#sterlin lujan

[thefreethoughtprojectcom]

This article not only examines the current problem with modern data storage techniques, but provides solutions to decentralized data storage and how to guarantee robust data durability in nearly every scenario.

Read More: https://thefreethoughtproject.com/solutions/decentralised-data-for-a-decentralised-future

[churdtzu]

Last month I had the pleasure of interviewing Sterlin Lujan, otherwise known as the Psychologic-Anarchist, and proponent of relational anarchy or compassionate anarchy. Sterlin believes that we can lead the world to liberty by relating to people on an individual level, listening to them carefully and demonstrating peace through our own actions.

Sterlin is articulate and precise as an interviewee, and I'm sure you'll gain something from watching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAI5zhQm_Sk

[thepause]

Can Anarchism Save The Planet with Sterlin Lujan and Daniel Pinchbeck

Can Anarchism Save The Planet with Sterlin Lujan and Daniel Pinchbeck

Anarchast Ep.449

Jeff Berwick discusses saving the planet with Sterlin Lujan and Daniel Pinchbeck. Topics include: climate change vs global warming, run away feedback, the troubling political situation, the psychedelic experience and political awakening, buying the Amazon to protect it, can business be just as evil as government, is Libertarianism itself a conspiracy? ideology vs core principles,…

[dashpaynews]

Bitcoin Cash Ambassador Sterlin Lujan on Drugs, Working for Bitcoin.com, World Adoption Cryptocurrency ambassador Sterlin Lujan talks about his journey from Walmart to Bitcoin.com, where he served as a news editor and later communications ambassador, representing Bitcoin (and later Bitcoin Cash) at conferences across the world.

[bobbynolanios88]

Cryptocurrency, blockchain conference set for New Orleans – New Orleans CityBusiness

Cryptocurrency, blockchain conference set for New Orleans – New Orleans CityBusiness

A conference on cryptocurrency and blockchain is coming to New Orleans.

The Crypto Current Conference is scheduled March 14 and 15 at the New Orleans Jazz Market. Speakers include Sterlin Lujan with Bitcoin.com, Carl Fravel with Decentraland and Jacob Pouncey with Saxo Bank.

Crypto Current, a platform founded by Richard Carthon of Carthon Enterprises., expects more than 300 people to attend and learn more about current topics and projects. The conference aims to “bridge the gap between people that are new to crypto and thought leaders in the space,” a news release said.

To sign up for free CityBusiness Daily Updates, click here.

Source link http://bit.ly/2Rv5cQf

[bowsetter]

Why Some Crypto Companies Consider KYC and AML Compliance Unnecessary

When it comes to cryptocurrency regulation, there is a lack of consensus on how to protect investors. Criminal activity such as fraud, hacks and theft is prevalent, not only in the crypto realm, but in the traditional financial world too.  Some exchanges have deemed know your customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) compliance as unnecessary, however, claiming it infringes on the user’s right to privacy. 

Also read: Following the Crypto-Anarchist Dream: 3 Reasons to Reject KYC and AML

Crypto Exchanges Refuse KYC

There are a number of crypto exchanges doing everything in their power to avoid having to introduce KYC. Ethfinex’ Trustless DEX launched without KYC, having pointed out that it is impossible to obscure the source of a person’s funds: every transaction is visible and recorded forever onchain. Cryptocurrency exchange Hodl Hodl allows traders to swap cryptocurrencies without the need to undergo compliance. These exchanges require no lengthy signup process and no interminable wait for KYC checks to be approved, but such platforms are the exception rather than the rule. For legal and regulatory reasons, exchanges and similar financial organizations within the crypto sector are usually obliged to perform KYC. 

From Crypto Anarchism to Close Regulation

The concept of Bitcoin was born around 2008 during the financial collapse. Originally, cryptocurrencies emerged as a means to allow privacy-oriented value storage and transfer to take place. Even before Bitcoin’s inception, crypto anarchists were employing cryptographic software in order to avoid scrutiny and potential prosecution while sending and receiving information over networks in an effort to protect their privacy and political and economic freedom. A central element to this philosophy is the inherent distrust of states in favor of individual sovereignty and self-determinism.

