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Facebook Is Developing a Cryptocurrency for WhatsApp Transfers, Sources Say

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Re: Facebook Is Developing a Cryptocurrency for WhatsApp Transfers, Sources Say

#51
post #49
post #43

Cryptocurrency mentioned. Blockchain mentioned. I really should've bought a card for this buzzword bingo. Is this just PR or are they genuinely so clueless? If the former I wonder if they missed the shift this year where cryptocoins stopped being the coolest kid in the town anymore. If a centralized company wants to roll out electronic payments through its services it can just, you know, do that. They don't need bloc…

I've not heard the term "buzzword bingo" before. Quote of the week.

Classic Dilbert I think.

Re: Facebook Is Developing a Cryptocurrency for WhatsApp Transfers, Sources Say

#55
post #35
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But do you trust Facebook? Also, regarding the "trust itself" part, it's not necessarily the case. How can one make sure database admin haven't changed some records?

I do not trust Facebook, but I trust my bank, which doesn't use cryptocurrency. I guess they use databases, with lots of controls, but a regular database nonetheless. edit: I also trust PayPal, as I use it regularly, and it doesn't use a cryptocurrency. My point is that I don't understand why Facebook would need a Cryptocurrency to allow payments. As far as I know, WeChat doesn't use cryptocurrency and is probably th…

"My point is that I don't understand why Facebook would need a Cryptocurrency to allow payments"

Let me try to explain. You trust your bank and PayPal and it's perfectly fine. But only to the point things are going ok in general.

In some, say, areas, the situation is possible when you see a message on the doors and ATMs of your previously trusted for decades banks: "Sorry, no check out today". And it can long for days or even months.

And your previously trusted online e-money processor can freeze your funds for whatever reason - "fraud suspect, suspicious activities, server offline".

It is hard to imagine for citizens of some countries, but in my opinion, this is only matter of time when it happens.

Cryptocurrency and blockchains in general are indeed highly inefficient databases and a tiny Postgres server outperform them all in Transactions Per Second, that's true.

But Postgres database running on a centralized service won't give you a feeling of independence and trust the biggest cryptocurrencies can provide (sure, they are volatile in price and you need to manage your private keys etc, but still).

Re: Facebook Is Developing a Cryptocurrency for WhatsApp Transfers, Sources Say

#56
post #55
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do not trust Facebook, but I trust my bank, which doesn't use cryptocurrency. I guess they use databases, with lots of controls, but a regular database nonetheless. edit: I also trust PayPal, as I use it regularly, and it doesn't use a cryptocurrency. My point is that I don't understand why Facebook would need a Cryptocurrency to allow payments. As far as I know, WeChat doesn't use cryptocurrency and is probably th…

"My point is that I don't understand why Facebook would need a Cryptocurrency to allow payments" Let me try to explain. You trust your bank and PayPal and it's perfectly fine. But only to the point things are going ok in general. In some, say, areas, the situation is possible when you see a message on the doors and ATMs of your previously trusted for decades banks: "Sorry, no check out today". And it can long for day…

And how is that different when facebook controls all the mining nodes?

Re: Facebook Is Developing a Cryptocurrency for WhatsApp Transfers, Sources Say

#57
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

TBH at this point I have more trust in a centralized cryptocurrency backed by a large corporation than in a decentralized one.

Trust in it to do/be what?

Trust in it to maintain its value if it is a stable coin. Alternatively, trust it not to be hacked or inflated if it isn’t. (As well as trust it to maintain whatever monetary properties they advertise to give it value as money.

Re: Facebook Is Developing a Cryptocurrency for WhatsApp Transfers, Sources Say

#58
post #47
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doesn't your argument apply to regular money as well, i.e. "Zero reason for anyone to use Bitcoin/Ethereum/Monero when regular money exists. (Unless they want to commit crimes—and yes, that’s how it would be perceived.)"

It does, that's why people do not usually use bitcoin (/other coins) for everyday transactions.

Bitcoin isnt used for everyday transactions not because of its reputaiton. Its because its inconvenient, and people like a stable currency. The reputation followed what people buy with bitcoins

When I pay someone 1000$, I expect that to arrive as 1000$ (excluding fees here). With stable currencies that is a pretty safe bet, unless the transaction takes days.

Re: Facebook Is Developing a Cryptocurrency for WhatsApp Transfers, Sources Say

#59
post #19

Why can't they just use a good old database, to record transactions? It is a centralized system! I guess Facebook trusts itself!

Because then they don't get to put out press releases with "cryptocurrency" in the title, thus missing out on the opportunity to raise their stock price via the game of Buzzword Bingo.

They missed their Ice Tea window for this.

Re: Facebook Is Developing a Cryptocurrency for WhatsApp Transfers, Sources Say

#60

Call it a “cryptocurrency” if that makes it sound sexy, but this is still centralized — it’s effectively the same as the (already existing) Messenger Payments.

Honest question, but does a cryptocurrency have to be decentralized for it to be determined a cryptocurrency?

I didn't think that was the case. It may be more in the spirit of crypto but I don't think it's a hard requirement?

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