Topic: [ANN][NOTE]DNotes - Celebrating DNotes 3rd Birthday - Forum Now Open - page 116. (Read 814539 times)

Digital Currency Weekly Recap 11-22-2015

October UK Report Raises Questions about EU Crypto Crackdown.
Manhattan DA White Paper Proposes Encryption Bypass.
BitAML’s Joe Ciccolo: Regulator Views on Crypto Changing.
CCEDK’s Obits Cryptocurrency Available at Pre-Sale Price.

http://dcebrief.com/digital-currency-weekly-recap-11-22-2015/

“Coinbase Just Debuted the First Bitcoin Debit Card in the US”

That sounded like a great idea since  “relatively few people and businesses are using bitcoin to actually buy and sell stuff—or send money to friends and family or transfer money across international borders  …… Most people are just speculating in bitcoin…”

Coinbase just “unveiled the country’s first bitcoin debit card. It’s called the Shift Card, and it lets you spend bitcoin at any merchant—both online and off—that accepts an ordinary VISA card. Imagine buying a burrito at your local Mexican joint with bitcoin card, or a television from Amazon.com.”

“The new Coinbase card alleviates the concern over anonymity. Like any other debit or credit card, you must verify your identity to use it.”

This article is worth reading, despite the multiple level of fees involved.  It is not ideal but a good start.


Coinbase Just Debuted the First Bitcoin Debit Card in the US

PEOPLE ARE USING the bitcoin digital currency more than ever before. That’s good news for this decidedly democratic money system, a system controlled not by big governments and big banks and big credit card companies but by a vast network of computers set up by users around the world. The more people who use bitcoin, the more useful it becomes—the closer we get to a place where we can send money across the Internet as easily as we send texts or emails.

Read more:
http://www.wired.com/2015/11/coinbase-unveils-countrys-first-bitcoin-debit-card/

Just a little more for those who are wondering what the heck we are talking.

Scientists and engineers from the Australian University of New South Wales have successfully tested a quantum version of computer code on a silicon chip - Quantum bits -- or qubits

"Ultimately, the structure is scalable to millions of qubits, required for a full-scale quantum processor."

Background

In classical computers, data is rendered as binary bits, which are always in one of two states: 0 or 1. However, a qubit can exist in both of these states at once, a condition known as a superposition. A qubit operation exploits this quantum weirdness by allowing many computations to be performed in parallel (a two-qubit system performs the operation on 4 values, a three-qubit system on 8, and so on).

As a result, quantum computers will far exceed today's most powerful super computers, and offer enormous advantages for a range of complex problems, such as rapidly scouring vast databases, modelling financial markets, optimising huge metropolitan transport networks, and modelling complex biological molecules.

Source:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151030153108.htm

" . . .  the money and weapons the CIA is providing to overthrow the Syrian government of Assad are going directly or indirectly into the hands of the Islamic extremist groups . . . "

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)

http://gabbard.house.gov/index.php/press-releases/520-reps-tulsi-gabbard-austin-scott-introduce-legislation-to-end-illegal-u-s-war-to-overthrow-syrian-government-of-assad

[Hint: don't defend cryptos. They don't need defending. Instead, attack those primarily responsible for arming the theocrats.]

Three words here:  Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle.

This is an amazing technology breakthrough and has advanced very quickly. I have been following quantum computing for a while. It will lead to many new possibilities, we never thought possible before, especially in the areas of artificial intelligence for machine, and human as well, which almost sounded scary.

Those who can afford to be so equipped can drastically expand way beyond their current human limitations. Technically, if I can interface with my quantum computer, 24/7, it will quickly learn everything I know, research what I need to know and write the book, I am currently writing, far better than anyone could. This may sound exciting but if you are concerned about social economic inequalities, this could take it to a devastating level where a very small population preform better than the rest by a quantum leap. My advice, keep up with revolutionary technologies, including digital currency. Don't let your bankers talk you out of it. The world is changing at an ever increasing rate.

One issue of immediate concern is the current state of encrypted password and security. Technically, the new quantum computing will render everything we considered "protected and safe" void. I am sure we will adjust. Technology always evolves. Here is another reason investing heavily in technology development before one is ready to commercialize it is not a very smart business strategy. Getting ready to react quickly is much more prudent.

Quantum computing possible?? This will be interesting for the digital currency world.

World’s First Quantum Computer Now Possible after Silicon Chip Test

New South Wales (AUS) — Scientists have successfully tested a quantum version of computer code on a silicon chip. This is a new breakthrough for computational engineers and coding overall as the achievement proves what some thought was unobtainable: the ability to build the world’s first quantum computer.

Also read: Nasdaq to Introduce Blockchain Technology to Estonian Settling and Clearing Business

technology-wallpaper-hdEngineers and researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia have created code that entangles two quantum bits applied to a silicon chip. The protocol passed the infamous inflexible Bell Test and received the highest score ever during the test. The UNSW team, appearing in the international journal, Nature Nanotechnology stated:

“WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN PASSING THE TEST, AND WE HAVE DONE SO WITH THE HIGHEST ‘SCORE’ EVER RECORDED IN AN EXPERIMENT.”

The experiment proves that this quantum language can be written and controlled with a crafted silicon microchip for the first time in history. With this recent discovery, the first sketches of a quantum computer can come to life.

https://news.bitcoin.com/quantum-code-applied-microchip/

Love this post. Excellent to see DNotes major accomplishments in all in one spot. 2016, starting with the book and company being created sounds like it will be DNotes year to breakout. DNotes was my best pick back in 2014, pretty much my only investment in 2015, and will be my only investment for 2016. I plan to grab a little more DNotes each month to grow my investment.

You are both very welcome. Welcome to the DNotes forum, and thank you for participating in the DCEBrief contest! Almost 2,000 total entries, great job!

I agree,awesome!!! Thanks Dnote and DCEBrief!!!!!

Thank you! Great contest:-)

And the winners are...

Top 5 Sharers

DncXF89pp7NBap78K4aanqbQfycPFjwnnv      148 Shares
DfDkgh3jSUvprdCwzHyPiNPute8nGzwM4V      148 Shares
DiHav8AhJEA2jnkv4wZDWETuZAr2u4G1iA      140 Shares
DkA3KPgLxdhvXWnPmk2aWQfUk9zv612KQ9   140 Shares
DbtPfqCqsfbyr5SLA6DfExExVipXC4g2DH      140 Shares

Random Drawing Winners:

https://www.randompicker.com/Project/Public/Protocol.aspx?Key=256718x12277

DiHav8AhJEA2jnkv4wZDWETuZAr2u4G1iA      5000
DbFhMigUfpTPXRWmmx3E5bm4jfrycfkBpz   1000
DfDkgh3jSUvprdCwzHyPiNPute8nGzwM4V      1000
DcFEyqocTJuLisJCHfZyeNxrtgTE58LSCS      1000
DkA3KPgLxdhvXWnPmk2aWQfUk9zv612KQ9   1000
DbkrBxwtmpkKTj6St6ZRAyVcnc4anz4NdQ      1000

Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to everyone who participated!!!

As to be expected media bias attempting to connect Bitcoin to terrorism funding intensified, in the wake of multiple horrendous terrorist attacks in Paris and elsewhere. Like it or not, this will have a damaging effect on our industry. DCEBrief was launched because we recognize that biased and inaccurate reporting about our industry will continued, either based on sloppy reporting or other motivating factors to promote a different agenda.

Any medium of exchange can be used to do bad things. Bitcoin is not the preferred medium of exchange.

“In response, industry thought leaders sought to put forth a more moderate take on the technology's role in global financial crime, with some circulating a report from the UK treasury, released in October, that found that digital currencies were the least likely payment method to be used for money laundering.”



Bitcoin, Paris and Terrorism: What the Media Got Wrong

Due to their status as both an emerging payment method and payments technology, global authorities have long sought to ensure safeguards are in place to prevent digital currencies from being abused by cybercriminals and terrorists seeking to take advantage of their cash-like features.

This narrative was given new prominence this week following the terrorist attacks in Paris last Friday, which left more than 100 people dead and that have found law enforcement agencies and politicians seeking to take aggressive measures to bolster security in their wake.

Of note is that global authorities including FinCEN, Europol, FATF, G7 and Interpol have long been concerned about the state of regulation on digital currencies due to what they consider to be the potential for the new technology to be leveraged by groups seeking to finance terrorists or by terrorists directly.

Such nuance was often lost in new reports that highlighted how digital currencies were once again part of the conversation in the wake of the Paris attacks, as the European Council of the European Union and G7 convened for meetings aimed at assessing potential areas of concern in the global financial system.
Complicating reports by global media outlets was confusion related to past research into whether Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), or Daesh, has been confirmed to have actually used digital currency to fund its operations.

This arguably confusing state of reporting was even highlighted by FinCEN director Jennifer Shasky Calvery in a speech where she stated directly that her agency does not believe digital currencies to represent a "higher risk" when compared to more established payment methods.

According to American Banker, Calvery said:
"There has been public reporting of connections of ISIL promoting the use of bitcoin and virtual currencies as a means of moving and raising funds, but I think we are also very focused on the traditional means of moving funds so I think we need to keep our focus on both areas."

Such nuanced commentary, however, was often reduced in headline form, with American Banker running the headline, "ISIL May Be Using Bitcoin, FinCEN's Calvery Says".

