Crypto Magazine Issue 9

CRYPTO Magazine

CEO | Nathan Hill nathan@cryptomag.finance

Editor | Colin Woolley editor@cryptomag.finance

Deputy Editor | Robert Stone

Business Development| Jose Ortiz jo@CryptoMag.Finance

Editorial Assistant | George Smith

Art Director | Dilin Divan

Contributors

Robert Stone

George Smith

John Potter

Carl Dawkinz

Lindsay Keyfauver Lorenzo Adele

Advertising Enquiries sales@cryptomag.finance

Crypto Magazine is published by the Crypto Marketing Company 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom, WC2H 9JQ

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As Deputy Editor Rob Stone, I’m proud to present our 9th issue of Crypto Magazine, your trusted source for crypto insights from the experts at CMC.

In the last year or so, we’ve witnessed remarkable technological evolution alongside significant global political shifts. I’ve been pondering blockchain’s potential beyond finance—specifically in revitalizing our democratic systems, which we are so discordant about as a society.

In an era of institutional distrust and information manipulation, blockchain offers a possible pathway to unprecedented transparency, accountability, and civic engagement. Imagine algorithmic governance where smart contracts combined with AI execute based on collective will rather than fallible representative interpretation. This could transform how we approach democracy. What emerges is a democracy with perfect memory and zero corruption. Every vote, expenditure, and policy decision recorded immutably on the blockchain—transparent, verifiable, and permanent. It isn’t merely an upgrade; it’s democracy finally living up to its potential. AI systems could model policy outcomes based on collective will and eliminate guesswork about effectiveness. The system could simulate outcomes, optimize for the greatest good, and execute flawlessly while maintaining perfect accountability. “Democracy dies in darkness” isn’t just rhetoric—it’s a fundamental truth about power. Blockchain technology provides industrialstrength floodlights to illuminate governance. Corruption becomes nearly impossible when every transaction is visible to all. Maybe worth a try!

Crypto Magazine remains your gateway to the cryptosphere, offering technical updates, market insights, and deeper explorations of how blockchain might reshape our societal frameworks. We cut through the hype to present unvarnished truths about the blockchain revolution’s potential and challenges. We are excited this issue to unveil a complete transformation in the NFT sector with the launch of the first “Stable NFTs” that retain their value and never crash in price as has been the norm until now. Please don’t hesitate to let us know what you think or if there’s something you’d like to see featured in the future. We’d love to hear from you.

Robert Stone Deputy Editor editor@cryptomag.finance

@cryptomagz cmccryptomag

DEEP DIVES

58 Examining India on a Macro Mass Adoption Scale

64 The Rise of Vector Smart Chain: Transparency, Reliability, and Fixed Gas Fees

68 Blockchain Technology May be Banned by Governments, but it Can`t be Stopped

70 How the Crypto Landscape is Maturing and Why Custody is Key!

72 Crypto and AI: Synergistically Driving Innovation Worldwide WORLDWIDE 82 Bitcoin Should Become a Better Money L aundering Tool

86 The Minds of Innovation: Important Figureheads in Crypto (Part 3) – Bobby Ong

88 The Great Decoupling: Bitcoin and the Shifting Paradigm of Financial Sovereignty

98 The Rise of CBDCs:Navigating the Future of Money While Preserving Your Privac

108 In Conversation with GiacomoDeveloper of HashBit

112 Interview: Mujitaba Sanusi

Cr ypto123

Kenji Kondo

AI Will be the Downfall of Cr yptocurrencies

The Four Strategy: S’

A Guide to Keeping Your Cool When Investing in Crypto

George Smith

Investments are full of risks and can be overwhelmingly stressful. This is especially true for the cryptocurrency industry, which is one of the most volatile forms of investment. It is, therefore, essential to keep on top of one’s personal well-being through all the ups and downs. A golden rule to remember when investing is never to invest more than you are willing to lose. It is an unfortunate fact that at some point, you are going to lose money during crypto investments – this is inevitable. A good approach to helping your well-being is to accept this and use these losses as a learning curve to better your future portfolio. With that being said, here are some key steps to consider in order to keep your well-being in check.

Stress – Stress is unavoidable, but it is very manageable. Investing is stressful. Investing in crypto is even more stressful! However, there are many things you can do to help relieve stress. Cryptocurrency is a very addictive industry, so it’s important to take breaks to give your mind a rest every so often. You need to ensure you don’t end up seeing green and red graphs or charts when you shut your eyes, and you need to learn

to manage stress before your dreams start being invaded by plus and minus percentages.

With all the allure and enticing promises of the crypto industry, it’s important to know when to stop, when to take breaks, and when to call it quits. Take notes when you feel stressed, write about what’s caused it and how you feel, and you’ll soon notice recurring patterns relating to the causes of your stress. It’s important to understand these causes in order to lay an exit strategy down in case it all becomes too much.

Everyone wants their big break, everyone wants to be the next crypto millionaire, but these things don’t happen overnight. You’re most likely going

to be in the crypto game for the long haul, and that’s going to entail a great amount of stress. Keep on top of it, learn to manage it, and control it. I’ll repeat; stress is unavoidable, but it’s very manageable.

Sleep – Ensuring one gets enough sleep is directly related to managing stress. Sleep is essential for keeping your mental health in check, and everyone needs to aim to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night. Day trading in crypto is a surefire way to ruin your sleep schedule. There’s lots of money to be made in day trading, but this should never take priority over a healthy sleep schedule. Day trading should be kept specifically to the day, as in the name. The night is your time off, time to unwind and relax and take your mind off things. You can’t constantly be thinking about crypto and worry about your next big moves –you have to give your brain some time to recover.

Trading is taxing and takes a tremendous amount of brain power to keep focused on. You need to allow your mind to wander and de-stress. A healthy amount of sleep is imperative for your mental well-being and is a relatively easy step

to implement. A good sleep schedule means a healthy, happy mind, and a healthy, happy mind means higher engagement and higher success rates with trading and investing. Prioritize sorting out your sleep schedule before it’s too late.

Social – As with giving yourself time to sleep, you also need to allow yourself time to socialize. Whilst investing is a very individual thing, socializing is not, and it’s important to mix these two lifestyles consistently. You’re not going to be happy if you’re always locked away in your room, alone, scrolling through countless live graphs and watching transactions appear and disappear

on the blockchain. Make time for your friends and give yourself time to go out, do activities, and attend events. Socialise and engage with the people that matter to you.

Even if it’s only once or twice a week, a social experience is absolutely essential to maintaining a healthy and clear mind. Your money isn’t going to leave you, the value might change, but it will always be there. Your friends, on the other hand, if ignored for too long, will. Friends and family are far more important than earnings and investments, and the time should be spent with them to reflect this. If you’re waiting for the day to come when you’re sunbathing on a private yacht in the Caribbean with a crate of beers, make sure now that you won’t end up doing that alone!

Stability - Your mental health should be your number one priority. As the age-old saying goes: money can’t buy you happiness. Everyone wants to be rich, but some people become so desperate

for money that they start to forget about things truly important to them. Crypto is a wonderful area to start investing in, and I encourage everyone to enter the industry, but everyone should also understand how one needs to prioritize mental health over riches and potential. One must be stable before investing; you need to be in a good place mentally and financially.

There are an array of options to keep yourself in a stable position mentally, whether it be studying philosophies such as Stoicism or Zen, breathing exercises, yoga, or meditation; the options are endless. The bottom line, however, is that crypto investing requires one to keep on top of their emotions. There are going to be plenty of ups and

down. If you choose to invest in crypto, you’re heading for a very emotional journey. If you keep your well-being in check and in a stable position, it might just prove to be well worth the hassle!

Never invest more than you are willing to lose, and always have an exit strategy ready. If the stress becomes too much or your mental well–being worsens, it’s time to get out. You are worth more than any amount of money, and your mental health should echo that. Money can’t buy you happiness, but it can buy you everything that can make you happy… or can it? Take care of yourself, and please make sure to keep your well-being in check.

Google TrendsPredicting a Bullrun

John Potter

Online users willing to review Google Trends data may notice that Google searches for the price of Bitcoin tend to precede significant upward market movements. In 2017, a search engine marketing company named Semrush revealed a 91% correlation between Bitcoin prices and the number of Bitcoin-related Google searches on the subject.

More importantly, the Semrush study showed that search volume increased as Bitcoin’s price increased. However, it did not state whether these searches predict the Bitcoin-to-dollar exchange rate. Nonetheless, the study revealed a 450% increase in Bitcoin searches in a fivemonth period during 2017. That year, online users searched an estimated 51.4 million keywords related to Bitcoin.

Search / Price Correlation

It’s commonly believed that when Bitcoin’s price rises, searches rise along with them. In other words, as prices rise, so does consumer interest. While not entirely incorrect, data indicate that Bitcoinrelated searches increased before the boom. However, this does not necessarily imply that

a future surge in searches will impact Bitcoin’s price.

According to the Semrush report, the correlation between searches for information about Bitcoin and its price was 82% globally. Relative to fiat currencies, Bitcoin search popularity was also substantially higher. In 2021, for instance, bitcoin was searched seven times as often as the dollar and 42 times as often as the euro.

Although it’s relatively easy to find the exchange rates for dollars and euros online, crypto users may need help finding relevant Bitcoin data. Since the general public still considers cryptocurrency relatively new, most users may need to search non-traditional websites several times online. Last year, searches for Bitcoin were 57 times more common than searches for U.S. dollars and 70 times more common than for euros.

Given the extensive interest generated by Bitcoin after its first bull run, Google searches for the cryptocurrency remained strong. Popular Bitcoin-related websites like CoinMarketCap, Binance, and Coinbase witnessed an increase in site visits last year. Between 2017 and 2021, CoinMarketCap reported an average of 60 million monthly visits. In 2021 this figure rose to 194 million monthly visits.

If we follow Google Trends metrics (a term’s value range

spans from 0 to 100), Bitcoin as a keyword reached a score of 100 during the 2017 Bitcoin bull market. In contrast, the search term achieved a lessimpressive score of 70 during the second Bitcoin bull run (between January and May 2021).

At first glance, this change is relatively surprising, given that the second bull run saw massive Bitcoin price growth and an all-time high of $64,000. This decline may reflect Bitcoin’s declining role as a novelty over a five-year period.

Another reason may be that retail investors exercise increasingly less influence over Bitcoin’s price fluctuations. According to Vasja Zupan, president of crypto exchange Matrix, “Google Trends do not reflect institutional and professional interest. And I believe that current prices reflect those groups’ interest in entering the market more than

pure retail,” he said in an email to CoinDesk.

Search Motivation

Historically, search volume for “Bitcoin” on the most popular search engine reflects the behavior of smaller investors, who frequently enter the market during the longest bull runs. These searches inevitably increase as more investors notice the cryptocurrency’s rising price. After Bitcoin’s rapid price increases, many investors are motivated by the fear of missing out.

As noted above, however, Bitcoin’s maturity will limit the retail market’s impact on its price. A notable exception may occur when new investors decide to learn about Bitcoin during the next bull cycle. Although today’s search volume for Bitcoin is relatively low, Google searches for Bitcoin will invariably rise as the next bull run gathers steam.

zkEVM

An Ethereum Scaling Solution

John Potter

Crypto users frequently complain about Ethereum’s slow transaction time of 10-15 transactions per second. This speed becomes unsupportable during high user activity levels, as the blockchain must contend with network congestion. Ethereum developers are using various solutions to remedy this situation, sidechains being the most common.

Sidechains temporarily move transactions to a second layer for processing before going back to Ethereum. They must first group transactions and roll them up before sending them to the core protocol for validation. These delays can last up to two weeks. Hence, the “optimistic rollups” are “optimistic” that the transactions are trustworthy.

zkEVMs

A ZkEVM is essentially an overhaul of the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) that makes the Ethereum network compatible with a far more efficient kind of rollup using zero-knowledge proofs. And as a scaling solution, a zkEVM can boost Ethereum’s speed by moving transactions to a faster layer. And they can do so

without compromising security. Not surprisingly, Ethereum developers have been discussing zkEVMs for nearly a decade. As the technology nears perfection, several major Ethereum development companies are rushing to deploy them.

In March Polygon (MATIC) announced it would soon launch

its highly-anticipated zkEVM Ethereum scaling solution on the Ethereum mainnet.

Zero-Knowledge Proofs

Zero-knowledge proofs are not blockchain-specific. Instead, this cryptographic technology has been around for decades.

Zk-proof technology reveals that one knows a particular secret, not what one knows. In other words, that a statement is true, but not why it is true.

In a cryptocurrency transaction, zk-proofs enable counterparties to inform

one another that their cryptocurrency transaction is legitimate without disclosing any additional identifying information. In this context, the sender and the receiver must be able to comprehend signals indicating the completion of a given transaction. However, neither

of them must be aware of the details of the transaction itself.

Zero-knowledge proofs can make rollups much more effective. When incorporated into an EVM, ZK-rollups demonstrate the validity of each transaction in a batch, unlike “optimistic” rollups. Moreover, since these rollups use less data, they can quickly be processed.

Incorporation into the EVM

The EVM converts user-level human input into protocol-level action, ensuring the execution of trades and the functionality of smart contracts. And it does so using network-wide software, hence the “virtual” moniker. The problem is that EVMs can only interpret rollups individually, meaning developers must create ZK rollups from scratch.

zkEVMs can recognize standard zero-knowledge rollup protocols, interpreting them like regular rollups. However, the core protocol determines whether the proofs are correct without wasting resources by sifting through endless data.

zkEVMs also don’t permit invalid transactions, as might be found in an optimistic rollup. As a result, they process transactions much faster. Although ZK-rollups can perform up to 2,000

transactions per second, efforts are being made to increase their capacity to perform up to 20,000 transactions per second. It should be noted that zkEVMs rely on Solidity (Ethereum’s coding language). As a result, they’re compatible with Ethereum-based NFTs, smart contracts, and dApps.

zkEVM Problems

zkEVM technology remains problematic, however. For instance, zkEVMs frequently take 12–24 hours to produce the zk-proof before being transmitted to the core protocol. The speed pales compared to Ethereum’s 10-15 seconds verification time.

zkEVMs also require a lot of computation. Indeed, they must rely on a centralized computer to produce a zeroknowledge proof for a group of transactions. Unfortunately, this configuration creates a single point of failure vulnerable to censorship. zkEVMs are particularly problematic for DeFi apps, as they do not fully support the codebase of these apps. In addition, they can increase the price spreads in many DeFi protocols, increasing the price instability.

Once zkEVMs overcome their problems, they promise to transform Ethereum’s scalability issues. They will also create far more secure transactions.

What is a Web3 browser and how does it work?

John Potter

The move toward Web3 promises to introduce users to a new world of decentralized software and digital economies. In brief, Web3 disaggregates content and services from centralized entities, enabling users, services, and content providers to transact directly via smart contracts. While highly disruptive to content creators, the introduction of Web3 browsers will make the transition appear almost seamless to the casual observer.

After all, a web3 browser is merely a web browser that has incorporated blockchain functionality into its features. With a Web3 browser, online users can access DApps, integrate cryptocurrencies, and browse the decentralized Web.

Aside from being faster, Web3 browsers are more secure, transparent, and privacyfocused than conventional browsers. And as noted above, they give creators greater autonomy and control over their content.

In a way, Web3 browsers are dApps that let users keep control of their data and share their revenue. Many online users already use a Web3 wallet like MetaMask to access Web3 applications using Web2 browsers. Others rely on a Web3 wallet integrated into their web browser to provide DApp browser functionality.

While these Web3 wallet users retain full ownership of their digital assets, they may also lose funds if they misplace their seed phrase

(unlike centrally-controlled custodial wallets). However, Web3 wallet users can skip Know Your Customer (KYC) or Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements when accessing the Web3 economy.

What Web3 browser would be best for you? Several of the more popular Web3 browsers are listed below.

Brave Browser

The well-known Brave browser relies on open-source software to provide users with privacyprotecting features. Unlike conventional browsers, Brave browser users can also conduct searches for Web3 and NFT content. The Brave browser famously blocks trackers and offensive advertisements from websites automatically. Alternatively, browser users can view advertisements and receive passive income through Basic Attention Tokens (BAT).

Brave has integrated IPFS functionality into its Web3 browser. This technology enables built-in decentralized file storage and lessens data concentration by dispersing file storage across a global network. It also allows crypto users to easily view and manage their NFT collections, thanks to Brave’s new nonfungible token (NFT) gallery feature.

Opera Browser

Users of the Opera Crypto Browser enjoy phishing protection and a maliciousaddress checker. Moreover, Opera promotes the browser’s Wallet Selector as the industry’s first multi-wallet management tool.

The Opera Crypto Browser is reasonably versatile, supporting EVM-compatible chains along with Ether ETH, ERC-20, and ERC-721 tokens. Likewise, both Solana and Polygon have

partnered with Opera. Finally, the browser’s integrated Crypto Corner provides users with great crypto tools.

To use the Opera Web3 browser, download the Opera Crypto Browser for Android, Windows, or Mac.

Beaker Browser

The Beaker browser supports Hyperdrives, a peer-to-peer website hosting technology. Since the technology operates in private mode, newly created websites can only be accessed by those who have the link to a Hyperdrive. However, the Beaker browser provides new APIs for building hostless applications and maintains backward compatibility with the rest of the Web.

Unlike most browsers, which display the page’s source code to website visitors, Beaker presents the entire site’s structure in a GitHub-like format. The browser even allows users to host their own fork (creating a different version of online work).

Puma Browser

Launched in 2019, the Puma Browser allows users to create seamless payments for content producers, app, and game developers (via the Coil Content Network and Interledger Protocol). Users can access the browser’s Ethereum

Name Service (ENS) and Handshake (HNS) domains. The browser retains access to the InterPlanetaryFileSystem (IPFS), a critical link to Web2.

Coil Members must pay $5 per month to access the usergenerated content.

Users who subscribe to the service can immediately create a digital wallet and sell their content. An hour of viewing user content by a Coil Member earns them $0.36 from Coil.

Coil streams money to members’ wallets as they enjoy other users’ content.

Osiris Browser

Osiris aims to be the first netneutral browser, as it seeks to free users from any bias or censorship found on the internet. The browser blocks all advertisements and trackers by default, so it does not sustain itself with advertising revenue. Like the Brave browser, Osiris allows users to view the number of ads it has blocked.

The browser offers fewer Web3 capabilities than many of the browsers above. Nonetheless, the browser provides users with a multi-wallet tool called Metawallet, an embedded wallet

with the browser that supports multiple cryptocurrencies.

Carbon Browser

Carbon will soon launch an open-source Web3 browser based on a customized fork of Chromium. The crypto outfit advertises its browser as faster and more privacy-focused than a conventional browser. Like other Web3 browsers, It offers an integrated multi-chain wallet.

Carbon has provided its browser with a built-in VPN, firewall, and ToR network connectivity. It also aims to promote itself as highly decentralized by hosting its files with Polygon Edge and the Akash Network (a decentralized cloud computing platform built using Cosmos). Finally, Carbon states that its users can provide them with KYC information to receive tokens.

The Future

It’s important to remember that Web3 offers more significant monetization opportunities for developers, gamers, and content producers. It achieves this by organizing the world’s information in a way that Google’s search engine architecture cannot. Consequently, Web3 browsers are bound to incorporate or enhance blockchain-based information search capabilities using the latest AI. These browsers might also offer features that incorporate or enhance the metaverse (particularly in virtual or augmented reality).

KEVIN HART

The Top 7 Best AI Crypto Trading Bots

John Potter

Crypto investors frequently employ trading bots to automate the buying and selling of positions based on critical technical indicators. These trading bots operate like conventional stock trading bots. However, trading bots are indispensable in cryptocurrency markets since these markets are open around-the-clock. Crypto traders cannot watch the price charts constantly to avoid missing out on a trade.

Moreover, AI trading bots are a tremendous time saver. They alleviate the need for crypto traders to learn various trading strategies and parameters. They are also a fantastic choice for new traders who want to start trading cryptocurrencies and make profits immediately. This capability has become a driving factor in their popularity. It’s also the reason for the market’s recent growth in trading bot companies. Listed below are some of the top cryptocurrency bots in the industry.

1. Pionex

Pionex users can employ various trading bots depending on their preferred trading strategy. The company’s Grid Trading Bot enables traders to buy low and sell high automatically and around the clock within a given price range. Users only need to define their trading range.

The company also offers a DCA (Dollar Cost Averaging) Bot. Also known as a Martingale Bot, this bot deploys a strategy of ladder-buying and selling, thus investing more of your funds at each dip to lower the average holding cost. If you’re confident about trading several coins at once and holding them for a long time, Pionex also provides traders with a rebalancing bot.

Since all traders can perform their trades within the platform, connecting via APIs to external exchanges is unnecessary.

2. Mizar

Mizar is a cryptocurrency trading platform that also automates trades, negating the need for a trader to spend all day staring at charts. Although the platform offers many

trading options, copy trading is the most straightforward. Mizar allows traders to copy-invest in either the trading strategies or trading signals provided by seasoned professionals, thus making it easy for a trader to imitate and copy profitable trades.

This platform also offers advanced functionalities like Take Profit, Stop Loss, and Trailing to reduce a trader’s financial risks. Traders also can allow other traders to copy their trading strategy and gain passive income in the process.

Like Pionex, Mizar offers a Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) bot to lower the risk of opening a position all at once. Its DCA bot aims to gradually increase the entry price of a trade by buying or selling a cryptocurrency at predetermined intervals.

Finally, it’s important to note that Mizar users do not have to

contend with recurring monthly fees or other upfront costs.

3. CryptoHopper

CryptoHopper is a web-based solution with a simple, userfriendly interface. The trading bot can automatically trade continuously using algorithmic and social trading. It also provides crypto traders with trade copying and portfolio management services.

The platform is compatible with nine significant exchanges, including Binance, Coinbase Pro, Kraken, Bitfinex, Cryptopia, Huobi, and Poloniex, and up to 75 cryptocurrencies. One of its most popular features is its ability to provide traders with the capacity to create and test their own trading bots.

CryptoHopper’s semiautomated trading bot helps to remove the human tendencies and emotions that can get in the way of profitable trading. The platform also includes backtesting, trailing stops, and customizable indicators. Traders can even save successful trading templates for future use. In addition, the platform has a reputation for excellent customer support, just in case any problems emerge.

4. Bitsgap

Bitsgap combines crypto trading bots, algorithmic orders, portfolio management, and an accessible demo mode. Traders can connect to all exchanges in one location, making it simple to carry out trading strategies and simultaneously deploy advanced bots across platforms. Indeed, traders can compare prices from different digital currency markets, switch between exchanges, track their investments, and test trading strategies using a demo account.

5. Kryll

In addition to being a trading bot, Kryll also helps day traders manage their cryptocurrency trades. Moreover, Kryll allows novice traders to create scripts without prior coding experience. In addition, traders can link pre-existing features into specialized bots using a drag-and-drop system.

The Bitsgap trading bot ensures that your investments are distributed proportionately within your specified price range. When the price reaches the desired range, it fulfills the order and subsequently places a new order. As a result, traders can make small, frequent profits on every market movement. This feature is one of the platform’s most unique features.

Bitsgap is compatible with 30 exchanges, including Binance, Kraken, and Bitfinex. In addition, it provides access to more than 10,000 cryptocurrency trading pairs. Trading novices will appreciate the platform’s user-friendly interface and technical indicators.

Kryll also offers The Marketplace, where seasoned traders and others can sell their trading strategies to others. This feature is very beneficial to novice traders.

Other worthwhile platform features include the Strategy Editor, which lets traders design an automated trading algorithm using a drag-anddrop interface, and the Trading Terminal, which allows traders to set stop-losses and take multiple profits.

6. HaasOnline

HaasOnline allows traders to quickly create and deploy high-frequency cryptocurrency

trading bots across dozens of exchanges. These trading bots contain pre-programmed features to assess trends, select the best trading action, and execute orders automatically.

The platform also has a backtesting feature that allows traders to view and test their bot’s settings in real time or in the past. This feature allows traders to compare their bot’s performance to how well it might have performed given different settings.

Finally, the platform includes a Visual Editor that works with

HaasScript to let traders create, backtest, and deploy scripts across various cryptocurrency exchanges. With pre-built solutions, traders can generate crypto algorithms or search the market for third-party solutions.

Coin Rule enables cryptocurrency traders to compete with skilled algorithmic traders and hedge funds without being proficient

in coding. The platform allows traders to customize automated trades and allocate capital based on market indicators.

Coin Rule users can select from more than 250 preset rules related to trading strategies. For instance, traders can program their bot to invest in the daily top performer or accumulate tokens based on price. The platform connects to several major exchanges, including Binance, Coinbase Pro, Kraken, OKX, Bitstamp, Bitpanda Pro, KuCoin, and BitMex.

Concluding Remarks

As you can see, the trading bots above come with various trading options. While many of these bots have sophisticated features, many more provide users with user-friendly features to accommodate novice traders. While it’s tempting to say with certainty what bot is best for you, traders will still need to experiment with each to feel confident about their selection.

GraphLinq Advances No-Code Blockchain Development

John Potter

Although blockchain technology has been around for over 20 years, it’s still considered a cuttingedge technology. The industry remains highly innovative and has attracted more than $2.48 trillion in assets worldwide. Nonetheless, most of the public has yet to become familiar with the technology. The development of a no-code blockchain will change this fact.

Relatively few developers currently work in the crypto industry. Not only is blockchain coding challenging to learn, but the field lacks many of the tools and infrastructure other developers take for granted. Moreover, developers interested in creating smart contract-based apps must deploy an obscure language called Solidity. Consequently, most developers don’t bother learning it.

The GraphLinq IDE

GraphLinq solves the above problem. It’s a new blockchain development platform that provides developers with an

easy-to-use IDE interface for building blockchain-based apps. Developers can also use its drag-and-drop functions to create various smart workflows.

