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A.G. Schneiderman Launches Inquiry into Cryptocurrency “Exchanges”

ag.ny.gov

51–60 of 73 posts

Re: A.G. Schneiderman Launches Inquiry into Cryptocurrency “Exchanges”

#51
post #5

I'll point out the obvious, just to get the discussion going: it's reasonable to suspect that the motivation is not consumer protection but subversion of technology which presents a challenge to the FIRE economy, which has a tragic stranglehold on NY (my home state). How will we know the difference? What will we do if indeed it's the latter?

> it's reasonable to suspect that the motivation is not consumer protection but subversion of technology which presents a challenge to the FIRE economy No, it isn't. It's only reasonable within the tiny fantasy world of True Believers where the whole world is conspiring to keep the glory of cryptocurrency down. This is the exact same action that would be taken against any other unauthorized, unregistered securities t…

>the tiny fantasy world of True Believers

Let's not give them the benefit of the doubt here. They're shills. They have a vested financial interest in twisting logic and reason to convince the world that a secret cabal of bureaucrats and bankers are conspiring against this particular technology.

This is the primary problem with discussing anything crypto-related online. In a technical discussion about the merits of Linux and free software, you can be reasonably sure that whomever you are engaging with does not have a financial interest in pushing their particular stance. It seems like in any crypto-related discussion, it is impossible to find honest, impartial debate.

Re: A.G. Schneiderman Launches Inquiry into Cryptocurrency “Exchanges”

#52
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And that is an entirely separate issue that has nothing to do with the fraud ongoing in cryptocurrencies.

Clearly the AG of NY has motivations and interest to protect fiat / legacy banking systems, let's not pretend otherwise.

> Clearly the AG of NY has motivations and interest to protect fiat / legacy banking systems

Attorney General Schneiderman fined Goldman Sachs and other banks over $5 billion [1]. "Clearly" indeed...

[1] https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/ag-schneiderman-led-state-fe...

Re: A.G. Schneiderman Launches Inquiry into Cryptocurrency “Exchanges”

#53
post #5

I'll point out the obvious, just to get the discussion going: it's reasonable to suspect that the motivation is not consumer protection but subversion of technology which presents a challenge to the FIRE economy, which has a tragic stranglehold on NY (my home state). How will we know the difference? What will we do if indeed it's the latter?

> it's reasonable to suspect that the motivation is not consumer protection but subversion of technology which presents a challenge to the FIRE economy No, it isn't. It's only reasonable within the tiny fantasy world of True Believers where the whole world is conspiring to keep the glory of cryptocurrency down. This is the exact same action that would be taken against any other unauthorized, unregistered securities t…

> No, it isn't. It's only reasonable within the tiny fantasy world of True Believers where the whole world is conspiring to keep the glory of cryptocurrency down.

Come on now - that's not fair.

I have lived most of my life in NY. I have spent a lot of time interacting with Albany, including briefly having access clearance to SUNY Plaza. I have met with people in the NY government who seemed like they had good intentions, and those who didn't - in the executive branch, the Senate, and the Assembly.

And I think it's very reasonable to always suspect that the motivation is not consumer protection, but defense of entrenched interests. Saying so doesn't put someone in a "tiny fantasy world."

This Museum of Political Corruption[0] (not accidentally put in Albany) opens next year - I suggest you visit and learn about the struggles we've had with our government over the years.

0: http://www.museumofpoliticalcorruption.org/

Re: A.G. Schneiderman Launches Inquiry into Cryptocurrency “Exchanges”

#54
post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Clearly The burden of proof is on you to demonstrate that Schneiderman is acting here to protect the banking system and not acting to protect his constituents from being defrauded.

He has motivation to protect the legacy banking system and all unenumerated motivations as well.

What part of "burden of proof" do you not understand?

Re: A.G. Schneiderman Launches Inquiry into Cryptocurrency “Exchanges”

#55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> it's reasonable to suspect that the motivation is not consumer protection but subversion of technology which presents a challenge to the FIRE economy No, it isn't. It's only reasonable within the tiny fantasy world of True Believers where the whole world is conspiring to keep the glory of cryptocurrency down. This is the exact same action that would be taken against any other unauthorized, unregistered securities t…

>the tiny fantasy world of True Believers Let's not give them the benefit of the doubt here. They're shills. They have a vested financial interest in twisting logic and reason to convince the world that a secret cabal of bureaucrats and bankers are conspiring against this particular technology. This is the primary problem with discussing anything crypto-related online. In a technical discussion about the merits of Li…

> Let's not give them the benefit of the doubt here. They're shills.