In a recent op-ed, Bitcoin.com’s Sterlin Lujan wrote of the crypto anarchist dream being financially independent and removed from the state apparatus, while Wendy McElroy, the author of The Satoshi Revolution, has questioned what is meant by “the law.” She writes that a government should not be allowed to monopolize its citizens’ financial affairs as it monopolizes so many other aspects of their lives. “The term [the law] refers to nothing more than the rules that identify and regulate a system. When the system is human society, discussions of law tend to become matters of power because some people want to dominate,” writes McElroy. 

Some Laws Do More Harm Than Good

The crypto world has often been dubbed the Wild West in dire need of regulation and direction. But is that really the case? There is evidence to show that instances of money laundering and other financial crimes are significantly lower in the crypto space than they are in the traditional financial sector. Onerous KYC and AML regulations also serve to deter new entrants, increase compliance costs for crypto companies, and arguably stifle innovation.

Kraken exchange has complained of the cost of compliance, stating that the “cost of handling subpoenas (regardless of licenses) is quickly becoming a barrier to entry.” Rather than deter criminals and increase transparency, some argue that all KYC/AML does is financially exclude those who lack the documentation to prove their identity – a particular problem for the world’s 1.7 billion unbanked. While some exchanges, such as Binance, are famously KYC free, its decision to partner with blockchain forensics firm Chainalysis is evidence that Binance is taking its regulatory obligations seriously. The crypto exchange, the world’s largest by trading volume, is now preparing to introduce KYC for its customers, mirroring the actions of other exchanges such as Kucoin that have similarly caved in.

Despite KYC and AML being a multi-billion dollar industry, critics remain convinced that the practice does more harm than good. While some exchanges are able to evade compliance through operating offshore and prohibiting U.S. investors from signing up, the majority have no choice but to bow to regulatory demands or face the consequences.

Do you support KYC and AML? Let us know in the comments section below.

Images courtesy of Shutterstock.

Need to calculate your bitcoin holdings? Check our tools section.

The post Why Some Crypto Companies Consider KYC and AML Compliance Unnecessary appeared first on Bitcoin News.

READ MORE http://bit.ly/2Fo05KY

[briefnewschannel]

Critiques on Crypto and Sterlin's Response – Op-Ed Bitcoin News

Critiques on Crypto and Sterlin’s Response – Op-Ed Bitcoin News

The following opinion editorial is a Jacobin Podcast review written by the author Sterlin Lujan, the chief risk officer with Cryptospace. The Jacobin Podcast episode called: “Dig: Cryptocurrency w/ Edward Ongweso Jr & Jacob Silverman,” touches upon “cryptocurrency, NFTs, Elon Musk, the metaverse, meme stocks, and techno-utopianism amid the crushing reality of our neoliberal…

[coinmarked]

Are Decentralized Crypto-Exchanges the Solution to Attacks? Within the last four years, up to $1.3 billion worth of crypto-currency has been stolen through hacks that have occurred on crypto-currency exchange platforms. According to Miko Matsumura, CEO of Evercoin, a non-custodial crypto-currency exchange, the biggest problem for these exchange platforms is the fact that they are centralized (also known as custodial). Simply explained, Within the last four years, up to $1.3 billion worth of crypto-currency has been stolen through hacks that have occurred on crypto-currency exchange platforms. According to Miko Matsumura, CEO of Evercoin, a non-custodial crypto-currency exchange, the biggest problem for these exchange platforms is the fact that they are centralized (also known as custodial). Simply explained, custodial exchanges hold users’ money for them and also have control over their private keys. These private keys are what users use in order to access their funds. The fact that an entity holds these keys on behalf of all the users puts the users’ funds at risk. If a hack were to occur on a custodial platform, which we have seen before, these hackers will have access to the users’ keys, thus allowing them to access their money. Of all the problematic practices that centralized exchanges are known for, critics have raised the most concern about this one in particular. Matsumura has urged users to avoid using exchanges that will require them to give over their private keys. Under no circumstances should users give their private keys to an exchange or any other entity. Doing so can make their accounts vulnerable, and this could lead to catastrophic results should an exchange platform be infiltrated. The numerous hacks that have occurred on custodial exchanges have caused many investors to think twice about investing in crypto-currency. The first way these non-custodial exchanges can calm investors’ fears is through explaining the added security that decentralized exchanges offer. Jay Zhou, CMO of Loopring, a protocol for decentralized crypto exchanges, explained that due to the decentralized nature of the exchanges, users will always have their assets in their wallets. A wallet is a term used for the storage space of users’ crypto-currency. There are two types of wallets – a hot wallet (that refers to an online wallet for storing cryptocurrency) and a cold wallet (an offline wallet that usually comes with password-protection). It is usually advised that users – and exchanges – keep the majority of their funds in cold wallets to prevent cybercriminals from accessing all their money. Michael Ou, CEO of CoolBitX, the creator of cold wallet storage system Coolwallet, seconds this saying that “Exchanges should implement multiple hardware wallets plus multiple authorization for internal transactions.” Exchanges should also “offer hardware wallets to every user” and “ask users to keep the coins in their own hardware wallets [in order] to reduce the coins collected as much as possible, and avoid the exchange wallet from becoming a honey pot for hackers,” adds Ou. By taking matters into their own hands, users don’t have to put their trust in a third party to handle any of their assets or settle any trades or disputes. This gives users total control, allowing them to feel comfortable about where their money is being held. In order for decentralized exchanges to become successful, companies must have basic crypto-currency trading knowledge and experience before launching such an exchange, Zhou added. Remarks from Kenny Shih, executive director at Coinsuper, a Hong Kong based exchange, supported Zhou’s recommendation. Shih mentioned that traditional institutions (e.g. banks) want to know that an exchange is operating legitimately. Simply put, they want to ensure that the exchange is trading with investors who are qualified and legitimate. Transparency is important for investors and institutions seeking to invest in crypto-currency because they need to know that their funds are being traded on the platform. Allaying the concerns of these traditional institutions would go a long way in attracting more mainstream investors to cryptocurrency. While the decentralized exchanges continue to grow, centralized exchanges can focus on improving their security in order to prevent more hacks from occurring. The less hacks that occur successfully, the more credible crypto-currency exchanges will appear to mainstream society. Kiran Raj, Chief Strategy Officer at Bittrex, mentioned that security is an integral part of blockchain technology, “Centralized exchanges serve a key role in the blockchain ecosystem by combatting malicious actor; providing market transparency and price discovery; as well as a secure platform for increased participation.” The presence of reliable security is what will draw more mainstream investors into the crypto-world. The public needs to know that their investments – their money – are safe.  