GraphLinq recently partnered with the decentralized exchange Elrond to provide exchange users with the ability to create automated workflows using its IDE. Examples include an email sent when an asset’s price surpasses a predetermined threshold, when a trader executes a swap on a DEX pair, or even when an arbitrage bot places market orders on exchanges based on predetermined conditions.

“Our growing community of supporters and ecosystem

partners are very excited about the capabilities of the Elrond Network, but not all of them are developers. Tools like Graphlinq enable more people to experiment with our tech directly and seize opportunities that normally require writing code.” said Beniamin Mincu, Elrond Network CEO.

GraphLinq creates virtually limitless opportunities for blockchain development. The protocol allows nearly anyone to quickly create an app, a radical departure from conventional software development processes. Individuals with a basic understanding of software coding can create new blockchain-based products

using its IDE, from building intricate blockchain data automation workflows to launching a cryptocurrency.

Reducing Costs

The GraphLinq platform reduces costs by providing off-chain data storage for developers to use as needed. This setup allows developers to create graphs and other workflows that only incur gas fees when required.

To further reduce costs, the platform employs a layer-2 transaction solution that runs on the (relatively inexpensive) Polygon chain. This innovation is a potential game changer, as gas fees constitute a significant overhead for most blockchain projects.

The GLQ Token

GraphLinq users can use GLQ, the platform’s native token, to test projects built on the testnet. They can also use the GLQ to deploy projects on the GraphLinq mainnet.

The GraphLinq platform functions like a traditional cloud provider, with predictable costs due to a pay-forwhat-you-use billing model. Developers run their graphs through the GraphLinq engine network and pay the execution costs using the GLQ token.

GraphLinq users may also use the token if they participate

EDUCATION

in DAO governance. As a “decentralized autonomous organization” or DAO, GLQ token holders have governance rights and may vote on the project’s development priorities.

The Future

GraphLinq’s no-code development capabilities will likely become an invaluable resource for blockchain developers. The platform aims to help crypto projects automate some or all of their data operations while reducing overhead. Its ability to lower upfront and ongoing development costs will give users a significant competitive advantage.. Even their development timeline will be shorter.

Ultimately, GraphLinq will provide crypto projects with an easier and more accessible approach to blockchain development. It aims to democratize the development process and make it available to any individual or business interested in using it. Today, that’s nearly a requirement for any technology that aspires to wide-scale adoption. It’s also a missing piece in blockchain’s continuing development.

Although still in development, the GraphLinq platform is far enough along to demonstrate its worth. Its significance will become more evident as it evolves and adds features.

Can Blockchain-based Watch-to-Earn Monetization Shape the Future of

Video Streaming?

John Potter

Unlike regular gaming, crypto gaming companies frequently entice users with play-to-earn rewards. Crypto entrepreneurs have sought to create a similar business model for watching videos. However, the watchto-earn market has struggled to gain traction. In the past month, however, a new crypto company has begun promoting an entirely new business model in the watch-toearn market.

Verasity, an attention-based video and gaming platform, recently rocked the watch-toearn industry by revealing that the company has a new patent pending for rewarding video viewing (U.S. Patent Application No. 16/199,813). The patent, entitled ‘System and Method for Reward Video Viewing,’ covers all forms of rewarded video, vastly increasing Verasity’s commercial use cases.

Watch-to-earn video format is quite popular in mobile

gaming. Users can receive in-game credits, gaming items, cryptocurrency, or even traditional fiat for watching video content or ads displayed within an app. Verasity has facilitated this process by creating a video player and a rewarded viewing video distribution module. Their app’s module presents video content to a user along with marketplace credit based on the value of the video or advertisement viewed.

Creating A Sustainable Business Model

Any watch-to-earn business model can be challenging, as viewer rewards must come from somewhere. However, Verasity appears to have found a reward distribution system that is self-replenishing.

The project was previously known for creating an AI system that could discern bot impressions, thus eliminating them as legitimate views. As a result, the company claims its technology (“Proof-of-View”) will prevent advertising fraud and save corporate advertisers billions of dollars. With this new patent, watch-to-earn rewards will presumably derive from corporate payments made with this technology.

This business model is quite innovative, as it helps corporate advertisers save money and uses the payments they make to incentivize video viewing.

A Contentious Debate

Today, at least seven crypto companies are involved in legitimately providing video viewers with rewards (Odysee, Permission.io, PlayNano, BitTube, XCAD, MContent, and Cointiply). Given that the patent supposedly covers all forms of rewarded video, Verasity can demand licensing fees from these watch-to-earn companies.

Will Verasity pursue its patent claims? Verasity Founder and CEO RJ Mark answered in the affirmative. “As Verasity has been awarded the U.S. patent for all forms of rewarded video, we intend to use this patent to its full effect, pursuing license opportunities for all platforms providing rewards to video viewers, which is now protected by our patent.”

While most watch-to-earn projects have yet to comment on the patent, a notable exception is the XCAD Network. On Twitter, RJ Mark, the founder of Verasity, heatedly debated the patent with Oliver Bell, founder of XCAD. The tweeting did not resolve the dispute, especially after Bell revealed that a court had already rejected a few of Verasity’s legal claims.

Nonetheless, RJ Mark tweeted, “There are only certain ways you can build a video player, and our final claims match what the major players do and

how they do it.” Regardless of whether this is true, the Verasity founder reasserted that “litigation is inevitable.”

XCAD enables its technology to be integrated into YouTube and other existing video sites to generate user rewards for video viewers. Content creators are employing the token creatively to foster greater engagement with their fans.

Concluding Remarks

Whether the patent is applicable remains debatable. However, the question may be moot. After all, Verasity will gain a sizable market share if its business model leads viewers to receive substantially more watch-to-earn rewards than its competitors. And with more resources in play, the technology will invite further innovation within the watchto-earn industry. With the rise of Web 3, the idea of viewing content to earn crypto will only grow stronger.

Crypto wallets and What They do

Crypto wallets: what are they?

The blockchain also supports cryptocurrency transfers. Users can manage their crypto balances using cryptocurrency wallets, which store public and private keys. In some wallets, users can even buy and sell crypto assets or interact with decentralized applications (dApps) with their crypto assets. It is also possible to interact with decentralized applications (dApps) with crypto assets in some wallets, such as buying and selling crypto assets.

Transferring crypto tokens from your mobile phone to someone else’s mobile phone is not a ‘sending’ of crypto tokens. Sending tokens involves signing the transaction and broadcasting it to the blockchain network using your private key. Your transaction will then be included in the network’s updates to reflect the updated balance in your and the recipient’s addresses. As a result, the network will reflect the updated balance in your address and the recipient’s address.

In reality, crypto wallets don’t store cryptocurrency

as physical wallets do. Crypto wallets do not store cryptocurrency as physical wallets do. These servers also hold your private keys, allowing you to conduct transactions and showing you your addresses’ balances.

Do you know what a public key or a private key is?

Random, unpredictable characters make up a key. Public keys can be shared widely, whereas private keys should be kept secret. Public keys are like bank account

numbers and can be shared widely. Private keys are paired with public keys in public-key cryptography. Data is encrypted and decrypted using them together.

Crypto Wallets: Why You Need One

You can only store your cryptocurrency safely if you use a secure method. If you plan to trade crypto frequently or if you have small amounts, it is not advisable to store them directly on the exchange.

Regardless of whether the wallet is hot or cold, it is recommended that you withdraw the majority to a crypto wallet for larger amounts. Your private keys remain yours, and you remain in control of your finances.

Cryptocurrency Wallets: How Do They Work?

As I mentioned earlier, you don’t actually store your coins in a

wallet. You actually store your coins on public blockchains, not on your wallet. An address must be verified with a private key that comes in a set of specific codes before various transactions can be completed. Your wallet’s speed and security often depend on its type.

Cryptocurrency Wallet Types

Crypto wallets can be classified into two types: softwarebased hot wallets and physical cold wallets. Find out which cryptocurrency wallet is best for you and your needs by reading on.

Hot Wallets:

Cold wallets do not have Internet connections, whereas hot wallets do. In hot wallets, the Internet is connected, while in cold wallets, the Internet is not connected. As a result, hackers can more easily access funds stored in hot wallets.

Hot wallets include Desktop wallets, Mobile wallets, and Web-based wallets. A hot wallet stores and encrypts private keys on its own website, which is kept online. It can be risky to use a hot wallet because computer networks have hidden vulnerabilities that hackers or malware programs can exploit. Hot wallets with large amounts of cryptocurrency are fundamentally poor security practices. Still, the risks can be minimized with hot wallets that use stronger encryption or devices that securely store private keys.

An investor might want to connect or disconnect their cryptocurrency holdings from the Internet for various reasons. As a result, many cryptocurrency holders have multiple wallets, including both hot and cold wallets.

Cold Wallets:

Cold wallets are entirely offline, as explained at the beginning of this section. Despite their inconvenience, they are more secure than hot wallets. A piece of paper or engraved metal is an example of a physical medium used for cold storage.

Examples of cold wallets include:

ƒ Paper wallets

ƒ Hardware wallets

How does a paper wallet work?

Paper wallets store private and public keys in physical form. Since remote hackers cannot access these keys, which are kept safe from phishing attacks, this is a safer option than keeping funds in a hot wallet. However, it exposes the potential risk of the piece of paper being destroyed or lost, resulting in irrecoverable funds.

How does a Hardware Wallet work?

Keys are stored in a hardware wallet. Hardware wallets are usually USB or Bluetooth devices. Malicious actors cannot control the physical button on the device where you sign a transaction. The best practice is to store cryptocurrency assets that don’t require instant access offline in cold wallets. The user is entirely responsible for securing their assets, however.

Therefore, you must make sure you don’t lose or get them stolen!

Cold Wallets vs. Hot Wallets: What’s the Difference?

Choosing a storage method will depend on your needs, as both have their advantages and disadvantages. For example:

ƒ Accessibility will be vital if you plan to trade daily, so a hot wallet might be the best choice.

ƒ It mig ht be wise to invest in a cold wallet, however, if you plan to store a large number of crypto assets and value security over convenience.

Non-Custodial Wallets vs. Custodial Wallets

Wallets can also be divided into custodial and non-custodial types and those listed above.

Wallets that are kept in a custodial account

Custodial wallets are typically the most popular web-based crypto wallets. Cryptocurrency exchanges typically offer these wallets for convenience and ease of use, and they are especially popular with newcomers and day traders. When users use custodial wallets, they no longer have full control over their tokens, and exchanges keep the private keys required to sign transactions.

Users must trust that their tokens will be secure and that strong security measures will prevent unauthorized access to them. Authentication measures such as twofactor authentication, email confirmations, and biometrics, such as fingerprints or facial recognition, are among them. The user must set up these security measures before the exchange allows transactions.

Users’ tokens are also usually protected by exchanges and custodial wallet providers. Some funds are usually transferred to the company’s cold wallet, which is protected from online attacks.

Non-Custodial Wallets

You must write down and store 12 randomly generated words, known as a ‘recovery,’ ‘seed,’ or ‘mnemonic’ phrase, to create a non-custodial wallet. You can generate all of your public and

private keys from this phrase. As the private key is stored locally with the user, noncustodial wallets allow users to retain full control of their funds. It may be used as a backup or mechanism of recovery if you lose access to your device.

Those who possess the seed phrase can gain full control over their wallet’s funds. If you lose your seed phrase, you will lose access to your funds. The mnemonic phrase must be stored securely and not digitally! Rather than printing it out at a public printer, if you must do it digitally, take a picture of it with your phone, but it is much better to write it on a piece of paper and keep it in a safe place offline.

Because private keys are stored on the hardware wallet, hardware wallets are inherently non-custodial.

Crypto.com Wallet, a noncustodial software wallet, is

another option. Private keys and funds are fully under the control of users. Users are, however, responsible for their own security in terms of storing passwords and seed phrases. When any of these are lost, recovery is typically difficult or impossible because they are not stored on third-party servers.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Custodial

and NonCustodial Wallets

Different types of users prefer custodial and non-custodial wallets for different reasons. Due to the better security practices and backup options offered by an exchange or custodian, a custodial wallet makes more sense if you are prone to losing passwords and devices. It’s, therefore, a popular option for beginners with little to no experience trading cryptocurrencies. A custodial wallet also tends to

have lower transaction fees. You may, however, want to consider a non-custodial wallet if you wish to maintain complete control over your funds. In the end, it’s up to you.

Wallets with MultiSignatures

A multi-signature wallet is a wallet that requires two or more private key signatures to authorize transactions. A user may lose one key but still, have two other keys that can sign transactions. In the case of a lost key, an individual using a multisig wallet can prevent losing access to the entire wallet.

When users use custodial wallets, they no longer have full control over their tokens, and exchanges keep the private keys required to sign transactions.

Hedge funds, exchanges, and corporations will benefit from multi-sig wallets since they prevent misuse of funds and fraud. Having one key for each authorized person and requiring the majority of keys for a sign-off, no one can transact without authorization.

Multisig versions are available for any of the wallet types described above. Multisig hot wallets, cold wallets, hardware wallets, etc., are all possible.

Lorenzo’s Crypto Exit Strategy 101

Lorenzo@Dying_Empire666

This article is not financial advice, but rather an amusing personal experience aimed at letting you avoid my mistakes.

Back in 2021, the markets were red hot! Monkey NFTs were trading hands for 6 digits, celebrities were endorsing crypto, and the “this time is different ‘’ narrative was on everyone’s lips. During this time, I was sitting on some crypto gains, and I tried to apply for 2 crypto debit cards to take some profits

“When you swim with sharks and crocodiles, bring a towel and a fresh pair of shorts!”

into the “physical world.” To my surprise, both times, my applications were rejected by a cordial from the support

staff. Why? You see, during the bull market, most fin-tech and crypto companies were dealing with a massive inflow of new clients. They can’t afford to spread themselves too thin and especially deal with “small fish” like yours truly. It taught me an important lesson that perhaps you will never have to learn yourself.

This article is written to show you the importance of proper strategy and planning when it comes to converting your coins and tokens into “offline world” assets. Now as we are exiting the long hibernation of the bear market, nobody is paying attention to crypto. This is your moment to get up and get busy. My favorite author (Doug Casey) likes to say that “Proper preparation prevents piss-poor performance.” After reading this article, you will have a better understanding of how to build your own bespoke “cash out” strategy that works for your personal crypto hodl position.

By now, I assume that you are well aware of the 4-year halving cycle and you did your very best to accumulate a decent hodl position. What now? Someday shortly, you will need to ‘exit’ your coins and tokens into the real world and convert them into assets that preferably hold a stable value (and maybe even rise during the inevitable bear market). After all, we want to be one step ahead of the potential hyperinflation. My most favorite vehicles for cashing out are;

Physical goods that you will need in your life

Cash is King

Since you bought this magazine, I will assume that you already know about the arrival of CBDCs (Central Bank Digital Currencies). We are being ‘programmed’ to use debit cards and other means of digital fiat payments. Blinded by ‘ease of use,’ ‘speed’ and ‘convenience’ we are being “pushed” into a completely wrong direction. The simple truth is; that there’s nothing better (and more private) than having some nice and crispy USD notes in your hands.

Yes, traveling with cash is a bit cumbersome, but as we move into a world where privacy and digital surveillance become the norm, having cash will be vital to your financial freedom. Let’s look at a few examples of how a cash strategy would work. First of all, find platforms (in your own country) that will offer you cash payment for your crypto. In some countries, you will see Bitcoin ATMs. In other countries, you can sell your coins and tokens and receive a SEPA payment directly into your bank account.

And in some places, you will be able to use a normal ATM to withdraw some cash whenever you need it. The key here is to discover these platforms and register your account NOW during the peace and tranquility of the bear market.

After considering the options of your geographic locations, it’s time to do the grunt work and register your accounts with the right platforms. After being in crypto since 2015 (and making every mistake imaginable).

I always recommend having at least 3 separate options for selling your coins and tokens for cold hard physical cash. Why? You see, as we head into the bull market, we will see many of these platforms close up shop under regulatory scrutiny and other “unforeseen” problems that you simply cannot know about yet. Make sure you have plenty of “exit doors” available for the moment you need those crispy bank notes.

If you’re a child of the “new digital age,” feel free to call me a boomer. Just consider this; if you don’t know about the 3rd party risk (the situation where someone stands between you and your assets as a 3rd party), you essentially already put your one foot into a crocodileinfested lake.

With physical cash, this 3rd party risk is non-existent! The only risk you have is your greed, stupidity, and recklessness. If you happen to suffer from these hidden psychological flaws, grab a newspaper, roll it up in a nice tight tube, and slap yourself on the face a couple of times. Feeling a bit more “disciplined”? Good!

Stablecoins are Never Stable

Many crypto degens and cowboys use stable coins as their ONLY cash strategy. This incredibly stupid and lazy “strategy” is going to bite you in the ass when you least expect it. When it does, you will deserve it because you were lazy. Always remember that ‘ease of use’ and ‘convenience’ lead to enslavement. Just ask UST owners…

Let’s make one thing crystal clear; stable coins are TOOLS, not assets. This means it’s ok to sell a small part of your hodl position for USDC, USDT, and DAI for the sake of using them later on during the bear market. These stablecoins will help you accumulate your next hodl position when prices plunge by 90%, and everyone boldly declares that “crypto is dead’’. Just don’t think of stablecoins as something well, … “stable”! They are far from safe and stable. USDT will most likely end up on a regulator’s

chopping block somewhere in 2025. USDC is centralized, and DAI uses a part of this centralized USDC as collateral. All stablecoins are rotten in some way or another.

Keep these risks in mind when you think that you can “just take profits in stable coins” near the top of the market. More often than not, you will get yourself carried away by the bull market “vibes” and end up missing the top. That’s OK, we all do it, and we’ve all been there! It’s always best to follow your profit targets and cash out slowly

into a long period of sustained growth. I like to allocate 15 to 20% to stablecoins at any given time. Why?

Although I’m fully aware of the potential risks, I love using stablecoins as a great tool for purchasing my favorite shitcoins and tokens during the bear markets. There’s nothing more convenient than simply heading onto a random DEX and clicking the little green button.

As you followed step one, you probably found a few crypto debit card providers, and you already have some shiny new cards in your hands as we speak. Some of the most common ones allow you to use stable coins together with your debit card.

This is great news - you can work without worrying about volatility. The only risk you take here is the risk of constant inflation of the fiat currency you work with. This is inevitable, and this is why crypto was invented.

Selling Crypto for Gold and Silver

Not many people know it, but some companies and platforms allow you to sell your coins and tokens for physical (or digital) gold and silver. Owning physical precious metals is amazing. They allow you a certain degree of financial freedom, anonymity, and protection of your purchasing power. Again, find at least 3 companies who are ready to sell you gold and silver (and deliver it to any address you wish) and register your account while we are still in a quiet period.

Imagine for a second that you cashed out 35% of your hodl position into physical gold and silver. As the brutal bear market rolls over and wipes out the majority of crypto bros, laser eyes, and monkey pic traders, you will have the option of anonymously selling your metals and supporting your lifestyle. Who knows, maybe you will even choose to roll a part of your precious metals back into crypto during the next market bottom.

The most important part here is to prepare and be ready when the cash-out opportunity knocks on your door in the form of your profit targets. If you don’t know where to call, what platform to use, and who to talk to, you risk missing this lucrative opportunity for the next 4 years. Don’t be stupid and prepare right now while all the crypto bro’s and laser eyes are licking their wounds.

Physical Goods Bought with Crypto

The least interesting way of cashing out your coins and tokens is buying physical goods that you ‘need’ to support your lifestyle. Yes, today, you can buy a car, a house, and other expensive toys using crypto. I honestly don’t consider this a true “cash out” strategy. Why not?. You see, as you become much more battle-hardened by the crypto cycles, you will slowly understand that true wealth is not measured in money. Wealth is measured

in the amount of free time you have, your unrestricted mobility, the options you have in life, and the people you know.

See, you don’t NEED to cash out your crypto gains into physical assets. It’s just interesting to know that this option exists and it’s getting more and more traction every year. Some people buy gift cards using their crypto. Others buy cards and yachts. It’s all possible. Again if you choose this option, be sure to do your proper due diligence NOW, as the market is still calm.

So, boys and girls, what did we learn today?

1

Every cash-out strategy is different, and whatever you choose for yourself will be the right choice for you, as long as you take action NOW!

2

3

Opportunity will knock on your door when you are prepared and when you take your strategy seriously

4

I’m not a financial adviser! If you need proper guidance on taxes and other financial matters, you will need to hire a few “guardian angels” like CPAs, accountants, and tax specialists.

Write down your strategy on paper and get busy sniffing out all the right cash-out options that your current geographical location offers you. What? Are you still here?! For Fox’s sake, go and get everything prepared now!

The NFT boom has minted millionaires and sparked headlines, but it’s also left a trail of illiquid assets, rug pulls, and frustrated holders. Enter Liquid NFTs, a new platform from the CMC Group of Companies Ltd., recently launched with a bold claim: they’ve “fixed” NFTs. Backed by Web3 veterans and a vision to marry digital collectibles with real-world financial stability, Liquid NFTs is introducing liquidity-backed NFTs—a game-changer that promises to turn ordinary static tokens into dynamic,

growth-oriented assets. Here’s how they’re shaking up the space and why it matters.

The Concept: Liquidity, Locked In

Forget the days of buying an NFT only to watch it languish in your wallet, its value tied to fleeting hype or an elusive buyer. Liquid NFTs, built by the team behind The Crypto Magazine (the world’s largest print crypto publication) and online Crypto Weekly Magazine (with over 230,000 digital subscribers), redefine the game.

Their NFTs aren’t just digital trophies—they’re backed by real-world financial instruments, with a portion of your purchase price locked into the token’s liquidity, yours to cash out anytime.

COO Tokin Trip puts it bluntly:

“We fixed NFTs. When you buy them, a portion of what you pay is locked in the liquidity of your purchased NFT and is yours forever. In the event that the developer dies or loses access to the wallet, you don’t lose everything. With a siloed value, we made them safe for everyone.” As an extra kicker, 5% of every transaction on the platform gets split evenly among all NFT holders, rewarding adoption and creating a system where “everybody wins.”

This isn’t hype—it’s a practical pivot. By tying NFTs to underlying value that grows over time, Liquid NFTs offers stability and an exit strategy that doesn’t hinge on market whims. It’s a bridge between the wild west of Web3 and the steady world of traditional finance.

The Problems It Solves: Liquid NFTs target the NFT market’s biggest headaches with surgical precision:

1 2 3 4

Illiquidity Trap

Traditional NFTs are notoriously hard to sell—finding a buyer can feel like winning the lottery. Liquid NFTs flip this by embedding stable liquidity into each token. Need out? Cash it in any time; no waiting is required.

Value That Lasts

Hype fades, and so does the worth of many NFTs. Liquid’s tokens grow in value alongside their financial backing of half the purchase price—hold longer, earn more. It’s an asset, not a gamble.

Safety Net

Scams and abandoned projects have burned too many investors. With liquidity locked in and siloed value, Liquid NFTs ensures you’re not left empty-handed if things go south. Plus, their transparent ecosystem, built on years of CMC Group expertise, adds a layer of trust.

The Ecosystem: Built for Everyone

Launched out of London under the CMC Group’s umbrella, Liquid NFTs isn’t just a concept—it’s a fullblown platform. Creators can mint liquidity-backed NFTs, collectors can buy with confidence, and investors can trade in a marketplace designed for ease and security. The interface is sleek and user-friendly, backed by cutting-edge blockchain tech, and supported by educational resources from The Crypto Magazine and Crypto Weekly. An incentivized referral system sweetens the deal, driving revenue back to users.

CEO Nathan Hill sums up the ethos: “Our mission is to create a more secure and

Passive Rewards

That 5% transaction split? It’s a cherry on top—every trade on the platform pads your wallet, incentivizing use and community growth.

profitable environment for NFT enthusiasts and investors. By integrating underlying financial value into our NFTs, we can provide a reliable exit strategy while democratizing access to advanced investment opportunities.”

The Launch: A YearLong Revolution

Liquid NFTs hit the ground running in 2025, but this is no one-off drop. It’s the start of a year-long rollout, with plans for advanced trading tools, partnerships in finance and tech (including music and publishing tie-ins), and a relentless push to integrate NFTs into the broader financial landscape. Leveraging the CMC Group’s global reach—think 230,000+ subscribers and a print mag in countless hands—

Liquid NFTs is poised to make noise and drive adoption.

Why It Matters

NFTs have dazzled as art and status symbols, but Liquid NFTs see them as more: tools for wealth creation that anyone can wield. By solving liquidity woes, ensuring value growth, and prioritizing security, they’re not just tweaking the market— they’re rewriting it. As Tokin Trip says, “If it’s not Liquid, it’s not worth it.”

For Crypto Magazine readers, this is your cue. Head to liquidnfts.finance or join the Telegram community @liquidnftsales, to see it unfold. Liquid NFTs isn’t just a platform—it’s a movement, inviting you to cash in on the future.

Where light is alive, and every shimmer tells a story.

The

Release

Meet

Oink

Introducing

100

The

Lake District Astro - ANON Group

These shots of the Lake District truly are beautiful and stunning, showing the Lake District at its best. Certainly a place of the World to visit.

$100 USDC

Koda: Death of a Shitcoin

The Koda Legacy collection marks the end of a long and winding road for the Koda community.

$300 USDC

Capybara 2099 - Liquid Uprising

The Capybara 2099 Liquid Uprising In the neondrenched expanse of Aurora Basin, a sprawling cyberpunk metropolis on Mars.

$45 USDC

MATIC MEERKATS Beta

An extremely limited Beta collection of the famed MATIC MEERKATS.

