monetizing the post so I packed up my chair and popcorn and moved on to the next hopefully entertaining post.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Hahah! We primates do our love our drama, don't we. :)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I just started debunking a conspiracy that bitcoin is controlled by government. They will also spin it as bitcoin = bad, FedCoin/SDR = good. Hopefully we don't end up with a digital panopticon when the sheep fail to read the fine print on their new currency.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Nice write up. Yeah, when FedCoin/SDR comes out, that's when the narrative will get really, really interesting.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Hadn't seen that before, but logical that they will take SDRs and call it FedCoin.
So is BTC just a trial run, to see if sheeple will fall head over heels to get into this new thing called FedCoin?
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I think digital currencies (centralized in nature) were being worked on in the 90's. Then there were some flops such as e-gold. What's new about this technology is the decentralized nature of distributed accounting that uses game theoretical algorithms to ensure fairness.
Lightning Network and Schnorr signatures will help with the scaling and privacy issues when they come out. I'm a programmer from a different field (over 20 years) and since spring have been studying the bitcoin architecture. Semi-retired and own my own business, but put some money in crypto as insurance against social security/private pension failure.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
It's an interesting narrative that has been debated endlessly on bitcointalk since the beginning, but I personally don't think it has much weight. Digital currencies have always been in the interests of governments. Decentralized cryptographic ledgers take the control out of their hands and put them into voluntarily agreed upon protocols. The main thing we need is useable privacy, which many projects are working towards now.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Absolutely we will win with our lovely crypto space and there is no stopping us my friend...Hater are joing bitcoin and steem because the have seen the light (see my last 2 posts for details of the next best thing) and do not forget to see my latest post for a crypto video bounty...upped-always.....happy weekend.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
The Crypto Currency is becoming a threat to the USD dominance, now with a Cap of over 100BUSD, expect more restrictions to come, I won;t be surprised if in 5-10 years down the road, crypto currency will become illegal.. for whatever pretext.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
If they made crypto illegal (except their own government issue, of course), and gave notice to the law coming into force - you would see a stampede to the door in all the crypto's
This being the case, (knowing they could pull the plug on it at any time) it offers no threat to - anything, really.
While lots of people are very 'gung -h'o and screw the government,( in theory )
I would bet that they would sell their BTC quicker than a european going to the toilet after eating in india for the first time...if it meant their money was being threatened.
Principles?- what principles? lol
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I hear what you are saying but they have been in crypto for longer than most of us even had heard of it..gov, banks...etc.....
they are co-opting it cause maybe, just maybe....most of this is from them in the first place
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
It's fun to speculate, but I still think it's a separate endeavor. There are too many independent projects going on right now (over 1,000 different cryptocurrency projects) for government to be behind them all. If what you're saying is true and they tip their hand (maybe Ripple is part of the plan?), then people can vote with their stores of value and use a different cryptocurrency.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I agree we are seeing this already. For example, this kind of tone towards tokens - https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/26/business/initial-coin-offering-critic.html
I am suspicious some in government will attempt to expand laws to stifle public blockchains and decentralized organizations.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
war not only kills our patriots.....its also a reduction of brain power and smart engineers creating death for profit...imagine if we could have those smart people designing things. to solve fresh air, solving hunger and disease...thats why im a huge supporter of dan larimer...building products that help mankind no matter nationality or religion
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
In my world, this is a good thing.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
right friend , you are absolutely right...........
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
True! Some day, cryptos will replace the banking chain. Also, fiat
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
@lukestokes, decentralized systems take away power from the monopoly holders - banks, governments, etc.
The cryptocurrency movement will continue to make waves. We just need to decide which side of the waves we choose to be on.
Most of us want to be ahead of the wave in regards to opportunity. Are we also willing to be ahead of the wave in regards to opposition?
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
You may be surprised. As long as the crypto is not perfectly anonymous, and provides some backdoor way for government to track users cash, government may prefer those cryptos. Many governments are pushing to full digital currency, remove all cash transaction from the economy. Easier for them to tax, and confiscate, and get their grubby little fingers all up in your wallet. Easier for government to pick your pocket, assuming your digital wallet has some security vulnerabilties that can be exploited.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
It's a valid concern, for sure, but this is also why I think we all need to step up our game when it comes to personal computer security. If you become a target of a nation-state, obviously there's little you can do, but if they start going after everyone like that, their "consent of the governed" illusion will dry up very quickly leading to full on revolt. They don't want those.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Those who want peace on earth should enter crypto. Hehe
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Yeah it sucks the ruling that just came out vs coinbase and the government looks like they will be getting their extra greedy hands in there.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Pirates.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
If the government was anti-crypto then the miners would not be permitted to use as much electricity as they do. You are right to call it a narrative, and also correct to say that it will continue. But, one must remember the words of Shakespeare...
