#ZkSync Era, formerly known as zkSync 2.0, is an exciting layer-two (L2) scaling solution for Ethereum developed by Matter Labs.

It utilizes zero-knowledge (zk) rollup technology to achieve faster and more cost-effective transactions, all while maintaining the high level of security offered by the #Ethereum network.

The launch of zkSync Era is a significant milestone for the zk-rollup space, as it represents the first #zkEVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) to hit the mainnet.

This zkEVM is a virtual machine that supports zero-knowledge proof calculations while being fully compatible with Ethereum's EVM.

The compatibility enables developers to write ZK-compatible smart contracts using familiar Ethereum programming languages like #Solidity and Vyper.

By providing EVM compatibility, zkSync Era overcomes a crucial bottleneck for developers of decentralized applications (DApps) in the ZK-rollup ecosystem.

Previously, ZK-based smart contracts were incompatible with the Ethereum framework and VM, requiring developers to choose between ZK-based applications or using the Ethereum framework.

However, with zkEVM, developers can seamlessly build ZK-based smart contracts using traditional Ethereum programming languages.

ZkSync Era also offers native account abstraction, which upgrades traditional externally owned accounts (EOAs) like MetaMask users to smart contract accounts (CAs).

This enhancement opens up new possibilities, such as batching multiple operations together and automating payments, creating a more user-friendly experience.

The foundation of zkSync Era lies in its ZK-rollup technology, which combines a natively privacy-preserving network with fast transaction processing.

Transactions are rolled up into batches and verified by the Ethereum mainnet using zero-knowledge proofs, significantly reducing gas costs and storage requirements.

Matter Labs chose SNARK as its proof-generation method due to its efficiency and compatibility with the zkEVM.

ZkSync Era has already attracted attention from various DeFi protocols, and more than 150 projects have partnered with zkSync Era to deploy on its mainnet.

Decentralized exchanges like Mute, SyncSwap, and Space.fi are already live on the mainnet, allowing users to swap tokens and provide liquidity.

The first NFT collection, zkApes, has also been launched, with other NFT marketplaces expected to follow suit.

However, with the involvement of major DeFi players like Uniswap, Balancer, 1inch, and Frax, zkSync Era is poised for further growth and adoption.

Overall, zkSync Era's combination of native account abstraction, privacy and speed of ZK-rollup, Ethereum-level security, and EVM compatibility makes it a promising solution for Ethereum scaling and ZK-based smart contract development.

As more DApps and projects deploy on the mainnet, zkSync Era is poised to play a pivotal role in the growing ecosystem of L2 scaling solutions.

A new #stablecoin is in town!

$FDUSD , the 1:1 USD-backed stablecoin from First Digital Labs, aims to revolutionize the world of finance with its cutting-edge technology, security, and speed. 

Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to have a stable value by being pegged to a reserve asset like a fiat currency or a commodity. 

They offer benefits such as stability, faster cross-border transactions, and serving as a means of exchange, store of value, and unit of account. 

Stablecoins come in four main types: fiat-collateralized (backed by reserves of fiat currency), crypto-collateralized (backed by a basket of cryptocurrencies), algorithmic (using smart contracts to maintain stability), and commodity-backed (backed by commodities such as gold and silver).

#FDUSD is an example of a fiat-backed stablecoin, which was launched in late May 2023, and designed to maintain a stable value relative to the dollar.

The proposed stable value of FDUSD makes it ideal for facilitating fast and low-cost transactions, serving as a reliable store of value, and providing a stable medium of exchange within the crypto ecosystem. 

It bridges the gap between the traditional financial world and the Web3 era of decentralized finance.

Another advantage of FDUSD is that it is designed to incorporate lightning-fast transaction speeds and minimal costs, offering a trusted and innovative solution. 

The stablecoin is fully backed by cash and cash equivalent assets, ensuring that each FDUSD token can be redeemed for its equivalent value in US dollars. 

The transparency of FDUSD's reserves is further emphasized through independent attestation provided by companies like Prescient Assurance. 

