“Citing sources familiar with the matter, [New York Times tech reporter Nathaniel] Popper states that Facebook is seeking a $1 billion sum to develop its cryptocurrency project. He states that seeking outside investment could keep the project more in line with the crypto community’s decentralized ethos…” | learn more
Analysis of the blockchain VC fund landscape
Hutt Capital did a reasonably thorough analysis of the industry. Short version: 49 blockchain-only VC funds, 69% are based in the US, and majority are still raising their first funds. Average fund size of $78 million and median of $60 million. Read on for more insights. | learn more
On value capture at layers 1 and 2
This recent blog post by Kyle Samani at Multicoin Capital discusses how protocols can capture some of the value they create. “Given that all of the code that powers crypto networks is open-source, the only source of defensibility is network effects.” | learn more
Bitwise presentation to the SEC.
This is an incredibly detailed deck from the March 19, 2019 presentation. Here’s one punchline: 95% of bitcoin transaction volume is fake. | learn more
Tax rules and strategies for claiming 2018 cryptocurrency loss deductions.
I learned something new reading this, and chances are you will too! | learn more
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Tether might not be a fraud?
Bloomberg News has looked at bank statements that they deem credible evidence of Tether holding the cash it needed to back its tokens. | learn more
The radical potential of Augur.
If you are not totally up to speed on what a prediction market is, and why it might matter to you in the future, this post explains it in a very understandable way. | learn more
Starbucks may accept bitcoin, creating tax woes by the latte.
I’ve had a few conversations lately with people who gloss over the reality that cryptocurrency transactions are each taxable events in the eyes of the IRS. This isn’t necessarily a permanent state, but it is the situation we’re in today and probably shouldn’t be ignored. | learn more
EFF stands up for a developer’s right to publish code.
“A recent public statement from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission implied that those engaged in writing and publishing code might need to worry about running afoul of securities laws.” The Electronic Frontier Foundation has issued a letter explaining why this is constitutionally protected free speech. | learn more
Superfluid collateral in open finance.
The author of this article talked about the illiquidity of tokens staked as collateral, and how to create liquidity out of those. The whole time I was thinking “this guy is insane” and is suggesting a house of cards approach to finance. Finally, toward the end he acknowledges this fact but presses forward still. What’s your take? | learn more