fabian

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Overflow, Underflow, and the Rise (and Fall?) of SafeMath in Solidityland

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the CompilerAct I: The Ancient Times (Pre-0.8.0) — When Solidity Was Wild and DangerousBack in the dark ages of Solidity (before version 0.8.0), numbers in smart contracts behaved like toddlers with no adult supervision. Add uint256 + uint256? Sure, no problem — even if it wraps around like a cursed clock and silently goes from 2^256 - 1 to 0. Let me paint a scene:“Behold! My function mints 1000 tokens. Simple math: balance += 1000. But oh no — balance ...

Posts tagged with

crypto(14)

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When You Send Crypto to the Wrong Chain: A Pan-African Tragedy

Ever sent money to the wrong M-Pesa number and had to call your ex for it back? Yeah—crypto’s version of that is when you send funds from Base to Celo by mistake. Welcome to "How to Lose Crypto Without Even Getting Scammed: African Edition." Scenario 1: You Send Base Tokens to a Celo Address You’re chilling. Wallet’s open. You’re on Base. You copy a Celo address because someone on Twitter (who definitely uses VPN and types in all caps) told you, “Bro, Celo is the future!” Boom—you paste the a...

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Crypto & Self-Sovereignty: Be Your Own Bank… Without Becoming Your Own Problem

In Africa, we know the hustle is real. Banking systems? Sometimes unreliable. Sending money? Expensive. Getting a loan? You better know someone who knows someone. So when crypto came along and whispered sweetly, “You can be your own bank,” many of us said, “Eh! Say no more!” That beautiful concept is called self-sovereignty. It’s about taking control of your own money, without needing banks, brokers, or government red tape. But as we say in Kenya, “Ukipenda cha mtu, penda ile siasa inamletea....

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Sir, We Found His Wallet” — How the Kenyan Governments is planning on Hunting down your Crypto

You're vibing on your balcony, sipping coffee, Project Mocha Coffee (I hope they are reading this, those deliveries, Yawa), checking your Solana bag (it's red, as usual), and feeling safe because your Ledger is in the sock drawer, your VPN is on, and your wallet has a meme coin named after a frog. You’re untraceable, right? WRONG. Somewhere, in a fluorescent-lit office at the Kenyan FRC, a cyber-sleuth named Mwangi with a Master's in Black Tea and Suspicion is doing what no one else can — loo...

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Vesting and Cliffs in Crypto: How to Keep Your Bags from Running Away

So, you’ve decided to dive into crypto investing. Maybe you’ve found a promising new project, or you’re launching your own token and want to avoid watching your co-founder cash out and disappear to a remote island before the product is even built. Enter vesting and cliffs—the financial leash that keeps everyone behaving (mostly).Vesting: Because Instant Riches are Too DangerousVesting is basically a delayed gratification mechanism that forces token recipients (like founders, team members, and...

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The Great Kenyan Crypto Escape: Why We Can't Outlaw the Future

Once upon a time, only the super-rich could stash their money in Swiss bank accounts, hidden behind layers of secrecy and those iconic Swiss chocolates. The rest of us? We had to make do with stuffing cash under our mattresses, praying that termites weren’t feeling particularly ambitious that year. But then, technology happened. International banking went online, and suddenly, the concept of "offshore accounts" became as accessible as a Safaricom bundle. Now, add cryptocurrency into the mix, ...

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The Chaumfather of Blockchain: A Tribute to David Chaum and My 100th Web3 Article!

It’s been 100 articles, 3 months, and an ungodly amount of caffeine, but here we are! Hitting this milestone in the Web3 space feels like minting my own Poof(magic) and Proof-of-Work—but without the mining rigs or the insane electricity bill. And what better way to mark this moment than by paying homage to a man who, in many ways, laid the cryptographic foundation for everything we hold dear in this space? Mr. David Chaum, the OG Cypherpunk, the godfather of cryptographic security, and the ma...

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We need urgent diversification of drama in all crypto markets

If you’ve watched the crypto markets for more than five minutes, you’ve probably noticed something strange: Every time the U.S. stock market sneezes, Bitcoin and the rest of the crypto world collapse like a poorly built Jenga tower. Meanwhile, economic news from China, Germany, Japan—and even crypto powerhouses like Kenya and Nigeria—barely cause a ripple. Why? Is Bitcoin secretly an American citizen? Does Ethereum have a crush on Wall Street? And why does crypto ignore the financial chaos ha...