These attestation reports are publicly available on First Digital Labs' website, providing users with confidence in the integrity of the stablecoin's reserves.

FDUSD is currently supported on Ethereum and BNB Chain, with plans to expand to other blockchain networks in the future. 

The stablecoin has already gained significant support, including listings on major crypto exchanges like Binance and OKX.

In summary, FDUSD offers users a reliable and secure digital currency, addressing the issue of volatility in the crypto market, enabling efficient financial transactions, and providing programmability for various financial services. 

Backed by transparent reserves and supported by reputable exchanges, FDUSD is poised to play a significant role in reshaping the global financial landscape.

Always remember to DYOR before using these assets.

Is $XRP going down?

The #Ripple versus #SEC legal battle is a significant legal dispute that emerged in December 2020.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Ripple Labs Inc., the company behind the cryptocurrency #XRP , alleging that XRP was an unregistered security, and Ripple had conducted an illegal securities offering.

The SEC's argument centered on the contention that XRP should be classified as a security under U.S. federal securities laws, which would require Ripple to comply with the necessary registration and disclosure requirements.

Ripple, on the other hand, maintained that XRP is a digital currency like #Bitcoin and #Ethereum and should not be subject to the same regulatory oversight as securities.

The outcome of the legal battle has significant implications for the cryptocurrency industry, as it could set a precedent for how other digital assets are classified and regulated by the SEC.

Over a long period of time, the case has been closely watched by the crypto community and investors, and the result could potentially influence the regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies in the United States.

While the case has taken so much time, several events have been happened but with no final decision made yet.

Declared not securities

In the second week of July 2023, a US judge, Analisa Torres, ruled that Ripple's XRP is not a security, concluding a years-long legal dispute.

The judgment sparked a lot of controversies and excitement in the industry. Crypto lovers were cool with it. Several tokens rose in value after the announcement such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP itself.

On the other camp, the SEC felt the judgment was not right courtesy of Gensler.

He disagreed with the outcome saying, "We’re pleased from that decision recognizing the importance of protecting investors on the institutional investors."

"While disappointed on what they said about retail investors, we’re still looking at it and assessing that opinion," he added.

Losing its lawyers

In May 2023, prior to the court ruling, Ripple lost one of its counsel, Kylie Chiseul Kim.

She submitted a motion to withdraw from the case due to her departure from the law firm representing Ripple.

Kylie stated that she was distancing herself from the law firm, therefore, she opted to leave the team.

Why did this happen?

Did she notice anything about the case going South?

Well, barely a month after the exit of Kylie, Clayton J. Masterman, another significant figure representing Ripple, filed a motion to remove himself from the case.

Thinking that that's all, Anna R. Gressel of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, filed another motion Tobe exempted from the Ripple team in the second week of July.

Within three months Ripple lost three attorneys from its legal team.

Does it feel normal?

Hiring new lawyer

To "ease off the tension and bring assurance to the crypto community", a latest hire by Ripple was done to fill up the gap left by the two attorneys it has lost.

Douglas S. Zolkind joined the Ripple team on July 31, 2023.

He is a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, specializing in corporate criminal defense.

His experience as an assistant United States attorney in the SDNY, particularly in the Criminal Division's Public Corruption Unit, makes him a suitable choice for Ripple.

If this journey continues this way, do you see the SEC winning against Ripple?

If you ask me, I'd say yes 65%.

But let's see what happens before the US elections in 2024.

#CyberConnect is a new generation Web3 social network that empowers developers to create social applications, giving users full ownership of their digital identity, content, connections, and interactions.

The vision behind CyberConnect is to revolutionize social networking on the internet by returning control of identity, content, and social data to users.

CyberConnect wants to decentralize social media, providing a fairer, more direct, and decentralized environment for creators to grow their audiences.

So why do we need a new kind of social media infrastructure?

New kind of social media

The advantages of a decentralized social graph are evident. First and foremost, it counters censorship issues that arise from centralized control of social data.

With a few large companies having control over what content is propagated, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and more, political or unsolicited censorship can occur, stifling freedom of expression.

Additionally, Web2 social media platforms tend to undervalue content creators, who produce valuable content that benefits the world.

Conversely, CyberConnect seeks to empower content creators, allowing them to capture the full value of their contributions. This means more controlled monetization processes.

Web2's centralized structure results in siloed and redundant social data, making it difficult for users to move their data between platforms.

This creates high switching costs and inhibits innovation as independent developers lack access to comprehensive user data.

CyberConnect promises to change this for the world of social media.

Components of Cyberconnect

After a year of expanding CyberConnect V2, the team has gained valuable insights into the challenges of Web3 social and the potential to reach billions of users globally.

With the introduction of CyberConnect V3, the protocol is poised to enter a new phase of hyper scalability and deliver a social networking experience that users will find familiar and user-friendly, akin to Web2 platforms.

This new phase Brough about the introduction of these three core components:

CyberAccount

CyberGraph

CyberNetwork.

CyberAccount

CyberAccount is a suite of smart contracts that represent a user's self-sovereign digital identity, content, and social connections.

It is different from what is obtainable today. With a CyberAccount, a user can connect with anyone from any social media platform that uses the CyberConnect protocol.

CyberGraph

CyberGraph is a decentralized, censorship-resistant, and user-owned alternative to traditional social graphs, enabling the next generation of social networking platforms.

A social graph represents social relationships and connections between individuals or entities in a social network, like friends on Facebook.

It is used for analyzing social interactions, user behavior, and network dynamics. However, it can also raise privacy concerns due to its ability to reveal connections between individuals and their online activities.

In a decentralized system, the issue of privacy is taken care of as anonymity replaces an open system seen in today's social media graphs.

CyberNetwork

CyberNetwork aims to provide a gas-efficient and scalable solution to storing data on blockchains, making Web3 social networks accessible to a larger user base.

With these three components, CyberConnect has a plan to usher in a new world of possibilities.

It has also announced plans to extend its reach across multiple chains, enabling users to access decentralized social media services where they have control.

Also, Binance made an announcement for users who are interested in farming the #CYBER token on its Launchpool.

See details here:

https://www.binance.com/en/support/announcement/introducing-cyberconnect-cyber-on-binance-launchpool-farm-cyber-by-staking-bnb-tusd-and-fdusd-7d1f62e7483d406584a754a38094358a

Upcoming airdrop?... Launch date: September 1, 2023 😲😍

One of the most popular crypto projects created on the principles of Islamic financial laws is the Islamic coin #ISLM ($ISLM).

A lot of buzz in the air about it relative to an upcoming airdrop. You can check online. Read about the airdrop. And make your decision.

However, here are 🤟twelve things to know about this project:

1. Islamic Coin is the native asset of the #HaqqNetwork and serves various purposes, including payments, governance, gas fees, and staking.

2. The #Haqq Network is a Proof of Stake blockchain that operates the Islamic Coin, providing a fast and trusted platform compatible with Ethereum-based applications.

3. Century Coinomics is the tokenomic system used by the network, designed to complete token emissions over a 100-year period with a gradual reduction rate every two years.

4. The Evergreen DAO, funded by ISLM token emissions and network fees, supports innovative projects for the global Islamic 🕌community within the Haqq Network.

5. The IC Network, a privately financed tech firm founded by Andrey Kuznetsov, is the developer of the Shariah-compliant Haqq Blockchain and Islamic Coin.

6. The total supply of Islamic Coin (ISLM) is 100 billion tokens, emitted over a 100-year period with diminishing emission rates every two years.

7. Wallets that currently support the Haqq Network include hardware wallets like Ledger and Trezor, browser-based wallets like MetaMask, Keplr, and the Haqq Mobile App wallets.

8. ISLM staking allows holders to lock up their tokens and delegate voting power to validators 👨‍💻 to earn rewards in return.

