Hacker News Reader

markkaton The 21 Bitcoin Computer

I believe they are using their mining power, plus what is added from this pool of devices to include the fee-less microtransactions created from these devices in their blocks.

In other words, this is intended to be a solution to the microtransaction problem.

markkaton Submit.co – Where to get press coverage for your startup

https://hubski.com/tag?id=startups, https://hubski.com/submit, https://twitter.com/hubski

markkaton Nasdaq experiments with Bitcoin's blockchain

Here are the number of bitcoin transactions per day:

https://blockchain.info/charts/n-transactions?timespan=all&s...

It seems to be increasing. Given that using BTC isn't useful unless someone else uses BTC (like email), the growth is impressive to me. I remember when the number of people I knew that had email addresses was very limited. It took about 10 years between me and my mother getting one.

markkaton Nasdaq experiments with Bitcoin's blockchain

All miners 'compute on' the same blockchain. That is, they compete for the priviledge of adding the next block for the mining and transaction rewards that come with it. Thus, NASDAQ transactions (as all bitcoin transactions) are secured by the hashing power of the global network.

In short, that's why NASDAQ is using bitcoin rather than their own blockchain app, as it is the most secure blockchain in terms of a computational attack.

markkaton The End of California?

I've wondered if cargo ships couldn't use the very salty water as a source of electricity (ion gradient), slowly draining the saltier water as it traverses the ocean.

markkaton List of April Fools' Day Announcements

Hubski, clicking a hubwheel plays "thoughtful" audio clip.

https://hubski.com

markkaton Secretive Bitcoin Startup 21 Reveals Record Funds, Hints at Mass Consumer Play

It would be very difficult to get another coin to the level of adoption that bitcoin has. Many have tried, and none have come close.

markkaton Bitcoin adoption in 2015

If you look at the all-time USD transaction volume, it seems pretty clear that it is growing:

https://blockchain.info/charts/estimated-transaction-volume-...

Using the same slope, I'd expect about $110M USD/day this time next year (from about $70M now). As bitcoin's usefulness is tied to the number of people using it (like email), it would be strange to see explosive transaction growth so early on.

Looking at all-time number of transactions, it's difficult to make the case that adoption is static:

https://blockchain.info/charts/n-transactions?timespan=all&s...

markkaton Scientists Discover First ‘Virological Penicillin’

I work with miRNA. They are bizarrely stable. From my experience, I wouldn't be surprised to find some intact.

markkaton The future of the book

That is not the future of web design. Didn't work on my phone, was awful on my desktop.

markkaton Venezuelans turn to Bitcoins to bypass currency controls

Bitshares does this: http://bitshares.org/

Their BITUSD has been tracking fairly well: http://www.cryptocoincharts.info/pair/bitusd/usd/bter/1-mont...

markkaton Bitcoin Can Only Win (mass adoption) by Losing (its heart)

Future scenario 1 could occur and the result could very well be a significant improvement on the current system.

markkaton Net neutrality

To play devil's advocate, Apple also censors nipples. Both can change their stance on nipples. Like private companies, representative governments do respond to popular opinion, the avenues of applying pressure are just different.

Government and corporations each have certain advantages and faults by design. I'd prefer a public road and a private car, to a private road and a public car.

markkaton BitUndo – Double Spending as a service

>But is humanity really that way? Or does society require a small number of rulers keeping the ruled in line?

IMO it depends on the specific ecosystem, and there is no definitive answer for this question. Some systems bring out the worst in people, some don't. However, as bitcoin is a financial system, greed is a major force that it must contend with. As the value of BTC grows, the incentive for bad behavior will grow with the rewards. For that reason, I personally cannot imagine that bitcoin can continue indefinitely without some sort of regulation. I'd love to be wrong about that, however.