All the world's a stage.
It's all bullshit. Bitcoin is here because they want it to be.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Might be wise to be getting some solar farms going.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I think those with power will try to use everything to their own advantage, including something like bitcoin which threatens their monopoly control. Electricity use is being restricted to miners in China, last I heard. They could do it here too, if they really wanted to crack down. Long live DPOS. :)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Let me ask you one thing then, mate. And I also request that you be honest with yourself when considering it.
What is blockchain technology really? An immutable distributed ledger is the way its typically described. But that's really just fancy words for something that records everything, and cannot be deleted.
Now, we are led to believe that Satoshi Nakamoto set out to develop a secret currency(it is called crypto after all) that people could use to exchange value without the government knowing or being able to intervene.
Well, do you think if this was truly the agenda, that the idea of a ledger that records everything and cannot be deleted would even enter the creator's mind?
I can't imagine so. That is the opposite of secretive, because the truth is, nothing on the internet can ever truly be anonymous. So, if a secret currency was really Nakamoto's goal, the moment an undeletable ledger entered their mind as a possibility, it would have been instantly followed by a "no, that could be exploited."
I really think that if anyone takes the time to think about this, it should become clear that Nakamoto's goal was to produce a ledger that records everything and can never be deleted, and I expect that in the not-so-distant future, we will begin to see why.
Know that I do hope I am wrong, but I have been honest with myself and there's just no way I can believe this technology came from a mind who wanted to liberate. This is far better suited as a tool of oppression.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
It's a good question, for sure!
I've consistently corrected people since 2013 who use the "bitcoin is anonymous" line. It clearly is not. That narrative was pushed by media outlets and the uneducated. Calling it a "secret currency" because it uses cryptography isn't fair. You browser uses cryptography but isn't a secret browser. It's just a browser.
His goal was to create digital cash. The immutability of the ledger is what enables the security to work which is what enables value to he stored in it.
Many see privacy differently than I do. I think it's something we should surely have the option of, but I'm not convinced it always increases well being. More on that here: https://steemit.com/life/@lukestokes/privacy-identity-and-human-flourishing
I see oppression all around made possible by fiat currency. Open source, decentrazlied currencies (1,000+ to choose from) seem to me far more liberating to me than any other option.
I see your point, and I do agree immutable ledgers can be used for harm. They are a tool. How we use that tool will determine if we become more free or less free. For many of the reasons you mention, I like the many privacy-based coin projects out there.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I have just bookmarked that and will give it a read a bit later when I have more time. I will let you know my thoughts on it at that point.
Thanks for the thoughtful reply, however. We will continue this discussion later.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
It is okay Good or bad publicity is still publicity. Bitcoin is even more famous now due to their actions.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Fewer wars and freedom to invest in cryptocurrencies, that's what we want, greetings friend.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Agreed. It has been amusing listening to BBC analysis of bitcoin lately. They're pushing lack of government/ central bank control as a bad quality to have
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
We are living peaceful days, but I don't even want to imagine the terror of a war...
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Amazing you brought this up. I'm working on a post about how the current global economy (fiat currency) had to make the move away from the gold standard because of the impossibility of funding wars with gold (Kublai Khan found out the hard way). I watched an interview with Daniel Estulin who says that the current global econ system is going to move away from war-based to space-based... that whoever controls inner space controls the global economy. Interesting! Crypto-economy depends on the instant dissemination of information (via satellite) SO whoever controls inner space controls the global economy and that's where the global elites are headed- they may not be able to control cryptos, but they can control the satellite system. (sorry for being so long winded)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
No doubt they're going to fight losing that control. No one with power gives it up easily. I just hope the resistance is strong enough to fight back. If only we realized we're the majority.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Preach. Less war more money and equality for everyone. ?
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Regular stores are losing more value every day. Many are starting to accept crypto instead of just cash.yeah!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Money is the foundation of their power. Since they control the currency and expand it at will, that enables them to use FIAT to acquire whatever they desire.
Isnt it interesting that FIAT, before it makes it into anyone's hands, first goes through the banks. That is where "new" money starts.
In cryptocurrency, new money starts in the hands of the end user in many cases. Like on steem here, curation rewards are new steem...new before used.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Yes, but total loss of control that leads to loss of governance can be a bad thing. Can you imagine the Wild, Wild, West on steroids with internet access? Some day us like minds will be in control, and THAT will be a good thing.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Depending on the timelines involved with implementation, I'm fine with no government.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
True that! Did you see Joseph Stiglitz's comments on bitcoin?
How about being censorship-proof, distributed, and immune from government manipulation? Apparently those don't count as redeeming social values.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
These "experts" are dinosaurs asked to have opinions on things they don't understand.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit