MATH ERROR: SCIENTISTS ADMIT MISTAKES’ LED TO ALARMING RESULTS IN MAJOR GLOBAL WARMING STUDY

By | |
Leave a comment

MATH ERROR: SCIENTISTS ADMIT ‘MISTAKES’ LED TO ALARMING RESULTS IN MAJOR GLOBAL WARMING STUDY

 

  • Scientists behind a headline-grabbing climate study admitted they “really muffed” their paper.
  • Their study claimed to find 60 percent more warming in the oceans, but that was based on math errors.
  • The errors were initially spotted by scientist Nic Lewis, who called them “serious (but surely inadvertent) errors.”

 

The scientists behind a headline-grabbing global warming study did something that seems all too rare these days — they admitted to making mistakes and thanked the researcher, a global warming skeptic, who pointed them out.

“When we were confronted with his insight it became immediately clear there was an issue there,” study co-author Ralph Keeling told The San Diego Union-Tribune on Tuesday.

Their study, published in October, used a new method of measuring ocean heat uptake and found the oceans had absorbed 60 more heat than previously thought. Many news outlets relayed the findings, but independent scientist Nic Lewis quickly found problems with the study.

Keeling, a scientist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, owned up to the mistake and thanked Lewis for finding it. Keeling and his co-authors submitted a correction to the journal Nature. (RELATED: Headline-Grabbing Global Warming Study Suffers From A Major Math Error)

“We’re grateful to have it be pointed out quickly so that we could correct it quickly,” Keeling said.

In a statement posted online Friday, Keeling said “the combined effect of these two corrections to have a small impact on our calculations of overall heat uptake.” However, Keeling said the errors mean there are “larger margins of error” than they initially thought.

So, while Keeling said they still found there’s more warming than previously thought, there’s too much uncertainty to support their paper’s central conclusion that oceans absorbed 60 percent more heat than current estimates show.

“Our error margins are too big now to really weigh in on the precise amount of warming that’s going on in the ocean,” Keeling told The Union Tribune. “We really muffed the error margins.”

Keeling and his co-authors used the study to debut a new way of estimating ocean heat uptake by measuring the volume of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the atmosphere. Scientists are still intrigued by this method, but all the kinks need to be worked out.

“So far as I can see, their method vastly underestimates the uncertainty,” Lewis told The Washington Post in an interview Tuesday, “as well as biasing up significantly, nearly 30 percent, the central estimate.”

Lewis pointed out the errors in Keeling’s study in a blog post published Nov. 6 on climate scientist Judith Curry’s website. Lewis wrote that “[j]ust a few hours of analysis and calculations … was sufficient to uncover apparently serious (but surely inadvertent) errors in the underlying calculations.”

Lewis is an ardent critic of climate scientists’ over-reliance on climate models, which he says predict too much warming. Lewis and Curry published a study earlier in 2018 that found climate models overestimated global warming by as much as 45 percent.

Lewis’s corrections were quickly confirmed by University of Colorado professor Roger Pielke Jr. Pielke called Keeling’s acceptance and willingness to correct the mistakes a “lesson in graciousness.”

“Unfortunately, we made mistakes here,” Keeling told WaPo. “I think the main lesson is that you work as fast as you can to fix mistakes when you find them.”

Article written by Michael Bastasch and posted on The Daily Caller.

Article reposted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

Blockchain Investor Claims Bitcoin BTC Will Plunge To 0

By | |
Leave a comment

Blockchain Investor Claims Bitcoin (BTC) Will Plunge To $0

Economists Bash Bitcoin In The Swiss Alps

Bashing Bitcoin (BTC) has apparently become a popular trend at Davos’ recent World Economic Forum event. More specifically, the cryptocurrency has become a punching bag. Just yesterday, per previous reports from Ethereum World News, Huw Van Steenis, the senior advisor to Bank of England’s governor, Mark Carney, bashed this nascent asset class.

Speaking to Bloomberg in a candid interview, Steenis, who purportedly is compiling a report about the future of finance, surprisingly claimed that cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin aren’t on his radar, or list of concerns for that matter. The former Morgan Stanley economist then remarked that blockchain-based assets “fail” the basic tests that financial services are de-facto run through. Steenis explained that BTC, along with other digital assets, is slow, fail to hold their value over time, and aren’t a viable, bonafide Medium of Exchange (MoE).

