Isn't April Fools on the 1st?
Signal Adds Cryptocurrency Support
221–230 of 263 posts
Re: Signal Adds Cryptocurrency Support
#222Among people I know, most individuals send money to each other via Venmo. This presents two problems: how to be sure you're sending money to the right person, and, the transaction is data-mined by Paypal. So, having payments inside of Signal actually would solve both those problems (if both people are using Signal). It could also be, that Signal is trying to turn their app into a platform, like WeChat.
1. Do most people actually care enough about PayPal knowing about their Venmo transactions to sacrifice ease-of-use and use a cryptocurrency instead? Is it worth having to endure volatility and have to deal with exchanges just to hide that split restaurant bill? 2. How does using a Cryptocurrency connected to Signal ensure greater confidence that you are transacting with the correct person than using Venmo connected…
1. I care enough to pay cash when possible, even if it means rounding up my share for something like a split restaurant bill.
I would hope Signal's implementation makes it so you don't have to worry about volatility or exchanges.
2. This assumes you and your friend are both communicating with each other via Signal.
Re: Signal Adds Cryptocurrency Support
#223After convincing all my friends to move from WhatsApp to Signal I am really annoyed about this move. This really damaged the trust I have for Signal. I hope they realize their mistake quickly and drop this idea.
I think it won't be problematic as if someone doesn't want to create wallet they dont have to. So this payment option will be for only those who wants to enable it.
It's not in line with what people want in the app though. It's like using a text editor that all of the sudden implements a wiki on gardening preinstalled in the app. It's not relevant to the features you want in a chat app and there's no reason it couldn't be a separate app.
Re: Signal Adds Cryptocurrency Support
#224Earlier quoted context omitted.
Maybe it's the American in me, but I have almost no use for a payment mechanism in my messenger, I have too many. Venmo, Cash, Apple's thing, Google Wallet, whatever -- these all provide everything I need when I need to send money to people. Frankly the idea that I suddenly might have to have another goddamn thing is a bit irritating but I've resigned myself to it. I think the other thing is that it's just a complete…
> Maybe it's the American in me, but I have almost no use for a payment mechanism in my messenger, I have too many. Venmo, Cash, Apple's thing, Google Wallet, whatever -- these all provide everything I need when I need to send money to people. All of those require doxxing yourself to the vendor, submitting to financial (suspicionless) mass surveillance systems, and can be trivially censored without any burden of proo…
> Cryptocurrencies are censorship resistant
Rubber hoses are a thing.
Re: Signal Adds Cryptocurrency Support
#225Earlier quoted context omitted.
> there are 3 attitudes towards Signal I am in group 4. I didn’t care that Moxie calls the shots and requires a phone number. And I was thrilled to have a secure communication app, from when Signal was TextSecure. I hate this to the point that I’m dropping Signal. The only reason to choose MobileCoin is Moxie’s personal affiliation to it. Meanwhile, this integration massively increases Signal’s regulatory cross secti…
"Moxie just sold out Signal’s First Amendment credentials." Id argue he just created a new front: freedom of association. I still think you are right with your concerns. You say he sold out credentials. I would say he bravely staked out a new claim.
> he bravely staked out a new claim
Culturally, sure. Legally, Signal becomes open season for law enforcement the moment this feature is implemented. And there will be zero law protecting them or any data they may have retained, properly or improperly, on their users. Given the MobileCoin's venality, I doubt they'll get public sympathy.
Re: Signal Adds Cryptocurrency Support
#226Earlier quoted context omitted.
Keybase was a passion project that always had very limited development time. They churned out a lot of proof-of-concept grade features, but never really polished any of them. And then some of the features only would be really useful if they either were backed by a proper commitment or had a selfhostable plan B. The wallet is just one of many parts of keybases focus thrashing.
I just remembered that Keybase sent me random Lumens a while ago that I never touched, and when I just checked back right now, they're actually worth a significant amount? I am sort of shocked. How do I spend this?
1) Convert to USDC or another token and spend using https://stellarterm.com or lobstr wallet and send to your bank account
2) Convert to BTC and spend
3) Buy a gift card directly with the xlm
4) Send to someone's bank account in Brazil, Nigeria, Europe, Argentina. Normally using stellarterm or lobstr or solar wallet.
5) Setup AchorUSD wallet, convert to USD and get 10% interest
Re: Signal Adds Cryptocurrency Support
#227Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't think you should be getting downvoted. You clearly hold strongly to your values. There's nothing wrong with that. And you're adding to the discussion by providing your perspective, not being rude or attacking anyone.
There’s a set of people on HN that downvote and flag anything that they disagree with. I don’t really understand the mindset, but have noticed they usually agree with whatever the US government, FAANG or other authority is pushing for. (Maybe they’re authoritarian, and that’s why they think anything outside approved narratives needs a downvote? That’s my best guess.) Anyway, it’s best to treat them like trolls: just…
My assumption is that sneak is not being downvoted for his views, which for the most part seem reasonable and informative, but for his rhetoric.
Re: Signal Adds Cryptocurrency Support
#228Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'd be much happier about (properly implemented) ads, than about this move.
Yes. I'd be happy to pay a buck or two per month instead of ads or gimmicks. An old fashioned model but I think they could still make a fortune on that small of a fee alone.
A whole new industry: CRYPTO ADS!
Re: Signal Adds Cryptocurrency Support
#229I'm a big cryptocurrency skeptic, but if they had used a more reputable coin instead of a pre-mined coin distributed in such a fashion as to enrich the founders, they could have avoided most of this backlash. People who aren't enthusiasts already understand that the raison d'etre of the cryptocurrency landscape is to get rich quick, but these guys got so greedy they've even pissed off the enthusiast community. Unfort…
Agreed. Monero or ZCash would have gotten the job done, but it wouldn’t have enriched the founders. Pre-mined altcoin scams have been around so long that everyone in the crypto world knows to avoid them. Building up a dedicated following of people using an encrypted messenger app was a genius way of submarining a pre-mined crypto scam into an unsuspecting userbase. I suspect a lot of us are going back to all of the p…
> Monero or ZCash would have gotten the job done,
These take minutes to send (very stressful!) preventing a nice venmo-like experience. They also pollute the planet
Re: Signal Adds Cryptocurrency Support
#230Earlier quoted context omitted.
Agreed. Monero or ZCash would have gotten the job done, but it wouldn’t have enriched the founders. Pre-mined altcoin scams have been around so long that everyone in the crypto world knows to avoid them. Building up a dedicated following of people using an encrypted messenger app was a genius way of submarining a pre-mined crypto scam into an unsuspecting userbase. I suspect a lot of us are going back to all of the p…
> Monero or ZCash would have gotten the job done, These take minutes to send (very stressful!) preventing a nice venmo-like experience. They also pollute the planet
and by send I mean network confirmations + generating zkSNARKs on the client. IMO for a payment network to work, my mom needs to be able to use it and not be frustrated. Venmo barely clears that bar