Ou describes the situation in three parts: as hacks scare off potential investors, exchanges can reduce the rate of hacks by encouraging users to use cold wallets, thus “The reduction of hacks will make potential investors feel more comfortable to participate in the crypto market.” Investors will feel more encouraged to invest in crypto-currency once they know that their assets will be with an exchange they can trust. One of the reasons the mainstream world feels they are not ready for decentralized exchanges is due to the anonymity that is often seen as a benefit for users. Many institutions fear that this will promote illegal entities to make use of these platforms to launder their money. Shih emphasized that crypto-currency exchanges also need to take regulation seriously. Incorporating means such as KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) is a way to win the trust of mainstream investors and financial institutions. KYC and AML involve the verification of users of exchange platforms – especially detailing where they source their funds and whether they are being traded in a legitimate way. But Sterlin Lujan, Communications Ambassador at Bitcoin.com suggests that decentralised exchanges are more in line with the “purpose of cryptocurrency” i.e “to maintain user privacy, freedom, and anonymity” because of these KYC regulations. Centralized exchanges comply with Know Your Customer and Lujan explains that “In this regard, “KYC” regulations are antithetical to the spirit of cryptocurrency. Many crypto-holders prefer to keep their identity to themselves as they trade coins.” The concern that the sensitive information provided through KYC  could also be lost to hack is “just one of many reasons why decentralized exchanges are so important and why they are emerging,” adds the executive. Matsumura recommended that all exchanges conduct frequent security and penetration tests in order to ensure that their systems are always free from security flaws. Penetration tests involve the process of identifying any major security flaws on the platform. Security flaws can never be taken for granted. The presence of one alone can spell disaster for any platform. Hosho founder, Yo Sub Kwon, one of the major blockchain leaders in blockchain security, supported Matsumura’s recommendation with his statement: “Exchanges should do the bare minimum by getting annual penetration tests. They should be actively having their security tested, with every feature added or significant code changed often. We also encourage all exchanges to implement an ongoing bug bounty program to award hackers for their efforts rather than penalizing them or encouraging them to go to black markets.” Bug bounty programs are rising in popularity; with companies like PolySwarm, a decentralized threat intelligence community, encouraging white hat hackers – cybersecurity experts who use their skills for good reasons – to participate in identifying security flaws on a variety of online platforms. Simply explained, a bug bounty program involves a group of white hat hackers screening platforms for any irregularities or security flaws that could lead to future problems. These hackers are rewarded for their work and platforms are able to test the security on their platforms, preventing any malicious entities from infiltrating their system. Steve Bassi, CEO of PolySwarm explained that “Having a bug bounty program allows honest users to contribute by: Allowing them to avoid legal risk via clearly defined the bug bounty parameters Rewarding them for their hard work in identifying flaws and helping them get fixed. It is a no-brainer and I would argue an essential aspect of the security of any widely used platform.” Though, Bassi stressed that “bug bounty programs are not a substitute for rigorous, professional, third party audits; they complement.” Many people in the crypto-currency industry believe that we are ready for decentralized platforms. It is up to exchanges, and other companies that require high-level security on the blockchain, to take the steps required to ensure that their platforms are secure and reliable. Al-labaghi, Head of RightBTC, a global cryptocurrencies exchange, said that most importantly, all exchanges need to put in the effort to educate their users on how to manage their wallets, keep their assets secure, and how to trade safely. The RightBTC head also highlighted that most crypto-currency investors – especially the new ones on the scene – are not clued up on appropriate security measures. Moreover, the majority of exchanges focus more on ensuring that their exchanges are easy to use, but do not divert enough attention towards educating their users on trading safely. Decentralized exchanges have not been widely adopted yet because they are neither fast, practical, nor inexpensive enough to build in comparison to centralized exchanges. Low liquidity and the lack of orders placed on decentralized exchanges as a result of high fees and validation time also means that they are not currently worth the while of traditional investors. Lujan also notes that many “suffer from poor UI and UX” and some also require users to be online simultaneously, making it inconvenient to complete transactions. Decentralization, as described here, is an inevitability as it does provide greater transparency when trading on the blockchain. But as centralized exchanges remain the norm there is the imperative for them to offer greater security and safety information to users in the meantime. https://coinmarked.com/are-decentralized-crypto-exchanges-the-solution-to-attacks/?feed_id=108&_unique_id=5d621b53b020c

[tipco613]

New Post has been published on http://cryptonewsuniverse.com/satoshi-awards-to-honor-ethical-innovation-on-the-blockchain/

Satoshi Awards to Honor Ethical Innovation on the Blockchain'

Satoshi Awards to Honor ‘Ethical Innovation on the Blockchain’

                             Know anyone in the cryptocurrency world who could use some extra recognition?

Nominations will open soon for The Satoshi Awards. The awards will premiere at a ceremony in Acapulco, Mexico in February 2020 with the theme “Honoring Ethical Innovation on the Blockchain”.

Prominent Libertarians Head Nomination Committee

The Satoshi Awards organizers also added three well-known names from the libertarian space to their nominating committee: economist Jeffrey Tucker, CoinText founder and “Gigolos” star Vin Armani, and Bitcoin.com CEO Roger Ver. The committee will choose finalists in 12 categories (yet to be determined). They will assess entrants determined to have had “the greatest impact on the spreading acceptance and ethical use of cryptocurrencies to the benefit of humankind”.

Those interested can suggest category ideas by visiting the Satoshi Awards website. Other names on the committee include “Psychological Anarchist” Sterlin Lujan, Crypto Adventures founder Elsa Ramon, Coinbase senior engineer Josh Ellithorpe, and EOS’s Adrianna Mendez. The public will choose the eventual winners, via a tokenized voting system to guarantee transparency and fairness.

Satoshi Awards Open to All Blockchain Projects

Given the selection committee and the event’s timing — which coincides with the annual “Anarchapulco” conference for anarchists and libertarians — expect the selections to lean in that direction. However nominations will be open to anyone in the cryptocurrency space, and according to organizers will not favor any particular blockchain protocol. Satoshi Awards founder Steve Ellis, who will host the ceremony, is promising a memorable event:

“The show we have planned will set the standard for awards ceremonies in this space. I’m really excited about the direction we’re taking and so are our sponsors,” he said. Nomination committee members and organizers plan to meet once a week to discuss updates and decide the overall format for the awards event. They’re also looking for official sponsors and partners, and have announced DASH Thailand and DASH Now as the first two, based on those organizations’ drive to promote cryptocurrency in Asia.

Article Produced By Jon Southurst

https://bitsonline.com/satoshi-awards-ethical-innovation/

[thefreethoughtprojectcom]

This was a fun one. We debunked several conspiracy theories plaguing the crypto community including "Bitcoin was created by the NSA" and "Bitcoin will usher in a cashless society" while addressing how it will be the future.

[joshuajacksonlyblog]

Cherry on Top: Bitcoin ABC, Bitmain, Ver Target of Suit Following BCH Split

As if the drama surrounding the recent Bitcoin Cash split needed a sequel, the vaudevillian sideshow has reached a new stage: the legal arena.

A suit spearheaded by United American Corporation (UnitedCorp), a telecom company with a little-known blockchain subsidiary, BlockNum, is taking legal aim at Bitmain and its cofounder Jihan Wu; Bitcoin.com and its CEO, Roger Ver; Kraken and its CEO, Jesse Powell; and others. The suit “is seeking injunctive relief,” alleging that the defendants engaged in “collusion for the purpose of control of the [Bitcoin Cash] network.”

The suit indicates that it was filed on behalf of the plaintiff, UnitedCorp, and was launched on December 6, 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

“We are bringing this suit on behalf of UnitedCorp because we believe strongly in the value and integrity of democratic, distributed and decentralized blockchain networks which will become more important with time. In order to maintain confidence in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin Cash, no person or entity can be allowed to control them,” Benoit Laliberte, president of UnitedCorp, stated in a press release.

An Attempt to Control

The lawsuit claims that during the recent November 15 Bitcoin Cash split, the defendants acted in unison to hijack the network and force an undemocratic protocol change.

“This action involves a scheme by a tight knit network of individuals and organizations to manipulate the cryptocurrency market for Bitcoin Cash, effectively hijacking the Bitcoin Cash network, centralizing the market, and violating all accepted standards, protocols and the course of conduct associated with Bitcoin since its inception,” the lawsuit reads.

An accusatory presentation entitled “Anatomy of a Fraud on the Bitcoin (Bitcoin Cash) Network” delves into the specific injunctions of each defendant. Notably, it claims that the defendants colluded with China, “operating with the support of the Chinese government to centralize the Bitcoin Cash network resulting in Chinese entities now having established dominance over this important segment of the cryptocurrency market with proprietary software checkpoints and instituting other means of control over the system.”

Defending its bold allegation, the document suggests that given its ongoing trade war and economic disputes with the U.S., China has a vested interest in “[controlling] the economy of the future through increasing control of the [Bitcoin Cash] digital currency network.” It goes on to say that the China International Capital Corporation (CICC) — what amounts to China’s central bank — holds the exclusive mandate to Bitmain’s forthcoming IPO, using this as ostensible evidence for Bitmain and the Chinese government’s ties.

The document continues to outline Jihan Wu and Bitmain’s alleged culpability in this conspiracy, indicating outright the weight that Bitmain’s mining pools carry in both the Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash networks. Specifically, it accuses Wu and his mining firm of “renting” hashpower from Bitmain mining pool contributors without their consent and redirecting some 90,000 ASICs to the Bitcoin ABC network in an effort to strongarm competitor Bitcoin SV’s hashing power.

Moving on to Bitcoin.com, CEO Roger Ver and communications ambassador Sterlin Lujan, the document highlights some seemingly extraneous yet potentially prejudicial facts about Ver’s life and cryptocurrency career, specifically his political affiliation as a libertarian/anarchist and his alleged involvement in the Silk Road. The document doesn’t make any overt accusations against Ver, only implicating him via his connection to Bitmain and Wu and Bitcoin.com’s mining support for Bitcoin ABC.

The presentation also targets Bitcoin ABC and its main developers, Amaury Sechet, Jason Cox and Shammah Chancellor, alleging that the Bitcoin ABC hard fork was “more than a benign network upgrade.” According to the document’s rationale, the upgrade’s primary components, namely the addition of an OP code for smart contract oracles and modification of checkpoints (a.k.a. deep reorg prevention) — which the plaintiff has called a “poison pill” elsewhere — were added after the fork and could set the stage for network centralization and manipulation.

“Combining this change with the hashing power of Bitcoin ABC backers amounts to centralization. They will be able to override any consensus reached by the rest of the network, forcing others to conform or create an unwanted hard fork,” it states.

On its final page, the presentation targets Kraken and its CEO, Jesse Powell, for supporting Bitcoin ABC’s implementation over Bitcoin SV’s and issuing caveats against the latter’s legitimacy.

Turning Back the Clock

The nucleus of the plaintiff’s argument centers on the allegation that the Bitcoin ABC camp and its supporters manipulated the Bitcoin Cash network during the November hard fork to artificially create a longer chain than Bitcoin SV.

Hashpower that was previously employed to mine on the Bitcoin network was one of the camp’s primary tools during the split, and the temporary boost in hashing power let Bitcoin ABC supporters hijack the Bitcoin Cash network, the plaintiff claims.

With these claims in mind, the filing charges the defendants with violating the Sherman Act (a federal act that bans monopolistic business dealings), equitable estoppel (a defensive doctrine that one party can invoke when they’ve been coerced into acting a specific way) and negligence, among others.

In response to the following charges, the plaintiff is seeking restitution and disgorgement of the defendants’ assets, and it’s also asking that the Bitcoin ABC team be barred from implementing checkpoints on the protocol and for the court to dial back the recent upgrade.

“Plaintiff seeks an injunction: (a) precluding Amaury Sechet,  Shammah Chancellor, and Jason Cox via Bitcoin ABC from continuing to implement checkpoints on the Bitcoin Cash network and any other implementation of the software that would prevent the resulting chains from being able to be re-merged; and (b) requiring them to return the blockchain to its previously decentralized form with the previous consensus rules,” the filing reads.

While “[returning] the blockchain to its previously decentralized form” is ambiguous, “with the previous consensus rules” seems to imply that the plaintiff is requesting that the court dial back the network to its previous state before the November 15 hard fork. This would require a complete network rollback, so the request is tinged with irony given the plaintiff’s complaints of Bitcoin ABC’s alleged manipulation and centralized practices.

A (Messier) Mess in the Making

At any rate, the lawsuit will only augment the furor that has surrounded the November split.

On the eve of the split, Craig S. Wright, Bitcoin SV’s front man, seemed to forecast the coming legal troubles. He tweeted that his side would help any miner in Bitcoin.com or Bitmain’s mining pools “start a long messy class action” if either organization redirected Bitcoin hash power to Bitcoin cash during the split.

Some Bitcoin Cash supporters have taken Wright’s words as an admission of guilt. Vin Armani, CTO at CoinText, for example, insinuated that the Bitcoin SV camp (and its primary proponents, Craig S. Wright and Calvin Ayre) is behind the lawsuit, calling UnitedCorps a “shell company.”