Tech Investor Claims BTC Will Fall To $0

Just one day later, BTC fell victim to another attack, as a technology investor and entrepreneur took to a CNBC-hosted panel to bash the blockchain-based digital asset. According to CNBC post-mortem on the manner, Jeff Schumacher, the founder of BCG Digital Ventures, a corporate investment and tech incubator group, claimed that the flagship cryptocurrency could capitulate to a value of zilch eventually.

Speaking to a crowd of economists, global leaders, notable investors, and corporate C-suiters, Schumacher explained that he “believes it will go to zero,” adding that he thinks that it (or the technology underlying Bitcoin) is a “great technology.” However, the BCG founder made it clear that he doesn’t think that blockchain technologies should be applied to currencies, accentuating that its underlying value isn’t based on anything. Like many traditionalists with a vested interest in the centralized system, Schumacher fails to see the value of a decentralized, immutable, cross-border, rapid, uncensorable current that transcends the boundaries imposed by financial incumbents.

Instead of lauding blockchain technologies for their potential revolutionary use cases in finance, Schumacher instead touched on the innovation’s ability to facilitate “open decentralized ecosystems,” which would be the global protocols and infrastructure that businesses could run on.

Yet, some weren’t in agreement with Schumacher’s inflammatory quip. Glenn Hutchins, the chairman of Virtu-affiliated North Island, a financial technology services company, claimed that BTC will likely grow to have a notable role as a Store of Value (SoV). Hutchins noted that BTC’s role “in the system” could be as pseudo-gold in a digital economy, rife with arrays of tokens that serve every use case imaginable.

Hutchins isn’t the only notable investor to think of Bitcoin as a digital semblance of the orange-esque precious metal. As reported by Ethereum World News multiple times previously, a number of pundits have overtly claimed that BTC’s foremost use case is as digital gold.

Alistair Milne, the CIO of Digital Currency Fund, claimed that Bitcoin has seen its Store of Value (SoV) proposition become more apparent. More specifically, he noted that Bitcoin’s investors are now “very aware that BTC is like trading gold with 100x leverage,” along with the fact that the flagship cryptocurrency’s inflation rate will be lower than that of the precious metal. And, as “no one appears to doubt the usefulness of gold,”

The Winklevoss Twins, the co-founders of the Gemini Exchange, recently claimed that Bitcoin “better at being gold than gold itself.” Twin Tyler noted that as this industry continues to develop, BTC will continue eating up bits of gold’s market capitalization, until the newfangled cryptocurrency passes its (arguably worse) physical counterpart.

Lou Kerner has also recently chimed in on the matter. Kerner, the founding partner at CryptoOracle, divulged that the cryptocurrency’s portability, ease-of-use, divisibility, and scarcity, make it a viable alternative to precious metals, and will allow BTC to eventually surmount its quintuple-digit cell.

Original article written by Nick Chong and posted on the EthereumWorldNews.com site.

Article posted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

How to Make Sure a Divorce Doesn’t Hurt Your Savings

By | |
Leave a comment

How to Make Sure a Divorce Doesn't Hurt Your Savings

January 14, 2019

Ah, divorce! Not only do you have to worry about your kids, your custody right and your ex-spouse–you now have to worry about your wallet too. If only heartbreak didn’t come with a legal fee, life would be a lot easier to handle. Unfortunately, for all of us, it’s not that simple. You need to talk to the guys in suits.

Luckily, most of us are not negotiating multi-million-dollar separations, and just a little effort can mean saving big. The less you do yourself the more you have to delegate, and that delegation doesn’t come cheap. So do your research, organize your finances and recognize that no one will be happy with who gets the dog. With just a little work it doesn’t have to be painful. Well, not that painful, anyway.

1) DIY divorcing

You’ve heard of DIY crafting? Well there’s also DIY divorce. It might not be as Pinterest-friendly, but doing the divorce yourself is the best way to save money, especially if your divorce involves simple assets and you’re still on speaking terms. Talk it over and assemble the necessary documents, and maybe hire a lawyer to give it a once-over before filing. For most of us with a simple financial situation this is an easy way to get things done.

