Head of Crypto Research at BlueYard. Attempting to understand everything and distil it down to useful posts for your consumption.
How Crypto could take over real world payments
Over the last few months I've talked to dozens of startups working on solving real world payments with crypto. Though many are promising there is little cohesion and standards between them. To take on TradFi we need more cooperation. Let's explore all of the strengths and weaknesses crypto has, and eventually how crypto can win over merchants and consumers to be the default global payment rails. This quest begins with a simple, free, open source platform called FreePay.What is FreePayFreePay ...
How Crypto could take over real world payments
Over the last few months I've talked to dozens of startups working on solving real world payments with crypto. Though many are promising there is little cohesion and standards between them. To take on TradFi we need more cooperation. Let's explore all of the strengths and weaknesses crypto has, and eventually how crypto can win over merchants and consumers to be the default global payment rails. This quest begins with a simple, free, open source platform called FreePay.What is FreePayFreePay ...
Building a Crypto Payment Terminal
Direct pay to merchant with zero middlemen - it can be done!
Building a Crypto Payment Terminal
Direct pay to merchant with zero middlemen - it can be done!
What's Actually Going to Make Crypto Mainstream?
The first step to crossing the chasm isn't infrastructure or UX improvements, it's getting enough people to care. My overarching theory: Crypto democratizes wealth creation. It allows more people to invest in far more things, which gives creators access to more investors to build more great products.
What's Actually Going to Make Crypto Mainstream?
The first step to crossing the chasm isn't infrastructure or UX improvements, it's getting enough people to care. My overarching theory: Crypto democratizes wealth creation. It allows more people to invest in far more things, which gives creators access to more investors to build more great products.
How Crypto can Cross the Chasm
Crypto is attempting to cross the chasm into mainstream society and is stalling out, but why? Why don't we live in a world where value flows as easily as information and anyone can pay or invest in anyone at any time? Over the next month I'll be releasing a series of articles covering the improvements necessary to cross this chasm and take crypto mainstream.
How Crypto can Cross the Chasm
Crypto is attempting to cross the chasm into mainstream society and is stalling out, but why? Why don't we live in a world where value flows as easily as information and anyone can pay or invest in anyone at any time? Over the next month I'll be releasing a series of articles covering the improvements necessary to cross this chasm and take crypto mainstream.
What is Ethereum
Ethereum is the settlement layer for global finance. It is the only blockchain that can be this. If you're surprised by the above statement, this article is for you. Other chains will still host many useful apps, and play niche roles, but the global financial system will run on Ethereum.What is a settlement layer?Rather than being a chain where consumers go to use apps and trade with their friends, a settlement layer is a chain that other chains build upon. It specializes in 5 things:Sec...
What is Ethereum
Ethereum is the settlement layer for global finance. It is the only blockchain that can be this. If you're surprised by the above statement, this article is for you. Other chains will still host many useful apps, and play niche roles, but the global financial system will run on Ethereum.What is a settlement layer?Rather than being a chain where consumers go to use apps and trade with their friends, a settlement layer is a chain that other chains build upon. It specializes in 5 things:Sec...
Why Bitcoin Lightning Sucks
Bitcoin Lightning is mostly a meme used as a retort to people who say "Bitcoin doesn't scale", it's not a long term solution to anything. It's sad there are so few technically competent people left in the Bitcoin community to point this out, but its true. If Bitcoin had a hard fork to make ZK Rollups possible it would completely obsolete the lightning network (and be good for Bitcoins security budget!).What is the lightning network and how does it work?It's a state channel...
Why Bitcoin Lightning Sucks
Bitcoin Lightning is mostly a meme used as a retort to people who say "Bitcoin doesn't scale", it's not a long term solution to anything. It's sad there are so few technically competent people left in the Bitcoin community to point this out, but its true. If Bitcoin had a hard fork to make ZK Rollups possible it would completely obsolete the lightning network (and be good for Bitcoins security budget!).What is the lightning network and how does it work?It's a state channel...
Lets create digital cash
We still don't have digital cash, and no, the thing you are thinking of right now is not digital cash. Here's what digital cash means:No companyNo loginNo seed phraseNo address bookNo account numbersNo gatekeepersNo traceabilityIt's CASH. It should function exactly like cash. We have the tools to build it now, but nobody has taken the challenge. Here's how it could work: The initial home screen is your balance, nothing else. There is no account creation, no login, no seed ...
Lets create digital cash
We still don't have digital cash, and no, the thing you are thinking of right now is not digital cash. Here's what digital cash means:No companyNo loginNo seed phraseNo address bookNo account numbersNo gatekeepersNo traceabilityIt's CASH. It should function exactly like cash. We have the tools to build it now, but nobody has taken the challenge. Here's how it could work: The initial home screen is your balance, nothing else. There is no account creation, no login, no seed ...
How do we moderate Decentralized Social Media?
Moderation is the number one concern I've heard about DeSo. It's incredibly important as almost every protocol and platform on the internet has issues with spam. Moderating DeSo requires a completely different mindset compared to traditional social media. Here are three of my favorite options, in increasing complexity:Friends-only social mediaOpt-in moderatorsReputation SystemsFriends-only social mediaBy default your app could only show you posts from friends and/or friends of frien...
How do we moderate Decentralized Social Media?
Moderation is the number one concern I've heard about DeSo. It's incredibly important as almost every protocol and platform on the internet has issues with spam. Moderating DeSo requires a completely different mindset compared to traditional social media. Here are three of my favorite options, in increasing complexity:Friends-only social mediaOpt-in moderatorsReputation SystemsFriends-only social mediaBy default your app could only show you posts from friends and/or friends of frien...
Why Decentralize Social Media?
Before DeFi my biggest passion was decentralized social media (DeSo). Building a good social network is one of the worlds trickiest problems and can be done better with decentralization. What benefits does decentralization bring?You control your account/sAn account for each topicUser-centric moderationA separate data layerA flourishing app ecosystemFirstly you control your keys, so nobody can restrict your access because they don't like what you have to say. Because of this you can creat...
Why Decentralize Social Media?
Before DeFi my biggest passion was decentralized social media (DeSo). Building a good social network is one of the worlds trickiest problems and can be done better with decentralization. What benefits does decentralization bring?You control your account/sAn account for each topicUser-centric moderationA separate data layerA flourishing app ecosystemFirstly you control your keys, so nobody can restrict your access because they don't like what you have to say. Because of this you can creat...