I'm not sure if there has been a more petty and lame move in the history of Bitcoin. The fact that this lawsuit was filed via a random OTC shell company is... wow! There's being a loser... and then there's this. I guess "miners choose" is actually "US federal judges choose." https://t.co/dvO8n78WuB

— Ⓥin Ⓐrmani (@vinarmani) December 6, 2018

https://twitter.com/vinarmani/status/1070752064765132810

Chris Pacia, an OpenBazaar developer, has echoed Amrani’s sentiments. In a separate tweet, he claims that the lawsuit proves that Ayrehat Calvin Ayre, who owns Bitcoin Cash mining pool and news site CoinGeek, used his mining pool to mine a hidden chain on the Bitcoin ABC network, something that ABC’s checkpoint implementations quashed.

“After this lawsuit I’m now certain Calvin was mining a hidden chain to reorg BCH that he had to abandon when the checkpoint was announced,” the tweet reads.

Pacia continues to reprimand the action as “malicious,” saying it also “shows [the Bitcoin SV group lacks] even basic knowledge about the codebase of the chain they were trying to take over.”

This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine.

from Cryptocracken Tumblr https://ift.tt/2ruxwmm via IFTTT

[jacobhinkley]

NEXT BLOCK Blockchain Conference Networks the Right Talent

They count on an unprecedented amount of capital as institutional investors warm up to the idea that blockchain might actually change the economic landscape for good. From Silicon Valley venture capital firms to Wall Street veterans, the funds are flowing in search for the scarce talent that will help scale the budding industry.

However, anybody who seeks to join these networks of talented individuals has to come out of their virtual bubbles. No type of interaction on Telegram or BitcoinTalk can be as valuable as coming together in person to share actionable ideas, business solutions, and find potential partners.

This is why blockchain conferences have become such a vital part of the space. They allow anyone to participate in the growing community alongside renowned veterans and possible investors.

Krypton Events has become a runaway success in the organization of events that create these connections after a recent conference in the Eastern European tech capital of Kiev which took place in May.

It featured keynote speakers such as Bitcoin Foundation board member Bobby Lee, CryptoCoinNews Editor-in-Chief Simon Cocking, as well as other blockchain experts who discussed the future of ICOs, simplifying public relations for blockchain ventures, and even the first music label on the blockchain.

CEO Alisa Berezutska believes the events have stood apart because,

“The type of conferences we organize is not your run-of-the-mill, meet and greet soirée. At Krypton we focus on the participants’ experience and fostering meaningful connections. This is, ultimately, how we can make the industry grow: helping the right talent connect with the right leaders. ”

Now, the company is partnering with leading blockchain publication Cryptovest to host the upcoming NEXT BLOCK Conference, themed “Evolution of Money” where everything is set to take place at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia on September 14.

The event will attract some of the industry’s top leaders, entrepreneurs, and talent to the Bulgarian city and is supported by the world’s largest exchange in trade volumes OKEx, the world leader in global payments Paysafe, and the leader for tracking capitalization of various cryptocurrencies CoinMarketCap. More than 20 distinguished guests will share their insights and experiences in the blockchain space.

Participants will also be treated to a luxurious after party courtesy of Fashion TV, featuring a performance by Bulgarian superstar Vessy Boneva and a set by DJ Funkster.

Sterlin Lujan, the conference’s keynote speaker, is the Communications Ambassador for Bitcoin.com. He is one of the most famous crypto journalists, editors and speakers, and a well-known anarchist and essayist involved in cryptocurrency and Bitcoin since 2012.

He will be joined by more than 20 distinguished blockchain leaders, including:

Marc P. Bernegger, Serial Fintech and Crypto Entrepreneur;

Mitchell Eaglstein, Co-Founder & CEO of FDCTech, Inc.

Naeem Aslam, Columnist with Forbes, CEO of London Fintech Fund;

JC Oliver, Innovation Advisor at MOVIECOIN;

Omourtag Petkov, 
Chairman of the BBBA, Partner at the law firm DGKV;

Pascal Forster, Board Member, Crypto Finance AG;

Agada Nameri, general manager of iCapital.