9. Haqq Network offers grants to developers for Shariah-compliant projects, partnering with organizations like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and World Green Growth Organization.

10. The team behind Islamic Coin and Haqq Network consists of professionals from various fields, including Islamic banking, finance, computer science, and telecommunications.

11. The Haqq Network has a 🛣️ roadmap that includes transitioning from Proof of Authority to Proof of Stake, integrating ISLM as a payment method with major partners, and launching a Swiss payment card backed by Islamic Coin.

12. Islamic Coin aims to drive financial inclusion and empowerment based on Islamic finance principles, fostering prosperity and development for the Muslim community worldwide.

One more thing: by Q1 2024, they would be issuing Gold-pegged stablecoin with top UAE banks.

What do you see?

Money or ...?🥵

The UK, Germany, and France have launched investigations on the multi-million dollar project of Dam Altman of Open AI.

Why is this happening now?

What is wrong with Worldcoin?

Is there anything fishy?

Read on if you want to know why.

First, it's important to know that #Worldcoin is an iris biometric cryptocurrency project developed by Tools for Humanity, a tech firm managed by Sam Altman, Max Novendstern, and Alex Blania.

The project which was founded in 2019, has attracted the attention of investors such as Andreessen Horowitz, Khosla Ventures, Mulycoun Capital, and more which raised a total of $125 million in 2022.

Leveraging the Ethereum blockchain, Worldcoin offers a unique authentication method called World ID, using an orb-shaped iris scanner. 

Apart from a global identity vision for all, it also wants to create a universal income system for everyone using its WLD crypto token.

Before its launch, it had garnered more than 2 million signups. While it's posed to expand around the world to several nations, there have been some concerns expressed by governments on the safety of the project.

The UK

From the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), a British privacy regulator, a warning was released about Worldcoin, particularly regarding its collection of biometric data. 

The ICO called on organizations involved in processing "high-risk" data, like Worldcoin, to undertake a comprehensive Data Protection Impact Assessment before initiating any operations.

Before the launch of Worldcoin, it appears it had not gone through such a process. If it has, then no information about it has been shared, hence the alarm raised by the ICO.

Furthermore, the ICO states that Worldcoin's activities must be carried out with the full consent of individuals who can also decide to opt out of the system whenever they want to without any consequences.

So far, from research, I'd say that no one is coerced to be part of the platform. Individuals who come to register stand in lines based on pictures I've seen while their data is captured.

What I cannot verify for now is that there are consequences for anyone who wants to leave. 

Also, I think that the crypto token is also another peek that seems to be bait for people to want to be part of the project.

France and Germany

In the same week that the UK disclosed its investigation, France and Germany also made known theirs.

According to CNIL, the legality of the Worldcoin project is highly questionable, especially as it relates to the collection and storage of biometric data. 

This issue discovered by France made it launch its investigation which has welcomed Bavarian state authority in Germany. 

The two bodies are coordinating their investigations on Worldcoin to make sure it does not go against data privacy rules and other concerns the authorities have.

US 

Worldcoin is not yet available in the US. Of course, there is no doubt for me that the US has a lot to grapple with to focus on such a project.

The SEC is still trying to overturn the judgment of XRP not regarded as a security. There are still concerns related to approving Bitcoin ETFs submitted by the big boys such as BlackRock.

First security audit

As concerns are spreading, it's also good to note that Worldcoin has released its first security audit to boost its confidence in the market.

In the audit carried out by Nethermind and Least Authority, some issues were noticed and relayed to Worldcoin.

Suggestions were also given to resolve the issues which were related to the security of the system. While more of the suggestions have been accepted, there are still others that are pending.

Will they be implemented?

Was the release of the audit timely to quench the concerns of nations about the project?

WLD token?

As these investigations are ongoing, I see signs of further investigations coming on especially as the result of the current investigations linger.

No nation wants to risk the security of its country. And like Jack Dorsey of Block and Vitalik Buterin of Ethereum have said, the Worldcoin project seems too massive and centralized to be controlled by one organization.

