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Why All Cryptocurrency Should Die in a Fire

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Re: Why All Cryptocurrency Should Die in a Fire

#41
post #19

I will gladly stop using Monero if someone can tell me how to privately transact over the internet without CC companies (and others) spying on me and selling my data. Until there is a better solution, I'll keep using it.

Well, if you want true privacy you should try Zcash.

Opt-in privacy has some serious flaws, not to mention the trusted setup that IMO makes it untrustworthy as a currency.

Re: Why All Cryptocurrency Should Die in a Fire

#42
post #41
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, if you want true privacy you should try Zcash.

Opt-in privacy has some serious flaws, not to mention the trusted setup that IMO makes it untrustworthy as a currency.

Both of these are no longer a thing with NU5 / Halo 2

Re: Why All Cryptocurrency Should Die in a Fire

#43
If it wasn't for the "potty police" banning drugs what use would people have for cryptocurrency? But the point is people have a use for it... When the author says "should die in a fire" he really means poor people drug users. The problem in his eyes is the drug users are now rich from cryptocurrency.

Re: Why All Cryptocurrency Should Die in a Fire

#44
>help me make it die in a fire

I'm rather mistrustful of people that are this forthy about being against a new technology. If it really is that devoid of merit it'll die on its own.

I also think it is a rather fundamental failure to see the big picture.

Not efficient? Well neither was the Ford model T. Newer generations are getting better.

Similarly somehow existing systems seem to get a free pass for things that are consider fatal flaws for crypto. Criminal enterprise? What do you think all the drug trade and sundry criminals use? Seashells? No USD. Systemic risk? Fed is printing trillions and history is littered with financial crises. Humans have managed to make everything from CDOs to tulips crash. Its not unique to crypto.

Personally I think crypto is a 50/50 chance of working long term. The people certain it'll be a disaster seem just as silly as those certain it'll take over the world.

Re: Why All Cryptocurrency Should Die in a Fire

#45
post #19

I will gladly stop using Monero if someone can tell me how to privately transact over the internet without CC companies (and others) spying on me and selling my data. Until there is a better solution, I'll keep using it.

Well, if you want true privacy you should try Zcash.

While zk-SNARKs is a cool piece of technology, their source of funding[1] doesn't inspire confidence.

In addition to that, even the few people people who do use Zcash, don't use it's privacy features. 99% of their transactions aren't private and are fully traceable [2]. Why would you want your transactions to stand out?

[1] http://zerocash-project.org/about_us [2] https://news.bitcoin.com/not-so-private-99-of-zcash-and-dash...

Re: Why All Cryptocurrency Should Die in a Fire

#46

I think the best criticism against crypto currency is that it is essentially “regulatory arbitrage”. Things are allowed inside crypto that is not allowed in the normal world of finance. Ie stable coins: promising people 20% on their savings account by running an obscured ponzi. Ie pump and dump. Ie insider information. Insiders on exchanges buying up coins they know are going to be listed. Etc etc. (And proof of work…

> stable coins

Are not a real cryptocurrency.

> pump and dump

Is absolutely a regular circumstance. Last what I remember is sawn wood situation on the very early 2022, afaik it is worldwide. I do not recommend you to buy right now a sawn wood from big stores before researching a market in your location, because some of big stores have been dumped after buying some big amounts of sawn wood on huge prices, and their warehouses are still full of this trade offer.

> insider information. Insiders on exchanges buying up coins they know are going to be listed.

All of that coins usually does something opposite to skyrocketing very soon after early birds have received a way to short their tokens (I do not have any counter-example).

> proof of work of course is the key enabler as it allows those who are running things to hide their identity

Some entities just don't have an identity, like an artificial intelligence. What if I want my pet AI to buy or change hosting without absolutely any of my participation or even knowing? (it is not my funds, the pet has earned it without my participation as well).

Re: Why All Cryptocurrency Should Die in a Fire

#47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Prepaid debit cards?

Where I live in the US we're not permitted to buy these with cash. We don't have to provide any identifying information to activate but we cannot legally purchase them without that link to the original card purchase.

I am not aware of any states where you cannot buy non-reloadable visa gift cards with cash at values up to $500. Reloadable ones are the ones that often require KYC.

I do this all the time in California and have in other states as well.

If you are sure your state bans non-reloadable visa gift card purchases with cash I would love to find out what state to research what is going on there.

Re: Why All Cryptocurrency Should Die in a Fire

#48
post #19

I will gladly stop using Monero if someone can tell me how to privately transact over the internet without CC companies (and others) spying on me and selling my data. Until there is a better solution, I'll keep using it.

Well, if you want true privacy you should try Zcash.

Although ZCash is arguably built on better fundamentals (zk-SNARKs vs RingCT), ZCash's history is slightly more fraught than Monero's and that's enough to keep many people in the XMR camp.

Re: Why All Cryptocurrency Should Die in a Fire

#49

I will gladly stop using Monero if someone can tell me how to privately transact over the internet without CC companies (and others) spying on me and selling my data. Until there is a better solution, I'll keep using it.

I understand this privacy argument - but I'm wondering what the practical downside is of this "spying"?

I've been using credit cards online for decades and I am yet to encounter anything negative from doing so. I get that my credit card provider knows that I'm buying £X of goods from merchant Y. But unless that merchant is very specific, the card company doesn't know what I've bought.

And, if it did... so what? Perhaps I'm naive, but even if I was hiding (for example) my sexuality - what's the CC company going to do? Try to upsell me a rainbow themed card?

I try to take my privacy seriously, and I don't particularly want my interactions monitored and mined. But what are the actual, non-theoretical problems that this causes?

Re: Why All Cryptocurrency Should Die in a Fire

#50
post #44

>help me make it die in a fire I'm rather mistrustful of people that are this forthy about being against a new technology. If it really is that devoid of merit it'll die on its own. I also think it is a rather fundamental failure to see the big picture. Not efficient? Well neither was the Ford model T. Newer generations are getting better. Similarly somehow existing systems seem to get a free pass for things that are…

> Personally I think crypto is a 50/50 chance of working long term.

Exactly as a chance of meeting a dinosaur on your street today? What a coincidence.

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