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A New User's Rollercoaster Ride Through Crypto Spaces

Welcome, Luno! The London-based cryptocurrency exchange has finally made its grand entrance into Kenya, and you can bet it's going to be tested. As someone who has just signed up and tried my hand at navigating the crypto waters, let me take you through my very entertaining experience. First off, let me tell you that trying to get my phone number on Luno’s sign-up page was like trying to squeeze a giraffe into a maruti. Why? Because of spaces. You see, I’m used to entering my phone number the...

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Securing the Human Layer of Crypto: Protecting Users from Themselves and Others

The blockchain and cryptocurrency industry has made tremendous strides in developing secure, decentralized systems. Engineers have built unbreakable chains, bulletproof protocols, and decentralized vaults that defy even the most advanced attacks. Yet, these technical advancements often fall victim to a glaring oversight: the human layer. While blockchains are immutable and smart contracts are auditable, people remain susceptible to phishing, scams, and social engineering—turning these unbreak...

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The Best Bitcoin Wallets Ranked by 99Bitcoins: A Newbie’s Crypto Quest

Ah, the new year, now that the mother of the world, America is back to business! A time to set goals, embrace change, smell the roses and tackle things you’ve been avoiding, like a new pair of red shoes or... crypto investing. That’s right; this year, I’m diving into the thrilling, mildly confusing world of crypto investing. Naturally, the first step is finding a wallet. You know, the magical digital pouch where your precious digital gold will reside. After some intense Googling (and definite...

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Self-Sovereignty: When Crypto CowPeople Roam Free

Ah, self-sovereignty—the holy grail of cryptocurrency enthusiasts everywhere. It’s the dream of financial freedom, where the only authority over your digital wallet is...YOU. No meddling banks, no pesky government forms, and no bank manager giving you that disapproving look when you withdraw $5 in quarters for the vending machine. Bliss, right? But as with all dreams, there’s a reality check. And in the wild world of crypto, self-sovereignty comes with its own set of quirks, challenges, and m...

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The Disruption of Diamonds and Gold: Lab-Grown Diamonds, Rising Gold Prices, and Cryptocurrency Trends

The jewelry and precious metals market is undergoing a seismic shift driven by innovation, economic factors, and changing consumer preferences. The rise of lab-grown diamonds, the rally in gold prices, and the corresponding trends in cryptocurrency reveal a world grappling with technological and financial transformation.Lab-Grown Diamonds: Shaping a New EraLab-grown diamonds are redefining the diamond industry. Created in controlled laboratory environments using advanced technology, these dia...

Discover card cover image

When You Send Crypto to the Wrong Chain: A Pan-African Tragedy

Ever sent money to the wrong M-Pesa number and had to call your ex for it back? Yeah—crypto’s version of that is when you send funds from Base to Celo by mistake. Welcome to "How to Lose Crypto Without Even Getting Scammed: African Edition." Scenario 1: You Send Base Tokens to a Celo Address You’re chilling. Wallet’s open. You’re on Base. You copy a Celo address because someone on Twitter (who definitely uses VPN and types in all caps) told you, “Bro, Celo is the future!” Boom—you paste the a...

Discover card cover image

Crypto & Self-Sovereignty: Be Your Own Bank… Without Becoming Your Own Problem

In Africa, we know the hustle is real. Banking systems? Sometimes unreliable. Sending money? Expensive. Getting a loan? You better know someone who knows someone. So when crypto came along and whispered sweetly, “You can be your own bank,” many of us said, “Eh! Say no more!” That beautiful concept is called self-sovereignty. It’s about taking control of your own money, without needing banks, brokers, or government red tape. But as we say in Kenya, “Ukipenda cha mtu, penda ile siasa inamletea....

Discover card cover image

Sir, We Found His Wallet” — How the Kenyan Governments is planning on Hunting down your Crypto

You're vibing on your balcony, sipping coffee, Project Mocha Coffee (I hope they are reading this, those deliveries, Yawa), checking your Solana bag (it's red, as usual), and feeling safe because your Ledger is in the sock drawer, your VPN is on, and your wallet has a meme coin named after a frog. You’re untraceable, right? WRONG. Somewhere, in a fluorescent-lit office at the Kenyan FRC, a cyber-sleuth named Mwangi with a Master's in Black Tea and Suspicion is doing what no one else can — loo...

Discover card cover image

Vesting and Cliffs in Crypto: How to Keep Your Bags from Running Away

So, you’ve decided to dive into crypto investing. Maybe you’ve found a promising new project, or you’re launching your own token and want to avoid watching your co-founder cash out and disappear to a remote island before the product is even built. Enter vesting and cliffs—the financial leash that keeps everyone behaving (mostly).Vesting: Because Instant Riches are Too DangerousVesting is basically a delayed gratification mechanism that forces token recipients (like founders, team members, and...