Vitalik has criticized the system used by the project and suggested a more diverse and open structure.

In the midst of all these, $WLD seems a little stable after rising from $1.8 to more than $3 within hours that its mainnet went live.

Currently, it sits at $2.2 and has been ranging between $2 and $2.50 for more than 70% of its existing time.

The question now is this, if these countries find faults with the system, will there be a massive dump?

If there are no faults, will we see a pump?

#Litecoin $LTC is one of the crypto projects that undergoes a halving like bitcoin every four years. Before you consider investing in it or not, you need to focus on these:

Litecoin was founded by Charlie Lee, a former Google employee, who aimed to create a "lite version of #Bitcoin $BTC ." Litecoin was released on Oct. 7, 2011, as a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency designed for fast, secure, and low-cost payments.

As of July 28, 2023, Litecoin ranks as #11

on CoinMarketCap with an approximate circulating supply of 73,455,514 LTC, which is 87% of its total supply, (84,000,000 LTC coins).

Since January 11, 2023, it has maintained a market cap of above $6 billion.

The total addresses holding the coin are over 8 million, active addresses are above 300,00, and the top 10 Holders have a little above 13% of the total supply as of July 27, 2023.

Litecoin is based on the Bitcoin protocol but differs in hashing algorithm, hard cap, block transaction times, and other factors.

Litecoin is designed with a block time of 2.5 minutes and extremely low transaction fees, which makes it attractive for micro-transactions and point-of-sale payments.

The MimbleWimble (MW) testnet was released for Litecoin to enhance the privacy and fungibility of transactions.

The block rewards for Litecoin have undergone several halvings over the years. Initially, in 2011, each new block created rewarded miners with 50 LTC. In August 2015, this reward was halved to 25 LTC per block. Another halving occurred in August 2019, reducing the reward further to 12.5 LTC. The upcoming third halving by next week will cut the block reward to 6.25 LTC per block.

Around 500,000 LTC was mined on the first day of its launch, with early developers among the first miners.

It reached an ATH of $412.96 in May 2021, nearly two years after its last halving.

The highest price before the first and second halvings are about $44 and $359.

As the halving gets closer, which should happen in approximately five days, DYOR before you decide to invest or not.

More details about the halving are here: https://litecoinblockhalf.com

A few days ago, #Worldcoin was launched. It has attracted more than two million users. 

But there is a caveat. There is another WorldCoin project that also has a different token. 

Here’s what to know about the two projects.

Name, vision, and website:

Worldcoin is a project on a mission to create an inclusive global identity and financial network owned by the majority of humanity. It was founded in 2019 and fully launched in 2023.

Success could lead to increased economic opportunity, a reliable way to differentiate humans from AI online while preserving privacy, support global democratic processes, and explore the potential for AI-funded Universal Basic Income (UBI).

The website is https://worldcoin.org/

WorldCoin is another digital project designed to be the world's first digital currency of the future with its fast transaction speed.

It aspires to be the preferred choice for everyday transactions for both merchants and consumers, from small purchases like a cup of coffee to larger expenses. 

With WorldCoin, transactions are fully confirmed in about 60 seconds or less, enabling instant money transfers to friends and family with ease.

It was started in 2013.

The website is https://www.worldcoin.global/

Consensus mechanism:

Proof of Personhood

At the heart of World ID is the goal to create a global, scalable, and inclusive proof of personhood system.

When used, the verifier app can request additional information related to the user's proof of personhood, which the user can choose to share. 

Privacy is a top priority, and proof of personhood is handled with the highest standard of anonymity, ensuring that only the fact of being human is verified without revealing any personal identity information. 

Auxiliary Proof of Work (AuxPoW)

WorldCoin uses the Auxiliary Proof of Work (AuxPoW) consensus.

This mechanism allows a miner to utilize their computing power to mine on multiple blockchain networks simultaneously. 

It involves using a transaction from one blockchain network on a different blockchain network in a valid manner.