2) Consider hiring a mediator

If things are tense or assets confusing, however, consider hiring a mediator, a kind of separation guru there to help your divorce. Mediators don’t have to be lawyers–they can be anything from mental health professionals to financial advisors, or even just a third pair of eyes. This is a great way to get a third-party to help you divide assets without getting involved with nasty legal fees–mediators come at a much cheaper price, and because they’re hired by both parties, they’re not incentivized to delay proceedings for financial means.

3) Paralegals are your friend

So what exactly is a paralegal? Well, paralegals are like lawyers who don’t charge a lawyer’s fee. When it comes to nitty-gritty details and difficult legal minutiae, they are a fantastic option if you want to avoid calling your lawyer. They can help advise your court proceedings, hearing dates and other questions that your lawyer will answer only at a cost. Even better, paralegals and legal assistants respond quicker than lawyers, which can really help when you’re having difficulty hearing back from the attorney you’ve hired.

4) Get a free consultation

Sensing a theme here about lawyers? If you do have to get a lawyer, make sure you get the right one. Getting a lawyer you can trust is extremely important, and can turn a disaster into a relatively painless affair. Many lawyers offer one free consultation, so make sure to shop around. This is also a great way to get pro-bono legal advice, if you just have a few questions to ask.

5) Do your homework

Whether you’re going DIY or you’ve hired an attorney, having your documents in order will save you money in the end. You have to pay for a lawyer’s time, so make sure you know your questions, and can use the time effectively without having to drag things out. Working with your ex-spouse to organize your finances means doing a lot of the legwork that otherwise you’d have to pay someone to do. They more you work the less you pay, and the more organized, the more savings you keep for yourself.

Original article posted on Allrates.com

Article reposted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

How Does Inflation Affect Your Savings?

By | |
Leave a comment

How Does Inflation Affect Your Savings?

September 06, 2018

Many financial experts recommend that you take 10% of your income and deposit it into a savings account. However, the majority of people never know how much they are actually saving. For example, when you deposit the money into your savings account, a dollar buys a loaf of bread, but by the time you withdraw that money, a loaf of bread costs $1.29. This is inflation at work. While you may have received some interest in your savings account, the question is, does it make up for the inflation?

Inflation is Your Enemy

Most people don’t think about or even understand inflation. They simply follow the rules of good money practice by saving and not over-spending. The above illustration showed that you had saved 10% of your income, which is typical of the advice that you will hear growing up. What they don’t tell you is that inflation will eat into your savings. Prices rise over time, wiping out your buying power.

Unfortunately, many people put their money into a savings account that pays a standard interest rate. For example, if you deposit $1,000 in a savings account that pays a 1% interest rate, after a year, you will have $1,010 in your account. Over the same time, if inflation is running at 2%, which, by the way, is the goal of the Federal Reserve, you would need to have a balance of $1,020 to make up for the impact of higher pricing. Since you only have $1,010 in your account, you have actually lost some purchasing power. If your savings don’t grow to reflect the rise of pricing over time, it’s the same as losing money.

You Should Still Save

Because of inflation, saving isn’t as simple as putting money into a savings account. True, you should have some money in a savings account, typically a six-month supply in case of loss of employment or some type of illness. Beyond that, you should then start to look at ways to outpace inflation. Some people do it in a 401(k), while others will do it in an investment account. The whole idea of a 401(k) or retirement account is to outpace inflation over the longer-term. This is why the stock market is a better option than a savings account since, historically, it returns 8% a year. However, that is in the long term, and fluctuations do happen along the way. You also have to pay capital gains tax, which is beyond the scope of this article, but this will also have an effect on how much you can actually pull out of your account. There are a multitude of ways to work around this though.

Multi-tiered Approach

If you wish to beat inflation, and that should be your number one goal, you simply must have a multi-tiered approach to savings. Savings should be thought of as not only cash in the bank, but also investment vehicles. The average financial advisor will suggest stocks, bonds, CDs, real estate, and even a small amount of precious metals, to protect from a falling dollar. By spreading around your savings, you allow for diversification, one of the greatest ways to protect yourself from asset depreciation. For example, if inflation runs at 3% next year, your savings account offering 1% in interest isn’t going to cut it. However, the real estate market might be heating up, and if you own real estate, you may find that you make 10% on your rental property or your home.