Discover card cover image

The Great Kenyan Crypto Escape: Why We Can't Outlaw the Future

Once upon a time, only the super-rich could stash their money in Swiss bank accounts, hidden behind layers of secrecy and those iconic Swiss chocolates. The rest of us? We had to make do with stuffing cash under our mattresses, praying that termites weren’t feeling particularly ambitious that year. But then, technology happened. International banking went online, and suddenly, the concept of "offshore accounts" became as accessible as a Safaricom bundle. Now, add cryptocurrency into the mix, ...

Discover card cover image

The Chaumfather of Blockchain: A Tribute to David Chaum and My 100th Web3 Article!

It’s been 100 articles, 3 months, and an ungodly amount of caffeine, but here we are! Hitting this milestone in the Web3 space feels like minting my own Poof(magic) and Proof-of-Work—but without the mining rigs or the insane electricity bill. And what better way to mark this moment than by paying homage to a man who, in many ways, laid the cryptographic foundation for everything we hold dear in this space? Mr. David Chaum, the OG Cypherpunk, the godfather of cryptographic security, and the ma...

Discover card cover image

We need urgent diversification of drama in all crypto markets

If you’ve watched the crypto markets for more than five minutes, you’ve probably noticed something strange: Every time the U.S. stock market sneezes, Bitcoin and the rest of the crypto world collapse like a poorly built Jenga tower. Meanwhile, economic news from China, Germany, Japan—and even crypto powerhouses like Kenya and Nigeria—barely cause a ripple. Why? Is Bitcoin secretly an American citizen? Does Ethereum have a crush on Wall Street? And why does crypto ignore the financial chaos ha...

Discover card cover image

A New User's Rollercoaster Ride Through Crypto Spaces

Welcome, Luno! The London-based cryptocurrency exchange has finally made its grand entrance into Kenya, and you can bet it's going to be tested. As someone who has just signed up and tried my hand at navigating the crypto waters, let me take you through my very entertaining experience. First off, let me tell you that trying to get my phone number on Luno’s sign-up page was like trying to squeeze a giraffe into a maruti. Why? Because of spaces. You see, I’m used to entering my phone number the...

Discover card cover image

Securing the Human Layer of Crypto: Protecting Users from Themselves and Others

The blockchain and cryptocurrency industry has made tremendous strides in developing secure, decentralized systems. Engineers have built unbreakable chains, bulletproof protocols, and decentralized vaults that defy even the most advanced attacks. Yet, these technical advancements often fall victim to a glaring oversight: the human layer. While blockchains are immutable and smart contracts are auditable, people remain susceptible to phishing, scams, and social engineering—turning these unbreak...

Discover card cover image

The Best Bitcoin Wallets Ranked by 99Bitcoins: A Newbie’s Crypto Quest

Ah, the new year, now that the mother of the world, America is back to business! A time to set goals, embrace change, smell the roses and tackle things you’ve been avoiding, like a new pair of red shoes or... crypto investing. That’s right; this year, I’m diving into the thrilling, mildly confusing world of crypto investing. Naturally, the first step is finding a wallet. You know, the magical digital pouch where your precious digital gold will reside. After some intense Googling (and definite...

Discover card cover image

Self-Sovereignty: When Crypto CowPeople Roam Free

Ah, self-sovereignty—the holy grail of cryptocurrency enthusiasts everywhere. It’s the dream of financial freedom, where the only authority over your digital wallet is...YOU. No meddling banks, no pesky government forms, and no bank manager giving you that disapproving look when you withdraw $5 in quarters for the vending machine. Bliss, right? But as with all dreams, there’s a reality check. And in the wild world of crypto, self-sovereignty comes with its own set of quirks, challenges, and m...

Discover card cover image

The Disruption of Diamonds and Gold: Lab-Grown Diamonds, Rising Gold Prices, and Cryptocurrency Trends

The jewelry and precious metals market is undergoing a seismic shift driven by innovation, economic factors, and changing consumer preferences. The rise of lab-grown diamonds, the rally in gold prices, and the corresponding trends in cryptocurrency reveal a world grappling with technological and financial transformation.Lab-Grown Diamonds: Shaping a New EraLab-grown diamonds are redefining the diamond industry. Created in controlled laboratory environments using advanced technology, these dia...

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