Live data from Hacker News

Bitcoin is a Cult

adamcaudill.com

161–170 of 232 posts

Re: Bitcoin is a Cult

#161
post #49

I think people have largely missed the point of the article. This is specifically in relation to a "magic hash" on a block that was mined on June 19, 2018 with the hash: 00000000000000000021e800c1e8df51b22c1588e5a624bea17e9faa34b2dc4a The leading zeros are the "proof-of-work". The bitcoin mining algorithm tries various nonces and generates many hashes until it finds one with (currently) 18 leading zeros. Surprisingly…

I am wondering how many of those are influenced by the movie Pi:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138704/

Re: Bitcoin is a Cult

#162
post #66
post #49

I think people have largely missed the point of the article. This is specifically in relation to a "magic hash" on a block that was mined on June 19, 2018 with the hash: 00000000000000000021e800c1e8df51b22c1588e5a624bea17e9faa34b2dc4a The leading zeros are the "proof-of-work". The bitcoin mining algorithm tries various nonces and generates many hashes until it finds one with (currently) 18 leading zeros. Surprisingly…

In this type of scenario (be it bitcoin hashes, serial numbers elsewhere, etc), the real question is how many possible "vanity" hashes exist. The odds of this specific one are not interesting, it's the space of all of them that is. It's pretty much always infeasible to enumerate that space, but generally speaking there are a looooot of things that could qualify as special-looking enough to be included. All forms of e…

My kids used to celebrate "holimoments" (after the pattern of "holiday"). These were occasions when they'd look at the digital clock on the microwave and see something that didn't quite look random, like "10:01" or "12:34". They had a little ceremony when they saw one of these, pretending to take pictures with an invisible camera and doing a dance which involved wiggling their butts (because butts are always funny). There are a lot of events which deserve a holimoment dance and nothing more.

Re: Bitcoin is a Cult

#163

When I first got into bitcoin I thought it could be a wonderful alternative to the current monetary system, I especially hoped it would be more equitably shares. Unfortunately it’s turned out to be as unequally shared as our current wealth is, if not more. Perhaps some kind of coin where everybody in the world is issued the same amount or something.

You don't think that people should be rewarded for risking their time and capital on an eventually-successful niche technology, versus people who haven't risked anything, or contributed anything?

Bitcoin isn't magic beans, it has been successful due to these people that you're (implicitly) chastising.

Re: Bitcoin is a Cult

#164

can someone name one successful startup that actually utilizes the blockchain to do something they couldnt have done without?

How many billions have been raised during ICOs now? 10 billion? 20 billion? This has been seamlessly and safely accomplished via blockchain.

Re: Bitcoin is a Cult

#165

can someone name one successful startup that actually utilizes the blockchain to do something they couldnt have done without?

Depending on your classification of "startup", there is a massive amount of (illegal, of course) drug distributors using blockchain-based cryptocurrencies to conduct their business.

Re: Bitcoin is a Cult

#166
post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In this type of scenario (be it bitcoin hashes, serial numbers elsewhere, etc), the real question is how many possible "vanity" hashes exist. The odds of this specific one are not interesting, it's the space of all of them that is. It's pretty much always infeasible to enumerate that space, but generally speaking there are a looooot of things that could qualify as special-looking enough to be included. All forms of e…

My kids used to celebrate "holimoments" (after the pattern of "holiday"). These were occasions when they'd look at the digital clock on the microwave and see something that didn't quite look random, like "10:01" or "12:34". They had a little ceremony when they saw one of these, pretending to take pictures with an invisible camera and doing a dance which involved wiggling their butts (because butts are always funny).…

Hah! That is incredibly endearing. I've also had friends remark (more joking than serious) that if you happen to glance at a clock that reads 11:11 to make a wish because it's lucky.

I have obsessive compulsive disorder, so unfortunately these cosmic peccadillos really throw my brain for a loop!

Re: Bitcoin is a Cult

#167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe it’s because I’m European, but 8 years ago I could buy coffee with crypto in both Copenhagen and Berlin and today I can’t.

This, retailers don't even want to support Apple Pay because of its transaction fees. If there is already a almost free and efficient payment system that everyone is happy with and is used by 99% of the population why bother with anything new that IS NOT SUPERIOR TO WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE? I simply don't know what problem BTC was supposed to solve.

What Apple Pay transaction fees? They’re exactly the same standard credit card transaction fees because they ARE standard credit card transaction fees. Apple doesn’t take a cut.

Re: Bitcoin is a Cult

#168
It's forced me to think a lot more about the material worth of our economy, specifically legal tender. I took a $20 Bank Note to the Coin Shop yesterday to trade ~1g of Cotton and Flax for a $1 Unit (~1oz of Silver) which I'll be tithing at Church this morning. The Nuts and Bolts of our economy started to get obscure when I got interested in Cryptocurrencies and I feel like I'm still recovering... From a certain perspective the copper traces in a Bitcoin Miner are worth more than any "coin" it produces and should sooner be melted down and turned into 1 Cent pieces so we can actually pass something that at least resembles Art around instead of just a secure Ledger.

Re: Bitcoin is a Cult

#169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Blockchains aren't searching for a reason to exist either. Decentralized currencies/conmodities not controlled by any single entity are an obviously useful thing.

> Decentralized currencies/conmodities not controlled by any single entity are an obviously useful thing Obviously useful things have obvious uses.

Some people may take issue with morality etc, but cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin mainly) are now the default means for transferring funds back and forth to sports book / poker / casino websites for US residents, and probably elsewhere where the legal climate is oppressive.

Re: Bitcoin is a Cult

#170
post #49

I think people have largely missed the point of the article. This is specifically in relation to a "magic hash" on a block that was mined on June 19, 2018 with the hash: 00000000000000000021e800c1e8df51b22c1588e5a624bea17e9faa34b2dc4a The leading zeros are the "proof-of-work". The bitcoin mining algorithm tries various nonces and generates many hashes until it finds one with (currently) 18 leading zeros. Surprisingly…

Oh my. That's way weirder than what I was expecting. I just don't know what to say to that.

Is it me or does it seem like this kind of stuff is everywhere now? Maybe I just consume lots of crazy people media.

Post reply on HN