This is how savings should work; it should be a mix of cash on hand and investments. If you do not invest, you are sure to have less purchasing power down the road. In fact, most people don’t understand this but when measured in purchasing power, the US dollar has lost almost 98% of its value since 1913!

It Can Be Done

Outpacing inflation isn’t difficult, but it takes a bit of thought. You need to find ways to lower your tax burden, higher interest rates or returns, and the like. While it is necessary to have that emergency cash fund, once you get passed that threshold, you should start looking for ways to make your money work for you. Investing and saving are essentially the same thing, at least in the modern financial world. If your employer has a program that matches your 401(k) contributions, by all means you should max out what you put into it. That is essentially free money for retirement.

Beyond that, start looking for assets that will pay you to own them. Rental properties are a great way to save for retirement. Not only do you have someone else paying for the property through monthly rental payments, but you can also sell the property one day and earn on the sale. Stock market investing is good for the long term, but obviously carries its own risks. The whole idea is you need to start thinking beyond simply stashing cash somewhere and ensure you stay one step ahead of inflation.

Original article posted on Allrates.com

Article reposted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Litigation: What to Expect in 2019

By | |
Leave a comment

Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Litigation: What to Expect in 2019


Image Source

2018 was an eventful year in general when it comes to blockchains and cryptocurrencies. Digital currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum suffered huge trading losses last year with the former nearing towards the $3,000 mark by the end of the year. Another notable trend from last year is the rise of blockchain and cryptocurrency related lawsuits, triggering SEC chairman Jay Clayton to announce a crackdown on the industry. This is why different industries have called 2019 the make or break year for these technologies. Now what is in store for laws and litigation regarding digital currencies and blockchains then? Let us find out.

Defining Cryptocurrencies as Securities

Over the years, there seemed to be a never-ending debate as to how cryptocurrencies are defined whether as a currency or an investment. These arguments may be nearing an end this year. A landmark federal court ruling has declared that cryptocurrencies, particularly those under initial coin offerings (ICO), may be subject to securities laws. In United States vs. Zaslaviskiy, the grand jury ruled that the cryptocurrency purchases the defendant has persuaded its investors to buy under his companies are considered as investment contracts. This means individuals and companies who purchased cryptocurrencies as funding for a business or enterprise can count it as an investment and is protected by the law. It also legally solidifies the SEC’s stand that the current securities regulations are sufficient enough to cover cryptocurrencies, blockchains and possibly other fintech investments in the future. Finally, this ruling can also lead to a clearer definition of what these technologies are in the eyes of the law.

Pushing for More Regulations

Despite the federal court ruling and SEC’s stand on cryptocurrency investments, the pressure for tougher regulations is still on for 2019. With the trading rate for cryptocurrencies remaining on the lower end and securities lawsuits regarding ICOs increasing, both the government and cryptocurrency institutions need to evolve. Creating a legal framework or adding supporting regulations specific to these technologies, like what France, South Korea and China did, can help with institutionalizing digital assets and similar investments. New laws that protect cryptocurrency and blockchain owners, traders and investors will surely encourage other institutions to adapt these technologies and bring it to more people.

Smart Contracts

Another factor that cryptocurrency and blockchain litigators are looking into this year are smart contracts. This is a type of blockchain technology that converts contracts into a computer code and is stored and managed by a network. It basically simplifies transactions and deals with money, property or any type of asset as it self-executes contract terms, liabilities and penalties.

While some lawyers see smart contracts as a threat, it can be a useful tool for them especially when it comes to documentation and paper trails. The transparent and self-executory nature of these contracts will help them in the event that these transactions are challenged in court.

There are a lot of exciting legal developments to look forward to as more institutions open up to the possibility of adapting cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. More questions and situations will will eventually come up, but the industry remains positive about the growth of these technologies and the new rules and regulations that will come with it.

In need of expert legal advice? Contact us at Hogan Injury.

None of the content on Hoganinjury.com is legal advice nor is it a replacement for advice from a certified lawyer. Please consult a legal professional for further information.

Original article posted on the Hogan Injury Website

Syndicated article, by permission, posted on Markethive, by Jeffrey Sloe

Crypto Communities How Valuable Are They?

By | |
Leave a comment

Crypto Communities – How Valuable Are They?