It has a block time of 30 seconds, and its miners’ reward of 1.50 coins reduces by 1% every week.

Crypto token:

Worldcoin - $WLD  

WorldCoin - $WDC

Web/Mobile:

Worldcoin is accessible via the web and mobile. However, the mobile application is where most of its activities are done.

WorldCoin only has a web version. There is no mobile app for this except when you use mobile wallet apps that can host the token.

Conclusion

Be careful as you flow from one project to another.

Always check the website to confirm the token details before you make any transaction.

Are you aware that the market cap of the top #AI-crypto token is above $4.7 billion as of July 27, 2023?

AI crypto tokens are digital assets that combine the power of #artificialintelligence and blockchain technology.

Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies, they are specifically designed to support AI applications, platforms, and services. 

In simple terms, it is the marriage between crypto and AI.

They facilitate decentralized AI networks, incentivize data sharing, fund AI projects, and promote collaborative development.

The integration of AI and #blockchain has promising implications across various industries.

Importance of AI crypto tokens in the digital economy

AI crypto tokens are important in the digital economy because they combine artificial intelligence and blockchain technology.

They encourage AI development by incentivizing it, enabling decentralized AI networks, and encouraging data exchange.

These coins support AI project crowdsourcing and community governance, boosting openness and accountability. AI crypto tokens also help to democratize AI access, increase liquidity, and simplify transactions inside AI-powered apps. 

Overall, they play a critical role in stimulating innovation and accessibility in the field of artificial intelligence, which has the potential to alter a wide range of sectors.

So what differentiates AI-crypto from traditional cryptocurrencies?

Differences between AI-crypto and traditional cryptocurrencies

Purpose: AI-crypto projects are intended to fuel AI applications, whereas standard cryptocurrencies are intended to be used as a medium of exchange or a store of wealth.

Technology: AI-crypto projects employ blockchain technology to safeguard transactions and record ownership, but they also employ AI algorithms to perform activities such as data analysis and decision-making. 

Traditional cryptocurrencies mostly depend on the use of blockchain technology.

Scalability: AI-crypto projects are frequently built to be more scalable than regular cryptocurrencies, allowing them to process more transactions per second.

This is due to the ability of AI algorithms to improve the blockchain network.

Privacy: Since AI algorithms are used to encrypt data, AI crypto projects may provide more privacy than regular cryptocurrencies. 

However, there is no assurance that AI-crypto projects will be fully secret.

Investment potential: AI-crypto projects appear to have a long-term investment advantage over traditional cryptocurrencies. 

The reason I agree with this is that they are more or less connected to the growth of AI. 

NB: Always DYOR before investing in any project.

Examples of AI Crypt projects

The Graph: #TheGraph is an indexing protocol for data querying in networks like Ethereum and IPFS, supporting DeFi and Web3 ecosystems. 

It enables developers to create and publish open APIs called subgraphs, which applications can access through GraphQL. 

Fetch.ai (FET): #Fetch.AI, founded in 2017, launched in March 2019. It creates an open, decentralized machine-learning network with a crypto economy. 

The network allows anyone to connect and access secure datasets using autonomous AI to perform tasks, leveraging the global data network. 

Render (RNDR): #RNDR is a distributed GPU rendering network on the Ethereum blockchain, connecting artists and studios with mining partners who rent GPU capabilities. 

It uses an ERC-20 utility token for artists to exchange GPU compute power, with a manual and automatic proof of render system. 

Others are #Injective (INJ), #OasisNetwork, #SingularityNET (AGIX), and #OceanProtocol (OCEAN).

Conclusion 

AI crypto tokens are designed to support AI applications and platforms. 

AI crypto tokens facilitate decentralized AI networks, incentivize data sharing, fund AI projects, and promote collaborative development in the digital space.

They are significant in the digital economy, encouraging AI development and democratizing AI access. 

DYOR before investing.

If you're looking for the best #books to study to understand all the nuisances of the #crypto and #blockchain revolution, here are the top 12 I'll recommend.