$20 USDC

X in Pixels

A fusion of innovation, space, and meme culture, this pixelated NFT collection pays tribute to a visionary mind shaping the future.

$42 USDC

$20 USDC GIVE BIG Genesis Collection

Do you want to give back to those in need, but cannot decide who to help? Let our Genesis collection of NFTs decide for you!

$10 USDC Takeaway Time

Can’t decide what to eat ? Let the NFTs decide.

Milestone Millions Vaults

The Vault Collection is Milestone Millions Genesis NFT collection. A limited collection of 250 pieces.

$1000 USDC

$150 USDC cream

Ice cream. Who doesnt love ice cream.

Grumpy Cat St Patrick’s DayANON Group

Grumpy Cat enjoying his day out on St Patrick’s Day. Each NFT is uniquely created in this collection.

$25 USDC

ANON NFTs

Welcome to ANON Revenue share NFTS! These NFTS are the first of the ANON collection and will forever earn 25% of creators earnings

$250 USDC

Only Up Selfies

Only Up Selfies Be part of the new era of NFT history. The only platform where the NFT Value only goes up.

$25.25 USDC

$28.35 Weed

Weed in Pop Culture: Movies & Music Cannabis has left a major mark on pop culture, especially in movies and music.

St Patty’s Day

St Patty’s Day collection of 77 fun and wild images celebrating the chaos and excitement of St. Patrick’s Day! Everyone’s Irish on March 17th! Cheers!

$25 USDC

47th in Pixels

Introducing the “47th in Pixels” NFT Collection, a limited series of 470 uniquely pixelated digital artworks celebrating the 47th President of the United States.

$47.47 USDC

Liquid Bulls

The Liquid Bulls are the legacy NFT collection for the Liquidnfts.finance platform, created as part of the beta testing phase.

$25 USDC

CRYPTO’S BIG BET: AMERICAN POWER, POLITICS, AND THE FUTURE OF DIGITAL MONEY

It’s March 22, 2025, and the crypto industry is riding a high of 84,000 at the time of writing. Bitcoin’s price has shattered records, cresting this cycle over $128,000 after a U.S. election cycle that saw digital asset players flex their financial muscle like never before. In the last U.S. election, crypto firms poured hundreds of millions into political campaigns, backing candidates across party

Robert Stone @shake_the_web

lines with a single-minded goal: to shape the rules of a game they’re already winning. The result? An 85% win rate for their chosen lawmakers, an enthusiastic president touting America as the “crypto capital of the planet,” and a seismic shift in how Washington views this once-fringe technology. But behind the headlines lies a more profound story—one of risk, rebellion, and a radical

rethinking of money itself. For Crypto Magazine readers, this isn’t just news; it’s the opening act of a revolution. So, how did we get here, and what’s at stake?

The Money Machine Turns Political

Rarely has a nascent industry wielded so much cash with such a tangible impact in

American history. Last fall, crypto’s heavy hitters— think exchange operators, blockchain developers, and token creators—funneled a third of all direct corporate contributions to super PACs, those shadowy political war chests that can make or break a campaign. In one Midwestern senate race, a flood of $40 million in ads—none mentioning crypto—tipped the scales, unseating a vocal skeptic who’d spent years railing against digital currencies. Elsewhere, from Michigan to Arizona, crypto-backed candidates swept to victory, their coffers stuffed with industry dollars. The message was clear: this isn’t just about buying art or trading tokens anymore. It’s about power.

For the uninitiated, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are digital assets born from code, not central banks. Networks of computers—spread across basements, server farms, and remote outposts— keep them alive, verifying transactions on a tamper-proof ledger called the blockchain. To some, it’s a mystifying tech trick; to others, a mesmerizing promise of freedom from intermediaries. At least 17 million Americans own crypto, drawn by its potential for highrisk, high-reward returns. But as the market swells, so does the fight over its soul. Should it be a Wild West of innovation or a regulated cog in the financial machine? With a pivotal piece

of legislation before Congress last summer, the industry’s answer was to bet big—and it paid off.

Post-election, Bitcoin’s surge feels like a victory lap. Yet the jury’s out on whether this cash splash will deliver the legitimacy—or leniency— crypto craves. Will a Trump administration, flush with procrypto cabinet picks, rewrite the rules? Or will skeptics in Congress dig in, wary of a sector they see as a playground for fraudsters? One thing’s certain: the stakes have never been higher.

From Pizza to Power: Crypto’s Wild Ride

To understand this moment, rewind to 2009. A shadowy coder—pseudonym unknown— unleashed Bitcoin, a digital dream born from the ashes of the 2008 financial crisis. No banks, no governments, just peer-to-peer money secured by math. Early adopters traded it for kicks; one famously swapped 10,000 BTC (worth pennies then) for two pizzas, a deal that’d be $1 billion today. By 2013, it was a millionaires’ club, with twentysomethings like a Brooklyn coder-turnedentrepreneur riding the wave from basement startups to global stages. His exchange, a pioneer in fast Bitcoin buys, minted him a fortune—until regulators swooped in, alleging ties to illicit trades. Prison followed, but Bitcoin didn’t

flinch; it climbed to $20,000 by 2017, crashed, and then clawed back.

That volatility is crypto’s DNA. Unlike dollars, backed by the Fed and insured by FDIC, Bitcoin has no safety net—only belief. “Money’s value comes from trust,” says a digital currency expert from MIT. “Crypto proves that trust can live outside institutions.” For believers, it’s liberation; for critics, it’s a house of cards. Yet the numbers don’t lie: from Iceland’s humming mines to El Salvador’s Bitcoin Beach, where surfers pay for tacos with satoshis, the experiment’s gone global. And now, it’s gone political.

The Election Gambit: Educating or Buying?

Crypto’s election play wasn’t subtle. Fueled by industry titans, Super PACs targeted swing states with surgical precision. Ads didn’t hawk tokens—they sold candidates, often burying the crypto angle.

“We educated voters,” one anonymous CEO said, deflecting claims of electionbuying. “Every industry lobbies; we just did it better.”

In Ohio, those millions flipped a senate seat. In Michigan and Arizona, they cemented procrypto voices. The tally: 52 of 62 backed candidates won, a batting average that’d make Babe Ruth blush.

The strategy wasn’t partisan. Republicans and Democrats alike got the nod, united by a willingness to embrace— or at least not smother— digital assets. The incoming president’s pivot from calling Bitcoin a “scam” in 2021 to championing it in 2024 underscores the shift. His treasury pick calls crypto “freedom”; his SEC nominee, a former commissioner with industry ties, signals a softer touch than the Biden era’s lawsuit-happy chair, who filed over 120 cases against crypto firms. It was a war on crypto, and the crypto world fought back.

Critics see it differently. A former SEC enforcement chief, crypto-free by choice, calls it a “scourge”—a speculative bubble with no balance sheet, no audits, and a rap sheet of crimes from ransomware to sanctions evasion. North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, he warns, thrive on its anonymity. The collapse of a Bahamas-based exchange in 2022, vaporizing $8 billion in customer funds, looms large—a cautionary tale of what happens

without oversight. Fraud’s not unique to crypto; Wall Street’s had its Madoffs. We’re building something real.

The Human Cost: Winners, Losers, and Dreamers

Behind the headlines are people. Take my friend, a coder from Brooklyn. Once a selfdescribed “dodgeball reject,” he became a Bitcoin evangelist, only to crash hard—jailed, broke, then reborn as a blogger and investor. “I rode a rocket with no controls,” he says, now captaining a boat named after Bitcoin’s creator. Or consider a surf town in Central America, where a California expat turned Bitcoin into jobs for teens

picking trash from rivers at a place called “Bitcoin Beach.”

I rode a rocket with no controls

The project is creating a sustainable Bitcoin economic ecosystem on the coast of El Salvador, where most people do not have access to bank accounts and local businesses could never qualify for merchant accounts that require credit cards. A 19-year-old there once resigned to just “surviving the day” now teaches surf lessons and buys old freezers to fix with BTC profits, dreaming of a house for his family.

Then there’s the dark side. A 29-year-old wunderkind built an exchange that traded $15 billion daily, hobnobbed with sports stars, and pledged billions to save humanity— until it imploded. Accused of siphoning customer funds for venture bets and political gifts, FTX’s Sam Bankman-Fried is

now in jail, facing a century behind bars.

Triumph, tragedy, and tenacity mirror crypto’s arc. It’s a magnet for dreamers and daredevils, a space where fortunes flip overnight. But as it scales, the cracks show. Volatility scares shopkeepers; scams scar investors. People know it’s risky, I always say. They choose it anyway—like gambling, but with a shot at changing their lives and the world, too.

The Regulatory Reckoning

Congress holds the keys. A bipartisan bill, passed in the House last summer, aims to carve a new path—shifting some oversight from the SEC, with its investor-protection army, to the leaner CFTC, focused on market integrity. Crypto likes the CFTC’s lighter touch; critics call it a dodge. But It’s not about escaping rules. It’s about new rules that fit a new time, but the SEC’s old guard disagrees: “Securities laws exist for a reason. These are obvious calls—

The Future: Boom, Bust, or Both?

Crypto’s election gambit bought influence, but not certainty. Will a new friendly administration greenlight growth, or will scandals—like that Bahamas bust—fuel a crackdown? New crypto bills hang in the balance; midterm cash is already piling

crypto’s a security,” they said. “The people” have spoken, and now everything has changed.

Securities laws exist for a reason. These are obvious calls— crypto’s a security,

up. Business people are not done, with $13 million known so far on standby for 2026 races. Meanwhile, Bitcoin miners hum in Iceland, teens in surf towns stack satoshis, and a jailed extycoon shuffles cards in his cell, dreaming of Wi-Fi.

El Salvador, betting big on Bitcoin as legal tender, spent $400 million to push it— drawing IMF ire and street protests. Russia mulls it for oil trades to skirt sanctions. Wall Street, once scoffing, now peddles Bitcoin ETFs, raking in fees as the fastest-growing fund ever. Even the skeptics see Bitcoin as money.

For our readers, it’s a frontrow seat to history’s remix. Crypto’s not just money—it’s a movement, a mirror of our trust in systems, old and new. It could remake finance, bridging borders with instant, cheap transfers, or collapse under its own chaos, a cautionary tale for the digital age. I know we’ll all laugh one day at how obvious— and not how wrong—this all seems.” Until then, the rocket’s still flying, and the promises of the crypto revolution remain to be uncovered. Buckle up.

Death of a Shitcoin & The Birth of Appreciating Stability

When failure becomes a building block to success

The unfortunate reality is that approximately 99% of crypto projects fail. Some never gain traction; they go unnoticed, and the developer, tired of struggling with a losing endeavor, eventually turns off the lights

Adele @Adele60370277

and disappears like a thief in the night.

Other projects may launch with great promise but quickly lose momentum. As marketing funds dwindle and ideas run dry, they continue on for a

while, ultimately experiencing a slow decline, and then one day, no one even remembers it anymore.

A number of projects shine brightly in the early stages, yet this is crypto. Many are created

by unverified and unscrupulous developers who aggressively promote their projects before ultimately pulling the rug out from under investors, taking all the profit and leaving them with worthless tokens and no recourse.

The meteoric rise of platforms like Pump Fun has spawned a new generation of scammers - syndicates or ‘cabals’ who recycle wallets and launch hundreds of projects without the requirement to seed liquidity in an endless round of pump, dump, rinse and repeat. Moreover, there’s a thriving underground early warning system for these spurious tokens, which some Degens subscribe to, and pile in with enthusiasm, knowing there are quick profits to be made; a swift in/out before the rug gets pulled is a risk that can pay off, but invariably the house always wins. Real people get burned, and the scammers clean up.

One thing holds true in and amongst the chaos: no matter

how great the concept, how dedicated or brilliant the developer is, or how bullish the market, a handful of tokens will capture the imagination of the mass market and do well. The vast majority will not.

The Birth of KODA

Koda was launched in May 2021. The market was bullish, the inhouse swap platform was clever, and the community was buzzing. Their tagline was ‘trusted,’ and the team was charismatic with an aspiration to ‘crypto the un-crypto’d.’ In hindsight, the more cynical amongst us might interpret that as filling the investor pool with folk who didn’t have a Scooby Doo what was good, bad, or indifferent, but putting that to one side, it had all the early ingredients of success, achieving an ATH in October of that year.

Sadly, the bear market arrived, and despite its early success with celebrity endorsements and shameless self-promotion, over the next two long and very painful years, a series of disastrous management decisions, infighting, and associated lousy publicity meant that Koda hemorrhaged value. In July 2023, the developer chucked the keys in, leaving almost 11,000 investors blindsided with nobody to turn to.

Who can relate? Most of us have been there, and when you’ve been part of a project

that implodes, nobody’s in a great place. The token price tanks and standard crypto tokenomics mean that only the first to sell their bag can avoid taking a hit. As more holders sell, the price bleeds out, and the ones who miss the memo are left holding dust.

The more determined investors then gather this dust from their portfolio in the hope they can find a brand new shitcoin to ape into and turn nothing into something with other unsuspecting Degens providing their exit liquidity. It’s just one big dysfunctional game of chicken with seemingly no alternative. Let’s park that thought for a minute.

The New Family

Fortunately for the Koda community, Nathan Hill, CEO of The Crypto Marketing Company (which owns The Crypto Magazine you are reading right now!) and his business partner Colin Woolley, Co-Founder & Editor, happened to be personally invested in Koda, and no other options forthcoming, they agreed to take it into the CMC Group, which already included their CMCC home token, as well as print and digital editions of the magazine and the soon-tolaunch (now newly launched) Liquid NFT platform.

How Koda would fit into the CMC Group wasn’t

immediately clear. It was more than a bit awkward, actually. How does an adopted community settle into an established family without competing for attention or feeling like the odd one out? Especially when that adopted community arrived collectively grumpy, dazed, confused, and wondering what just happened. They needed support and care but remained suspicious of everyone, trusting no one.

They didn’t want to become just another asset in the CMC Group portfolio while harboring a touch of jealousy toward their new siblingthe CMCC community - who extended warm welcomes but couldn’t fully comprehend the depth of betrayal Koda members had experienced. The integration resembled less a corporate acquisition and more a delicate family blending, requiring patience, understanding, and time for wounds to heal before genuine bonds could form.

CMCC (The CMC Group home token, which sits at the heart of their eco-system) had been born and grown as a reward token, with revenue from the CMC Group feeding the distribution of weekly and monthly USDT rewards. On the other hand, Koda was a utility token that had never had a utility; utility had been promised but never delivered. There had been a staking model, but the staking rewards paid out in Koda,

and with no external source of income, that was a flawed decision that brought relentless sell pressure. The holders who compounded rewards ended up with a bigger bag of nothing, and those who drew a passive income watched it evaporate in front of their eyes. So, when thinking about how Koda might fit into the CMC Group portfolio, it was essential to establish its use case because when it landed, it brought nothing but a large and pretty battered community to the party.

There was little point in having two very similar tokens, and in any event, one of the founding principles of the CMC Group has always been to take apart those things that don’t work and make them better. So the challenge of reinventing a former pump-and-dump token with a disgruntled but loyal community and a blank sheet of paper was too good an opportunity to pass up.

The Birth of Appreciating Stability

So, how do we move away from the dysfunctional game of chicken? With the exception

of stable tokens, by their very nature, cryptocurrencies are volatile, and any crypto investment comes with risk. If someone buys into the chart of a token you’re holding, the value of your bag goes up. If someone sells, the value goes down. And let’s not forget that your wallet value isn’t the actual value of your investment. If anyone sells, including you, the token price is eroded. If you withdrew every last token, you certainly wouldn’t achieve what your wallet fooled you into thinking it was worth before you pushed the button, even if nobody else had sold. Add in gas fees and any volatility in your liquidity pair, and you will start to see how the value of your investment is only ever a ‘best guess’ figure.

On the flip side of that, we have stable tokens, which are pegged primarily to the US Dollar. The advantage is they’re relatively safe but infinitely boring. Your wallet is your wallet, and your ten-dollar investment today will still be worth ten dollars when you wake up tomorrow. Stable tokens are a port in a storm, but there are few thrills to be had –you may as well keep your fiat in the bank.

The ideal scenario would be to crunch together the best of both worlds. So we started asking ourselves how that might work, and the answer was simple when we thought about it. And that’s how FUSD was born.

By fusing the tokenomics model of a stablecoin and adding the taxation structure of a meme token, we have created the perfect win-win cryptocurrency, which benefits everyone without the risks associated with traditional crypto investing. When you buy FUSD, the price at that moment is the highest it’s ever been and the lowest it will ever be, which is a round-about way of saying the price will only ever go UP. Yes, you should read that line again!

The price of FUSD will only ever go up.

$FUSD is an appreciating stable token. It is designed to maintain a stable value while increasing in net worth over time, using an upward price mechanism to push the price higher, consistently. If someone buys FUSD, the price goes up. If someone sells FUSD, the price goes up. It’s not going to 100X overnight, but there are several levers built into the smart contract, which means the liquidity is fed constantly from various sources. And the liquidity pool only flows in one

direction, which means the price does too.

So how does it work?

The tokenomics of FUSD are clever. Utilizing a unique and sophisticated protocol system that regulates the minting and burning of FUSD, the appreciating stable token can over-collateralize the liquidity pool through a nominal 2.5% tax on all transactions.

A share of that transaction fee is injected into the liquidity pool in multiple ways, including through a proprietary feeder mechanism known as the “dripper.” The dripper utilizes a timed release system, and buys/sells on the chart are not its only source of funds; an in-house arbitrage bot will constantly search for arbitrage opportunities. There are tens of thousands of them daily due to the pairing of FUSD with ETH, BNB, SOL, BTC, and…in fact, any other cryptocurrency. Due to the upward price trajectory of FUSD, the bot will continually feed the dripper with arbitrage profits.

The recently released Koda: Death of a Shitcoin NFT collection will provide the

dripper with creator royalties from both minting and secondary sales. Additionally, there is a continually sustainable source of income from a flash loan facility, which keeps the dripper supplied with profits generated by users taking advantage of our industry-leading rates.

Death of a Shitcoin NFT collection

When you realize that every $1 added directly into liquidity through the dripper is equivalent to a 50X increase in buying volume on the chart, you start to understand the significant impact we are bringing to the industry.

So, if we’ve addressed the issue of the ‘I win, you lose’ model in cryptocurrency while avoiding the stagnation of stablecoins, who will use FUSD? In short, there is something for everyone.

Investors who enjoy De-Fi but dislike the rollercoaster and dread waking up to a red candle and a bleeding bag.

FUSD becomes the reward token of choice for CMCC, the CMC Group token – with the eco-system up and running, and this multi-million dollar project creates regular weekly and monthly buys, which will run into tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. If investors choose to hold their FUSD, their rewards increase in value. If they choose to sell and compound their holdings elsewhere, their sale feeds the liquidity pool, and the value of everyone else’s investment grows.

Liquidity from a number of established projects is paired with FUSD as a way to stabilize and grow their own liquidity pool and token price; these will become buys on the FUSD chart and will increase our price further while also increasing all projects’ liquidity accordingly.

Hardcore traders will utilize FUSD flash loans to complete arbitrage trades at a competitive rate of 0.15% per transaction.

In a bear market, especially when funds need a safe harbor, the number-go-up tokenomics

means there’s now a third option, and it’s one where EVERYONE will win.

Getting this over the line

The process of migrating from KODA to FUSD was always going to bring its own unique set of challenges. The amount of liquidity in Koda didn’t come close to covering the ‘wallet value’ (which isn’t actually wallet value at all) of each investor without a huge perceived loss. Migrating to a token where the actual investment value of each holder is reflected accurately in their wallet meant there was no ‘one easy step’ because the math just doesn’t work. So, once again, there was a problem to solve.

The solution was to build a second step, a third wheel, if you like, to the FUSD story. And that’s where FUST comes in. By broadly replicating the tokenomics of KODA (circulating supply, tax structure, and so on), we’ve been able to migrate the community like for like, with their full wallet value, into a fully supported new token with an outstanding utility: the ability to mine free FUSD.

Introducing the FUST token is the last stroke of genius in this saga. It not only appeals to the fully paid-up Degens amongst us, who’d still like to take a punt on waking up to 100X what they went to sleep holding, but it means the community has a choice. And isn’t choice

the greatest gift you can give someone?

We all know it’s not possible to please all of the people all of the time, so it was right to let the holders decide. They could choose between placing their bag into the Fusion Miner in exchange for free FUSD from an unlimited pot fed by the inhouse arbitrage bot. Or wait for that 100X so they can exit their position with a spring in their step. Or manually migrate their bag to FUSD and get off the rollercoaster.

Looking Ahead

It’s been quite a journey. It took a while to carve out a way forward; sometimes, it felt like we’d never get there. The majority of our old Koda community graciously extended their trust and dug deep into their reserves of patience whilst we figured it all out. The ones who couldn’t left and moved on with our very best wishes. The Koda story isn’t unique; of course, it has its own folklore, but thousands of communities have been similarly left in limbo. And as we look ahead, maybe there’s room for our family to grow. Just a thought!

Check out FUSD Crypto

The Benner Cycle: A Timeless Strategy for Long-Term Crypto Investing

In the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency, traders often chase short-term gains, reacting to market noise rather than long-term patterns. Yet over a century ago, an Ohio farmer named Samuel Benner may have unknowingly created one of the most enduring frameworks for long-term market analysis—even in modern crypto markets.

After losing his fortune in the Panic of 1873, Benner sought to understand the economic cycles that governed booms and busts. In 1875, he published a chart predicting years of Panic, Good Times, and Hard Times—a simple yet powerful tool meant to help others avoid the same fate. Remarkably, his cycle has proven accurate across multiple industries and market crashes, leading many to revisit it as a long-term guide for trading.

Benner’s theory was built on observable cycles, including an 11-year pattern in corn and pig prices and a 27year cycle in pig iron, with lows spaced every 11, 9, and 7 years. These patterns often corresponded with solar cycles, which affected agricultural yields and thus economic activity. But beyond crops and commodities, Benner’s framework touches on something deeper—human behaviour.

The cycle breaks down like this:

• Panic Years are when irrational fear or greed drives the market to extremes.

• Good Times are periods of high prices, ideal for selling assets.

• Hard Times are low points in the cycle, perfect for accumulating undervalued assets.

Applied to cryptocurrency, the Benner Cycle offers a fascinating way to step back from daily volatility and consider the bigger picture.

During Panic Years, crypto often sees extreme volatility— whether it’s a massive bull run or a sudden collapse. In Good Times, markets are euphoric, headlines are bullish, and prices soar.

But it’s during Hard Times— when sentiment is low, prices are flat or falling, and most people have lost interest— that the real opportunities arise.

How the Benner Cycle Lines Up with Bitcoin

When we map Benner’s cycle to Bitcoin’s history, the parallels are hard to ignore. Consider the following:

2011 Panic Year: Bitcoin experienced a dramatic bull run, soaring from under $1 to over $30, only to crash back to $2—a perfect example of a volatile and irrational market.

2014

Hard Times: After the 2013 peak near $1,100, Bitcoin crashed in early 2014 (Mt. Gox collapse) and stayed relatively flat, creating a long accumulation period.

2017 Good Times: Bitcoin reached an all-time high near $20,000 amid massive media hype, ICO mania, and extreme bullish sentiment.

2018 Panic Year: The market crashed, losing over 80% of its value—a textbook “fear” phase.

2019 Crypto Winter: A prolonged, uneasy period that closely aligns with Benner’s “Panic” label— where fear still lingered and price recovery was slow.

2020

Atypical Rebound: The pandemic crash in March 2020 briefly shocked the markets, but an unprecedented wave of stimulus led to a rapid V-shaped recovery, making 2020 an anomaly in traditional cycle analysis.

2021 Good Times: Bitcoin’s euphoric rise to nearly $69,000 in November echoed the manic peak of a classic Benner “Good Times” phase.

2022-2023

Hard Times: With the collapse of major crypto firms like Terra and FTX, prices fell sharply, investor interest waned, and the market entered a clear accumulation zone.

Because the crypto market is young and ever developing, it often follows broader macroeconomic trends.

Therefore it’s important to consider how these cycles may play out in the future. Notably, if we continue following Benner’s cycle logic, 2026 could line up as the next major peak for Bitcoin and crypto markets.

This prediction becomes even more compelling when you consider that we haven’t had a true global recession since 2018–2019. The COVIDinduced crash of 2020, while

dramatic, was followed by a rapid recovery and is often not counted as a conventional recession. That means Bitcoin has never experienced a fullblown recession since its creation in 2008/2009 - a period that ironically birthed Bitcoin as a response to the failures of the traditional financial system.

This is both fascinating and somewhat unsettling. We simply don’t know how Bitcoin will perform in a prolonged economic downturn. That unknown makes historical frameworks like Benner’s all the

more valuable—not as a crystal ball, but as a lens through which we can better understand the psychology of markets.

While not a conclusive method, Benner’s cycle—paired with deeper research and an awareness of macro trends— offers unique insight into market sentiment and timing. And perhaps most striking of all is the idea that it all began with the observations of a farmer in the 19th century.

And I can’t believe it, we are taking pointers from a 1873 farmer.

Several Advantages Over Fiat Currencies

The popularity of cryptocurrencies has grown over the years, creating a lucrative industry. It is essential to understand some of the main advantages that these digital currencies have over traditional fiat currency. There are many

Robert Stone @shake_the_web

benefits to consider when investing in cryptocurrency (crypto); here are seven advantages that we will examine in more detail below.

Ease of Use - Crypto enables you to make financial transactions with anyone,

regardless of location, at the click of a button.

Sound Privacy - Since cryptocurrency doesn’t require any personal information from you, the consumer, there is no risk of having your identity stolen or your credit card

number shared with third parties like banks, payment services, advertisers, and credit-rating agencies. And because no sensitive data gets sent over the internet, there is minimal risk of it getting hacked or compromised in any way.