There seems to be some disillusionment about Crypto and Community or to put it more succinctly, “Crypto Community” in the wake of historical events of the past year. 2018 was notorious for ICO failures, ponzi scams, false hype, and FUD. Some are saying Crypto has an ethics problem. More to the point, it could be said it’s some people within the crypto space that have an ethics problem. Just as we’ve seen in the “real world” of fiat currency, banks, governments, and entrepreneurial shysters. For decades this game of greed has been played out leaving scores of victims.

We have seen the profiteering with this nascent industry at the misfortune of others. Also, startups have been too quick to launch an idea with no real thought or products to underpin it. The idea that the larger their community the more valuable the coin does nothing for sustainability. With that mindset and no real product, gives rise to pump and dump scenarios which result in the coin losing value, and rarely, if at all, recovers.

Airdrops have been initiated to increase awareness and customer base only to find the majority dump their coins at the first available opportunity. Some of it’s the” get rich quick” mentality and “pump & dump” culture that has been created but apart from that and of course, the technology getting into the wrong greedy hands, what else are these ICOs doing wrong to result in failure?

2018 was the Year of the Cryptocalypse

We need to turn this culture around and treat it like it was meant to be treated as stated by the founder of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto 10 years ago. All companies need a product or a purpose that is needed and sought after by the community. They cannot ride on the coattails of what their coin might be worth just due to its initial popularity.

Last year will go down in history as the crypto apocalypse, this year will be the year of the cuts. There are good things happening behind the scenes with crypto and blockchain technology. This industry has made its mark and here to stay. The companies who have survived last year and continue to grow this year will be ones of integrity and substance. All others will fall away.

The Crypto Industry Is Growing Up

Considering much of the “real world” is online these days with Entrepreneurship classed as a real occupation there are some companies that offer real products to real clients. Blockchain Technology is being implemented in many industries, not just in finance, but in health, logistics and now social & market networks and as a result, freeing the broader society from the antiquated hierarchy of today.

In the case of cryptocurrency, it has its place in the world of ecosystems. Particularly helpful to the unbanked. Trading in crypto is only a sideline gig for enthusiasts, even though it’s perceived to be in the forefront and the only thing crypto is meant for. What is evolving in the real-world is an ecosystem where crypto is fluid and can have real value providing there is a product fit and the Ideology is one of integrity.

For the viability of any crypto business ecosystem, there needs to be Community, Technology, and Liquidity. Digital money viability is established through the interaction between these three groups within the ecosystem. There is no viability if these interrelated groups do not exist.

Airdrops do have their Place in Successful Startups

Paypal executed an incentive to attract more customers back in the beginning as do many businesses with loyalty programs. Crypto-based businesses can have the same success with a utility or consumer coin that adds value to the experience of the user. If introduced correctly, with products and services underpinning the system, there is enormous growth potential where its customers use the products and are rewarded for using them. This creates loyalty and a community is built. The coins are part of the ecosystem, not the pinnacle. But who does that? Is this just a future concept? No, It’s here now with Markethive.

The Next Generation

As I said earlier, much of the real-world operates online and Entrepreneurs are now classed as having a real occupation. Markethive was born with that in mind, but since the advent of the latest technology, it has gone one step further and is now built on the blockchain with its own coin. (MHV) Markethive has just completed its first airdrop with micropayments and tips now active within the system. There are many happy campers within the community…

Markethive Associate, Ven Dance states,

“One way that companies that are sincere in their desire to provide the crypto community a legitimate opportunity to improve their lives and benefit in the crypto market place is to have real, tangible products and or services in place and ready before offering public financial participation. Companies that have “real” services and products are now utilizing the ILP (Initial Loan Procurement) Unlike the ICO, the ILP, it is a loan that has to be paid back. What a novel concept, yes it has to be paid back. There are only a few companies that are offering the crypto community this type of opportunity… products, and services that are functional now and are using an investment vehicle that requires the investment to be paid back. MarketHive…Welcome to the real world of crypto evolution and the communities that believe in it and support it.”

Louis Harvey says,

“I think that we all at some point need connection and interaction being real world or a community-based platform! Markethive is providing this typesetting in a secure community with the privacy all being built on the blockchain. How cool is that when you need support of any kind the community base platform is here.”