NB: I don't have any affiliation with these authors to sell their books. I've been fortunate to listen to most of them during Web3 events as well as personal research.

The Bitcoin Standard (and The Fiat Standard) by Saifedean Ammous

I added The Fiat Standard because it'll help you understand The Bitcoin Standard. It also creates a good foundation from traditional finance to explain crypto which is the direct opposite of TradFi.

Proof of Stake: The Making of Ethereum and the Philosophy of Blockchain by Vitalik Buterin

For me, there's no better person to listen to on decentralization and the application of blockchain technology than the co-founder of Ethereum.

Blockchain Revolution: How the Technology Behind Bitcoin is Changing Money, Business, and the World by Alex Tapscott and Don Tapscott

The authors elaborated on how "the internet or value" brought about by blockchain technology will transform how humans live economically.

Blockchain: The Insights You Need From Harvard Business

Harvard is known for its quality. Its books come with brevity, clarity, and depth. 

Layered Money: From Gold and Dollars to Bitcoin and Central Bank Digital Currencies by Nik Bhatia

Nik exposed the history and evolution of money and what it represents today.

The Age of Cryptocurrency: How Bitcoin and Digital Money are Challenging the Global Economic Order by Michael Casey and Paul Vigna

Michael Casey and Paul Vigna wrote this book to open up the new revolution of finance and how crypto is the face of new money.

Cryptoassets: The Innovative Investor's Guide to Bitcoin and Beyond by Chris Burniske and Jack Tatar

Chris and Jack, who are investors, explained what the process of investing in this new kind of money means.

Don't forget to always DYOR before any crypto investment.

The Book of Satoshi: The Collected Writings of Bitcoin Creator Satoshi Nakamoto by Phil Champagne

If you want to get into the mind of Satoshi, then this feels good to read. Phil compiled some of the thoughts of Satoshi. 

Although, to date, there is no exact proof that Satoshi is a person or a group of persons.

Digital Gold: Bitcoin and the Inside Story of the Misfits by Nathaniel Popper

Digital Gold tells the life story of some important figures in the crypto space such as Cameron Winklevoss, and Bitcoin's "creator", Satoshi Nakamoto.

You'll learn how they fared from the time they discovered this new system of money.

The Basics of Bitcoin and Blockchain: An Introduction to Cryptocurrencies and the Technology that Powers Them by Antony Lewis

From the history of Bitcoin, the blockchain itself, selling, buying, and mining Bitcoin, Antony explains where Bitcoin is coming from and how it has developed.

The Internet of Money: A Collection of Talks by Andreas Antonopoulos

Andreas argues that Bitcoin represents a significant financial and technological advancement that goes beyond being just a digital currency. 

He emphasizes that its potential extends far beyond its technical aspects, delving into the philosophical, social, and historical implications of this revolutionary technology.

Crypto Revolution by Bryce Paul and Aaron Malone

"Crypto Revolution" is a book written by Bryce Paul and Aaron Malone that delves into the captivating realm of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. 

Combining historical insights with practical instructions, the book highlights the global disruptive impact of cryptocurrencies and their potential to revolutionize the ways we engage in buying, selling, and living."

Learning never ends.

What other book would you recommend for others here?

How much of the $145 million worth of Worldcoin token, #WDL, that was traded in the last 36 hours after its launch, were you part of? 

According to Google Trends, Kenya, China, Hong Kong, Portugal, and Singapore had the top five searches for #Worldcoin in the last seven days.

But is Worldcoin truly good for the world?

First, let's see what #Jack, the former #Twitter CEO, has to say.

"At no time should a corporation or state own any part of the global financial system," - Jack Dorsey

Jack has been a believer in decentralization for a long time. He loves #Bitcoin and supports other decentralized projects, such as #Nostr.

The statement made by Jack shows that there is something to think about when we look at Worldcoin.

Yes, it's aimed at providing universal income for all.

It wants to also transform the self-identity system to allow everyone to have a "safe" ID in a world full of government control.