In response, industry thought leaders sought to put forth a more moderate take on the technology's role in global financial crime, with some circulating a report from the UK treasury, released in October, that found that digital currencies were the least likely payment method to be used for money laundering.
The report, however, suggested that, as global law enforcement agencies have advocated, activities in the industry should be monitored due to the potential for such systems to be more widely used for both legitimate and criminal purposes.

Dubious connections
Issues began last weekend when cryptocurrency-specific industry news outlets sought to determine whether the technology may have played a role in funding the Paris attacks.

In the wake of the news, industry blog NewsBTC published an interview with a member of Ghost Security Group, an organization formerly affiliated with Anonymous that works in conjunction with the US government, which discussed whether IS was using bitcoin as a means to fund operations.

The member of Ghost Security Group said that IS used cryptocurrencies as a form of income to fund their activities, and that the group had uncovered various bitcoin addresses used by those affiliated with IS, though they did not specify whether any of these funds had been used in the planning of the recent attacks in Paris.

However, the media outlet published the interview under the headline "ISIL Militants Linked To France Terrorist attacks Had A Bitcoin Address with 3 Million Dollars".
The headline sparked a wave of coverage from other outlets, including NetworkWorld andPaymentWeek, which ran similar coverage.

A representative for Ghost Security told CoinDesk that the accounts it claimed it discovered "are in no way connected to the Paris attack", contradicting numerous headlines that attested otherwise.
Further, the representative said that it was not currently in possession of the bitcoin addresses it claimed it were connected to ISIL, adding:

"We no longer have the full addresses and they were handed off to the US government for verification and investigation."

Some observers, including an anti-ISIL group called GhostSec that is associated with online hacktivist collective Anonymous, have disputed Ghost Security Group's claims in light of a lack of verifiable bitcoin address or transactions.

Ghost Security Group provided CoinDesk with a purported image from a now-defunct Islamic State site, though the bitcoin address listed on it was not legible. The group later said it no longer possessed that information.

The language included on the page is identical to that on a Pastebin from May, though the bitcoin address listed has not received or sent any transactions.

Past precedent
Also circulating as media outlets attempted to understand the issue were older reports that had sought to connect IS and digital currencies.

Often cited, for example, was a September article by Deutsche Welle that explored the alleged connection between IS and the digital currency.



"Between bitcoin and gold, the 'Islamic State' is experimenting with currency, marking a new step in its state-crafting ambitions ... its apparent use of the decentralised technology bitcoin has come at nearly the same time as IS minted and released its own currency, the 'gold dinar'. The group's use of the two currencies, however, will likely serve different purposes."

The article cited the EU Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) junior analyst Beatrice Berton, who said:
"Sadaqa (private donations) constitute one of ISIL's main sources of revenue, and its supporters around the world have allegedly used digital currencies such as bitcoin to transfer money quickly to accounts held by ISIL militants while minimising the risk of detection."

Thousands of dollars worth of bitcoin have been sent to accounts purportedly affiliated with IS, said the article, with the one of the accounts registering its first transaction as far back as 2012.
Speculation as to the veracity of the article in light of new attention eventually reached a fever pitch, with author Lewis Sanders IV taking to Twitter to stick by his coverage.

A point of contention, however, was an apparent error in Sanders' report, in which it was originally claimed that an address with $20m in bitcoin had been tied to ISIL. Sanders later said that it was an error added after he had filed the report.

Sanders IV went so far as to denounce how his reporting was being used by other journalists, writing:
"I do not support - and instead condemn - #Bitcoin news (sic) sites extrapolating erroneous information from it."

EU 'crackdown' on bitcoin
Soon after this wave of reporting, Reuters jumpstarted a second life for the narrative when it reported European countries were planning to "clamp down" on digital currencies and "anonymous online payments" in an attempt to curb the financing of terrorism activities in the aftermath of the Paris attacks.
According to a draft document seen by Reuters, EU interior and justice minister were due to gather in Brussels today for a crisis meeting.

"They will urge the European Commission, the EU executive arm, to propose measures to 'strengthen controls of non-banking payment methods such as electronic/anonymous payments and virtual currencies and transfers of gold, precious metals, by pre-paid cards," Reuters said, citing the draft conclusions from the meeting.

It was not long until other mainstream media outlets began to cover the news. City AM's Clara Guibourg, picked up on Reuters' original report which outlined the plan to curb terrorism financing by targeting digital currencies such as bitcoin.

The author sought to position the news as part of a new event that was perhaps a "setback" for the digital currency, in what would become a common theme for reporters despite the long-standing investigation of global governments into the connection.She wrote:"This comes as a setback for bitcoin, which has been charging forward in recent months, with the EU recently accepting it as a currency by granting it VATexemption.The cryptocurrency surged in price, charging up 110 per cent over Octoberto hit a 2015 high of $500 before tumbling back down just as quickly to trade around $330 today."