Richard Mathiason says,

“Markethive is more focused on fixing the problems with present-day social networks. Those problems are privacy issues, security issues, using Inbound Marketing instead outdated forced marketing and making sure that the business platform is not reliant on how well the cryptocurrency “does”. In our case, the cryptocurrency is not being hyped and will only do well if the business proposition is solid. A micro- payment system has been implemented which is also new to social networks. It has only been in place less than a week and it is having a positive effect on the company. Finally, we are not an ICO, we are crowdfunding using ILP’s (initial loan procurement). Markethive has made the community the most important item in the company. And that is why it will succeed!”

Conclusion

Markethive is a predominantly free system that allows freedom of speech, total privacy, and transparency, promoting education for the youth through to the seasoned entrepreneur providing support, network, tools and motivation to experience entrepreneurialism, sovereignty and success resulting in a complete ecosystem with universal income.

Markethive is creating a social network that is integrated with state of the art blockchain, cryptocurrency, and inbound marketing technology. Because Markethive is decentralized, autonomous and controlled by its entrepreneurs and holders of MARKETHIVE, its coin (MHV), will share and benefit from its success.

Blockchain-based Companies like Markethive, derive their profit from the projects that are underpinning it, plus the products and services they deliver, therefore they are able to give back to its users in many forms, including remuneration for using the platform. In essence, they give the power back to the people.

Is the crypto community valuable? Yes, they should be the focal point of any business. They are the lifeblood. Facebook with its current business model is valuable because of its 2 billion users, however, their misuse of data and lack of consideration for their users is questionable.

Keep an eye on Markethive (MHV) It’s a force to be reckoned with. It’s leading edge of the new blockchain, the new Market Networks and the new decentralized solution to the elite big data tyrants like Facebook and Google.

The global financial system and social media are broken and business ecosystems need a better way to do things. With Markethive it’s here.

Original article posted on zycrypto.com

Article posted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

Marshall Island Hires Malta’s Strategic Advisor to Assist in the Issue of an Official Cryptocurrency

By | |
Leave a comment

Marshall Island Hires Malta’s Strategic Advisor to Assist in the Issue of an Official Cryptocurrency

The government of the Marshall Islands, headed by Hilda Heine, stands firm in its efforts to issue an official cryptocurrency as a mechanism for optimizing financial services and avoiding an exclusive dependence on US Dollars to ensure the proper functioning of banking operations.

“Sovereign” (SOV) is the token that the government of the island created by presidential decree and will circulate together with the U.S Dollar as the official currency of the nation.

 

After the presidential decree was approved, continued pressure from the United States and the International Monetary Fund led a group of congressmen to issue a no-confidence motion against the president in an attempt to make the U.S. currency the only legal tender accepted in the country.

However, the project is still underway, and to ensure fulfillment of the objectives, the government has contracted the services of none other than Mr. Steve Tendon, Managing Director of TameFlow Consulting / ChainStrategies, a firm that provides technical advice and development strategies designed to promote the use of blockchain technologies.

The Marshall Islands Rely on Tendon’s Successful Experience With Malta

According to a Press Release, Dr. Peter Dittus, former Secretary General of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), Mr. Tendon’s support may be crucial for the Marshall Islands to meet the goal of having an official crypto that meets all the requirements needed for massive adoption:

“With Steve working alongside Neema, we are growing closer every day to support the Marshall Islands with issuing the first digital legal tender and launching a financial services economy around it."

Steve Tendon’s participation and experience were crucial for the Maltese government to become a Blockchain Island. In 2016 he was a strategic adviser for the Ministry of Economy, Investment and Small Business (MEIB) of the Maltese Government, developing Malta’s National Blockchain Strategy which would then be approved by the cabinet of ministers the following year. He then advised the Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation (FSDEI) Office of the Prime Minister on matters related to the implementation of Malta’s Blockchain Strategy.

The government of the Marshall Islands, aware of the results obtained from Malta’s experience, gave Tendon some critical responsibilities:

“Steve is one of the foremost experts in blockchain technology and regulations … (He) will assist with the drafting and designing of regulations to develop a blockchain financial services economy out of the Marshall Islands."

