Category: Bitcoin

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Is Bitcoin Dead?

With the FTX debacle, all the Bitcoin haters, like Charlie Munger (Warren Buffet’s partner at Berkshire Hathaway) and Jamie Dimon (CEO of JP Morgan Chase Bank) have all seized the moment and declared Bitcoin a fraud, a scam, and “AHA” that they were right to trash it in the first place.  Bear in mind that they are traditional investors, and Bitcoin, the “new kid on the block”, is not traditional.

The intelligent investor
The Intelligent Investor Rev Ed.: The Definitive Book on Value Investing, from Amazon

Bitcoin is still the “wild frontier” of modern finance, and is going through some growing pains as Bad Actors like the founder of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, are being extradited to the US to answer to the Congress and the SEC.

I put to you that the problem here is not Bitcoin, but the people who will take advantage of investors in their crypto-currency exchanges, just like there are criminal bankers and fund managers.  The blockchain will have all of the transaction records, as it is designed, but the bad actors are using the unregulated ability to hide the non-blockchain transfer of assets from Crypto currencies to (Lord knows where) offshore accounts, donations to political parties to curry legislative favor, and more.

The Dark Side of Bitcoin: From the mechanisms of the Crypto-Currency to its criminal employment in the Dark Web
The Dark Side of Bitcoin: From the mechanisms of the Crypto-Currency to its criminal employment in the Dark Web

Clearly there is a need to regulate the behavior of crypto currency exchange managers, large investors, HODL’ers, and others who use international transfers and an egregious lack of transparency to hide their thievery and illegitimate profiteering.  History shows us that the next Bernie Madoff is coming, and can bilk you with Bitcoin or conventional stocks and bonds.

While US investors may have some recourse when criminal activity is involved, this problem spans the world as Bitcoin and related Crypto currencies can be converted into almost any fiat currency.  And then can be folded into conventional transactions to evade detection.

This is a dark time for Bitcoin and it’s advocates, who once extoled the low-fee transfer and blockchain-secure ledger that was the compelling reason to move assets into Bitcoin.

Any company planning large scale Blockchain projects may reconsider, until there is a governing body and real penalties for criminal behavior.  Not to mention some transparency and adherence to GAAP.  (Generally accepted accounting principles).

Personally, I don’t think Bitcoin is “going away” or “dead” yet – it just has not matured to the point where regulators know how to manage it’s risks and proponents; both legitimate and criminal.

Beyond Blockchain: The Death of the Dollar and the Rise of Digital Currency
Beyond Blockchain: The Death of the Dollar and the Rise of Digital Currency, from Amazon

 

 

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Free Bitcoin by playing games?

All of us are seeking a magic way to obtain a passive income on-line, and I too am a seeker of the magic fountain of income! (Big grin).

I blog, I do affiliate marketing, and I spend as little as possible on marketing (buying eyeballs) and advertising. my choice was to grow any income organically, through blogging, twitter, Pinterest, and other platforms where I can provide useful information and grow organically. Note – unless you go “viral”, like a TikTok superstar, that means growth is slow. I would rather be a 5 year overnight success than go broke advertising mediocre content. I still don’t make more than $40 USD most months, But it has been growing, and I don’t spend all day posting. I know if I did this for 2–3 hours every day, I would easily quadruple that income or more, as I became more proficient.

Recently I found a way to add to my income and get into Crypto currency, which is becoming more and more mainstream. Most of the Bitcoin faucets are scams, and should be avoided at all costs. I also urge you not to invest in any faucet until it has proved worthy. This means it has been a live site for several years, has almost no negative or scam reviews (do check it out, even if I say it’s good, reputations can change), and does not monopolize a lot of your time.

The most recent site I found was Rollercoin. With Rollercoin you can play games to win Bitcoin, Doge, Ethereum, Tether, and Rollertoken (Their own coin). This site is unique because you can use the earnings from playing on-line games to buy miners that generate coins. While the payouts are small initially, They also have a referral program (yes my link is a referral link) which allows you to benefit when you promote the site.

You also can withdraw your coins to your personal wallet, and take them off of the site if you wish.

https://rollercoin.com/?r=ko09tont https://rollercoin.com/?r=ko09tont
sign up here by clicking on the image

I was impressed that there are several videos and reviews on-line with tips on how to use the site, which can be found with a basic google search.