Portable - Cryptocurrencies are decentralized, which means they are not controlled by any one institution or government. Decentralization makes them available to you no matter where you are in the world or what happens to any of

the global financial system’s significant intermediaries.

Transparent - There’s no room for manipulation on the blockchain networks, thanks to their public nature. Every transaction is published without exception. This is a considerable advantage of cryptocurrencies. No one can change the transaction history or manipulate it in any way because everything on this network is visible for everyone to see.

Irreversible - Cryptocurrency payments are irreversible, significantly reducing the risk of fraud for merchants (unlike credit cards or checks). For customers, this means the potential to purchase their goods cheaper by eliminating one of credit card companies’ main arguments against high processing fees.

Secure - The cryptocurrency blockchains are constantly checked by nodes, which verify them with overwhelming computing power in order for transactions on this system to stay valid. As time goes on, these security measures will only become more sophisticated.

Safe - The blockchain’s safety is attributed to its being permissionless as well as open-source. This means that countless experts in the field have examined every aspect of cryptocurrencies’

safety from a programmer’s perspective--a computer scientist or cryptographer, for example, would have plenty of opportunities not only to look at how code works but also to assess what makes for good encryption algorithms to prevent loss.

Cryptocurrencies are quickly becoming the payment of choice for many consumers and with good reason. The advantages discussed above make them an attractive option to anyone who values their privacy or wants to avoid dealing with traditional financial institutions like banks. If you want more information about cryptocurrencies, please check back weekly; our goal is to provide answers to the many cryptocurrency questions you may have! If you find our content helpful in your understanding of this new technology, we ask you to share it on social media so others can learn all about how crypto is revolutionizing the way people pay for goods and services around the world.

Crypto Graveyard –Squid Game ( SQUID )

George Smith

SQUID’s Rise to Fame

SQUID’s success came off the back of Netflix’s incredibly popular TV series, Squid Game (2021), a Korean drama that pitted players against each other in a series of lethal games. Viewers became obsessed with the series all over the world, and Squid Game quickly became the most watched foreign series of all time. Inevitably it was only a matter of time before Squid Game tokens started popping up across Binance Smart Chain, the majority of which were obvious scams.

SQUID seemed different, however. It had an instant use case through its use as a currency in a virtual Squid Game remake, where online players could compete against each other to earn SQUID tokens. The hype grew to an extraordinary level as charts kept showing green colors and rising numbers; it seemed too good to be true. SQUID was becoming such a huge success that even media outlets such as the BBC and CNBC reported articles on its rising price.

As with all pay-to-earn games, gamers had to invest in the

Welcome back to Crypto Graveyard, the segment where we take a look at projects that have been left to rot, tokens that fell from grace, and scams that have taken their earnings and left. This month we’re taking a look at SQUID, a play-to-earn token that had massive hype behind it in late 2021. Unfortunately, SQUID is a great example of a classic scam in crypto. Let’s find out what happened.

SQUID token first before they could begin playing, which in theory is a great way to boost the liquidity of a token, however, it’s never that simple. SQUID has a number of major red flags that were being overlooked due to its vast success and outreach, but it didn’t take long for things to take a downward turn.

SQUID’s Collapse

It’s a shame that SQUID was indeed a scam because it had so much potential to achieve greatness – it was quite literally taking the mainstream world

by storm. Although, it is due to this mainstream success that so many signs and pointers were missed. Firstly, investors could not resell their SQUID tokens once they had bought them, hence the continuous green and upward trend on charts. The developers, who remained anonymous (a red flag in itself), claimed they were going to introduce a system of purchasing “marbles” which would enable users to sell.

One simply had to read the whitepaper themselves to notice something was very wrong, with the document containing broken sentences such as “There is no longer dystopian world”, or who could forget the classic, “we do not provide deadly consequences apparently!” It’s a stark reminder that a project’s

whitepaper really does make or break credibility. Unfortunately, the average investor in Squid Game Project’s token most

The hype grew to an extraordinary level as charts kept showing green colors and rising numbers; it seemed too good to be true. SQUID was becoming such a huge success that even media outlets such as the BBC and CNBC reported articles on its rising price.

likely wasn’t even aware that such a thing existed. So, how badly did SQUID collapse?

SQUID rose to a peak of $2861 and was worth less than a single dollar when it first launched. This means that investing a couple of hundred a few weeks after launch would have made you a millionaire only a month or so later. The key word there is would because, inevitably, the project joined the hall of fame for notorious rug pulls, a classic scam technique in crypto where token devs hold the majority supply, transfer their tokens into BNB, or ETH, and run away with the funds. The huge red dip in the graph below is exactly when this happened back in November 2021, causing a massive drop in the token’s value and removing most of the liquidity.

EXAMINING INDIA ON A MACRO MASS ADOPTION SCALE

George Smith

Aphrase you’ve probably heard again and again when learning about crypto, or engaging in any form of cryptocurrency journalism, is mass adoption and when we might realistically achieve it. But why is mass adoption such an important concern? What needs to happen before we can achieve mass adoption? Why have we not yet achieved it… and how are all of these sporadic questions related in any way to the entire country of India? Well, strap in because there’s a lot of interesting content here to digest! As usual, let us start with the basics.

What is Mass Adoption?

In layman’s terms, mass adoption of crypto means worldwide, mainstream application of cryptocurrencies on a regular, day-to-day basis. Mass adoption is the end goal for all crypto enthusiasts, the time when all transactions are being carried out on the blockchain, from buying goods and items, sending or receiving transactions, and even investing like you and I already are.

Crypto is often overlooked as an industry because of how nascent the entire concept is. A lot of people are scared to

invest or learn about crypto because they don’t understand how it works, or they believe the misconstrued narratives strung in media outlets about the entire industry being a scam. Mass adoption is the antithesis of these concepts. It is the concept that one day, every single transaction from everywhere in the world will take place on blockchain technology. Mass adoption is not only a goal and an ideal, it’s much more than that. Mass adoption is the time when we achieve a completely decentralized future and gain total control of our own financial freedom.

Mass adoption is still a long way away, however, and there are several factors in the industry that need to change before we are able to achieve it. Namely, increased education regarding blockchain technology, increased regulatory mandates, development of more userfriendly crypto platforms/ wallets, and some sort of bridge between traditional finance and DeFi. We have taken many steps in the right direction, and the future is looking bright as mass adoption becomes an inevitable

reality. The introduction of CBDCs in the very near future will prove an essential stepping stone for bringing further numbers into the digital finance sector, with the hopeful settlement of people realizing the advantages of cryptocurrencies over CBDCs.

When Might We Achieve Mass Adoption?

As of the start of 2023, there are over 9,000 functioning cryptocurrencies in existence,

with an estimated 4.2% of the world’s population being invested in crypto. Triple A, an analyst website, estimates that out of the world’s now 8 billion strong population, there are around 420 million crypto users worldwide. Through this perspective, there’s still a long way to go before achieving mass adoption. Asia is the continent with the highest engagement in cryptocurrencies, with over 260 million traders, as the following graphic demonstrates.

Whilst we can’t accurately predict exactly when mass adoption might be instigated, we can use forthcoming CBDCs as a key indication. On top of this, major services such as PayPal and Visa have started to integrate cryptocurrencies into their future plans, the success of which may help further the push for mass adoption. We can only ever look at these factors as potential indicators for changes in the future, and how they affect both traditional and decentralized financial sectors plays a huge role in these analyses.

What we can say, however, is that crypto is becoming more and more popular by the day. It is no longer a case of if mass adoption might happen but when. In June 2022, Blockware Intelligence published a report which indicated how BTC adoption alone will hit 10% globally by 2030. As education improves and cryptocurrencies become more widespread and

accepted, we will start to see further uses and developments tying directly into the push for mass adoption.

How Does This All Relate to India?

I know it seems like a bit of a random connection, but this article is actually focused on the growing cryptocurrency usage in India. Chainanalysis published an intriguing report in 2022, which indicated how India leads the classification of Central and Southern Asia/Oceania registering the highest “unweighted crypto activity.” From July 2021 through to June 2022,

India received $172 billion in cryptocurrency value.

Whilst Vietnam leads this specific group for overall adoption rates, India comes in a close second and trumps other countries in most other categories. Triple A’s studies have demonstrated that India ranks second in the top crypto countries, with over 27 million people owning cryptocurrencies as of January 2023, trailing behind only the USA (46 million).

In terms of the highest population adoption percentages worldwide, Nigeria would prove the most fruitful. However, I have chosen to focus

on India today for a number of reasons I will get into. Choosing to analyze Nigeria in relation to mass adoption doesn’t represent a realistic comparison. The fiat currency and government of Nigeria, and many other African countries, are corrupt and withering. Residents of Nigeria feel as though they need to turn to crypto because it’s a safer and more reliable option than the government-operated fiat alternatives. Traders in more developed countries aren’t using crypto because their fiat system is failing. Nigeria’s case is, therefore, not the most useful to look at in comparison to wider mass adoption.

India is a unique and important country to look at when advocating for the mass adoption of cryptocurrencies. It’s still a developing country, but it’s further along the line than many others. It has a stable, albeit weak, fiat currency in the Rupee and a relatively high-functioning government. However, there is a strict divide between social classes in India, ranging from the completely povertystricken, street-dwelling homeless to the luxurious, lakeside million-dollar apartment inhabitants. There’s one thing that unites the entire country, however, and that is turning to cryptocurrencies.

If we look at India as representing a macro global scale of crypto adoption, it

covers all the key areas. There are the technology sectors, the contrasting poor and the rich, and the dream of achieving grandeur. These are representative of any other country and cover all the points in mass adoption’s main journey. From the unknown to dreams, to learning and educating oneself and then diving into decentralized finance headfirst. India has an everincreasing engagement with cryptocurrencies and is one of the fastest-growing adopters of decentralized finance. However,

the reason why India is such a good country to examine when studying mass adoption is because of how varied the journey has been.

India’s Crypto Journey So Far

India’s cryptocurrency journey has been an intriguing one. The Indian government has repeatedly dabbled with crypto bans and strict regulations before vetoing the laws only months later. The timeline below presents a rough history

of all major regulations and mandates that the government has passed. As you can see, it’s not a pretty site. However, it’s clear that attitudes toward crypto were pretty negative all the way up until 2020, when all bans were uplifted. The government eventually decided to heavily regulate cryptocurrencies in a controlled environment, as opposed to outright banning the digital assets, and are using its status as a technology-focused country to explore future cryptocurrency potentials.

Part of The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) steps in regulating cryptocurrencies is a mandate which requires companies to disclose all crypto trading/investments during the financial year, with tax rules soon to follow. India’s regulatory bill that was passed in 2021, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has since faced major delays and reworks and is still yet to be fully implemented. The InterMinisterial Committee (IMC), created in 2017 as a department to study virtual currencies, has been repeatedly used as an excuse for the delays. The IMC is yet to reach a final verdict on their opinions on crypto and is still “studying” its potential pitfalls or benefits.

Whether anything is happening to further progress the bill’s passing is unclear. However, following the more recent events in the collapse of

Signature Bank, Silvergate, and Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), Indian banks and financial experts have taken a clear stance against crypto. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said the government is ‘open to experimentation with new technologies and is not closing its minds for them.’ However, Shaktikanta Das, the governor of India’s central bank, the RBI, has recently stated how the ‘ongoing U.S. banking crisis clearly demonstrates the risks cryptocurrency poses to the financial system.’

Das has shared many of his concerns with the crypto industry and believes it poses a serious threat to the Indian economy, ‘it will seriously undermine the RBI’s capacity to determine monetary policy and regulate the monetary system of the country.’ This should all sound rather familiar if you’ve been keeping up to date with worldwide crypto affairs because it’s a similar process that almost every government has gone through

– and no one quite knows what they’re doing.

India as a Macro Representation of Mass Adoption

We’ve finally made it to the main part of the article! Wow, that was a lot of context! The reason I went through all of that was to demonstrate India’s volatile attitudes towards crypto and how this correlates to worldwide views. India’s crypto attitudes can be studied as a macro global representation of what has happened already and what is yet to come. It’s a fairly safe bet to say that India will soon

surpass the USA as the country with the highest engagement with crypto, offering the argument that it will be the first country to achieve mass adoption.

Firstly, India has a population of over 1.4 billion, and the country has the second-highest engagement in cryptocurrency, making it the ideal country to represent a macro scale of mass adoption. As India develops and further technology is made available to the general public, cryptocurrency usage will only increase. According to a report by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), the number of Internet users in India is expected to reach 900 million by 2025. As both the population and internet availability increase exponentially, mass adoption of crypto in India will become more and more realistic.

Statista has carried out many studies on cryptocurrency usage in India, with the analyst site estimating that the number of Indian people invested in

crypto could surge to more than 156 million users by the end of 2023. This is expected to further increase to 191 million by 2027. The study shows that over 11% of India’s total population will have dabbled in crypto by the end of this year, a stretch above the global average of 4%. When questioned why Indians have turned to cryptocurrencies, the overall reasons given were ‘uncertainty in the traditional finance system and a search for higher profits.’ India’s economy is weak, and earnings are few and far between. Crypto gives Indians a chance to earn higher returns and a far more rewarding income. This is one of the first steps heading towards mass adoption – a willingness to explore alternatives to traditional finance and a desire to implement a better, more lucrative system.

Cryptocurrencies also become a powerful concept when bridging the gap between urban and rural communities. With India being a developing country, there are a high number of underprivileged or unbanked personnel who would benefit greatly from a new financial system. Crypto enables a financial service to become available to anyone if they have an internet connection, which we have already seen is becoming increasingly available in India. By educating the unbanked in India about crypto transactions, a whole new

world is opened, and an array of financial possibilities will become available to the masses.

India is the country that will take crypto to the next level, the country where it will become the most popular and widely used, and the country that will be the first to achieve mass adoption. Looking at the country on a macro scale of mass adoption, we can see that everything is changing. There are rumblings of financial upheaval. India is struggling, and a balance needs to be found between the extravagantly rich and the devastated poor. Crypto is the answer to these problems. It’s a solution that can solve many of the country’s financial concerns if the government takes the right steps in clearly regulating crypto, investing in necessary blockchain-focused infrastructure, and educating the masses on blockchain technology.

Whether India achieves mass adoption or not will impact

the global progress of mass adoption also. If the Indian government takes the correct measures and helps the country along the way, we will see a dramatic leap forward in achieving mass adoption globally. It is, therefore, the perfect country to look at when examining cryptocurrency mass adoption on a macro scale.

India is a beautiful and incredibly historic country, but it is also shrouded in secrecy, corruption, and neglect. Cryptocurrencies can change the future of the country. Blockchain technology can vastly improve Indian lives and create a stronger and more united economy. If India can achieve these goals, then so too can the rest of the world. Mass adoption looms ever closer on the shimmering horizon. It’s time to take the leap and jump into the future of finance, not only for the benefit of developing countries such as India but for the entire world. The time for change is now.

The Rise of Vector Smart Chain: Transparency, Reliability, and Fixed Gas Fees

In a blockchain landscape plagued by unpredictable transaction costs and scalability concerns, Vector Smart Chain (VSC) emerges as a formidable solution with its revolutionary approach to blockchain economics. This Layer 1 protocol has garnered significant attention for its unwavering commitment to transparency, reliability, and perhaps most notably, its fixed $4 gas fee structure that promises to transform how businesses and individuals interact with decentralized technology.

Predictable Economics in an Unpredictable Market

While Ethereum and other prominent blockchains continue to struggle with volatile gas fees that can surge exponentially during periods of network congestion, VSC’s fixed $4 gas fee represents a paradigm shift in blockchain economics. This predictable cost structure allows businesses

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to forecast operational expenses accurately, removing a significant barrier to enterprise blockchain adoption.

“The $4 gas fee isn’t arbitrary—it’s carefully calibrated to sustain network security while remaining accessible to users across various economic backgrounds,”

explains a spokesperson from Vector Smart Chain. “Transaction costs shouldn’t be a mystery that changes by the minute. Our fixed fee model embodies our commitment to transparency and reliability.”

This predictable fee structure has become particularly attractive to businesses looking to integrate blockchain solutions. Companies can now budget precisely for blockchain operations without fear of sudden cost spikes that have historically plagued other networks.

Transparency Through Technical Architecture

Vector Smart Chain’s commitment to transparency extends beyond its fee structure into its technical foundation. The blockchain employs a hybrid consensus mechanism that balances security and scalability while maintaining complete visibility into network operations.

The VSC Explorer provides real-time insights into network activity, allowing users to verify transactions, monitor smart contract interactions, and analyze network metrics with unprecedented clarity. This level of transparency builds trust among users and institutions alike, a crucial factor for widespread adoption. Furthermore, VSC implements regular security audits conducted by independent third parties, with results published publicly— reinforcing its dedication to operational transparency and network integrity.

Reliability: The Cornerstone of Enterprise Adoption

For blockchain technology to gain significant enterprise traction, reliability must be non-negotiable. Vector Smart Chain addresses this requirement through a multifaceted approach to network stability and security.

The hybrid consensus mechanism employed by VSC ensures high throughput without compromising security, achieving transaction finality within seconds. This performance consistency makes VSC particularly well-suited for applications requiring real-time processing, such as payment systems and supply chain solutions.

Recent evidence of VSC’s growing reliability comes from major players like BESC Exchange, which announced in April 2025 its migration from Solana to Vector Smart Chain. This move represents a significant vote of confidence in VSC’s infrastructure and future potential.

Real-World Asset Integration

Vector Smart Chain’s commitment to transparency and reliability makes it particularly suitable for real-world asset (RWA) tokenization—a sector that demands uncompromising trust and stability.

The platform’s Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) bridge digital and physical assets, enabling everything from real estate tokenization to supply chain verification with immutable record-keeping. Each transaction, regardless of complexity, incurs only the standard $4 gas fee, making extensive operations economically viable.

gradually reduces the total supply of Vector Smart Gas (VSG), the network’s native token, potentially increasing its value over time.

This deflationary approach, combined with the fixed gas fee, creates a balanced economic model that serves both users seeking predictable costs and investors interested in potential token appreciation.

Looking Ahead

“After deep research and discussion, we’ve made the decision to migrate BESC from Solana to Vector Smart Chain,” stated Brian from BESC LLC in their announcement. “We believe this move gives BESC the highest potential for massive upside.”

“The predictability of VSC’s fee structure has allowed us to tokenize our real estate portfolio without the uncertainty of fluctuating transaction costs,” comments a prominent real estate developer who recently moved operations to VSC. “The flat $4 fee means we can execute complex smart contracts or simple transfers with complete cost certainty.”

The Deflationary Mechanism

Adding further economic innovation, VSC implements a hyper-deflationary model where $1 from each transaction is allocated to a buy-and-burn program. This mechanism

As blockchain adoption accelerates across industries, Vector Smart Chain’s emphasis on transparency, reliability, and predictable economics positions it as a formidable competitor in the Layer 1 ecosystem. The migration of established projects like BESC Exchange to VSC signals growing confidence in the platform’s infrastructure and vision.

With its developer-friendly ecosystem and enterpriseready solutions, Vector Smart Chain appears poised to bridge the gap between blockchain’s promise and practical implementation—all while maintaining the simplicity and predictability of a $4 gas fee that anyone can understand.

Visit Vector Smart Chain

BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY

MAY BE BANNED BY GOVERNMENTS, BUT IT CAN`T BE STOPPED

Blockchain technology has emerged as one of the most transformative innovations of our time, revolutionizing industries ranging from finance to supply chain management. Yet, despite its immense potential, some governments around the world have expressed concerns about the implications of widespread blockchain adoption—particularly in areas like financial regulation, data privacy, and national security. While these concerns may lead certain nations to attempt outright bans on blockchain technologies, such measures are unlikely to succeed. Here’s why.

Decentralization: The Backbone of Resilience

At the heart of blockchain’s resilience lies its decentralized architecture. Unlike traditional systems that rely on centralized authorities or servers, blockchain networks operate

through thousands (or even millions) of nodes distributed globally. This decentralization ensures there is no single point of failure to target. Even if one government were to shut down all blockchain-related activity within its borders, the network would continue functioning seamlessly thanks to nodes operating elsewhere.

China provides a prime example of this phenomenon. In 2021, Beijing imposed a sweeping ban on cryptocurrency trading and mining, driving many operations underground or overseas. Despite this crackdown, recent data shows that China still accounts for approximately 21% of Bitcoin’s global hash rate—second only to the United States at 38%. Clearly, attempts to suppress blockchain activity often prove futile when faced with determined participants who adapt to circumvent restrictions.

Public blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum further complicate matters for regulators because they lack central ownership or control. These networks are maintained collectively by miners and node operators worldwide, making them immune to conventional regulatory tactics. There’s no CEO to issue takedown orders to, nor any headquarters to raid. As long as individuals are willing to run nodes and validate transactions, the network will persist regardless of external pressures.

The Borderless Nature of Blockchain Networks

Another critical factor undermining efforts to ban blockchain technology is its inherently borderless nature. Transactions on blockchain networks can be initiated from anywhere in the world,

transcending geopolitical boundaries. For instance, someone in a country where cryptocurrencies are banned could easily access a decentralized exchange hosted on servers located in a cryptofriendly jurisdiction.

Achieving an effective ban would require unprecedented international cooperation—a scenario that seems highly improbable given the diverse interests of nations.

Countries like Switzerland, Singapore, and the UAE have embraced blockchain innovation, implementing favorable regulations to attract investment and foster technological advancement. Other nations are likely to follow suit rather than risk stifling economic growth by imposing draconian restrictions. After all, suppressing blockchain development means forfeiting opportunities to harness its benefits, including enhanced transparency, efficiency, and financial inclusion.

Impracticality of Enforcement

Even if governments do decide to impose bans, enforcing them poses significant challenges. Blockchain transactions are often pseudonymous, meaning users’ identities aren’t directly tied to their wallet addresses. Identifying violators requires sophisticated forensic analysis, which is both resourceintensive and prone to errors.

Moreover, blockchain ecosystems offer tools designed to enhance privacy and obfuscate transaction trails. Virtual private networks (VPNs), mixers, and privacy-focused protocols like Monero or Zcash make it exceedingly difficult for authorities to track illicit activities effectively. When the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Tornado Cash—a popular Ethereum-based mixer—it sparked controversy over free speech and censorship while doing little to stop similar services from emerging.

In practice, banning blockchain technology amounts to fighting a hydra: cut off one head, and two more grow in its place. The cat-and-mouse game between regulators and innovators ultimately favors the latter, as developers continually find ways to circumvent restrictions.

Why Bans Are Counterproductive

Beyond being impractical, outright bans on blockchain technology risk alienating countries from the broader digital economy. Blockchain is not just about cryptocurrencies; it underpins advancements in fields such as decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), smart contracts, and Web3 infrastructure. By attempting to stifle this innovation, governments risk falling behind competitors that embrace it. For example, El Salvador made headlines in 2021 by

DEEP DIVES

adopting Bitcoin as legal tender—an ambitious move aimed at boosting financial inclusion and attracting foreign investment. Similarly, cities like Miami and Dubai have positioned themselves as hubs for blockchain innovation, leveraging the technology to drive economic growth. These examples demonstrate how forward-thinking policies can unlock blockchain’s vast potential instead of stifling it.

Conclusion: The Future Is Decentralized

While governments may attempt to regulate or restrict blockchain technology out of fear or misunderstanding, history suggests that such efforts are doomed to fail. The decentralized, borderless, and resilient nature of blockchain networks makes them virtually unstoppable. Instead of resisting this wave of innovation, policymakers should focus on creating balanced frameworks that address legitimate concerns without stifling progress.

As the saying goes, “You can’t stop an idea whose time has come.” Blockchain technology represents precisely such an idea—one that empowers individuals, disrupts entrenched systems, and reshapes the global landscape. Whether governments choose to embrace it or resist it, blockchain’s march toward mainstream adoption is inevitable.

How the Crypto Landscape is Maturing and Why Custody is Key!

By Lindsay Keyfauver: Head of Customer Experience at Bridge Trust

Custody is a hot topic in the world of crypto. With terms like hot, cold, and warm wallets, it almost feels like a Katy Perry song from the early 2000s. But fear not, Bridge Trust is here to shed some light on the subject and help you navigate the world of wallets. We cannot speak for other providers, but we’re all about transparency and expanding your knowledge on this wallet sleuthing journey.

First, let’s address the lack of education surrounding licenses and registrations. It can be confusing and intimidating, but at Bridge Trust, we’ve gone through a rigorous process with the state of Nevada to secure our state-chartered trust license. This license specifically allows us to custody digital assets and act as a qualified custodian. It’s a rare license, and we are proud to display it. But what does it mean for you as a user or an institution? Let’s dive in.

As a state-chartered trust company regulated by the Nevada Financial Institutions division, Bridge Trust will be able to act as qualified custodian under the SECs new proposed rule. As a regulated financial entity, we’re also subject to annual examinations by our regulator, annual third-party AML audits, and annual audits by an accredited certified public accounting firm. Furthermore, we must at all times keep customer funds segregated from Bridge Trust’s funds and we can only take action (e.g. withdraw, transfer, swap, etc.) at the explicit

direction of our clients. We take the principle of segregation of assets to heart and create unique wallet addresses for every client - big or small! This ensures your assets are always completely separate from those of other users, institutional clients, and of course Bridge’s own assets. You can verify this on the blockchain explorer 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Now, let’s talk about wallets, and specifically private keys. They allow you to access your wallet and are assigned as randomly generated strings of characters. Losing your

private key means losing your assets. While some people trust themselves to safeguard their keys, others prefer to rely on a custodial wallet like the one we provide at Bridge Trust. We take the responsibility of securing your seed phrase and protecting your digital

treasures. Bridge Vault offers a custodial “warm wallet” meaning your private keys are secured offline, but you still have direct online access to defi. With Bridge Vault, you can access cross chain swaps natively in our portal without leaving your wallet.