Original article posted on Ethereum World News and written by Jose Antonio Lanz

Posted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

Cryptocurrency in 2019: Things to Expect

By | |
Leave a comment

Cryptocurrency in 2019: Things to Expect


Image Source

Cryptocurrencies continue to surprise us with their behavior through the years. Amidst all the instability and unpredictability in terms of performance, trading, litigation, regulation, and taxation, miners and investors brave the odds and explore what these cryptocurrencies have to offer. Pessimists and optimists alike have much to say about the future of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin – such as bitcoin’s supposed nearing end because of the consistent drop in bitcoin price after reaching its peak. But it’s more viable to focus on observable trends in order to have an idea on what to expect as far as these cryptocurrencies are concerned. Here are some of them.

The Market

The word “bubble” is thrown around in the finance world, and if you’re wondering what it means, it is simply the cycle created by the fast escalation of asset prices followed by a contraction. The bubble deflates when investors cease to buy at elevated prices and massive sell-offs occur. As for bitcoin, yes it is a bubble, and it indeed popped. The market is expected to calm down a bit after the bubble and cryptocurrency trading will remain profitable.

Cryptocurrency as Payment

Retailers are starting to accept cryptocurrency as payment. At this point in time, including cryptocurrency in the list of payment methods can potentially boost income, in the same way that establishments that accept credit cards do have a wider reach than those who do not. Now you can book flights, purchase household goods, get web domains, buy computer products, and so much more with bitcoin. As of December 2018, more travel services, web services, food, and general merchandise have started to accept bitcoin payments. Those with a Microsoft account, for example, have the “Redeem Bitcoin” option upon checkout and can add up to $100 at a time via Bitpay.

Cybersecurity

In the recent years, crypto traders and holders have seen security threats such as phishing and mining malware. Cryptocurrencies, in theory, are secure; however, we expect that new crypto exchanges and platforms will bring about new cybersecurity threats and challenges.

Blockchain

The blockchain industry has always been associated with cryptocurrency, and in 2019, it is expected to work on its image as an industry that has a lot more to offer. If the industry wants to operate on a larger scale, it needs to be communicated that the blockchain technology has a lot of uses that are unrelated to cryptocurrency.

Taxation and Regulation

2019 is set to be the year of more widespread, formal, and international crypto regulation. In cryptocurrency news this year, Malta became the first country to have a clear regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies. Countries such as Russia and India have also begun to draft national legislation for cryptocurrencies; and we expect other countries to follow suit – giving way for cryptocurrency to become more legitimate. Preventing money laundering, fraud, and terrorist funding is a prime motivation in putting these regulations in place. If cryptocurrencies are safely policed, more and more people will be confident to use and adopt them.

Contact us at Hogan Injury for expert legal advice.

None of the content on Hoganinjury.com is legal advice nor is it a replacement for advice from a certified lawyer. Please consult a legal professional for further information.

Original article posted on Hogan Injury website

Syndicated article, by permission, posted on Markethive, by Jeffrey Sloe

Bitcoin Scams and How to Avoid Them

By | |
Leave a comment

Bitcoin Scams and How to Avoid Them


Image Source

Bitcoin has taken the world by storm, and since its introduction in 2008, it has inevitably faced several controversies. Scammers found a gold mine in the digital currency for many reasons. One of them is the fact that only a few people understand it, which makes it easier to make them believe false promises. Another reason is anonymity – cryptocurrency gives scammers relative ease to cover their tracks. Lastly, a major reason is that it is largely unregulated. Bitcoin chiefly operates outside of the conventions of a financial system; and this worries regulators as it has the potential to be linked to money laundering, tax evasion, fraud, and terrorist funding.

What are the most common bitcoin scams and how do you spot them?

Fake Bitcoin Exchanges. One popular example for these would be South Korea's BitKRX, which posed to be a branch of the country's Korean Exchange (KRX) and claimed to be a platform to exchange and trade bitcoin. Ultimately, it turned out to be fraudulent. There are also those that pretend to be connected with well-known exchanges using apps or fake websites; users are scammed when they log in and their account details are given away. When you are directed to a website, make sure that the URL has “HTTPS” rather than just “HTTP.” Without the letter S, it means that the web traffic has no security and encryption.