However, what makes Worldcoin qualified to make these solutions feasible and good for the world?

While many see a good project that can impact the world positively, Jack sees a new "banana peel" on the forest floor of global finance.

Why?

The fight between centralization and decentralization. 

Do you think Jack has a point here?

While you're looking at that, let's see what the Ethereum man said about Worldcoin.

Vitalik Buterin

In an over 5,000-word blog post, the co-founder of #Ethereum acknowledged the good work Worldcoin has done.

He was particular about its use of Ethereum as its base layer for development, which also deployed the "Optimism stack, and protecting users' privacy with ZK-SNARKs."

However, he affirmed his fear of four major elements linked to Worldcoin: privacy, accessibility, centralization (just like Jack said), and security.

#Vitalik hinted that these are huge aspects that come to mind when he thinks of the Worldcoin project.

Here are short statements from him about each element:

Privacy:

"The registry of iris scans may reveal information. At the very least, if someone else scans your iris, they can check it against the database to determine whether or not you have a World ID."

Accessibility: 

"World IDs are not going to be reliably accessible unless there are so many Orbs that anyone in the world can easily get to one."

(Orbs are a physical device designed to be used for registering users on the Worldcoin platform.)

Centralization:

"The Orb is a hardware device, and we have no way to verify that it was constructed correctly and does not have backdoors."

Hmmm…

Security:

"Users' phones could be hacked, users could be coerced into scanning their irises while showing a public key that belongs to someone else, and there is the possibility of 3D-printing "fake people" that can pass the iris scan and get World IDs."

At the end of his exposition, he said that there is a need for a Proof of Personhood system for the world. However, there is no perfect method that can be used to create such a system today, as each defined method - Social-graph-based, General-hardware biometric, and Specialized-hardware biometric - have pros and cons. 

Therefore, there is a need to harness the pros of each system while reducing the cons.

Anita Posch

Anita, an author and Bitcoin advocate, gave it hot in a tweet about her dislike for the project:

"A global database of human IDs issued after an eye scan, paid for with useless Worldcoin token, connected with all financial transaction data of each individual, managed by a centralized non-profit collecting sensitive data for KYC/AML. WHAT COULD GO WRONG?"

She revealed what the Worldcoin website said about being able to "collect certain categories of personal data, including sensitive personal data, for permissible purposes, such as to comply with any applicable legal KYC/AML requirements".

Are these real concerns, or are they minor?

Finally, Anita said that the Worldcoin token may take the path of the Facebook coin, which was killed before seeing daylight, as it's unclear how many nations will allow Worldcoin to implement its vision in their countries.

What's your take on this?

Here are the basic 9 things you need to know about the #Worldcoin project:

It was founded by the Co-founder of #OpenAI, Sam Altman, alongside Alex Blania and Max Novendstern in 2019

The vision started with distributing shares of a new digital token freely to every person on Earth which has expanded to enable universal access to the global economy.

Worldcoin operates as an open-source protocol designed to be decentralized. Hence, decision-making is meant to be controlled by the users.

It has a crypto token called #WLD. The WLD is planned to be listed on major crypto exchanges, beginning with Binance.

World ID, a component of the project, is a privacy-preserving digital identity. It addresses identity-based challenges, providing individuals with a unique, pseudonymous identity that can be used for various everyday applications.

It also has an app called World App which can be downloaded on the Google Play store. It is a fully self-custodial application that enables global payments, purchases, and transfers using Worldcoin tokens, digital assets, stablecoins, and traditiona l currencies. 

The process of signing up for World ID involves downloading the app, signing up, and verifying one's unique personhood at an Orb. The Orb uses the iris biometrics of users to establish identity, ensuring a secure and trustworthy system.

Worldcoin is supported by the Worldcoin Foundation and Tools for Humanity (TFH). The foundation is a non-profit entity focused on supporting and growing the Worldcoin community, while TFH is a global technology company leading the development of the Worldcoin protocol and operating the World App.

The correct website is www.worldcoin.org