And here’s the cool part: we use MPC (multi-party computation) technology. We divide your keys into smaller pieces and store them in different locations –

some on servers, some digitally in a device, and even in a safe deposit box. But fear not, we can bring all the pieces back together whenever you need them, giving you full control over your keys and transforming your wallet into a noncustodial one you can take with you.

So, if you’re looking for a trustworthy custodial wallet solution, Bridge Trust has got your back. With our statechartered trust license, we offer transparency, security, and compliance. It’s the only option you’ll ever need! Let us be your guide in this fascinating world of crypto custody.

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Cryptocurrency and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have steadily converged over the past decade to create a synergistic relationship with immense potential for revolutionizing numerous industries. These two powerful technologies are almost symbiotic, with each one enabling and enhancing the capabilities of the other. As Cryptocurrency and AI continue to evolve and advance, their integration will shape the future

infrastructures of finance, business, and society as a whole. Crypto and AI together, contrary to the ill-informed voices of doom and gloom fixated on how Crypto and AI will destroy the world, have become gamechangers for humanity, and are building upon one another’s strengths like they were made for each other.

Sheraz Ahmed, Managing Partner at STORM Partners, a leading EU Blockchain service provider and Director at The Crypto Valley Association Podcast, said when he traveled to Dubai for a Crypto event, “It was a bit shocking that in every Blockchain keynote panel, AI was included. It was a Blockchain conference, but only AI was being spoken.” In the era of AI and Crypto, data reigns supreme. Sheraz Ahmed emphasizes the significance of data, proclaiming, “Data is the lifeblood of both AI and Crypto, propelling innovation and driving informed decisionmaking.” With AI’s ability to process vast amounts of data, businesses can extract valuable insights, leading to improved operational efficiency, targeted marketing strategies, and optimized customer experiences.

Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain technology are two of the greatest innovation drivers of the last decade, already having influenced various sectors such as finance, supply chain management,

and more. Thus, it stands to reason that combining the two technologies can unlock even further possibilities. While using AI in the Crypto industry is still relatively new, it shows promising potential for further growth.

Explore how AI can be applied to Blockchain to bolster the Crypto industry and its mainstream adoption.

We will explore the key ways that AI and Blockchain complement and strengthen each other. We will look at how Blockchain provides the ideal infrastructure for scaling AI while AI supercharges Blockchain with enhanced intelligence. By the end, it will be clear how these two exponentially powerful technologies can usher in the next era of innovation when used together.

The AI Advantage: Enhancing Blockchain’s Potential

Besides Blockchain adding trust to AI, AI can enhance Blockchain networks’ efficiency, enhance their security, and unlock new features, like enabling protocols to make decisions based on real-time data on the Blockchain. While Blockchain offers a robust framework to validate content authenticity, AI supercharges this framework by introducing a range of enhancements:

Efficiency Boost: AI algorithms can optimize the operations of a Blockchain network. Whether it’s speeding up transaction validations or optimizing the way data blocks are mined, AI can ensure that Blockchain networks are quicker and more efficient.

Fortifying Security: AI’s predictive capabilities can identify and thwart potential security threats to a Blockchain. By analyzing patterns and flagging irregularities, AI ensures the Blockchain remains unbreachable.

Dynamic

Decision-making Protocols: One of the most exciting prospects of the AIBlockchain combo is the ability for protocols to make decisions in real-time based on onchain data. This is a leap from traditional static protocols, allowing for more flexible and adaptive Blockchain networks.

The transparent and immutable ledgers of Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum provide a robust and reliable data feed for AI algorithms. Unlike traditional financial systems, Cryptocurrency ledgers are decentralized across countless nodes, making

them highly tamper-resistant and accurate. The data within cryptographic distributed ledgers also provide insights into financial transactions and market movements over time. As more data accumulates in Blockchain networks, AI stands to benefit enormously from this ever-growing treasure trove of information.

The Rising Concern of Fake Content in the Age of AI

The rapid advancements in AI have opened up avenues of limitless possibilities. Yet, these same tools have a darker side. With the surge in AI capabilities, we’re witnessing a parallel increase in fake data and content. Deepfakes, fabricated stories, and misleading information are becoming increasingly sophisticated and challenging to distinguish from genuine content.

Blockchain: The Shield Against Misinformation

Enter Blockchain. Often hailed as an incorruptible digital ledger, Blockchain’s inherent properties can serve as a potent antidote to the issue of misinformation. The convergence of AI and Blockchain offers a promising path forward in our battle against fake content. Among the great breakthroughs of AI x Blockchain is that Blockchain can counter misinformation

through Cryptographic digital signatures and timestamps, making it clear what is authentic and what is being manipulated when it comes to fake data and content, which is becoming an exponentially bigger problem as AI proliferates.

As Blockchain provides the groundwork for establishing trust and authenticity, AI amplifies these attributes, ensuring that genuine content can be differentiated from the fake with a higher degree of certainty than ever before. Through their synergy, we’re not only looking at a future with more trustworthy information but also at a technological paradigm that can adapt, evolve, and respond to the changing contours of the digital age. Blockchain provides transparency into how AI systems are built, evaluated, and improved over time. Immutable records on Blockchains can track the full provenance of AI models and data from inception to deployment. This audit trail builds trust in AI by making processes verifiable when all data and variables that go through a decision made under machine learning are available for review. Blockchain’s immutable nature ensures that every piece of data comes with a timestamp, clearly indicating when it was added to the chain. This helps in verifying the chronology of events and determining the original source

of information, thus reducing the scope for manipulation.

Because of this, Blockchain also makes AI more coherent and understandable to human trains of thought. At its core, every piece of data stored on a Blockchain is accompanied by a unique cryptographic signature. This digital signature acts as a seal of authenticity. When data or content is changed, this signature is invalidated, signaling a potential tampering attempt. Anthropic, an AI safety startup, is using Blockchain to create an “AI Factbook” with transparency into training pipelines.

AI Optimization of Cryptocurrency Systems

While Cryptocurrencies provide data for AI, AI can be applied to optimize nearly every aspect of Cryptocurrency networks. On the mining side, AI can be used to configure hardware setups, forecast electricity costs, switch between currencies, and deploy hash power for maximum profitability. For Cryptocurrency trading, AI helps with price forecasting, technical analysis, portfolio optimization, and automated trading strategies. And within the sphere of Cryptocurrency development, AI assists with designing better consensus protocols, transaction mechanisms, and cybersecurity measures. As a whole, AI allows Cryptocurrencies to become more adaptive, intelligent, and resilient over

time. One optimization being developed is Natural language processing that enables users to query Blockchains, execute transactions, and access Web3 services through intuitive voice- or text-based interfaces. Imagine asking your Crypto wallet, “What was my total spend on NFTs last month?” and getting the answer back instantly via AI.

By analyzing Blockchain activity and transactions, AI can make targeted recommendations on everything from what NFTs to purchase, validators to stake with, yield opportunities, and more. This helps users discover relevant apps and services. AI can optimize inputs, architecture, and parameters of smart contracts deployed on the Blockchains various Cryptocurrencies run on. This allows more dynamic and flexible contract logic. Startups like Chainlink, Tellor, and Witnet use AI “oracles’’ to securely supply smart contracts with external AI-generated data. Applying AI analytics on activity across Blockchain networks also provides valuable visibility. AI can detect inefficiencies, predict adoption curves, flag abnormalities, and forecast vulnerabilities.

Dune Analytics is one platform offering AI-powered Blockchain analytics dashboards.

AI as a Bridge Between Fiat and Crypto Economies

For Cryptocurrencies to gain mainstream traction, they require better integration with traditional fiat-based financial systems. AI can enable this integration by handling fiat-toCrypto transactions seamlessly and securely. AI agents can build expertise in regulatory compliance, risk assessment, identity verification, and other critical functions related to bridging the old and new economies through machine learning. Already, AI is powering next-generation Cryptocurrency exchanges and payment interfaces explicitly designed to link fiat and Crypto-monetary flows. As these AI systems evolve, they will drive Crypto adoption across the broader global financial landscape.

Enhanced Functionality of Smart Contracts with AI

Smart contracts are selfexecuting protocols on Blockchain networks that enable a variety of programmable agreements and transactions. AI can expand the functionalities of smart contracts in profound ways. In particular, AI unlocks the possibility of smart contracts that dynamically update

themselves in response to real-time data. For instance, an AI-enhanced commodity hedge contract could continually shift its treasury investments based on fluctuating market conditions. Other potential applications include antifraud protocols, supply chain optimizations, decentralized cloud computing, and predictive governance systems for DAOs. Overall, the combination of AI and smart contracts will allow Blockchain networks to make automated decisions of growing sophistication.

AI Support for Cryptocurrency Privacy & Security

One of the key challenges in the digital age is ensuring robust security and protecting user privacy. Here, the combination of Crypto and AI offers groundbreaking solutions. AI is uniquely qualified to bolster encryption standards, develop air-tight cybersecurity systems, and enable private transactions on Blockchain networks. AI innovations can enable advanced analytics of encrypted Blockchain data without compromising privacy but improving it.

Techniques like homomorphic encryption, multi-party computation, and federated learning allow for gaining insights from sensitive onchain data. Projects like ARPA are using AI to realize the full potential of privacy-preserving

analyses. Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, utilize advanced Cryptographic algorithms to secure transactions and maintain the integrity of the underlying Blockchain technology. AI, on the other hand, can leverage machine learning algorithms to detect and prevent fraudulent activities, identify potential vulnerabilities, and enhance cybersecurity measures in real time while setting up automatic alerts for suspicious activity and protecting sensitive data.

Privacy issues often limit the sharing of sensitive data sets like medical records or personal finance data. Blockchain technologies like multi-party computation and zero-knowledge proofs enable the analysis of encrypted data. This allows data sharing and monetization while fully preserving privacy. Startups like Oasis Labs and Openfabric are leveraging Blockchain for

private and compliant AI. This proactive approach enhances the overall security of Crypto transactions and safeguards users’ sensitive information, creating more resilient payment systems.

Early anomaly and fraud detection is made possible with AI utilizing the transparency of Blockchain activity patterns, which makes Crypto ideal for analysis by AI models. Advanced AI techniques can identify manipulation, money laundering, stolen funds, suspicious transactions, bots, and other security threats by recognizing anomalies from baseline behavior. Startups like Solidus Labs and Elliptic provide AI-enhanced surveillance of Crypto transactions. Scorechain improved its anti-money laundering software and fraud prediction measures to prevent money laundering. CipherTrace, a Blockchain security branch project of Mastercard that

leverages on-chain data to assess Crypto merchant riskiness in response to their activities, is another recent example.

By incorporating AI algorithms into Blockchain technology, organizations can create a more reliable and trustworthy ecosystem for conducting their operations.

Improving Decentralized and Traditional Financial Services

By bridging AI and Blockchain, it is also possible to strengthen decentralized finance and Web3, enhancing the creation of decentralized marketplaces. Not only has DeFi been significantly impacted by the convergence of Crypto and AI. Traditional banking systems also need help with efficiency, lengthy processes, and high transaction costs. However, the integration of Cryptocurrencies with AI-driven technologies is transforming the way financial services operate.

AI algorithms can process vast amounts of financial data, enabling automated analysis, prediction, and decisionmaking. This empowers financial institutions to streamline processes, reduce human error, and provide more accurate risk assessments. AI also helps optimize the core consensus protocols that underpin Blockchain networks. AI techniques can

dynamically adjust parameters related to voting power, validator incentives, energy consumption, etc., to improve speed, cost, and scalability. Both Solana and Fetch.ai are integrating AI into their novel consensus models. Furthermore, AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are enhancing customer service by providing personalized recommendations, answering queries, and facilitating seamless transactions.

With Cryptocurrencies serving as the underlying medium, AI applications will allow financial transactions to become even faster, more secure, and costeffective. Smart contracts, powered by Blockchain technology, are automating complex financial agreements, eliminating intermediaries, and reducing transactional friction on top of the structural AI applications governing the function of these contracts. A smart contract can, however, be complicated and timeconsuming to create. Using AI algorithms like ChatGPT, developers can write smart contracts in plain language by using natural language processing. By reducing errors, improving coding efficiency,

and lowering barriers to entry for designers, decentralized applications can become easier to create.

Web3 marketplaces can also benefit from AI because it can optimize the user experience. AI can provide personalized recommendations based on user search patterns, allowing buyers and sellers to match. Using chatbots and virtual assistants powered by artificial intelligence can improve customer service and facilitate transactions, while Blockchain technology can guarantee the authenticity of products.

Crypto-Economic Design with AI Simulation

To design robust and secure Cryptocurrency systems, modeling the economic incentives and behaviors of participants is crucial. AI simulation can greatly assist with this modeling process. Specifically, AI agents can simulate how users interact with – and potentially exploit – Cryptocurrency protocols under a wide range of conditions. This allows vulnerabilities to be detected and addressed before implementation. Moreover, AI can test new mechanisms designed to improve fairness, incentives, governance, and other Crypto-economic factors within Blockchain networks. Crypto-economic design through AI simulation may soon become standard practice

for Blockchain architects and developers.

Decentralized AI Computing on Blockchains

Running advanced AI systems requires immense computing resources. As a distributed financial ledger, Blockchains also possess unused computing capacity that could be repurposed for AI computing. Through new protocols, Blockchains could allow participants to pool and monetize spare computational bandwidth for running machine learning models. This would create decentralized AI computing networks enabled by Cryptocurrency incentives and secured by the Blockchain’s underlying consensus mechanism. The result may be a symbiotic ecosystem where AI development and deployment occur peer-to-peer on Blockchain architectures. Training complex AI models requires vast amounts of computing power. Blockchain networks offer a ready source

of decentralized computing power that can be harnessed for AI processing. Golem, iExec, and Ankr have created marketplaces where anyone can rent out spare compute cycles or storage for running AI workloads. This gives small teams access to enterprisegrade infrastructure.

Advancing Healthcare and Research

The convergence of Crypto and AI can potentially revolutionize the healthcare and research sectors. In healthcare, AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of patient data, identify patterns, and predict disease outcomes with high accuracy. By integrating Crypto technology, patient data can be securely stored and shared while maintaining privacy through decentralized networks.

Blockchain-based systems can enable the secure sharing of medical records, ensuring interoperability and enhancing collaboration among healthcare providers. Patients have more

control over their personal data, allowing them to share it with researchers for groundbreaking medical studies and clinical trials securely.

Moreover, AI and Blockchain can facilitate the development of precision medicine, where treatment plans are tailored to individual patients based on their genetic makeup and medical history. This convergence opens up possibilities for personalized healthcare, more effective treatments, and improved patient outcomes.

Revolutionizing Supply Chain Management

Supply chain management is a complex process involving multiple stakeholders and intricate logistics. The integration of Crypto and AI technologies offers transformative solutions to optimize and streamline supply chains, ensuring efficiency, transparency, and accountability. Blockchain technology enables the creation of immutable records that track every stage of the supply chain. This transparency ensures that goods are sourced ethically, eliminates counterfeit products, and enhances traceability. AI algorithms can analyze supply chain data, predict demand patterns, and optimize inventory management, reducing costs and minimizing waste.

Additionally, smart contracts executed on Blockchain platforms automate and enforce contractual agreements, ensuring timely payments and eliminating disputes. This decentralized approach fosters trust among stakeholders, simplifies cross-border transactions, and enhances overall supply chain resilience.

AI-powered Blockchain Development

There are platforms that allow developers to build and deploy AI models on the Blockchain. They execute on-chain machine learning models by using GPU (graphics processing unit) instead of CPU (central processing unit) power and quantization and integer-only inference known as MRT. AI can be used to secure data, detect and respond to threats and automate tasks that would otherwise require manual effort.

Using AI, developers can detect bugs, vulnerabilities, and malicious behavior in networks and applications more quickly, allowing them to make repairs before they become a problem. Additionally, AI can be used to optimize Blockchain networks for speed and efficiency. In general, AI-driven development of Blockchain technology can lead to greater transparency, efficiency, and security in the Crypto space. So, if you are a coder and you don’t want to be replaced by AI, it is time to

brush up on your coding skills because the AI takeover is fast approaching.

Ethical Considerations

How can we get AIs to align with our values? It’s easy to forget that we don’t even agree on what our values are. Since ancient times, thinkers, philosophers, and everyday people have wrestled with defining our values. These millennia-long discussions have shaped our society, pushing us towards a framework where we accept differing beliefs and values. Despite this progress, a unique challenge emerges: How do you program these nuances into an AI? As Crypto has become known throughout the globe, we have all experienced a constant flow of criminality in the Crypto space, and AI is sure to join the fray. As AI and Crypto continue to evolve, we must ensure AI is governed ethically and given values that work for everyone, just as Crypto adheres to regulations, fostering trust and protecting user rights.

The AI’s of the world are profoundly influenced by “fake facts,” just as people are when we have been lied to or are ill-informed. Transparent AI algorithms and explainable AI principles are crucial to prevent biases and discrimination. That’s where Crypto will come in handy when both are combined to verify the truth, just as transactions

can be verified. Similarly, regulatory frameworks for Crypto exchanges and initial coin offerings (ICOs) safeguard investors’ interests and mitigate the risk of fraud and money laundering.

The Path to General Artificial Intelligence

Looking further forward, the most transformational impact of Cryptocurrencies on AI development could be economic rather than technical. Many leading AI researchers contend that the computing power required for advanced general artificial intelligence will cost an astronomical sum. By enabling new models of decentralized crowd computing and providing a global platform for frictionless micropayments, Cryptocurrency networks could potentially gather and allocate the financial resources needed to reach general AI. Whether this path comes to fruition remains speculative. But if so, the emergence of general AI could mark the point where Cryptocurrency and AI finally converge into one unified system of artificial general intelligence able to recursively improve itself.

Beware the Fear Mongers

When Bitcoin first came on the scene, and even still today, derogatory myths were perpetuated about how it would become the currency of choice for

organized crime and terrorists around the world. Truthfully these lies about Blockchain technology, due to their screaming inaccuracies, look like an intentional campaign to malign the Blockchain and create unfounded fear since the beginning. I won’t speculate here whom it may be or why but I will say this, the misinformation is a well funded campaign by parties known, and unknown due to their covert nature. It seems there are forces at work who are challenged by Crypto and AI both. They seek to inhibit or affect their future in a way that wrests thoughtful scientific discourse from the public eye and lowers the conversation to realms of conspiracy theory and misdirection.

The truth is, any criminal who doesn’t want to get caught would never choose such a wildly transparent trail as the Bitcoin ledger. The fearmongers have always been with us, kicking and screaming all the way to mass adoption of

whatever exciting new tech may be emerging on the scene. Today with the mainstream advent of AI, the same kind of propaganda is being espoused, providing a source of selfimportance to those who, with their fearful angst, tell people how untrustworthy AI is and

how easily bad actors will use it to disrupt and destroy society possibly resulting in human demise if AI doesn’t take over and do the deed itself. The same sort of thing was said about the internet, your telephone, automobiles, TV, and electricity. Humanity didn’t self-destruct and progress wasn’t hindered though climate change could be our undoing if we cannot get our sensibilities straight and address ongoing causes with all of our newfound tech. The integration of Crypto’s secure and transparent nature with AI’s ability to analyze vast amounts of data is reshaping finance, healthcare, supply chain management, and many other sectors for the betterment of the world. The combined power

of these two technologies holds immense potential for unlocking new possibilities and transforming the way we live, work, and interact.

AI needs Web3, Crypto, and Blockchain, and the other way around. Why should we stop the evolution of these technologies? Let’s develop them all to their full potential but in ways that will safely allow us the gifts they harbor! Hindering them would be the same as stopping at candles and never evolving to light bulbs. What we need are AI architectures with moral agency, empathic and selfinsightful, with democratic and decentralized AI governance provided on the Blockchain.

The Future is Bright for Blockchain + AI

As we have seen, Blockchain and AI are stronger together. As Cryptocurrency and AI innovation accelerate, these dual technologies are primed for increasing convergence and synergy multiplied to quantum effect. Both introduce paradigm shifts that could profoundly impact the other. AI provides the intelligence that Blockchains need to reach their full potential. Meanwhile, Blockchain gives AI the decentralized, trusted backbone it needs to scale responsibly.

Looking toward the future, the fusion of AI and Crypto will give birth to unprecedented opportunities, forging new frontiers in technology and society.They provide key tools for tackling complex problems involving coordination, trust, and intelligence - across industries from healthcare to climate science. Together, they enable breakthroughs like self-sovereign data exchanges, verifiable AI models, optimized smart contracts for Web3 apps, and intelligent protocols for next-gen decentralized autonomous organizations, decentralized AI networks, and Crypto-integrated Internet of Things (IoT) devices, revolutionizing various sectors and expanding the possibilities of human innovation. Fetch.ai is one project using AI agents for the decentralized coordination of IoT networks.

The possibilities are endless for combining Blockchain’s transparency and immutability with AI’s predictive abilities and adaptive learning capacity. In the years and decades ahead, we may see them merge into an integrated intelligent system handling finance, economics, and governance and eventually evolving into general artificial intelligence. The possibilities are as thrilling as they are difficult to predict this early in the emergence of these world-changing technologies. Nevertheless, the era of Crypto-AI has clearly arrived, and its ramifications likely will extend across global society and far into the future.

A practical approach of focus on AI applications beneficial to all is in our hands. Decentralized Autonomous Organizations provide a human touch monitoring active systems and providing positive direction. SingularityDAO is a spin-off project of SingularityNET that was launched in 2021. SingularityDAO is a communitygoverned DeFi protocol that offers AI-powered tools for managing Cryptocurrency portfolios. Ocean Protocol, Cortex, and many more are also working on various types of decentralized AI solutions. These are free self-ordered societies running on the Blockchain. More will inevitably follow, and I look forward to seeing the future and what will come.

Bitcoin Should Become a Better Money Laundering Tool

Bitcoin is frequently criticized for being a money laundering tool. It’s just the opposite; that’s the problem. That’s not good enough for me. We were led to believe we could be anonymous using Bitcoin initially, and it was all a lie. I had latched onto that and felt there was a promise with Bitcoin against the worldwide money changers. Everything I thought I knew about Bitcoin initially was fiction,

as it turned out. People were transacting with Bitcoin on illicit darknet marketplaces in the early days because they weren’t aware of the consequences. Turns out, if there is a desire, they will find anyone who exposed themselves to these places.

Last year, Matt Levine commented on the arrest related to the Bitfinex theft that Bitcoin is extremely difficult to launder because the blockchain

is publicly accessible. There are no user names associated with addresses or wallets on the chain itself. It is, however, very easy to monitor some amount of Bitcoin and see if it moves. It’s not difficult for regulated exchanges to reject Bitcoin that is compromised in any way.

Further, while a wallet does not technically have a name associated with it, it is quite easy to link it to someone’s name in many cases. Bitcoin

purchases made through Coinbase or any other established, regulated exchange can be linked to your name. From there, you can work your way backward.

Money laundering is not an issue for Bitcoin, so the critics are wrong or lying. One of the two. I do think there are people out there who are actively lying about everything to do with crypto; they hate it so much. As a result, industry participants can disassociate themselves from any unsavory elements. But there’s a problem - Bitcoin may not have any point if it can’t be used for laundering money. Can we fix that? Its stateless nature makes it an attractive investment. No one can get in the way and say “no.” If the powers that be can easily look onto the chain and know what you are doing, then it’s hard to see exactly what the benefit is.

Then when you think about it, when CBDC’s come (Central Bank Digital Currencies) —and they will— all the governments of the world will be able to see every move you make with your money. In fact, they will try to get rid of paper money which is the only truly anonymous form of government-issued legal tender for payments we have unless everyone starts tracking all the serial numbers on the bills with every transaction it makes. That is not going to happen. With CBDCs, it’s all going to be an insidious part of the code. It won’t even reflect Bitcoin’s transparency. What it will reflect is a wantonly effective new tool for the surveillance state. They will know what CBDC funds you have, and they will have all of the serial numbers. They could turn off your money, like turning off a faucet at any time, and render it useless if it pleased them.

More recently, the wallets of anyone who had connected to Tornado Cash were blacklisted and rendered unusable. This travesty showed the world that governments could, in fact, can shut you off at any time. What the free world needs to happen is for Bitcoin and Ethereum, and all the best altcoins out there need to take it to another level and fork into what the people of the world really want. Their privacy. The same privacy we all have with a wad of paper money in our wallets.

Decentralize that, and the cryptosphere will have something unstoppable. Thus, crypto seems to have been designed for such a purpose. An unregulated, stateless system of money that allows anyone to transact without state approval, or anyone else for that matter.

CBDCs can and will be a powerful tool for governments of oppressed societies like China that exclude dissidents from formal financial systems. In the beginning, it was understood by developers in the project that Bitcoin was not very private and that it was a deliberate tradeoff. But the regular Joe on the street didn’t have a clue about that. All we ever heard in the news was how Bitcoin would facilitate organized crime and terrorism. We were repeatedly told in the news and in print that Bitcoin was anonymous. There was no thought of blockchain analysis in Bitcoin’s early years.

As a result of the truth that Bitcoin is not anonymous at all, blockchain analysis has become extremely accurate. Now, for Bitcoin to be taken seriously, its ecosystem needs to be leveled up as well.

Privacy-protecting projects are being targeted more than ever before as the U.S. government ramps up crypto regulatory efforts. Currently, users are contemplating Tornado Cash’s implications. Bitcoin developers, however, have been working behind the scenes to ensure privacy when transacting with crypto for years.