While I know this is not for everyone, I want you to give Rollercoin a spin, and see if you can earn some crypto for fun – I am playing around with it and I am not a big gamer. hopefully you will enjoy it and even profit.

Thank you for reading this, and -To the Moon!

You can sign up for Rollercoin by clicking the underlined link.

Rollercoin sign up

 

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Is it time to abandon using cash money, and what do we use instead??

cleaning money Photo by Alan Chenkin

First and foremost, you need to know that I like cash.  The feel of a real coin or a dollar bill in my hand is tangible and powerful.  But the latest pandemic fears have us all worried about money transferring the Covid-19 virus; and that is a real fear. 

Update: It is highly unlikely that you will catch Covid from handling paper money, unless a Covid positive person just coughed on your money; Covid is most likely transmitted by airborne particles.  Despite this I still err on the safe side and clean my money and wash my hands a lot.  I suggest that you should too.

It goes without saying that I have a predisposition to Bitcoin, and you can even get Bitcoin with your credit card!  (link opens in new tab). 

Bitcoin is not as easy to use as credit cards and PayPal (yet) for most on-line purchases, although it works really well in person to person situations – because you can transfer money contactless with smartphones.  This will get easier over time.

If you are at a store, and you don’t want to linger at the checkout or handle change, I would recommend using google or Apple pay.  Some credit cards like chase also have contactless options.  Many use the NFC (Near Field Communications) technology on most newer smartphones.

If you use cash, and get only change in return, I would suggest asking the cashier to put it into the charity or tip  box most stores have on the counter.  that way you do not have to touch the change, and there is no increased risk of Covid-19 by touching a potentially contaminated item (physical money).

The Bitcoin Basics: A quick-start for beginners (Including where & how to safely buy and store).
The Bitcoin Basics: A quick-start for beginners (Including where & how to safely buy and store). Available from Amazon Books.

Cash Money won’t be going away, but in the time of Covid, alternatives to handling cash are necessary and may become more convenient than our customary cash transactions.

Stay safe and I wish you well!

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Cash Money, Change, Excitement, and Fear

Cash Money, Change, Excitement, and Fear of the Unknown Bitcoin.

When the US Government redesigned the $100 bill, Banks all over the world were set on by people with American Money.  They were seeking to change it to the new bills.  To an American, this is silly.  To people in other parts of the world, New money means the old money is (or will soon be) worthless.  This has a historical context.

Money and value change constantly, and throughout history we have seen many currencies come and go.  What of your Roman coins?  Payment in round pebbles or carved stones?  All were forms of currency that are no longer common or abandoned with the fall of the Empire.

Today we have seen the birth of a new form of money.  You can’t feel it or carry it in your pocket.  Electronic Currency has arrived.  Conceptualized in a paper by the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin, the “gold Standard” of cryptocurrency.

 

Cryptocurrency, like any new form of money, has purpose.  Proponents say it is the “next generation” of money and financial transactions.  Since it is “peer to peer”, and can be transferred person to person directly, without passing through a central clearinghouse or central bank.  Fees are low, and the transactions are immediate.  OF course, when easy transfer of funds is available, a certain “sketchy” element of society (money launderers? Drug kingpins? Arms Dealers?) finds it attractive.  Bitcoin achieved star status with Silk Road, a defunct website trafficking criminal materials and ungoverned commerce in prohibited (illegal) products.  The US Government acquired 25 million Bitcoins in the aftermath of the criminal investigation.

 

The Dark Side of Bitcoin: From the mechanisms of the Crypto-Currency to its criminal employment in the Dark Web

The Dark Side of Bitcoin: From the mechanisms of the Crypto-Currency to its criminal employment in the Dark Web – From Amazon books

 

Thus we see that Money is interleaved with governments, criminals, profiteers, history, and an underlying concern that your money may be worthless or converted to something else.  No wonder proponents of bitcoin have the zeal of missionaries, and enemies of it are passionately opposed and eager to see the Bitcoin “house of cards” come crashing down.  It is a fear that the current paper money might be as worthless as confederate dollars.