Excuse me - are you addressing me with this comment? My identity is not secret. My contributions to open source software (and to higher education in New York State) are reasonably well known.

Are you seriously directly calling me a shill right now?

Is this the level of discussion that we've reached on HN now?

FWIW, I think my comments have been pretty moderate. I don't see anything that is even vaguely construable as shilling. Nor am I positioned with anywhere near the resources to make shilling worthwhile.

Rather than a shill, I am a long-time NY activist who has deep problems with the way my government has interacted with nearly every facet of the (largely toxic) financial industry in my state. I don't think that concerns regarding the underlying motivation of the AG's office are ever unreasonable to raise, and certainly not here.

Re: A.G. Schneiderman Launches Inquiry into Cryptocurrency “Exchanges”

#56
post #33
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am fully protected against all bitcoin/token/blockchain scams, I wont touch this stuff with 10 foot pole...

You're also extremely protected from ever making any profits, I'm glad people like you stay out of crypto out of fear.

Don't you worry, I make plenty of profits in the markets, using AI trading robots, but I would never transfer 6 or 7 digits account to one of those shady exchanges, just to watch my money being stolen by crooks...

Just wait few more months and the sign "This domains has been seized by the FBI" will start to pop around...

Re: A.G. Schneiderman Launches Inquiry into Cryptocurrency “Exchanges”

#57
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>the tiny fantasy world of True Believers Let's not give them the benefit of the doubt here. They're shills. They have a vested financial interest in twisting logic and reason to convince the world that a secret cabal of bureaucrats and bankers are conspiring against this particular technology. This is the primary problem with discussing anything crypto-related online. In a technical discussion about the merits of Li…

> Let's not give them the benefit of the doubt here. They're shills. Excuse me - are you addressing me with this comment? My identity is not secret. My contributions to open source software (and to higher education in New York State) are reasonably well known. Are you seriously directly calling me a shill right now? Is this the level of discussion that we've reached on HN now? FWIW, I think my comments have been pret…

Sorry, I was not referring to you here, although I realize that it's confusing given the threading. I was more referring to some of the other posters here (the "True Believers" referred above).

Re: A.G. Schneiderman Launches Inquiry into Cryptocurrency “Exchanges”

#58
post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am all for reasonable suspicion regarding banks, but I feel like banks banning speculating on cryprocurrencies with borrowed money is just good risk management.

Absolutely! I would have been less suspicious in this case were it not for their banning of debit card/Interac use as well. Many other Canadian banks banned the purchases on credit cards alone—not preventing anyone from using Interac Online or Visa Debit, etc.

Ah, I didn't realize that was the case.

Re: A.G. Schneiderman Launches Inquiry into Cryptocurrency “Exchanges”

#59
post #56
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're also extremely protected from ever making any profits, I'm glad people like you stay out of crypto out of fear.

Don't you worry, I make plenty of profits in the markets, using AI trading robots, but I would never transfer 6 or 7 digits account to one of those shady exchanges, just to watch my money being stolen by crooks... Just wait few more months and the sign "This domains has been seized by the FBI" will start to pop around...

Why would you move such a large amount to an exchange all at once? It's much safer to move smaller amounts and move the funds to your own crypto wallet with your own private keys, that way you don't have to trust them with large sums.

Re: A.G. Schneiderman Launches Inquiry into Cryptocurrency “Exchanges”

#60
post #27
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm pretty sure a bunch of big finance players were involved, but at least some of them I bet were not in the way you implied. If I were a big fund or HFT shop I for sure want as much insurance as possible that my bitcoin trading funds are kept safe. Futures have too low liquidity, and don't trade on weekend when many moves happen.

I'm not suggesting anything in particular and maybe shouldn't have used the word lobbyist and certainly don't want to sound like a conspiracy nut - but it's a good thing to keep in mind that if/when existing banks and existing exchanges become involved in trading cryptos, they'll want less competition from the vulnerable incumbents. I completely agree though. I can't even begin to imagine what the crypto exchanges ar…

I can tell you one thing going on: legendary stop hunts.

But I don't think it's the exchanges who are behind them, but other big players.

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