Long Reads Sunday #72.
These are the ideas, news and content that defined the last week in crypto, including multi-collateral DAI on the horizon; the surge in crypto derivatives; and the rise of #DissidentTech.
Strap in kiddos, it’s long reads time! 👇
These are the ideas, news and content that defined the last week in crypto, including multi-collateral DAI on the horizon; the surge in crypto derivatives; and the rise of #DissidentTech.
Strap in kiddos, it’s long reads time! 👇
2/ This LRS starts, like everything on the internet, with porn. On Thursday, news broke that PayPal would be blocking all transaction to @PornhubHelp models. It was a tailor-made “bitcoin fixes this” moment
3/ The point was not that this PayPal block would impact most people, but the reminder that, to an alarming extent, technology controls us as much as we control it. This is why so many are getting more and more excited about the concept of #DissidentTech
4/ #DissidentTech was all over crypto Twitter this week. See for example @protonmail affirmation of HODLing
or @AaronvanW latest on a new idea that could improve bitcoin privacy
or @AaronvanW latest on a new idea that could improve bitcoin privacy
5/ On Unconfirmed, @LauraShin interviewed an anonymous developer of @hkmaplive, one of the first Hong Kong protest groups to accept crypto on App Store rejection, crypto and protest tech and more.
6/ Keeping in mind the caveat to verify, not trust, some of the most interesting #DissidentTech news of the week came from @fund_unknown, who announced a fully anonymous $75m bitcoin fund for investing in privacy, anonymity and crypto projects.
7/ One of the common threads of #DissentTech is the battle against state and corporate surveillance. On the latest @defiancecast, @PeterMcCormack put that conversation in the context of China with @BaldingsWorld
8/ Indeed, just as it has been for months, China continued to be a key point of discussion in crypto. This week it was reports of a crackdown on crypto trading - the excitement around which had gone up in the wake of a recent pro-blockchain shift
9/ Seemingly reinforcing this, China’s Twitter equivalent Weibo shut down the accounts of projects like @binance and Tron - although other crypto project accounts remained up and running
10/ For some context on what the actual state of crypto, bitcoin, and blockchain is in China, check out these slides on the “Top 5 China Myths" @DoveyWan from her presentation at @CoinDesk #InvestNYC earlier this week
11/ Speaking of #InvestNYC - I spoke there on a panel featuring @La__Cuen @DoveyWan and @TheStalwart on the state of the crypto conversation and the relevance of memes. @CoinDesk’s @Nate_DiCamillo with the summary thread
12/ Also at #InvestNYC, CFTC Chairman @ChairmanHeath talked with @mikejcasey about the state of US crypto regulation and the possibility of more crypto derivative products
13/ The derivative space continues to heat up. @Bakkt seems poised to offer a cash-settled futures option while CME announced the launch of BTC options
14/ The derivatives space - and the idea of institutional crypto more broadly, is on of the 7 parts of the “Current State Of Crypto Markets” section of @CoinsharesCo’s massive Mary Meeker-esque trends report. If you read one thing this week, make it this.
15/ And speaking of well-researched tomes, check out this huge piece from @Timccopeland on the history of Binance, one of the undeniably most significant and influential companies in our industry
16/ If the history of exchanges is up your alley, check this epic 5000 word piece by yours truly & @nomics @ClayCollins. We also did a 2-part podcast on it, going way back to the Bitcointalk message that announced the first BTC exchange in Jan 2010. blog.nomics.com/essays/crypto-…
17/ Since we’re discussing epic pieces, I also can’t recommend highly enough @PhilJBonello’s “Sovereign Individual” Investment Thesis. This is a new fund waiting to happen
18/ Speaking of new funds, @ConsenSys @samcassatt has departed and announced a new fund called “Aligned Capital,” looking at transformations in the global financial system, physical and mental health, and AI + human beings. Should be interesting to watch!
20/ Of course, the big discussion in DeFi this week was all about upcoming launch of Multi-Collateral DAI. For an overview, check out @MakerDAO’s “everything you need to know" post
21/ Looking at the financial implications, @Rewkang explored whether or not the launch of multi-collateral DAI will actually result in people purchasing MKR. The results? A firm maybe.
22/ Still, there are many who go into the age of multi-collateral DAI with skepticism. @Lex_node believes it will be there “live long enough to see yourself become the villain” moment.
23/ I’m *sure* there will be much more on MakerDAO/MCD next week, so for now, let’s do just a few more articles and a few congrats and get you outta here and back to your families.
24/ Last week, everyone was commenting on @RayDalio ‘World Has Gone Mad.’ Well, this week, @Breedlove22 writes a follow up open letter that articulates why bitcoin is the perfect antidote to the world Dalio describes.
25/ You probably recognize @rhythmtrader from having the absolutely snappiest bitcoin meme twitter posts in the game, but he isn’t afraid to go long reads either. See his latest on the coming generational wealth transfer and what it might mean rhythmofbitcoin.substack.com/p/bitcoin-and-…
@Rhythmtrader 26/ @_ConnerBrown_ grabs the Econ 101 soapbox for this important one on why people shouldn’t look at bitcoin as deflationary, and what bitcoin does to prevent deflationary crises
27/ Anyone who has been following LRS or 3@3 for the last few months knows that there’s basically nothing more interesting to me than the global digital currency wars. In this op-ed for @Coindesk, @jerallaire argues that this war has three distinct fronts coindesk.com/three-fronts-i…
28/ Lastly, some congrats are in order. @donnie and te fine folks at @bitski (digital wallet aiming at mainstream adoption) and @twobitidiot & the excellent @messaricrypto both announced successful fundraises this week. Here’s to good actors working to make the space better
29/ And of course, I have to close on the most important congrats of all. Everything we do here comes back to trying to make a better world for our families. So to @APompliano & @polina_marinova, here’s to yours!
30/ And there it is! It's a wrap! As always, you can get LRS via email at getrevue.co/app/issues/cur… - the email comes with a narrative intro as well for those busy souls who just want the TL;DR on the big theme they should care about.
31/ Oops! Wrong link. The correct subscribe link is getrevue.co/profile/nlw