The conference will also feature an exposition full of blockchain ventures and an ICO Quick-fire Pitch session where each participant will have five minutes to present their project to investors. Furthermore, they will get a chance to win a pool of 10,000 BGN and $10,000 equivalent in IOTW tokens as part of a Hackathon co-organized with Paysafe.

NEXT BLOCK will continue to foster the development of the global blockchain community throughout the year. Forthcoming events in Lisbon and Tel Aviv have already been announced by Krypton Events.

The post NEXT BLOCK Blockchain Conference Networks the Right Talent appeared first on CoinSpeaker.

NEXT BLOCK Blockchain Conference Networks the Right Talent published first on https://medium.com/@smartoptions

[bowsetter]

Do You Have What it Takes to Write Op-Ed Articles for Bitcoin.com?

We will now accept regular op-ed article submissions for the bitcoin.com news page. We want to provide crypto-enthusiasts, idea-mongers, futurists, and iconoclasts an opportunity to share their notions with the world. We currently receive about 2.5 million page-views per month, and my hope is to inspire the crypto-intelligentsia within our community to produce brilliant articles.

Also read: The Daily: Shapeshift Shuts Down Prism, Jamie Dimon Wants to Be President

Well Written, Superbly Organized Op-Ed Wanted

With that said, I will not arbitrarily accept anything.

The article must be well written and superbly organized. It must come from a place of critical thought and considered analysis. I prefer material that is philosophically engaging, heretical, controversial, sexy, and crypto-anarchic. It should examine our ecosystem from novel and unexpected perspectives.

I WILL NOT, however, take company pitches, what-token-will-moon articles, or other business solicitations for opinion pieces. These articles will be rejected, tossed into the dumpster, and set ablaze with extreme prejudice. I will also not take pieces that have previously been published elsewhere. The material must be unique to bitcoin.com. It must also have a minimum word count of 600.

All Views Welcome

It is true, I am the gatekeeper of the op-ed section, but I will not let politics determine what articles I publish. I am open-minded. I will consider most subject matter, so long as the article meets the standards I mentioned above and is relevant to the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

Submissions should be sent to op-ed@bitcoin.com.

Good luck!

What are some topics you would like covered in the OP-ED section? Let us know in the comments section below.

Images courtesy of Shutterstock.

Need to calculate your bitcoin holdings? Check our tools section.

My name is Sterlin Lujan. I am the op-ed editor for bitcoin.com. I also handle the company’s public messaging and brand awareness as communications ambassador. 

The post Do You Have What it Takes to Write Op-Ed Articles for Bitcoin.com? appeared first on Bitcoin News.

READ MORE http://bit.ly/2p7o8DG

[thepause]

The State of the War on Crypto with Sterlin Lujan

The State of the War on Crypto with Sterlin Lujan

Today we bring you Sterlin Lujan – a voluntaryist, crypto analyst, public speaker, futurist, digital marketer, fiduciary for CryptoSpace in Los Angeles, and former ambassador for bitcoin.com to discuss the war on crypto currencies.

Anarchast Episode 525

Watch this on LBRY here:

[dashpaynews]

Bitcoin Cash Botschafter Sterlin Lujan spricht über seine Arbeit bei Bitcoin.com, seinen Sieg über die Drogensucht und die Akzeptanz von Kryptowährungen

Bitcoin Cash Botschafter Sterlin Lujan spricht über seine Arbeit bei Bitcoin.com, seinen Sieg über die Drogensucht und die Akzeptanz von Kryptowährungen

Sterlin Lujan, der sich selbst als Botschafter für Kryptowährungen bezeichnet, sprach im Interview mit uns über seinen Weg von Walmart zu Bitcoin.com. Lujan arbeitete zunächst als Nachrichtenredakteur für die Seite und nahm später die Rolle eines Botschafters für Bitcoin (und später auch für Bitcoin Cash) an. In dieser Rolle…

[thefreethoughtprojectcom]

There is nothing extreme about freedom. Control is extreme. Never forget that.

H/T: Sterlin Lujan Image: Judd Weiss #GoogleVoluntaryism 🏴