It is evident that the U.S. is trying to ‘fit’ cryptocurrencies into what it perceives as its financial control framework by targeting an open-source protocol rather than an individual. The fight for financial privacy escalates again here as the importance of holding funds without KYC links becomes apparent. Since cryptocurrency exchanges collect personally identifiable information about their customers, authorities can easily match Bitcoin transactions to real people. Due to its easy traceability, law enforcement agencies actually prefer it when criminals use the asset. Every transaction on the blockchain is recorded. To make the Bitcoin blockchain nearly untraceable, developers are currently developing tools such as the Lightning Network.

The Lightning Network

Bitcoin users can stay private by using the Lightning Network, a perhaps lesser-known method. “Second-layer solutions” were created to solve Bitcoin’s scalability issue-or, to put it another way, to process a greater number of transactions. In order to accomplish this, it skirts the main Bitcoin blockchain. Since every transaction isn’t permanently stored in the main blockchain, it also has privacy benefits. Instead, the transactions are grouped together and recorded as one big transaction later. In addition to microtransactions, like buying a coffee, this allows anonymous payments to be made.

Wallets

Bitcoin can be made more private by using certain wallets. Particularly wallets that use CoinJoin, a technology that groups Bitcoin transactions together in order to hide their origins. Several projects promise near-anonymous transactions and more privacy by mixing protocols. A good example is CoinJoin. Other

wallets that are very promising are Wasibi and Sparrow. Monero is a token that is specially optimized for privacy as well.

In an unprecedented move, Tornado Cash, an app that lets users anonymously send Ethereum, has been banned by the U.S. Treasury Department. It is now illegal for American citizens to access the tool or interact with addresses that use it. Currently, crypto developers and users are assessing the impact of this prohibition and how it might be enforced. However, for now, similar tools are being developed for Bitcoin.

In Conclusion

Ultimately, Bitcoin’s goal should be the equivalent of other open projects, like Signal, Tor, or even email itself. Yes, they can be used by people you don’t like. But if they couldn’t be used by them, then they couldn’t be used by the people you do like. And if Bitcoin never achieves this status — where anyone can use it without influence from a centralized entity like a government — then it’s really not clear at all what the point is.

The Minds of Innovation: Important Figureheads in Crypto (Part 3) – Bobby Ong

George Smith

Welcome back to the Minds of Innovation, the segment where we give you a detailed glimpse into the lives of important figureheads in the crypto industry. This week we’re looking at one of the original geckos a.k.a. the man who co-founded one of the biggest market and portfolio tracking platforms in crypto – Bobby Ong. Everyone knows about CoinGecko but not everyone knows about the team behind it, specifically the co-founder Bobby Ong, so let’s jump in.

“Blockchain technology has been created; you can’t put the genie back into the bottle. This technology isn’t going anywhere; it’s just going to get more and more commonplace in the world.”

Bobby Ong is one of the more under-theradar personas in the world of crypto, although his influence should not be overlooked. Ong, 33, was born in Quezon City, Philippines, and currently resides in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He studied Economics at UCL (University College London) and was a recipient of the Sime Darby Foundation Scholarship from 2009-2012. He co-founded CoinGecko alongside TM Lee with the main aim of bringing market education and awareness to more people. CoinGecko is now one of the world’s leading crypto information aggregators and portfolio trackers, tracking well over 10,000 digital assets on over 500 exchanges. Its simple and approachable way of interacting with the crypto market has made it one of the most successful platforms in the crypto scene.

Ong now serves as COO of CoinGecko which he launched in 2014 and has greatly influenced crypto by increasing transparency and credibility in the wider industry. Through the use of platforms such as CoinGecko or CoinMarketCap, traders can easily view market trends and analyses, helping to inform better and more accurate/accessible trading decisions. After Binance’s acquisition of CoinMarketCap, CoinGecko became the biggest independent cryptocurrency aggregator site in the world.

contributed his academic career to studying blockchain technology and digital currencies. He has written several chapters for literary books such as Handbook of Blockchain,DigitalFinance, andInclusion,aswellasThe

Ong’s influence on the crypto scene isn’t just limited to the creation of the platform. Since 2017, the company has published a quarterly report on the crypto market, available entirely for free and accessible to everyone. Ong implemented this release in an attempt to help educate the masses and draw more traders into cryptocurrencies. Various updates have been added to both the reports and the platform since then, including the addition of TrustScore and API tools. The platform is available in over 21 languages, making it accessible for more people and once again aiming to help achieve mass adoption.

Bobby Ong’s passion for cryptocurrency oozes from his work. Serving as a researcher for the Singapore University of Social Science, Ong has

HandbookofDigitalCurrency

He also helped to write and create the free eBooks available through CoinGecko’s rewards scheme, How to Bitcoin and How to DeFi. On top of all of this, Ong also curates the weekly newsletter, AltcoinWeekly.

Bobby Ong should not just be recognized for co-founding CoinGecko, but also his wider contribution in attempting to bring cryptocurrencies to the masses. His literary work is extensive, and much of it is available for free and for everyone. In a space that needs more critical and literary work, Ong is building the bridges for a more academic and approachable future for the industry. His work and efforts in achieving mass adoption should not be overlooked.

The Great Decoupling: Bitcoin and the Shifting Paradigm of Financial Sovereignty

Robert Stone @shake_the_web

In a time where data flows as freely as capital, a remarkable transformation is quietly reshaping our financial landscape. The convergence of unprecedented surveillance capitalism, monetary expansion, and technological disruption has created existential risks and extraordinary opportunities for the discerning consumer. This evolution represents an economic shift and a fundamental reimagining of how value, trust, and personal sovereignty function in the modern world.

Architecture of Control

Today’s financial infrastructure operates as an intricate surveillance apparatus that extends far beyond conventional

banking. Every transaction, every interaction, and every financial decision is meticulously recorded, analyzed, and monetized within an expansive web of institutional oversight.

Banking systems, digital payment networks, and emerging central bank digital currencies track transactions with even more unprecedented granularity than the old system, creating

comprehensive behavioral profiles that reveal not just spending habits but political leanings, social connections, and personal vulnerabilities. We are all being watched to the extent that technology permits. This significant invasion of our personal boundaries into every aspect of our lives is increasing exponentially. It may soon feel as if a god is looking down from above, observing even our innermost thoughts, which are recorded forevermore in the cloud like the new Akashic records brought to earth for humanity to have unfettered access..

This architecture of control manifests in increasingly sophisticated forms. China’s social credit system represents perhaps the most explicit implementation—a comprehensive scoring mechanism that integrates financial behavior with social compliance. Western systems operate with greater subtlety but similar effects. Credit scoring algorithms incorporate thousands of behavioral signals beyond mere payment history, effectively gamifying financial compliance.

Payment processors frequently flag “suspicious” transactions using unclear risk models, effectively imposing restrictions on allowable commerce without any legislative oversight. This situation is similar to being profiled and targeted by law enforcement. However, these

are not traditional police; they have an all-seeing eye on every online interaction we have and keep documents of these activities indefinitely.

The vulnerability of centralized systems became starkly apparent during Canada’s 2022 trucker protests when emergency powers enabled the freezing of bank accounts associated with political dissidents without judicial review. Similar mechanisms have been deployed globally— from Hong Kong’s targeting of pro-democracy activists to Russia’s financial restrictions on opposition figures. These episodes reveal the conditional nature of financial access in centralized systems, where permission can be revoked based on ideological compliance rather than legal standing.

Digital identity systems further entrench this architecture. India’s Aadhaar program, linking biometric data to financial access for over a billion citizens, demonstrates the scale of modern identity infrastructure. The European Digital Identity framework and similar initiatives worldwide integrate previously separate systems into unified surveillance networks. While presented as convenience features, these systems effectively eliminate the possibility of anonymous economic participation.

Corporate surveillance adds another dimension. Payment

processors maintain detailed profiles of merchant activity, arbitrarily terminating relationships with legal but controversial businesses. Platform economies like Uber and Airbnb subject participants to continuous algorithmic evaluation, creating precarious economic arrangements dependent on opaque scoring systems. The integration of financial surveillance with location tracking, social media monitoring, and facial recognition creates unprecedented visibility into individual behavior.

The illusion of security in such arrangements proves dangerously seductive until institutional priorities shift. Account freezes, arbitrary deplatforming, and algorithmic discrimination reveal the conditional nature of financial inclusion—privileges granted provisionally rather than rights secured permanently. As these systems advance toward programmatic money with built-in restrictions, the scope for individual financial autonomy progressively narrows.

The Persistent Erosion of Purchasing Power

While official inflation metrics present a moderated picture, lived experience tells a dramatically different story. Housing costs in major metropolitan areas have doubled or tripled relative to

median incomes over recent decades. Educational expenses have outpaced inflation by nearly 200% since 1980. Healthcare costs have risen at twice the officially reported inflation rate for a generation. The cumulative effect represents the most significant intergenerational transfer of wealth in modern history—from wage earners to asset holders, from young to old, from new entrants to established interests.

This debasement operates by design rather than accident. Modern economies depend on perpetual inflation to sustain debt-based growth models and manage expanding sovereign liabilities. Since the 2008 financial crisis, central banks worldwide have expanded balance sheets exponentially, with the Federal Reserve increasing its holdings from $800 billion to nearly $9 trillion at its peak—an eleven-fold expansion in just over a decade. Similar patterns emerged at the European Central Bank, the Bank of Japan, and the People’s Bank of China, collectively creating trillions in new currency units.

The monetary expansion accelerated dramatically during recent crises. The United States alone created nearly 80% of all dollars in existence within the past fifteen years. This expansion represents a profound but poorly understood mechanism of wealth transfer—effectively

confiscating purchasing power from savers while subsidizing debtors through currency devaluation. The beneficiaries of this arrangement—primarily governments, corporations with access to cheap credit, and holders of appreciating assets—have little incentive to acknowledge its redistributive effects, and the people suffer for it.

Historical context proves illuminating. The purchasing power of the U.S. dollar has declined by approximately 98% since the Federal Reserve’s establishment in 1913. That means what was 2 cents then is a dollar now. Similar trajectories characterize virtually all fiat currencies globally.

The pattern underwent a dramatic transformation following the collapse of the Bretton Woods system on August 15, 1971. On that day, President Nixon announced that the U.S. would no longer exchange dollars for gold, effectively dismantling the gold standard and severing the last ties between currency and tangible assets. This decision came amid mounting pressure on the U.S. dollar, driven by growing trade deficits and insufficient gold reserves to sustain its value.

Since then, no fiat currency anywhere on the planet has demonstrated the ability to maintain stable purchasing power over extended periods,

underscoring how debasement is not merely an unintended consequence but rather an inherent characteristic of modern monetary systems.

The social implications extend beyond simple price increases. Inflation operates as a regressive tax, disproportionately impacting those without sophisticated financial strategies or significant asset holdings. It systematically advantages the asset-rich while penalizing wage earners, savers, and fixed-income recipients. Most critically, it undermines intergenerational social contracts by devaluing pensions, insurance policies, and long-term savings— effectively breaking promises made to previous generations.

Bitcoin: The Decentralized Alternative

Against this backdrop, Bitcoin emerges not merely as a speculative asset but as a fundamentally different monetary paradigm. Its immutable supply cap of 21 million units starkly contrasts the infinite expansibility of fiat currencies. This mathematical certainty provides predictability absent from conventional monetary systems, where expansion occurs at the discretion of centralized authorities responding to political pressures rather than long-term stability considerations.

While energy-intensive, Bitcoin’s proof-of-work consensus mechanism anchors its value in real-world resources rather than institutional promises. This connection to physical reality through energy expenditure creates a form of digital scarcity that cannot be artificially manipulated. The system operates through transparent, verifiable code rather than opaque policy decisions, allowing participants to assess accurately the monetary environment in which they operate.

The strength of Bitcoin lies in its decentralized architecture, allowing it to resist government intervention and centralized control. Unlike previous currencies restricted by borders, it operates through a global network of independent nodes, enhancing its resilience. History shows that attempts to suppress Bitcoin, such as in China and Nigeria, ultimately fail. The drive for financial freedom fuels its adoption, proving that the desire for change can overcome obstacles.

One of the most significant aspects of Bitcoin is its complete independence from centralized control. Unlike traditional financial systems, no single entity can freeze accounts, censor transactions, or manipulate the value of assets through arbitrary measures. This decentralized nature empowers individuals to transact globally without

needing permission from intermediaries and enables them to hold their assets securely without relying on traditional institutions.

Additionally, Bitcoin allows users to verify the integrity of the network through independent validation, creating a sense of trust and transparency. This unique attribute elevates Bitcoin beyond being just an investment; it becomes a powerful tool for financial sovereignty. For the first time in the digital age, anyone can preserve their wealth outside the constraints of traditional financial frameworks, reclaiming their autonomy and gaining greater control over their financial futures. In a world where financial systems often feel limiting, Bitcoin represents a beacon of hope for personal freedom and economic empowerment.

The most revolutionary aspect of the system may be its ability to function independently of established power structures. Previous monetary alternatives required permission from governments or banking institutions. However, Bitcoin represents the first genuinely permissionless global monetary network, allowing anyone to participate without needing identity verification, credit history, or institutional approval. This unique feature promotes financial inclusion for the estimated 1.4 billion worldwide who lack access to traditional banking services.

As artificial intelligence advances exponentially, we witness the beginning of a profound economic restructuring with far-reaching implications for monetary systems. Productivity gains that once accrued gradually now materialize seemingly overnight as AI systems master complex tasks from content creation to medical diagnostics. Large language models now perform functions that previously required teams of skilled professionals, while autonomous systems increasingly manage logistics, manufacturing, and service delivery with minimal human intervention.

This technological revolution naturally drives deflationary pressure through dramatically reduced production costs. Industries from media to medicine and education to engineering face fundamental disruption as AI systems replicate and enhance human cognitive capabilities at a

marginal cost. The economic implications extend far beyond conventional automation— where machines replace physical labor—to knowledge work previously considered immune to technological displacement.

Central banks, which manage the money supply, work to prevent deflation by creating more money, creating a strange situation. While technology makes products and services cheaper and more accessible, many people might not see those benefits reflected in their daily lives. Instead, they experience economic hardships, feeling disconnected from the prosperity that technology promises.

This means we find ourselves in a world rich in technological innovations, yet many of us still struggle to make ends meet. The advantages of advancements like AI may end up mainly in the hands of those who are already wealthy or quick to adopt new tools, leaving others feeling left out. This will create a vast divide that will accentuate frustration levels and a sense of injustice in society, as the promise of progress benefits only a select few rather than uplifting everyone. It reminds us of the importance of ensuring that our advancements unite us rather than deepen existing divides. It’s immensely sad to see what is happening in my country, the United States,

where we are witnessing events unfold in ways that will have drastic consequences on former friends and international alliances in real time.

Historical parallels can be drawn, but there are significant differences. The Industrial Revolution increased productivity while displacing certain types of labor. However, the pace of life during that time provided people with the opportunity to adjust. In contrast, the current transformation is happening at an unprecedented speed and scale, potentially outstripping our cultural and institutional capacity for change. Previous technological revolutions unfolded over generations, whereas AI capabilities are now doubling in sophistication every few months. This acceleration presents challenges that traditional economic frameworks struggle to address.

Technological deflation challenges monetary inflation, creating contrasting dynamics in global markets. Businesses leveraging AI can enhance productivity and reduce prices while monetary authorities inflate currency supplies, driving nominal prices up. This leads to bifurcated markets: tech-heavy sectors see falling actual costs while asset prices and essential services rise. Navigating this landscape requires a strategic approach to capitalize on technological advancements while

maintaining sound monetary principles. Understanding AI’s benefits can help mitigate the effects of monetary inflation.

The End of the DebtBased Financial System

The current financial paradigm operates fundamentally as a debt-creation mechanism rather than a wealthpreservation system. Modern economies require perpetual credit expansion to maintain growth trajectories, leading to structural fragility that becomes increasingly difficult to sustain. Global debt has reached unprecedented levels—exceeding 365% of global GDP—creating systemic vulnerabilities that monetary authorities attempt to manage through increasingly extreme interventions.

This debt supercycle manifests in distorted asset markets disconnected from underlying economic realities. Housing markets in developed economies increasingly function as speculative vehicles rather than shelter provision mechanisms, with

prices in major cities reaching 10-15 times median annual incomes—levels mathematically impossible to sustain without multi-generational mortgage structures or perpetually declining interest rates. Similar distortions appear in equity markets, where valuations frequently bear little relationship to current earnings or realistic growth projections.

The zero-sum nature of this arrangement becomes increasingly apparent as the system matures. Wealth extraction increasingly relies on financial engineering rather than productive enterprise. Asset inflation benefits existing holders while creating insurmountable barriers for new entrants. Sophisticated participants leverage information asymmetries and regulatory complexity to extract value from less informed market participants. The financial sector has grown from approximately 5% of economic activity in the 1970s to over 20% today, demonstrating its expanding claims on productive output.

Historical precedent suggests that all debt-based systems eventually reach natural limits. Previous monetary regimes collapsed when debt service requirements exceeded productive capacity—from the Roman Empire’s currency debasement to Weimar Germany’s hyperinflation to the 1971 abandonment of gold

convertibility. Each transition featured common elements: exponential debt growth, increasing financialization, monetary debasement, and, eventually, systemic reset.

Bitcoin offers a fundamentally different paradigm—a cooperative, non-zero-sum system where value accrues to all holders proportionally as adoption increases. Unlike fiat systems requiring perpetual expansion to avoid collapse, Bitcoin’s fixed supply creates natural incentives for capital preservation rather than debt accumulation. This mathematical certainty provides an exit mechanism from the current paradigm, allowing value transmission across time without the inflationary penalty inherent in conventional savings.

The transition between systems creates volatility in financial markets as established structures resist displacement. Institutional resistance manifests through regulatory barriers, media skepticism, and active suppression

efforts, which have been quite prevalent from many fronts. Nevertheless, alternative systems gain traction during periods when conventional arrangements fail to deliver on core promises—precisely the conditions emerging in many economies today.

Free Markets vs. Centralized Control

Under fiat monetary systems, genuinely free markets—defined by voluntary exchange and authentic price discovery—have been elusive. Instead, we find ourselves in managed markets where central authorities dictate interest rates, bail out failing institutions, and show favoritism toward specific sectors through a maze of policies. This heavyhanded approach distorts capital allocation, props up unproductive “zombie” companies, and values financial engineering over real, productive investment. The outcome? Diminished productivity and a heightened sense of systemic fragility. It’s a system that often feels rigged, leaving many to wonder if we’ll ever achieve the true market dynamism that fosters innovation and growth.

Bitcoin enables revolutionary possibilities through its resistance to centralized control. It creates the first truly neutral global settlement layer—a financial protocol without gatekeepers, where

transactions execute based on mathematical rules rather than institutional permission. This neutrality allows Bitcoin to function as a genuinely free market in monetary value, where price discovery occurs through unmanipulated global trading around the clock.

The system’s self-custody features further enhance market freedom by eliminating counterparty risk. Unlike conventional financial arrangements requiring trusted intermediaries, Bitcoin allows direct ownership without institutional dependencies. This characteristic enables genuinely sovereign wealth— assets that cannot be frozen, seized, or devalued through administrative action. As layertwo solutions like Lightning Network and Fedimint develop, these sovereignty features extend to daily transactions, enabling both privacy and efficiency at scale.

Governmental responses to this paradigm follow divergent paths. Some jurisdictions, recognizing inevitable technological adoption, implement supportive frameworks. El Salvador’s Bitcoin legal tender law represented the most explicit embrace until the IMF put a stop to it. At the same time, Switzerland, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates developed accommodative regulations to attract innovation. Other regimes attempt suppression

through regulatory barriers, banking restrictions, and criminal penalties—yet historically, such approaches prove ineffective against fundamentally decentralized technologies.

The geopolitical implications extend beyond domestic policy. Nations holding significant dollar reserves increasingly recognize the systematic devaluation of these assets and are actively seeking alternatives. Bitcoin provides a neutral reserve option outside any single nation’s control—a particularly attractive feature for countries facing sanctions or dollarization pressures. This dynamic accelerates as monetary competition intensifies between major currency blocs, creating strong incentives for diversification beyond traditional reserve assets.

Hyperbitcoinization & the Future

The logical conclusion of these converging trends suggests a potential scenario that advocates the term

“hyperbitcoinization”—a theoretical point where Bitcoin’s monetary properties trigger rapid capital flight from weaker currencies. This transition would manifest not as gradual adoption but as an accelerating feedback loop, where early adopters gain purchasing power advantages that incentivize further adoption by others seeking similar benefits.

Economic models attempting to quantify this scenario suggest extraordinary valuations based on Bitcoin’s capture of various monetary premium categories. If Bitcoin were to absorb significant portions of the global store of value market (estimated at over $400 trillion across real estate, precious metals, bonds, and cash equivalents), each unit would command valuation orders of magnitude beyond current levels. Some models suggest equilibrium valuations exceeding $40 million per bitcoin in today’s purchasing power—figures that appear fantastical until one considers the mathematical reality of capturing even modest percentages of global wealth with a capped supply of 21 million units.

The transition would necessarily involve significant market volatility. Assets currently priced in infinitely expansible fiat currencies would require fundamental revaluation in a non-

inflationary monetary standard. Real estate, traditionally leveraged through mortgage financing, would face particular disruption as debt-based appreciation models became unsustainable. Equity markets would favor productive enterprises with genuine earnings over speculative growth stories dependent on cheap capital. Labor markets would rebalance as wage suppression through monetary inflation ended.

Anticipating precise timelines proves impossible, but historical currency transitions provide instructive patterns. Initial skepticism typically gives way to reluctant acknowledgment, followed by sudden preference cascades once confidence in existing arrangements falters. The process rarely unfolds linearly— instead, it features periods of apparent stability punctuated by rapid phase transitions when critical adoption thresholds are crossed.

Nations face strategic dilemmas in this explosive environment. Early adopters gain extraordinary advantages through Bitcoin accumulation before widespread valuation increases. Late adopters risk substantial disadvantages as acquisition costs rise exponentially. This gametheory dynamic creates powerful first-mover incentives despite institutional resistance, particularly for smaller nations

seeking competitive advantages against larger economic powers.

For the average person, the implications extend beyond investment considerations to fundamental questions of sovereignty and resilience. Those positioned appropriately for this transition—understanding both technological and monetary evolutions—gain substantial advantages regardless of specific timelines. Those relying on conventional financial arrangements face increasing vulnerability as existing systems encounter their natural limitations.

Actionable Takeaways

Strategic positioning for this transition requires a thoughtful approach across multiple dimensions. Financial sovereignty begins with direct Bitcoin custody— holding private keys rather than institutional claims. Hardware wallets provide fundamental security, while multi-signature arrangements

offer additional protection for significant holdings. Regular acquisition programs (dollarcost averaging) reduce timing risk while building positions methodically.

Privacy considerations grow increasingly important as surveillance capabilities expand. Using privacy-preserving tools like Railway Wallet, Tornao cash, and community custody solutions. Fedimint creates significant protection against targeting and confiscation risks. Maintaining separate operational and strategic holdings allows practical functionality while preserving core assets against compromise.

Preparation for monetary system volatility extends beyond digital assets. Reducing fixed-rate long-term debt becomes strategically advantageous in potentially deflationary environments, where real liability costs increase over time rather than

diminishing through inflation. Conversely, productive assets generating actual value (rather than speculative appreciation) provide resilience regardless of monetary conditions.

Technological adaptation represents another critical dimension. Artificial intelligence capabilities continue advancing exponentially, creating both opportunities and disruptions. Leveraging these tools for productivity enhancement while developing skills resistant to automation—creativity, critical analysis, emotional intelligence, and physical craftsmanship—creates resilience against displacement. Understanding both technological and monetary trends provides synergistic advantages unavailable to those focused on single dimensions.

Community development offers the most underappreciated strategic element. Local resilience networks, knowledgesharing communities, and collaborative arrangements provide substantial advantages during systemic transitions. Historical examples from currency collapse worldwide demonstrate that social capital frequently proves more valuable than financial assets during periods of institutional failure. Building such personal networks proactively rather than reactively creates significant advantages regardless of specific timeline developments.

The Great Decoupling

The convergence of these trends—surveillance expansion, monetary debasement, technological acceleration, and Bitcoin adoption—creates what might best be described as a Great Decoupling. This represents not merely an investment thesis but a fundamental bifurcation between two incompatible systems: one based on centralized control, inflationary policies, and permission requirements and another on mathematical certainty, individual sovereignty, and permissionless innovation.

This decoupling will likely define the coming decade, creating unprecedented challenges and opportunities for individuals, businesses, and nations. Those recognizing these patterns early gain extraordinary advantages in positioning themselves appropriately for the transition. Those relying on conventional wisdom face increasing vulnerability as existing arrangements encounter their natural limitations.

The future is a blank canvas, waiting to be painted with the bold strokes of our choices. In a time when surveillance and financial manipulation have evolved to dizzying heights, the avenues of decentralization emerge as a powerful counterforce. These tools are not just mere investments but our armor, empowering individuals to navigate an increasingly complex landscape.

Choosing between traditional systems and decentralized alternatives isn’t just about money—it’s a monumental decision that delves into the heart of our rights to sovereignty, privacy, and freedom in this digital era. As we stand at this crossroads, we must recognize the gravity of our decision; it’s a defining moment that could reshape our understanding of independence and control in the modern world. The future may be unwritten, but in our hands lies the pen to craft a narrative of empowerment and choice.

IThe Rise of CBDCs: Navigating the Future of Money While Preserving Your Privacy

n an increasingly digitized world, Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are emerging as the latest evolution in monetary systems, promising to revolutionize how money functions in our society. Yet beneath the veneer of innovation and efficiency lies a complex web of concerns about privacy, autonomy, and the potential for unprecedented governmental control over personal finances.

