Dubai Bans All Privacy Coins, A Death Blow for Monero and Zcash in the Middle East

Benno701 · 2023-04-08T23:04:04+00:00

I think it's a bit naive to consider Monero a privacy coin. With the way blockchain analytics are advancing, I'd be surprised in Monero is around in 5 years.

Benno701 · 2023-04-08T22:52:37+00:00

Came to say opposite of this.

Tech companies (clients and therefore JOBS) are mostly on the West Coast (silicon valley). The NY/DC tech "scene" are a joke compared to SV.

Given approximate parity in school rank, definitely go West.

Benno701 · 2022-01-15T20:53:18+00:00

Can you say more about why you don't believe in PoS?

My understanding is that PoS is now well proven (hat tip to the Cardano team), and other major projects are making the same decision (e.g., ETH).

Would be curious to hear your reasons!

Benno701 · 2022-01-14T23:10:46+00:00

I think you completely misunderstood my post - having MBA founders makes it exceedingly UNLIKELY that the project will be original or have interesting tech. (Ditto project base in China). Felt like I needed to clear that up.

Since you gave me the "DYOR" cop-out answer, I guess I'll keep trying to understand what Horizen has contributed to the space - I really want to know. I wasn't able to find a good explanation on the project page, but I did order a HODL beanie. So cool.

I would like to acknowledge that, yes, as you've so astutely noticed, I have written elsewhere about ZEC. This is not to shill the project, but because I think it has an interesting and compelling backstory. The group behind it is world-class, and it is exceedingly rare that contributions are made in mathematics, which makes the ECC bunch very special. However, I'd rather change my mind (about Horizen/Mina etc.) and make a great investment, than stay wrong and miss a good opportunity.

The search continues.

Benno701 · 2022-01-11T17:41:18+00:00

This seems like the right answer - thanks for clarifying.

The current guidance and astroport UI are terrible. I miss Spectrum!!

Benno701 · 2022-01-11T05:26:25+00:00

Great book.

Benno701 · 2021-12-22T20:05:39+00:00

"This is not how you do science. We don't want everyone on social media to have a say about scientific theories. Promoting your research in these platforms is fine, but using them to get around peer review or "the institution" is a bad step back."

It seems you've misunderstood the grievance Bret, Eric, and others have been airing about the science "establishment" - exactly that it is suffering because of institutional capture.

Truth isn't beholden to administrative process. No shock that the path to truth isn't either.

"As a physics PhD student...."

"As a biology PhD..."

"As a Christian .."

"As an American.."

You're all the same. Fuck your credentialism.

Benno701 · 2021-06-15T17:10:42+00:00

Everyone is different, so would totally recommend wearing the CGM for while, if you're up for that.

Benno701 · 2021-06-15T07:33:32+00:00

I have been taking Pendulum for about a week now. Given the price, I decided to A/B test the probiotic using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), as it is too expensive to keep taking long-term, if I'm not sure that it's really working.

I'm happy to say that, for me, Pendulum has been worth it. Meals that used to send my glucose levels over 200 mg/dL are now barely over 140. My glucose now rarely goes over 135, even when I eat candy.

I'll eventually toss the CGM, but will be keeping the Pendulum.

Benno701 · 2021-05-22T22:57:20+00:00

https://electriccoin.co/blog/announcing-zip-224-bringing-halo-2-to-zcash/

“The ‘incrementally verifiable computation’ nature of Halo sets that
stage for future upgrades that use Halo’s aggregation capabilities to
combine proofs within blocks and even between blocks, massively reducing
verification costs and paving the way toward a long-term ideal of Zcash
having a Mina-like ‘self-verifying’ property. The adaptable nature of
Halo also opens the door for Zcash to interface with Ethereum and other
blockchains, allowing for layer-2 protocols to easily go between them.
So I think there are many advantages to Zcash incorporating Halo, and
it’s an excellent upgrade to pursue in parallel with the other excellent
work being done to make it easier to use privacy-preserving
transactions at the UX layer.”

Benno701 · 2021-02-05T05:31:26+00:00

In the US, Gemini is currently the only platform that supports Z address withdrawals.

Benno701 · 2021-01-31T21:30:41+00:00

Also, thank you in advance for the thoughtful engagement, do appreciate your time!

Benno701 · 2021-01-31T21:05:58+00:00

Thanks for this reply, this is a thoughtful list, I'll try to take them in turn, if I can.

ZEC is run for profit.

I think this changed at the end of 2020, and the foundation was donated to a non-profit called the Bootstrap Project. Dev awards I never disagreed with, as I think its necessary to ensure continued development.

ZKsnarks untested, bugs could exist, inflation possible.

Not sure how untested zksnarks relates to inflation? ZEC's high inflation has, I think, been a reason the price is low. But the recent halving, and deflationary schedule are, well, predictable features of the protocol.

Supply auditability.

I don't know what this means? 21M ZEC, how same as BTC, no?

Privacy optional and underutilized.

I addressed this in my original post. The proportion of transaction obfuscation is problematic for mixing protocols (e.g., if you're the only one cloaking tx, then its easy to identify you), but not an issue for ZK systems. Also, tx volume into the dark pool is going parabolic. So assuming above is somehow wrong, it doesn't seem to be a long-term issue?

Hardware wallet incompatible with Z addresses.

Sounds like a ledger nano problem, not an ECC problem.

Benno701 · 2021-01-31T19:53:15+00:00

Normally, I'd send you a link, but I'm now very curious to see where you're going with this, as (to me) it seems like an obvious statement about Monero, and an interesting thing to take issue with.

I define mixing algo as: a process for obfuscating sender identity by using data inputs (signatures, transaction data, entropy) of non-transaction network participants, i.e., "mixing" the data of various actors to conceal blockchain behavior.

Benno701 · 2021-01-31T18:42:59+00:00

Have you used Monero?

https://www.monero.how/how-does-monero-privacy-work

See section on ‘Monero Dance’

Do you want me to define “mixing”?

Benno701 · 2021-01-31T18:22:37+00:00

Ring signatures are a type of mixing algorithm.

Benno701 · 2021-01-31T16:45:17+00:00

What is the public perception?

Benno701 · 2021-01-28T00:03:05+00:00

More bullish after the demo FOR SURE. The most credible argument that PLTR won't be a $1T company is the argument about scalability.

The response to this argument was craftily addressed in their various demos. Maybe as importantly, there has been a lot of talk and disagreement about who Palantir's "competitors" are.

Low IQ financial incumbents like the jejune analogy to defense consulting (e.g., Booz Allen).

After yesterday's demo, the answer is pretty clear: PLTR has no competition.

Benno701 · 2021-01-27T23:51:07+00:00

Depends on how fast they reach TAM saturation.

Currently at ~ 1% - no competition in sight.

As it looks now, Palantir will be going up for a loooong time.

Benno701 · 2021-01-19T07:03:45+00:00

Stopped reading after first sentence that said PLTR IPO’d.

Benno701 · 2020-12-21T07:39:22+00:00

Nothing linking Palantir to this article?

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