Crypto’s Big Rupture Is Coming In 2021

An anonymous reader shares an opinion piece from CoinDesk, written by Ryan Zurrer. Zurrer is founder of Dialectic AG, an alternative-assets focused multi-family office. Previously, he was a Director at the Web3 Foundation and led the investment team at Polychain Capital, pioneering the SAFT as a legitimate investment instrument. From the report: Crypto is set to bifurcate and we will begin…

Facebook Claims Its Proposed Payments Network is 7 Times Faster Than Visa’s

As work continues on Novi, Facebook’s digital wallet the company hopes will one day be used to access currencies in the blockchain-based payment system Libra, semblances of a framework have emerged from new research published in AFT ’20: Proceedings of the 2nd ACM Conference on Advances in Financial Technologies. From a report: A paper coauthored by scientists at Facebook’s Novi division…

Aquarius? Here’s your constellation

Aquarius lies in a “watery” part of the sky, near Pisces the Fish, Cetus the Whale, Eridanus the River, and Piscis Austrinus the Southern Fish. Source: https://earthsky.org/constellations/aquarius-heres-your-constellation…

Earth in the balance today

Guy Ottewell’s insights on today’s autumnal equinox. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/insights-equinoxes-solstices-guy-ottewell…

Born under the sign of Ophiuchus?

Born between November 29 and December 18? If so, the sun passes in front of Ophiuchus on your birthday. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/born-between-november-29-and-december-18-heres-your-constellation…

Sagittarius? Here’s your constellation

How to find Sagittarius on August evenings, plus the lore and science of this constellation. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/sagittarius-heres-your-constellation…

China Sets Trial Run For Digital Yuan in Top City Hubs

Chinese authorities will expand test use of the country’s prototype digital currency across the nation’s three leading urban clusters centered on Beijing, Shanghai and the southern cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. From a report: The move, announced by the Ministry of Commerce, expands the coverage area for testing the cyber currency to a potential user base of around 400…

Richard Stallman Discusses Privacy Risks of Bitcoin, Suggests ‘Something Much Better’

Richard Stallman gave a new interview to the site Cointelegraph, which asked him his feelings about cryptocurrencies. “I’m not against them,” Stallman answers “I’m not campaigning to eliminate them, I just don’t particularly want to use them.” Cointelegraph then asks Stallman how he feels about tests underway for the Chinese government’s own central bank digital currency: Richard Stallman: “Digital payment systems…

Facebook Seeks Insights Into Startups by Investing in VC Funds

Facebook in recent weeks has approached a handful of small venture capital firms to discuss becoming an investor in their funds, The Information reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The VC strategy, which also includes direct investments in startups, aims to give the social network early, valuable insight into a wider swath of companies. From a report: To run…

Insights on Jupiter at opposition

Like so much in astronomy, Jupiter’s opposition happens in a way that’s cyclical. And the cycle of oppositions for Jupiter is especially pleasing to the mind. Astronomer Guy Ottewell offers his insights – and chart-making skills – to you during this 2020 opposition of our solar system’s largest planet. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/jupiter-opposition-sagittarius-july-13-14-2020…