For the discerning global citizen, those accustomed to navigating complex financial landscapes and valuing the sanctity of personal

Robert Stone @shake_the_web

privacy, this is not mere technophobia but a deeply rooted apprehension that the very foundations of financial autonomy are under threat. The promise of technological advancement, often touted as a harbinger of progress, in this instance, carries the potential for unprecedented governmental oversight, a level of control over individual finances that was once confined to the realms of dystopian fiction.

The anxieties are not unfounded. In an era marked by increasing surveillance and the erosion of traditional freedoms,

the prospect of programmable money, directly issued and controlled by central banks, ignites a primal fear: the fear of losing control over one’s own lifeblood – one’s finances.

This article, grounded in a frank assessment of the current trajectory, aims to cut through the noise of fear-mongering and offer a clear-eyed perspective on the realities of CBDCs, their potential implications for privacy, and, most importantly, actionable strategies for safeguarding one’s financial security and freedom in this evolving landscape.

Understanding CBDCs

Central Bank Digital Currencies represent the digital form of a country’s fiat currency, issued and regulated directly by the national central bank. Unlike cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, which operate on decentralized networks, CBDCs are centralized and, crucially, programmable. This programmability is both their most innovative feature and their most controversial aspect.

At their core, CBDCs are designed to streamline financial transactions, reduce costs associated with physical cash management, and potentially increase financial inclusion. However, this digital transformation of money has profound implications for privacy and personal freedom that warrant careful consideration.

Eighty-seven countries worldwide are exploring or developing CBDCs—less than half of the world’s 196 sovereign nations. This statistic alone challenges the narrative that CBDCs are an inevitable global phenomenon with no escape route. It reveals a world of diverse approaches to monetary policy and varying degrees of commitment to financial privacy.

The Risks of CBDCs

CBDCs carry risks that hit at the heart of financial security. First, **privacy erosion** is

baked in. Every transaction is visible to the issuing authority, dwarfing today’s banking oversight. In the U.S., where the IRS already monitors accounts over $10,000, FedCoin could log every coffee purchase or crypto trade. China’s e-Yuan exemplifies this, tying spending to social credit scores. Second, **spending control** looms large. Programmable money can block “undesirable” purchases— say, too much red meat under an EU climate policy—or enforce expiration dates, as seen in e-Yuan trials, to spur consumption and curb saving.

Third, **financial stability** takes a hit when governments can freeze funds. The Bank of England has floated CBDCs as a way to prevent bank runs, echoing past interventions like Cyprus’s 2013 bail-in or Poland’s pension grab. In the U.S., 2023’s bank failures (e.g., Silicon Valley Bank) showed the FDIC’s limits—bailouts were discretionary, not guaranteed. CBDCs could lock accounts instantly, leaving savers at mercy. Finally, **cronyism** threatens smaller players. Big banks with the infrastructure to handle CBDCs could squeeze out community banks or crypto startups, consolidating power. These risks aren’t hypothetical.

The U.S. dollar’s decline—from 73% of global reserves in 2000 to 58% in 2025, per IMF data— drives urgency. Sanctions on 29% of nations have pushed rivals like Russia to ditch the dollar, cornering Western powers. CBDCs are their counterpunch, sold as public goods but built for control. Yet the world isn’t uniform—over 100 countries resist, offering cracks in the system to exploit.

Survival Strategies

Surviving CBDCs demands proactive steps rooted in crypto principles and global diversification. Below are five actionable strategies, each designed to safeguard wealth, privacy, and autonomy.

Diversify Wealth Across Borders

Spreading assets dilutes risk. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) offer censorship resistance—store it on a hardware wallet like a Ledger Nano, secured in a safe deposit box outside your home country. Monero (XMR) adds privacy with untraceable transactions, ideal for dodging surveillance. Stablecoins like USDC provide flexibility pegged to fiat but free of CBDC strings. Offshore bank accounts complement this—Singapore offers 2-3% interest rates (versus the U.S.’s 0.5%), while Georgia (the country) boasts light regulation and no FATCA hassles for nonAmericans. STAYING

For Americans, filing an FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Report) is a legal must, but it’s a small price for sovereignty. In 2025, U.S. banks nudge clients toward FedCoin, flagging noncompliance—offshore funds stay beyond reach. Example: A $50,000 BTC stash in a Dubai vault and $20,000 in a Singapore account keep options open, legally reported but untouchable by CBDC rules.

Seek Non-CBDC Sanctuaries

Not every nation embraces programmable money. In Serbia, a strong cash culture prevails—Belgrade’s markets are bustling with dinars, and crypto ATMs are common along the streets. The country has low taxes (10% personal income), and a post-communist skepticism helps limit digital overreach. Malaysia successfully combines modernity with freedom; for example, a complete healthcare checkup at Prince Court Medical Center costs $301, compared to $3,000 in the U.S. Additionally, its 3% sales tax allows for greater wealth retention.

Research via X and web sources (e.g., Atlantic Council’s CBDC tracker) reveals gems like Vanuatu—zero taxes, cashdriven, with residency at $130,000. Turkey’s citizenshipby-investment ($400,000) pairs crypto tolerance with dollar defiance. These sanctuaries prioritize autonomy over

control, culturally and structurally.

Master Crypto as a Shield

Crypto is the backbone of resistance, but execution matters. Self-custody is nonnegotiable—exchanges like Coinbase can freeze assets under pressure (e.g., 2022’s Tornado Cash sanctions). A hardware wallet, backed by a seed phrase etched on steel (try Cryptosteel), ensures control. Monero’s privacy thwarts tracking, while BTC’s decentralization defies bans. Crypto debit cards, like Ultimo, convert USDC to local currency at point-of-sale, sidestepping CBDC-only zones.

If a country bans crypto trades, relocation or peer-to-peer platforms (e.g., LocalBitcoins) keep funds alive. Example: In Serbia, a BTC-to-dinar swap at a local exchange buys groceries when Walmart rejects crypto. Technical tip: Run a Tor network for anonymity during trades, layering security.

Build a 48-Hour Escape Plan

Mobility is a form of insurance. Acquiring a second passport, such as from Saint Kitts for $150,000 or Turkey for $400,000, can help reduce visa delays. Residency visas, like Dubai’s Golden Visa with a property buy-in of $275,000, provide a foothold and offer prepaid rent as a buffer.

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Additionally, property can serve as an investment—$100,000 can buy a flat in Belgrade that can be rented out for $500 per month. To ensure a quick escape within 48 hours, having a go-bag ready with passports, a laptop, and $10,000 in mixed currencies (euros and Bitcoin) is advisable.

The Privacy Paradox: Official Narratives vs. Potential Realities

The official rhetoric surrounding CBDCs often emphasizes benefits like financial inclusion and combating illicit activities. Central banks frequently cite “helping the unbanked” as a primary motivation for CBDC development. This justification seems particularly tenuous in the United States, where approximately 4% of the population remains unbanked (many by choice).

Similarly, the argument that CBDCs will help catch “tax evaders” echoes previous initiatives like the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), which required foreign financial institutions to report on American account holders. While positioned as targeting bad actors, such measures often create collateral damage for law-abiding citizens seeking legitimate financial diversification, with some foreign banks now refusing American clients due to compliance burdens.

More concerning are the features that central banks have been reluctant to explicitly disavow:

Programmable Restrictions

Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) carry the potential for extensive programming that dictates how money can be spent. While the intention may be to manage economic stability and control inflation, it raises significant concerns about personal freedom. Imagine a scenario where spending on specific goods or services is restricted, leading to a feeling of being constrained in your choices. This could create a society where your purchasing decisions are closely monitored, and you might feel pressured to conform to certain “socially desirable” behaviors.

Furthermore, the idea that the government could track every penny you earn, produce, or spend feels quite invasive and can be alarming. It’s understandable to be concerned about the level of control this introduces over our financial lives, as it affects our ability to make independent choices. These developments deserve careful consideration and

open dialogue about balancing economic management and personal liberties.

Expiration Dates

Some CBDC proposals include time-limited currency—money with an expiration date that encourages spending rather than saving. This feature directly challenges the fundamental right to save and contradicts the traditional function of money as a store of value.

Surveillance Capabilities

The digital nature of CBDCs creates unparalleled potential for monitoring spending habits. Every transaction could be tracked, recorded, and potentially used to build profiles of individual economic behavior. This data could inform decisions about access to services, credit scores, or even healthcare eligibility in countries with nationalized health systems.

Crisis Control Mechanisms

The Bank of England has openly discussed using CBDCs to prevent bank runs during financial crises—effectively freezing access to funds when people need them most. This ability to instantly restrict liquidity could transform temporary banking crises into long-term personal financial disasters for anyone caught off-guard.

These capabilities represent a significant shift in the relationship between citizens and monetary authorities, potentially tilting the balance of power decisively toward centralized control.

The Cultural Dimension: Not All CBDCs Are Created Equal

A nuanced understanding of CBDC implementation requires acknowledging the cultural and political contexts in which they develop. Western nations experiencing economic decline and increasing social tensions may be more likely to implement restrictive policies than emerging economies or countries with recent experiences of authoritarian control.

Countries with aging populations and unsustainable entitlement systems face mounting pressure to control spending and monitor citizen behavior. Conversely, younger, growth-oriented economies in Southeast Asia, Africa, and parts of Latin America may view CBDCs primarily as tools for economic development rather than social control.

The cultural attitude toward cash also plays a significant role. While some Western countries are actively moving toward cashless societies, many regions in Asia and the Middle East maintain strong cash cultures. Hong Kong, for

instance, continues to embrace cash transactions despite its technological advancement—a reflection of cultural values rather than technical limitations.

This diversity of approaches creates a mosaic of global monetary systems rather than a monolithic CBDC regime. For the financially aware, this diversity represents opportunity rather than constraint.

Case Study: Western Decline vs. Eastern Pragmatism

The contrasting approaches to digital currencies between Western powers and Asian nations illuminate the cultural dimensions of CBDC development.

The United States, facing declining global influence with its dollar reserve status eroding from 73% at the turn of the century to 58% today, appears poised to use CBDCs as a tool to reassert control. With approximately 29% of the world under some form of U.S. sanctions, many countries actively seek alternatives to dollar dominance—creating a reactive environment where control mechanisms become increasingly attractive to Western policymakers.

Meanwhile, nations like Malaysia maintain a distinctly different healthcare and

financial privacy approach. Private medical facilities like Prince Court Medical Center offer world-class care at a fraction of Western prices without the privacy implications of nationalized systems that might leverage financial data to restrict services based on lifestyle choices.

This contrast highlights how financial privacy concerns intersect with broader issues of personal autonomy in healthcare, taxation, and daily economic life—and how these intersections vary dramatically across different cultural contexts.

Beyond Fear: Practical Strategies for Financial Sovereignty

Rather than succumbing to defeatism in the face of CBDC development, the forwardthinking can implement concrete strategies to preserve financial autonomy. The following approaches represent practical steps toward maintaining privacy and control in an evolving monetary landscape:

Diversifying Wealth Across Borders

Maintaining portions of wealth in physical assets in multiple jurisdictions creates privacy and security. Physical gold and silver stored in private vault facilities, international real estate holdings, and hardwallet cryptocurrency storage

all represent strategies for reducing exposure to any single monetary system.

While complete reporting compliance remains essential, the physical separation of assets across jurisdictions limits control mechanisms. For instance, a U.S. CBDC would have a limited impact on physical assets stored in Singapore or Malaysia.

Wealth protection starts with splitting assets. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin offer sovereignty, Monero provides privacy, and stablecoins like USDC ensure flexibility. Storing them in hardware wallets—secured in safe deposit boxes beyond a single government’s reach— keeps them safe from seizure. Offshore bank accounts in jurisdictions like Singapore or Georgia (the country) complement this, offering higher interest rates and lighter regulatory burdens than Western systems. Establishing a financial presence across multiple jurisdictions represents the most potent strategy for maintaining autonomy. Countries differ dramatically in their approach to financial privacy, taxation, and monetary control.

Filing required forms like the FBAR for Americans to report your offshore accounts are a small price for peace of mind—diversification isn’t

about evasion, but resilience. When Western CBDCs tighten, funds in Dubai or Tbilisi will likely stay liquid, untouched by programmable restrictions.

Smaller nations, particularly those with recent experience of authoritarian regimes, often demonstrate a more significant commitment to financial privacy. Eastern European countries like Serbia, which experienced oppressive control within living memory, may be less inclined to implement highly restrictive CBDCs than Western nations currently undergoing social and economic destabilization.

Similarly, nations with minimal taxation and limited government services have less incentive to monitor financial activity. Without extensive welfare systems to protect, these jurisdictions have reduced motivation to track spending habits or implement complex control mechanisms.

Alternative

Citizenship: Balancing Financial Inclusion with Personal Freedom

The tendency to focus solely on developments within one’s own familiar geopolitical sphere can lead to a distorted perception of the global landscape. The news cycles in Western countries often amplify concerns about CBDCs in nations similar to their own, creating an echo chamber of anxiety.

However, venturing beyond this familiar territory reveals a world of diverse perspectives and varying degrees of governmental intervention.

Consider nations that have historically maintained a degree of neutrality in global affairs, or those whose cultural values prioritize individual liberty and limited government oversight. These countries, often overlooked in mainstream financial discussions, may represent viable alternatives for those seeking refuge from the encroaching digital control in more heavily regulated jurisdictions.

Second passport programs offer the ultimate insurance policy against financial overreach. Citizenship by investment programs in countries like Saint Kitts and Nevis, Turkey, or Vanuatu provide internationally recognized legal status independent from one’s birth nation.

For Americans who face citizenship-based taxation regardless of residence, second citizenship can create options for potential renunciation

should financial restrictions become untenable. While tax obligations must always be met legally, having alternative citizenship provides leverage and options that those with single citizenship lack.

Different countries are likely to strike this balance in dramatically different ways:

• Nordic Model Countries like Sweden might prioritize efficiency and inclusion while implementing strong data protection laws and independent oversight bodies.

• Singapore Approach Emphasizing practical benefits and convenience while maintaining firm state oversight, potentially with stronger privacy in practice than in principle.

• Swiss Banking Tradition Countries with strong financial privacy traditions might implement CBDCs with robust privacy features as a competitive advantage.

• Emerging Market Focus Nations like India might prioritize inclusion and reducing corruption with less emphasis on privacy, viewing financial transparency as beneficial for development.

• Post-Authoritarian Caution Eastern European nations with recent authoritarian histories may be more

hesitant to implement surveillance capabilities, potentially building stronger privacy protections.

• Competitive Privacy Smaller jurisdictions might strategically offer privacy-enhanced CBDCs to attract capital from more restrictive regimes.

The cultural and political context will substantially determine implementation. Nations with strong civil liberties traditions and adequate checks on government power are more likely to implement meaningful privacy protections.

Banking Relationships

Establishing banking relationships in multiple countries—particularly those with strong privacy traditions and limited participation in automatic information exchange programs—provides essential financial flexibility. While tax compliance reporting remains necessary, maintaining accounts across different monetary systems reduces dependency on any single currency or central bank.

Countries with strong banking sectors but limited enthusiasm for CBDCs represent particularly attractive options for diversification. Notably, banks in many non-Western jurisdictions have significantly better safety records than their American counterparts, with

U.S. banks experiencing more failures than those in all other countries combined.

Contingency Planning

Developing a “48-hour plan” for relocating wealth and residence during financial crises represents prudent preparation rather than paranoia. Recent events like freezing bank accounts during civil protests in Canada have demonstrated that financial restrictions can materialize rapidly even in supposedly liberal democracies.

A comprehensive contingency plan might include maintained residences in multiple jurisdictions, distributed liquid assets, and clear procedures for rapid relocation. Far from representing “running away,” such planning embodies responsible stewardship of personal and family resources.

The Cultural Shift: From Fear to Strategic Empowerment

Perhaps the most critical aspect of navigating the CBDC landscape involves rejecting naive optimism and paralyzing fear in favor of strategic empowerment. The global monetary system is undergoing profound transformation, but this change creates opportunities alongside challenges.

The nations implementing the most restrictive CBDCs

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may experience talent and capital flight as entrepreneurs and investors seek more hospitable environments. Countries maintaining more substantial commitments to financial privacy may attract precisely the human and financial capital that drives economic development. In this environment, those who properly position themselves across multiple jurisdictions may experience not just preserved autonomy but enhanced opportunity.

The capacity to operate across different monetary systems represents a form of arbitrage— the ability to capitalize on the differences between systems rather than being constrained by any single approach. If anything terrible happens under one scenario that would catapult you into chaos, the other option will likely remain as a backup, softening any issues.

Rather than viewing financial privacy as a defensive posture, forward-minded survivors and those who refuse to fail to recognize it as an offensive strategy—a means of accessing opportunities unavailable to those confined within singlejurisdiction thinking.

The Technological Frontier: Crypto’s Complicated

Role

Cryptocurrencies represent both potential solutions and additional challenges

in the CBDC landscape. While Bitcoin and other decentralized cryptocurrencies offer theoretical resistance to monetary control, their practical utility depends entirely on integration with real-world economies.

If governments mandate exclusive use of CBDCs for retail transactions, major corporations will likely comply rather than risk regulatory consequences. This compliance would severely limit the practical utility of cryptocurrencies regardless of their technical capabilities.

However, cryptocurrencies maintained on hard wallets and stored securely represent an important component of a diversified approach. Combined with international banking relationships, alternative citizenship, and geographic diversification, cryptocurrency holdings create additional layers of financial resilience.

The key insight regarding cryptocurrency is recognizing its role as a component rather than a complete solution. Like

any other financial tool, its utility depends on integration within a comprehensive strategy rather than isolated implementation.

Navigating the New Monetary Landscape

The development of CBDCs represents neither the end of financial privacy nor is it a trivial concern. The reality lies between apocalyptic predictions and dismissive optimism—a complex landscape of varying approaches across different jurisdictions, creating both challenges and opportunities for the strategically positioned.

The programmable nature of CBDCs creates unprecedented potential for monetary control, but this potential will be realized differently across various cultural and political contexts. Western countries experiencing decline may implement more restrictive systems than emerging economies or countries with recent experience of authoritarian control.

If concerned about financial privacy and autonomy, the appropriate response involves neither panic nor complacency but strategic diversification across multiple jurisdictions. By establishing alternative citizenship, international banking relationships, distributed assets, and contingency plans, anyone can

maintain autonomy regardless of how CBDCs develop in any single country.

Perhaps most importantly, this approach represents not just defensive protection but positive empowerment— creating access to opportunities that single-jurisdiction individuals cannot reach. In a world of diversifying monetary approaches, those positioned across multiple systems gain not just security but enhanced prosperity.

Safeguards to Protect Individual Privacy in CBDC Frameworks

Several technical and policy safeguards could be implemented to protect privacy:

Zero-Knowledge Proofs - This cryptographic method could allow transactions to be verified without revealing underlying data, preserving privacy while maintaining system integrity.

Tiered Privacy ArchitectureImplementing different privacy levels based on transaction size (higher privacy for small everyday transactions, more

oversight for larger ones) could balance regulatory needs with privacy rights.

Legal Firewalls - Creating strong legal barriers between transaction data and government agencies not directly involved in financial regulation could prevent function creep.

Independent Oversight Boards - Civilian-led boards with technical expertise could provide transparent governance over data access requests.

Data Minimization Principles

- Designing systems to collect only essential information rather than creating comprehensive financial surveillance capabilities.

Offline FunctionalityEnsuring CBDCs can work without constant connection to central systems would reduce continuous tracking capability.

Sunset Provisions on Data

- Automatic deletion of transaction data after specific time periods unless legally required for investigations.

Constitutional or Treaty Protections - Embedding financial privacy rights in fundamental legal frameworks could provide stronger protection than regular legislation.

Complacency is Not an Option

By understanding the underlying motivations behind the push for CBDCs, recognizing the diverse global landscape of their implementation, and adopting a proactive strategy of diversification and internationalization, anyone can navigate this new financial frontier with greater confidence and security. The key lies in recognizing that while the world may be changing, the fundamental principles of financial prudence and the pursuit of personal freedom remain timeless. The time to act is now, to secure one’s financial future in a world where digital control is no longer a distant threat but a looming reality. By embracing a global perspective and taking concrete steps to protect our assets and privacy, we can ensure that the shadow of digital control does not eclipse our financial autonomy.

Alternative Financial Systems That Might Emerge

If CBDCs become overly restrictive, several alternative systems could gain prominence:

Community Banking

Renaissance - Local financial institutions could position themselves as privacy-focused alternatives to CBDC systems, offering limited but meaningful financial autonomy.

Privacy- Enhanced Stablecoins - Private sector entities might develop regulated but privacypreserving digital currencies that offer stronger protections than government alternatives.

Regional Currency Alliances

- Groups of nations might develop shared currencies with negotiated privacy standards, creating alternatives to dominant CBDC models.

Asset-Backed Private Currencies - Gold or other asset-backed private currencies might experience renewed interest, particularly in jurisdictions with strong property rights.

Evolved Cryptocurrency Systems - Next-generation cryptocurrencies designed specifically to interface with

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traditional financial systems while preserving core privacy features.

Barter Networks and Alternative Exchange Systems

- Formalized systems for nonmonetary exchange of goods and services might develop in communities seeking autonomy.

Privacy-as-a-Service Banking

- Financial institutions in privacy-friendly jurisdictions might offer specialized services designed to legally navigate restrictive CBDC environments.

The future of money is indeed changing, but for those who adapt strategically, this change offers as much promise as peril. By embracing international diversification and rejecting both fear and complacency, anyone can navigate the CBDC revolution with confidence and autonomy. What’s particularly interesting is that the competition between different approaches may actually benefit the world, as both nation-states and private entities compete to offer superior financial services with varying privacy characteristics.

The most likely outcome is not a single alternative system worldwide but a complex ecosystem of overlapping solutions catering to different needs and risk tolerances. The jurisdictional arbitrage opportunities created by varying CBDC implementations will likely drive innovation in financial privacy technologies and services to meet the demands the public makes.

The phrase often attributed to Warren Buffett states: “Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.”

As concerns about Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) increase, astute observers see not only potential threats but also extraordinary opportunities in the changing global financial landscape.

PEOPLE IN CRYPTO PEOPLE IN CRYPTO

In Conversation with Giacomo - Developer of HashBit

George Smith

Giacomo a.k.a.

@hashbitorg

Occupation: Creator and Developer of HashBit

Isat down for a conversation with the developer of a highly promising and new token project, HashBit. Discussing all things DeFi and Smart Chains with Giacomo, join us as we take an exclusive look into the world of token development, what HashBit is changing in the DeFi scene, and an exploration of how an independently released smart chain project was created.

Please introduce yourself and the project to the readers

Hello, my name is Giacomo, and I am the creator and developer of the HBIT project. I have several years of experience in the crypto world, and I started HBIT in May 2021 as a hobby. We started from scratch with the goal of solving various problems in cryptocurrency and DeFi.

HBIT HBC20 Smart Chain is a type of blockchain platform that is designed to be more flexible and customizable than a traditional blockchain. These chains typically allow for more advanced features, such as smart contract capabilities, and enable more efficient and faster transactions

compared to other blockchain technology. It’s a platform that allows developers to build decentralized applications (dApp) that can run on it and utilize the benefits of its features.

The HBC20 standard is a token standard used on HashBit Smart Chain, a blockchain network that is designed to be more efficient and faster than others while still allowing for smart contract functionality. This type of token standard enables more efficient and faster transactions, which can be useful for developers who are building decentralized applications on the network.

What exactly is HashBit?

The HBIT Blockchain is a crypto project where users have the possibility to do many things. The most common use for the average trader is the transfer of crypto between one wallet and another. In this context, HBIT, with its own Smart Chain, is among the most advanced and one of the fastest currently in circulation. Each transaction costs about 0.0000001$ and they are

confirmed and received in less than 5 seconds. Of course, the fast transfer is just a small part of many possibilities on the HBIT Smart Chain.

Advanced users can create their own applications on the chain, which can cover all fields, including financial applications, supply chains, video games and much more. HBIT has already created several applications that users use every day, for example, the DEX, where users buy and sell tokens in a completely decentralized manner. We also have wallets on Telegram and WhatsApp where using the well-known messaging applications, it is possible to hold, send and receive HBIT and Tokens on the Smart Chain.

Whether you are new or an expert, it’s not a problem; understanding how it works is very simple and can be learned in a very short time.

What benefits and utility values does HashBit

bring to crypto and the Binance Smart Chain?

The HBIT Smart Chain (HBC20) is a blockchain network that is designed to be more efficient and faster than others while still allowing for smart contract functionality. The potential benefits of any project that is built on top of the HBIT Smart Chain (HBC20) could include:

ƒ Faster and more efficient transactions: By using advanced technology and utilizing the capabilities of the HBIT Smart Chain, a project could potentially enable faster and more efficient transactions compared to other blockchain networks.

ƒ Lower transaction costs: Projects built on HBIT Smart Chain can benefit

from the lower transaction costs on HBIT Smart Chain compared to other networks.

ƒ Decentralized application (dApp) development: A project built on HBIT Smart Chain can enable the development of decentralized applications (dApps) that can run on it and utilize the benefits of its features.

ƒ Increased scalability: Projects built on HBIT Smart Chain can benefit from the increased scalability of the HBIT Smart Chain compared to other networks.

ƒ Improved security: The use of advanced technology and the security features provided by the HBIT Smart Chain could enhance the security of any project.

It’s important to note that these are only potential benefits, and it would be important to research the specific project and

PEOPLE IN CRYPTO PEOPLE IN CRYPTO

its features to understand the actual benefits it can bring to the crypto and HBIT Smart Chain.

What made you want to create HashBit?