Despite the coverage, the meeting conclusions from today's meeting in Brussels did not specifically mention bitcoin or any other digital currencies. CoinDesk reached out to the European Commission for more details on the meeting, but at press time did not receive any new details.
The EU news was accompanied by a separate report that members of the G7 nations were seeking to "get tough" on digital currencies, which Reuters positioned as a response to the Paris attacks.

Reuters wrote:
"The software-based financial services that FinTechs offer, including digital or 'virtual' currencies such as bitcoin, often operate across borders and beyond the reach of security officials."
The story was originally published by Der Spiegel on Wednesday, with both outlets noting that this intention extended to the wider FinTech industry, yet neither positioning their headlines toward this angle.

Old criticisms revived
Elsewhere, news outlets used this background as a kickstarter for conversations about the perceived benefits and drawbacks of digital currencies.

Bloomberg View writer Leonid Bershidsky noted the EU's perceived plan to crack down on virtual currencies using it as a platform to call for cash to be abolished.

"The problem is that terrorists aren't really using [digital currencies], anyway," he said, adding:
"They're using good old cash, though its circulation is already severely limited in countries such as France – the scene of the most recent Islamic State terror attacks. Instead of taking their anger out on virtual currencies, now is the time for governments to think seriously about the abolition of cash."

"Despite the Islamic State's well-known dislike of the US, its financial accounts seem to be kept in US dollars. The terror group's revenue comes in greenbacks, whether from old-school oil smuggling, 'taxes' on subjugated populations or the trade in stolen artefacts," he continued.

He went on to suggest that bitcoin's price volatility against other currencies would make the system "risky" for terrorist groups.

"Groups like Islamic State and their contractors don't want a means of payment that can lose half of its value in a day," he concluded.

Bershidsky's report, while a minority opinion, nonetheless succeeded at highlighting a discrepancy in the media's reporting that had been widely voiced on social media by the bitcoin industry, that reports on the use of newer payment methods in terrorist funding obscure that much of this illicit activity takes place among established forms of payment.

This report was co-authored by Pete Rizzo and Stan Higgins
Source:
http://www.coindesk.com/bitcoin-paris-and-terrorism-what-the-media-got-wrong/

Blockchain Weekly Recap 11-21-2015

Ukrainian R&D Center to Open In Kiev.
Align Commerce Series A Funding Exceeds $12 Million.
Wanxiang Blockchain Grant Program Launched.
Open Ocean May Consider Funding Blockchain Startups.
Microsoft Launches Cloud Blockchain Platform.
New Report Urges Finance Companies to Pay Attention to Blockchain.

http://dcebrief.com/blockchain-weekly-recap-11-21-2015/

My mob is scrabbling to gather data on, and analyse, The New Terrain.

This article is particularly good:

http://blog.maidsafe.net/2015/11/19/scrap-the-snoopers-charter-and-connect-the-dots

Mark (IndiaMikeZulu), Australia

Excellent recap and very appropriate messaging. We all have that inherent tendency to remember some while forgetting others. Unfortunately, we are living in a very troubled world. There is so much grief to acknowledge and so little we can do about it.

I loved the recap Ken!


Our Deepest Condolences.
"Finally, everyone here at DCEBrief would like to offer our collective condolences to the victims and families of those whose lives were lost in a number of savage terrorist attacks this month. With all of the justifiable outpouring of sympathy and support for the people of France over the course of the last week, it is perhaps easy to forget that Beirut suffered the loss of 43 people in a suicide bombing just a day prior to the Paris attacks. Just two days ago, similar attacks in Nigeria killed at least 49 people. 34 other victims died the day before in another attack on a market. Just today, gunmen took more than 150 people hostage in a hotel in Mali. More will surely follow in the days, weeks, and months to come.
Terror knows no national boundaries, and does not discriminate in its desire to destroy all that is good in society. Our hearts go out to all who have suffered its effects in recent days, as we extend our thoughts and prayers to the victims of these barbaric assaults on civilization."


This makes me very proud to be on Team Dnotes.

 You are welcome. I will be happy to answer any questions.

Today's Bitcoin Recap:

Bitcoin Weekly Recap 11-20-2015

Eurozone Crackdown on Bitcoin in Wake of Paris Attacks.
Fidelity Charitable Now Accepting Bitcoin.
Bitcoin Threatens Central Banking Effectiveness.
Antonopoulos Claims Bitcoin Advances Hindered by Trolls.
CoinTelegraph Moves to Help Paris Terror Victims.
Our Deepest Condolences.

http://dcebrief.com/bitcoin-weekly-recap-11-20-2015/

Thanks Alan, I'm sure he would appreciate getting the opportunity to ask a few questions about your vision.