Bitcoin has survived almost four years.  I don’t pretend to have a crystal ball, but instead of being afraid, I am going to enjoy the show.

Bitcoin Stickers – For Home, Car, Laptop, more! On Ebay

Consider these books on Bitcoin (from Amazon):
How to Start a Crypto Portfolio – Robert Leshner – Medium – Medium
Should your portfolio include bitcoin? Yes, but just a 2% position, says analyst – Marketwatch
Bitcoin: Mastering Bitcoin For Beginners: How You Can Make Insane Money Investing and Trading in Bitcoin (Bitcoin Mining, Bitcoin trading, Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, Wallet & Business)

Thanks for Reading my Blog on Bitcoin!
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What are the incentives for modern governments with fiats to adopt Bitcoin, aka cryptocurrency?

It’s all about:

CONTROL.


A government controls its currency and will not be able to control/dominate Bitcoin (unless it mines its own coin, as the currency of the realm).

 

Bitcoin purchases and transfers are “peer to peer” transactions. Using the Blockchain (the Bitcoin ledger system) no central clearinghouse is required to regulate any transaction; it occurs between two parties. The Blockchain is a transparent ledger that just records the transaction (in very simple terms). Individuals keep their Bitcoin in “Wallets” on smartphones or computers, or on specific websites that deal in currency transfers (like BTC to USD).

Governments regulate volume of money, interest rates, fee structures, and monitor it’s value against other fiat currencies. Financial transactions outside of government control (with no fees going to the monetary “gatekeepers”) are a nightmare for financial ministers everywhere.

In my opinion, Bitcoin is one component of the financial mechanism any government needs to work effectively. I am not convinced that cash (or precious metals) are going away anytime soon, but governments fear that losing their money-printing ability will weaken them considerably.

 

Banks and some governmental entities are scrambling to utilize blockchain technology, while publicly denouncing or denying Bitcoin as a monetary vehicle. Most notable among the nay-sayers was Jamie Dimon, of JP Morgan Chase.
Dimon himself has publicly said he sees potential in blockchain tech, and his company just announced this month the launch of a blockchain-based pilot to “significantly reduce” the number of entities needed to verify global payments, which would cut down transaction settlement times.

Countries with High inflation and unstable Fiat currency (Argentina, Venezuela, as examples) have seen Bitcoin transactions flourish as there are low or no fees, and Bitcoin valuation is more stable than the Fiat Currency.
Cryptocurrency Primer: Everything You Need to Know About Cryptocurrencies and How They Are Different from Regular (Fiat) Money (With Mining Guides for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and ZCash)
 
Bitcoin and the blockchain are new entrants in the carnival of Financial Instruments, and (despite the nay-sayers) will be around for a while.

Thanks for reading my article! – Feel free to share!

(Disclaimer – I own some fractional Bitcoin).

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Should I buy ICO’s (Initial Coin Offerings)?

Buying ICO’s and altcoins are like investing in IPO’s and Penny stocks.

Lots of potential reward, but real risk that you may lose up to all your investment.  Many ICO’s are for coins that have no practical use (you can’t buy anything with them) – only an investment value that may plummet at any time.  For Example, Bitcoin can be used to purchase goods and services from many established companies.  Altcoins need to be on exchanges, where they can have a value equal to Bitcoin (BTC) and other coins, so the altcoins can be traded.

If the ICO price is low, You may want to accumulate some over time – adding to your position (or abandoning it) as your comfort level permits.  Going “ALL IN” my be fun, but figuring where to start taking profit is a mystery, and many investors have watched their value climb, and then plummet, with little warning.  Remember, any profit is good profit.

Two sites you should look at are:

Live Coin Watch – Live coin Watch

How to Differentiate between legitimate and scam coins – IB Times

I strongly recommend that you don’t mortgage your house or max out your credit cards to invest in such unstable securities. Keep your head, study the market, invest with Money you can Afford To Lose.  Some people use their Bitcoin profit to invest in Altcoins.  Some altcoins have a social component, or are mined to benefit causes, like veterans (see Globalboost).  If you are actively mining, see this Mining Profitability Calculator.

Here are some books on Altcoin investing:

 


Learn all you can, invest smartly, learn from any mistakes you make.

Best of Luck with your alt-coins and cryptocurrency investments!

– Alan