It remains to be seen if BitUndo can realize their goal under the current framework. It's quite possible that the costs coupled with the initially low success rate and the desire for miners to protect the value of their holdings might prevent it from ever gaining traction. However, their efforts highlight an attack vector and there may be ways to disincentivize their scheme early on.

markkaton Imgur Raises $40M From Andreessen Horowitz

I'll check it out. It's nice to have another option. Drop a link on Hubski. Most of us there use imgur. (I run Hubski)

markkaton We Built a Hacker News for Biotech

We are going strong on http://hubski.com.

markkaton Flexcoin is shutting down

How could bitcoin ever reach mainstream adoption if this is the best kind of security available? I am going to have to worry about providing my own security? USD is far more attractive if that's the case.

I believe in the potential of bitcoin, but if cloud wallet services cannot succeed, then bitcoin can't succeed.

markkaton Ask HN: What are some alternatives to HN?

http://hubski.com/tag?id=technology

http://hubski.com/tag?id=linux

http://hubski.com/tag?id=programming

http://hubski.com/tag?id=math

http://hubski.com/tag?id=physics

http://hubski.com/tag?id=economics

etc.

markkaton Economics Simulation

That's the beauty that is used to advantage in physics, systems often behave in similar ways. Such a characteristic is not a weakness of a model, often it is a strength.

markkaton Coinbase Crosses 650,000 Users

Ok. Thanks for the response.

In some sense I suppose that actually answers my question.

markkaton Coinbase Crosses 650,000 Users

pg, if a reasonably intelligent person asked you to describe bitcoin, how would you do it? -if you'd humor me

I ask, because IMO much of the debate about bitcoin consists of people conflating and abusing definitions and talking past each other. As you are obviously interested in it, I wonder what you see, and perhaps what interests you most about it.

markkaton Hacker news for data scientists

we do that at http://hubski.com you can follow/ignore users and/or tags.

markkaton CheapAir accepts Bitcoin

I think it likely that this is one of those things that will slowly make the difference, and change people's minds about how financial transactions ought to be.

markkaton YC is joining Alexis Ohanian's Without Their Permission Tour

I saw the talk at U of M. It was both insightful and entertaining. Unfortunately the Q&A was dominated by questions about Reddit. I wanted to hear your thoughts on bitcoin, but knew you'd never get through the line at the mics. Have you written about it anywhere? Ever thought of selling the book for BTC?

markkaton Bitcoin Reaches 1000 USD

>Edit: ok there is a limit of 21million bitcoins by 2030, and a world assignable wealth of ~210 trillion USD. So, if bitcoin works and can be the repository for all worlds currency, it would have to be worth 10,000 USD per bitcoin.

By my math, that's 10,000,000 USD per BTC.

markkaton Ask HN: Did the vertical spacing increase?

Juicy.

markkaton Personal content isn't a sin.

That is the question. Personally, I'd argue that Twitter and Google+ are informative, but there are significant differences to be sure. I haven't been much involved in Google+ communities, I wonder if 'Not Mine' pressure is higher there than it is outside on Google+.

markkaton This 4×6 index card has all the financial advice you’ll ever need

I agree with this approach. Keep the number of individual stocks you invest in at a manageable level. Know why you invested in them, and go long. IMO the longer you go, the less noise in the decision-making. Ex: Ford is at >$2. Will Ford go bankrupt, or will it survive? If it will survive, then it will be worth having in 10 years, especially if dividends return. In that case, you have based your risk on just one question that you need to settle to your satisfaction. A much more difficult question is: Will Ford be higher next year than it is now?

I also agree with investing in the management.

Finally, I think investing in some individual stocks is probably a good way to stay mindful about your investments in general.

markkaton A New Online Commmunity: Hubski

:) The house is a link.

markkaton A New Online Commmunity: Hubski

Thanks for the feedback. I'm actually in the midst of a new user flow redesign. We also have some new ideas for non-feed browsing that we will be trying out.

We've tried a few approaches to make the site a bit easier to ease into. Obviously we have room for improvement. I appreciate the advice.