Ponzi Scams. Someone promises an incredible return of investment using bitcoin and a lot of people buy in it. Before you know it, someone runs off with all of your money. That's basically how Ponzi schemes work. At first, victims will be made to believe that it actually works – say, the digits in their bank account are increasing. This will also make them talk about its “success” and convince others to join in. Eventually, calls to the customer service are unanswered, there are technical problems with the website, or the money will be remitted late – among several excuses while your money disappears for good. If you see ads that sound like, “double your bitcoin overnight,” they're probably scams. How it usually works is you have to send them your money first before they can double it.

Pyramid Schemes. Scammers use bitcoin as a product in pyramid scams. In these schemes, your low initial investment will be multiplied if you invite more people to sign up. After a lot of people have invested their money, the original scammer walks away with all the money.

Malware. Hackers have long been using malware in order to get a hold of other people's login credentials and account details. Now, it's being used to drain Bitcoin wallets that are connected to the Internet.

How do you avoid falling into these scams?

  • If the offer is too good to be true, stay away from it.
  • Be vigilant on social media – legitimate bitcoin traders and brokers can be victims of poser accounts or impersonators.
  • Never conduct financial transactions via direct messages on social media platforms.
  • Do your homework and research on services you encounter and the best trading platforms; verify their claims and check their legitimacy or whether they are a registered corporation or not.

Contact us at Hogan Injury for expert legal advice.

None of the content on Hoganinjury.com is legal advice nor is it a replacement for advice from a certified lawyer. Please consult a legal professional for further information.

Original article posted on Hogan Injury website

Syndicated article, by permission, posted on Markethive, by Jeffrey Sloe

Joseph Lubin: Blockchain Will Permeate Society More Than The Internet

By | |
Leave a comment

Joseph Lubin: “Blockchain Will Permeate Society More Than The Internet”

He also said Ethereum is "Much Better" than Bitcoin

ConsenSys founder Joseph Lubin once again made clear his optimistic but cautious vision of the future of crypto. In an interview for the German news portal T3N, the also co-founder of Etherum expressed that blockchain technologies can redefine the future of technologies towards a more user-friendly orientation.

Web 2.0 vs Blockchain or Web 3.0

According to Lubin’s vision, nowadays the famous Web 2.0 focuses on protecting the interests of content and technology providers. For Lubin, the current business model looks at consumers as mere products. The blockchain technologies represent a revolution as they imply a necessary philosophical change in the business world:

“These Web2 business models are effectively in control, and as you know, they treat us like a product. They try to get a lot of information out about us so they can charge more for the product. And they have found ways to use man’s evolutionary drives so that they can make us dependent on their system, so that they can sell us more often as a product. Blockchain, on the other hand, enables a self-determined, sovereign identity. We can write our identity on blockchain systems and control it from our side of the browser. Identity will become very important in Web 3.”

For Lubin, it is still too early to talk about the possibility of implementing truly influential applications. Blockchain technologies do not yet have the necessary maturity for this type of development; however, he stressed that it is very possible that these advances will occur in a “not so distant future”:

“There are some projects moving in that direction, but it is extremely early in the development of technology. We build thousands of different components, building blocks, tokens, protocols, exchanges, and tools for identity and reputation. At a point in the not so distant future, when these systems are sufficiently scalable, we will be able to build a decentralized social network.”

 

Jose Lubin: The Future Looks Promising, But It Will Take Some Time

Several experts have considered blockchain technologies as the most important technological breakthrough in history since the appearance of the Internet, however for Lubin it is important to note that although it took more than two decades for the Internet to have the level of social influence it has today, blockchain technologies could take longer because of its high level of complexity:

“Blockchain is growing exponentially: There are hundreds of projects that are already practical for people. And they will enable people to build even more things that will be practical again. That’s how the web was developed. It will probably take a little longer because it’s much more complicated. Also because we work with issues like digital money, Blockchain will penetrate society more than the Internet. Everything will be networked in a Web3.0.”

 

ETH is “Much Better” Than BTC

The interview ended with a small comparison between Ethereum and Bitcoin. As expected, the co-founder of Ethereum considers ETH to be a better choice than the “Crypto King.” He also hopes that in the future the value of the token will be similar to that of Bitcoin:

“(ETH) is also cheaper and faster to transport values with it. It’s much better money than Bitcoin. I assume that it will be used much more than money … We expected it to level off at about the same amount as Bitcoin.”

Original article written by Jose Antonio Lanz and posted on Ethereum World News

Article reposted by Jeffrey Sloe