To be honest, as a crypto enthusiast, HashBit was started as a hobby in my spare time to allow me to learn and understand more about how a blockchain works and what its real potential is in the world. As I worked on it, I discovered that the potential is enormous, and many other enthusiasts joined HBIT and shared my vision of crypto and blockchain.

Now our goal is to create a project that is accessible to everyone, not just based on the daily price of buying and selling, but to make it easily accessible and user-friendly, not only for those who know how cryptocurrencies work well.

Therefore, we have added the HBIT wallet on Telegram and WhatsApp, where using the chat (which is used every day by millions of people) you can interact with the blockchain in a completely safe and decentralized way. With these apps, everyone can understand and have an HBIT wallet at their fingertips. This is possible now, and the HBIT vision is to make the project a reference point for the future.

How does HashBit stand out from other BSC projects?

HBIT has been reborn as a token on BSC, starting the dream, which came true a month later with the launch of the HBIT Smart Chain (HBC20).

So HBIT now competes with other blockchains and is not just a Token with pre-set functionality, but it has grown and will continue to grow. Of course, the BEP20 token will always remain to increase visibility and exchange among users.

Will there be a place for Centralized Exchanges in the future, or are we headed toward complete decentralization?

My personal opinion is that there will always be a decentralized exchange. Centralization means that you have to “trust” someone in every area, not just centralized exchanges.

In a decentralized way, this problem does not exist. You have your own wallet, you buy and sell or exchange whenever you want, and your only concern is to keep your wallet safe, and you are the only one responsible. I personally use centralized exchanges very little, but I read lots of news about problems and closures. This makes us think and believe that we will soon move towards complete decentralization.

What does the future of HashBit entail?

With HBIT we are creating a long-term project, as described above, focused on daily use via well-known messaging and social apps.

I work every day to create and improve HBIT in a secure way. In less than two months, we have created more than any other project out there, new projects are being created on our Blockchain, and several investment companies are investing in HBIT because they have understood the potential. I don’t make forecasts, but the basics are there, and the idea is innovative; the future looks fantastic!

What are some words of advice for someone looking to invest in HashBit and general Smart Chain tokens?

If you want to invest in HBIT, try to understand the project as a whole and the future of what we want to create, not in one day but from now on and for a long time to come. For all tokens I always recommend thorough research on the basics, what they want to do, there are too many

projects that are created for a few weeks. Yes, you can make money (others lose) but HBIT wants to be a long term project.

Everyone always needs to do lots of research before investing any kind of amount in any project.

Lastly, given a tumultuous 2022, what direction do you see the crypto industry heading in throughout 2023?

I think that the crypto market doesn’t always have moments of ups and downs, although there are those who speculate on this. In my opinion 2023 will be a year of transition with stability and a slight increase, to then explode towards the last 2 or 3 months of the year and will continue to rise in 2024. However, I repeat, this is my personal opinion! Making predictions about these things is always risky but there are often patterns to follow.

PEOPLE IN CRYPTO PEOPLE IN CRYPTO

NAME:

MUJITABA SANUSI A.K.A. @ MUJIHPT

AGE: 21

LOCATION:

NORTHERN NIGERIA

OCCUPATION:

STUDENT STUDYING DEMOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL STATISTICS

Interview : MUJITABA SANUSI

Can you give me a quick introduction about yourself for the readers?

Hello there, my name is Mujitaba Sanusi, from Nigeria (northern Nigeria). I was born in 2001, and I live in Kebbi State Birnin Kebbi. I’m currently studying at Federal University Birnin Kebbi State, doing the course Demography and Social Statistics. It’s going very well so far!

How did you first get involved in crypto?

Well, I can’t forget this! I got involved in crypto because of a program called Inksnation, which I don’t have much info on it now because it’s almost 2 years ago, and can’t find much about it anymore. What I do know is that Inksnation was a program that aimed to reduce poverty in Nigeria and the rest of the world. I think at that time, they got over 5 million people to register under the program, which was really impressive.

What was the reason you invested in crypto?

After Inksnation and the problems it kept facing, I heard the guy that registered the programs talking about cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. So, from the way he explained it, I just felt like I needed to learn more about the whole industry, what I was investing in and understanding my reasons for

investing. I thought there was lots of potential behind crypto.

Do you remember what your first purchase/ investment was?

My first purchase was XRP because I thought it was a good entry purchase, but I quickly invested in more coins as I learnt more about the industry.

What benefits do you think cryptocurrencies bring to finance and the future of digital economies?

Low transaction costs firstly, because cryptocurrencies and blockchain don’t need an actual brick-and-mortar building to

exist. The costs associated with their transactions are minimal and efficient. You can send payments worldwide for no extra cost.

They can also bring a beneficial increase to economic activities. There is already an entire industry built around cryptocurrencies, and it’s held by institutions dedicated to supervising all the digital coin exchanges taking place throughout the world. Crypto is central to the future of digital economies, so as long as crypto is thriving, then so will digital finance.

Where do you see the industry heading within the next decade?

I’ll be honest, we’re going to dominate finance in the future! Many people are going to start using cryptocurrencies, but we need to get rid of scams and rug pulls first. It needs a clean-up, that’s the first step, but I do think it will all go. It’s just a matter of time. Within a few years we’ll be the biggest financial market.

What’s your price prediction for BTC and ETH during 2023?

Well, my prediction… I can’t say, haha! I think BTC will reach up to $200k, nearing the halving, and ETH ay settle at around $15/20k. I might be wrong, of course. It’s just my opinion and absolutely not financial advice!

CEX or DEX (Centralized Exchanges or Decentralized)?

I prefer to use decentralized exchanges because I feel more safe and secure compared to

I know how to use DEXs more than CEXs, and I think DEXs are more secure, safer, and just better. However, even with what has all happened recently, I kind of don’t want to say it, but I do like Binance.

centralized options. I know how to use DEXs more than CEXs, and I think DEXs are more secure, safer, and just better. However, even with what has all happened recently, I kind of don’t want to say it, but I do like Binance, haha!

Do you think shitcoins/ meme tokens benefit the industry? Do you think there will still be a place for them in the future?

Yes, meme tokens benefit the industry more than you probably imagine. Just look at Shiba Doge and Baby Doge, etc. They’ve made people millionaires and have directly granted financial freedom. I think meme coins will be even bigger in the future. A lot more investors will decide to invest, but for that, we need to create a way to stop scams and rug pulls in the DeFI scene. There are lots of specific blockchains now developed specifically for meme tokens, so these are a much safer and more viable option for DeFi investors these days.

Tell me some closing thoughts on your plans for crypto.

I want to invest 80% of my wealth in crypto. I want it to be on crypto because I believe in it, and I believe my money is safer in crypto. To be frank, I don’t see my myself backing out of crypto ever. Although I don’t know what will happen in the future, no one can say for

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I think meme coins will be even bigger in the future. A lot more investors will decide to invest, but for that, we need to create a way to stop scams and rug pulls in the DeFI scene.

sure. I often pray to Allah so that everything goes well and smooth, but you never know.

I don’t know my future, no one does, but one can hope. Allah can’t directly give me the money, it’s now my intelligence or knowledge that will bring it to me. Many people have the intelligence and knowledge but are still poor. You have to know the right steps. I can’t say anything more, I just hope I’ll reach my goal of financial freedom.

Lastly, what are some brief words of advice for someone just starting out in crypto?

My advice for someone that wants to invest is to learn as much as you can about crypto before you put any money in. Learn to manage your funds and learn about the industry. All you should want to do first is learn, learn, and earn, so you can avoid getting scammed by anyone.

Make sure to learn before you join in, do plenty of research, and have some fun. Thank you!

CRYPTO123

Name: Crypto123 (Telegram) a.k.a. @Poop2402 (Twitter)

Age: 43

Occupation: Private Caregiver for the elderly

Can you give me a quick introduction about yourself for the readers?

Of course. I’m 43 years old, and I’m a Private Carer for older people. I have been investing in crypto for over 2 years now, to many ups and downs. It’s been a wild ride.

How did you first get involved in crypto?

I was first introduced to crypto by my younger brother. He called me one day and said, “Hey, look at this,” and here I am two years later, still investing. I started learning more about crypto overall by watching YouTube videos, reading articles, and hearing from other people in the crypto space.

I just found myself very interested in it and enjoyed learning something new, plus I have made many friends from it all over the world, which is always a bonus. That’s one of my favorite things about crypto – the communities and the amazing people you can meet!

What was the reason you invested in crypto?

I invested in crypto because I was working seven days a week as a private carer for older people, and I needed a change. During covid, I realized how much my job took over my life. In fact, my job had practically become my life. I was too caught up in it all, overworking myself constantly. I wanted things to change. I wanted time as well as money so I could do

the things I enjoyed and spend more time with my family/ friends. Crypto was my escape and my answer.

Do you remember what your first purchase/ investment was?

My first purchase in Crypto was Shiba Inu, which was of course, a risky investment, but it was worth it at the time and successfully pulled me into investing. I first invested in May 2021 and had over 200 million at a 0.000008 average. However, I had to sell because of a loss of clients from my day job. I missed the heights of Shiba Inu, unfortunately, but it was a good learning curve.

What benefits do you think cryptocurrencies bring to finance and the future of digital economies?

Peer-to-peer trading. No need for a bank as a middleman.

We can deal directly with each other. With crypto, everyone can move vast amounts of money easily, and it’s borderless. It also brings fast and easy transactions to finance. There are a huge number of benefits.

Where do you see the industry heading within the next decade?

I think the amount of people in crypto will just grow more and more over time. Current world crypto adoption is at around 3-4%. Ease of use will massively accelerate the transition to cryptocurrencies. No need to swap it from Dollars to Pounds to Euros to pay someone. Just use various cryptocurrencies.

Banks are starting to lose their grip on global finance, and the secure, permissionless nature of blockchains are the main reasons why many bank transfers to crypto exchanges come with big scary warnings, “Are you sure?”, “is it safe?” Well, yes, actually, it is, but it’s a direct threat to your 17th-century way of doing business. It’s clear that something is brewing within the finance industry, and crypto is making waves.

What’s your price prediction for BTC and ETH during 2023?

BTC will track mostly sideways. ETH won’t do anything significant, either. 2025 is when we start to see big moves. More adoption, greater awareness.

The runup to the 2024 halving will be huge, and then after that, we’ll see another bull run (in my opinion).

Which altcoin do you think will be the most notable by the end of 2023?

I’m heavily involved in the PooChain community, so of course, I’ll say $POOP. To be fair, what started as just another memecoin ended up as a movement. The community is incredible, and the blockchain, with all the projects going on it, and the level of utility, it’s really something special. It was born from a vision that altcoin trading should be fun, and with my taste of getting rugged by scammers, fun was not on that list anymore.

PooChain is creating an environment where all projects are fully vetted before they are put onto the chain. They don’t control the liquidity, so they can’t pull it out and walk away with the money (“getting rugged”). Not to say that a coin can’t fade if they don’t quite work out the utility, but at least you won’t lose your money through rugs. It’s a safer option.

CEX or DEX (Centralized Exchanges or Decentralized)?

CEXs for converting crypto into fiat currencies and DEXs for everything else. If a DEX offered a way to turn crypto into cash, then it would be perfect. Moving forward, something

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like Bitrefill.com could be the solution, but we’ll see.

Do you think shitcoins/ meme tokens benefit the industry? Do you think there will still be a place for them in the future?

Absolutely, especially with more and more utility being offered by them. Earning a passive income from staking as a validator of meme tokens means I will never have to sell my initial investment. I can just live off of the rewards I earn instead. There are plenty of projects out there that allow investors to achieve this.

Tell me some closing thoughts on your plans for crypto.

I will definitely still be investing in crypto in the future. I believe it’s the way forward to make money and ultimately achieve financial freedom. Like I said previously, with the options of staking and earning a passive income. there’s no reason I can think of as to why I’d want to give up on investing in crypto.

Lastly, what are some brief words of advice for someone just starting out in crypto?

Always research projects before investing, and only invest what you can afford to lose. They’re the golden rules which everyone should know by now. Stay safe, everyone, and good luck!

PEOPLE IN CRYPTO PEOPLE IN CRYPTO

KENJI KONDO

Name: Kenji Kondo a.k.a. @dulytweet

Age: 42

Location: United States

Can you give me a quick introduction about yourself for the readers?

Sure, my name is Kenji Kondo; I’m 42 years old, and my Twitter is @dulytweet. I’m big into the NFT scene.

How did you first get involved in crypto?

I got involved in 2014, which is quite a few years ago now, and I heard about it for the first time during an office talk in the hotel where I worked in 2012. The

reason I first invested, however, was because of my own project I was working on at the time.

Do you remember what your first purchase/ investment was?

My first investment was called Educational. I didn’t buy it right away, though. I went to several meetings and events before buying. The first event I attended was TRANSACT14 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, which was mainly about payment gateway

systems. I believe there were only a couple of booths about BTC at that time. Crypto, as we see it today in all events, it wasn’t like that back then, but you could tell Bitcoin was starting to become a major subject at these kinds of events.

My first purchase was in a machine here in San Diego, there weren’t many BTC machines back then, and as I recall, a company here in San Diego was one of the first ones worldwide that began deploying them. There were maybe only 2

or 3 machines in San Diego, the first one was in downtown, and it looked like a lolly pop candy machine! The second was in Ocean Beach, this one looked much more professional and more like a real ATM machine.

After that, I started using localbitcoins and meeting people at Starbucks to buy. I was also using other apps like Liberty and Icoinpayou. And then, I finally moved onto exchanges, my first experience of which was Coinbase.

What benefits do you think cryptocurrencies bring to finance and the future of digital economies?

I think the most important thing is how all these changes will affect the consciousness of many people this next century. The distribution of wealth and the same opportunities for everybody, it’s just amazing how we are building a new civilization on top of the one that already exists. Digital finance is something from the future!

What’s your opinion on Sam Bankman-Fried?

I think he underestimated the system. FTX was based in Hong Kong, and then he moved to the Bahamas. One of his mistakes was using Alameda’s banking for FTX. I think he could have gotten approved in any of the banks in the Caribbean and eventually gained a partnership. I personally tried this; I got my LLC approved in Saint Vincent and Grenadines.

I reached out to a couple of banks to open a bank account, and many banks weren’t very friendly about the idea of operating with DeFi. They weren’t approachable to crypto businesses even with KYC standards and anti-money laundering certificates. But I’m sure SBF could have managed.

Leading up to the Bitcoin Halving in 2024, where do you see Bitcoin’s price during 2023?

It’s hard to tell. Regarding the halving, there’s always talk and tons of speculation about this scenario. People will start saying it’s already priced in, but then the BTC halving happens, and the price won’t move, and then people will be saying the pump is delayed … I’m sorry, but I hate giving predictions! But I do like to give good vibes by saying I’m always bullish on crypto. It’s the future.

Which altcoins do you think will be the most notable by the end of 2023?

I was never into meme coins, to tell you the truth. With

dogecoin back in 2014, the community thought it was a joke, not because of the dog’s name and logo, but because of the total supply. Back then, the crypto community was hard on the coin specifications, and it was a very small community that only gathered in Bitcointalk. If you invested in a coin with a total supply of billions, expect tons of questions from the community. It’s often not a good sign. So, I’m not sure which ones will be the most notable. It’s not really my scene.

CEX or DEX (Centralized Exchanges or Decentralized)?

BOTH! People think that everything decentralized and anonymous is good, and that’s how everything should be, but in my opinion, decentralized does not necessarily mean that it’s good for everybody. Cybersecurity is the most important thing. I use both, and yes, I lost with FTX big time. I lost some Solana and all my NFTs. I’m still inquiring if we are getting those back. However, I do see DeFi growing hugely in the future.

How did the losses from FTX affect you?

It’s sad. According to Forbes, I was the richest man in the metaverse at one point, but I’m not so sure about that. I was just goofing around! I minted 3 NFTs on FTX when Forbes

did this collection, and I just happened to get the #1, #19, and I sold one. I was in a small community, but I got to know a few of the members, and they’ve become some of my very good friends.

I only made about 1ETH from the one I sold, so I don’t think that quite qualifies for “richest man in the metaverse.” But anyway, I can’t access them now due to the FTX collapse. I was also collecting all the F1 races with the Mercedez partnership. I had many NFTs on FTX, and I’m sure a lot of people did as well. I asked around, and apparently, they said that if we ever get anything back, it will be years before all those assets are released. It’s all a mess, and it’s just disappointing.

What is your go-to source for finding out information about the crypto industry?

Many generic and popular sites like FX Street, CoinTelegraph, CoinMarketCap, Coindesk, Reddit, Bitcointalk. They’re all great news sources. There

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are many speakers on Twitter Spaces, which has become a hub for NFT and crypto gatherings as well. Kevin Rose and Gary Vee are the top NFT influencers and attract masses of people. I have to mention Bitalik Buterin of course as well.

I also follow some random Youtubers like George Gammon, Bitboy, CryptoBanter, Ivan on Tech, Eat The Blocks, Clear Value Tax… there are so many great influencers who are informative and fun to watch.

When do you think the current bear market will end, and why?

I think we will all know when that happens because of all the ingredients in place. FED, CBDC, regulations, new investors, investors that left and are now coming back, more innovation, but most importantly, positive news in everyday life. I can’t say when, but we’ll all know when it happens, and we’ll all rejoice!

What other investment do you have besides crypto?

I’ve got a few other investments. Farming, real estate, stocks, NFTs, domains. I collect some old currencies and memorabilia for my hobby. I’m also into collecting sports items like skateboards, baseball, soccer, and basketball items. All those kinds of things go up in value.

PEOPLE IN CRYPTO PEOPLE IN CRYPTO

If you invested in a coin with a total supply of billions, expect tons of questions from the community. It’s often not a good sign. So, I’m not sure which ones will be the most notable. It’s not really my scene.

Tell me some closing thoughts on your plans for crypto.

I stepped back from crypto after it dropped back in 2018, and I stepped back in again exactly on November 1st of last year. This is also advice I got from the crypto community; it’s too stressful to be a day trader!

Ohh yes… accumulating is part of the habit you create in this subculture. I always chip in $10 on the Coinstar machine when I go to the grocery store. The price is 1k more expensive… but for me it’s more about the habit of doing it regardless of the price... that’s my golden rule =)

Lastly, what are some brief words of advice for someone just starting out in crypto?

Educate about finance, don’t play with your feelings, crypto becomes super emotional, far more emotional than the stock market. It’s not just because of its volatility, but because of the subculture that has been created with new generations around crypto, all the FUD, hype, and speculation all over social media is just mind blowing! Stick to your plan, we all adjust along the way, but don’t get taken away by all the talk around. It is good to be informed but at the end of the day, it’s your decision on how you invest your money.

AI WILL BE THE DOWNFALL OF CRYPTOCURRENCIES

George Smith

CarlSagan once wrote that technology will be our downfall “because we have become powerful without becoming commensurately wise.” Reading this quote, it’s hard not to argue against it in the present age of increased artificial intelligence and automation. ChatGPT has stolen headlines all over the world this year. Schools are melting as “the death of the essay” appears on the front page of tabloid newspapers. Talented VFX artists are blurring the lines between fiction and reality

with deep fakes and faux edits. And somewhere, in a quieter corner of the world, AI trading bots are quickly developing into something that could change trading and investing forever. But how much can AI actually impact cryptocurrencies?

Trading bots, and the artificial intelligence behind them, aren’t a new concept. It just so happens that the development of AI has skyrocketed so suddenly that the potential of trading and investing with this strange new power has grown exponentially. Gone are the

days of having to find worthy crypto projects and plan out a course of action all by yourself. You can now let a robot invest and gain for you on the side, out of sight, out of mind. Alternatively (and perhaps more realistically), you can let a robot lose all your money, or at least the vast bulk of it! And that is where most of the danger in the relationship between AI and crypto begins.

As we all know, crypto is incredibly volatile. It’s nascent and developing, and the general population still has a

hard, iron-clad stance against it, not to mention media and political attitudes toward the industry. AI has a lot of potential to advance such an industry, but it has a greater potential to destroy it. The two technologies aren’t buddies, even though they intrinsically link and overlap. Both are new, powerful concepts that can change the world completely but there is an air of danger that looms over the entire notion of AI. Something so powerful and so unnatural has obvious moral implications, but the danger behind artificial intelligence, and its impact on crypto, doesn’t lie in its potential to destroy things but rather to be manipulated.

Where cryptocurrencies are a stance against control, monitoring and dystopian fever dreams, AI is an industry already being weighed down by its own success. Microsoft has pumped $10 billion into OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, and is reportedly entitled to 20% of the company’s revenue. The race to conquer Al, to develop the best technology, and to be

crowned king of the digital uprising draws similarities to the Cold War’s Space Race. It’s all about politics, money, and power. Companies don’t care about AI achieving greatness and helping global problems - they care about profit. Conquering AI means conquering commercialism, warfare, politics and media. It is quite literally world changing.

The growing connection between political worldwide affairs and artificial intelligence should be a major warning sign for web3 groups, cryptocurrency projects, as well as investors to steer clear. To achieve what cryptocurrency represents - privacy, decentralization, financial freedom - the industry should not feed into AI feuds and political developments. Crypto is above that, it represents more, and it has already achieved so much more. Both blockchain and artificial intelligence are such incredibly impressive developments that it’s truly difficult to describe their impacts with words. It’s not just trading bots when it comes to using AI in the crypto

industry. More and more companies, groups, and projects are beginning to rely on artificial intelligence to create their own ecosystems. It can be useful, but it’s time to draw a line and take a stance. Artificial intelligence will be the downfall of crypto if we keep heading in the direction we are. It threatens to tear the very fabric of the crypto revolution. With AI there is no decentralization, privacy, or security, only further herding and controlling.

AI follows a pattern; it represents learned behavior. This can be based on influenced behaviour and it’s often difficult to determine where AI has obtained its sources and information. Conversely, this learned behavior can be purposely crafted in a manipulated and orchestrated way. To think one has control over artificial intelligence would be an unwise decision. A commensurately wise decision, on the other hand, would be to disregard power and its pursuit to conquer.

To be commensurately wise should be more important than being powerful. Power brings nothing but corruption, pain, and suffering. Crypto is above the thirst for power and greed. By ensuring the industry never relies on AI, crypto can continue to develop and achieve success.

We would be all the wiser to acknowledge the threat of the ever-increasing power behind AI and the downfall of crypto.

Resource Guide

Crypto Magazine values our audience. We value your time and your investments, no matter where you choose to put your hard earned money. We understand how confusing it can be to do your own research, which is why we’ve compiled this list consisting of valuable knowledge and experience to cover every aspect of the cryptoworld. Whether you’re new to cryptocurrency, or you’ve been involved for years, we hope that you find value within the pages and people we choose to highlight as a reputable source for making your crypto journey a positive one.

YOUTUBERS

JChains

2.62K Subscribers

JChains is a big name in the Crypto influencer game. Learn about the exciting world of cryptocurrencies & how they’re revolutionizing the way we think about money & value. From Bitcoin to Ethereum, JChains covers all the major players in the crypto space & keeps you up-to-date on the latest trends & developments.

Coffeezilla

1.21m Subscribers

Coffeezilla takes aim at anyone involved in scams. Earlier this year he shook the crypto-sphere by claiming to uncover a billion dollar fraud, Safemoon. He does his due diligence to uncover and call out scams, fraudsters, and fake gurus that prey on the unknowing, innocent people that are being deceived by projects, developers, and even influencers.

CryptoDeb

7k Subscribers

CryptoDeb is a kind soul, with a welcoming personality. She gives you honest insight into what projects she’s bullish on, what to look for to avoid losing money, and in-depth analysis of projects that her followers want to know more about. If you see her on a livestream, feel free to ask in the comment section what she thinks about your favorite project, but be prepared. If it looks like a sketchy project, she doesn’t pull punches, and will definitely let you know why she doesn’t feel it’s a good investment.

GROUPS

Whale Coin Talk

24k Members

Whale Coin Talk, is Moby Media ` s discussion group on Telegram, a leading Web3 media platform and one of the biggest, focused on crypto, DeFi, TradFi, gaming, and technology. It offers daily AMAs, educational content, and news to a diverse community of investors, from beginners to experts, fostering informed decision-making and blockchain adoption.

Space Lounge

2.4k Members

If you’re looking for a great atmosphere, with amazing people, that covers everything from the next moonshot token, to celebrity interviews, crypto education, and everything else crypto, Space Lounge has a seat for you. Space Lounge not only hosts AMAs, conducts interviews, and posts regular crypto education series in their Telegram group, they’ve partnered with DYOR Media, which expands their livestream Telegram broadcast to YouTube, Twitter Spaces, and can also be streamed to multiple other Telegram groups simultaneously. If you think that’s impressive, go check your Roku streaming device and search for Space Lounge. Grab your popcorn and enjoy the show.

Crypto Street Squad

3k Members

Don’t let the number of members fool you. The experience and knowledge of this group far exceeds that of some of the top Fortune 500 companies boardrooms. The only difference is, you can join and engage in the conversation. Their voice chat is open 24 hours a day, and everyone is encouraged to join. In Crypto Street Squad you will find decades of knowledge from some of the most forward thinking minds in the crypto space. If the conversation needs brutal honesty, that’s what you’ll get. If you’re looking for unbiased opinions, pro-tips, education, best or worst moves of the day, you will most certainly find that here. Whether you’re just getting started in crypto or you’re a seasoned vet, CSS has what you didn’t know you needed. Resources galore, and wisdom abound, Crypto Street Squad is a must have group to add to your list.

The Block News Feed

27K subscribers

The Block News Feed is the official Telegram channel of The Block, a leading source for crypto and blockchain news. With 27,846 subscribers, it delivers real-time updates, in-depth articles, and analysis on cryptocurrencies, DeFi, NFTs, and Web3 developments to keep its community informed.

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