• Mark Maraia is a professional development author and Bitcoin researcher who has been studying Bitcoin since 2020.
• Marty Bent and Ryan Breslow had a discussion on the podcast TFTC about addiction to technology and Twitter specifically.
• Breslow suggested managing time on Twitter by checking it once per post to see how it did, which is easy to say but hard to do.

Studying Bitcoin

Mark Maraia is a professional development author and Bitcoin researcher who has been studying Bitcoin since 2020. He noticed that there was a strong community of people on Twitter dedicated to discussing Bitcoin, leading him to call it “Bitcoin Twitter”. Despite having an account since 2009, he does not use it for tweeting due his opinion that social media is a huge time and productivity drain as well as the worst addiction of our age.

A Podcast Discussion

On an episode of the podcast TFTC, host Marty Bent and guest Ryan Breslow discussed their personal addictions to technology and Twitter specifically. They both admitted having an addiction but differed in how they were working towards breaking it; while Bent didn’t seem to be doing much about it, Breslow was actively trying to manage his time better when using Twitter by only checking it once after each post.

The “Crackberry” Problem

Maraia has written extensively on the growing addiction problem caused by devices before smartphones or even Bitcoin existed — writing a chapter in his second book titled ‘Fire Your PDA!’ which referred ironically to Blackberries (or ‘crackberries’) whose users at one point did not know how switch them off due their high levels of addictiveness.

No Silver Bullet Solution

Maraia himself doesn’t use Twitter but instead uses Telegram as a middle ground between no participation on social media platforms and full-on participation. However, there is no silver bullet solution according to Breslow — day-to-day management must be done in order for people to break their addictions from something so easily available with just one button press away.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Maraia’s research into the world of Bitcoin shows us that there is indeed a vibrant community present on Twitter for discussing cryptocurrency-related topics — though this also leads us into discussing our own addictions with technology as something that can be managed through day-to-day effort rather than searching for one single solution or cure-all approach.

• Fedi is launching a Bitcoin hackathon that will pay out 2.1 BTC to the winner in celebration of Bitcoin’s 14th birthday.
• Fedimint is an open source custody platform that allows users to store their bitcoin, and extend its functionality with privacy, smart contracts, and more.
• Ideation modules proposed include communal savings pool, storing value in a local currency, receiving payments privately via static QR codes or links, and operating a communal vote based spending pool.

Fedi, a technology company focused on building a Fedimint-based community custody platform, is celebrating Bitcoin’s 14th birthday with a special Bitcoin hackathon. The winner of the hackathon will receive a generous prize of 2.1 BTC.

Fedi hopes that this hackathon will encourage developers to build out a Fedimint module that will bring real world benefits to users. This hackathon is open-ended, meaning that developers have the freedom to code the functionality they believe would have the greatest impact. Fedi has proposed some ideas for modules, including a communal savings pool to accumulate Bitcoin for a large project, storing value in a local currency like dollars, receiving payments privately via static QR codes or links (similar to CLN’s BOLT 12 offers), and operating a communal vote based spending pool.

Fedimint is an open source custody platform that allows users to store their Bitcoin, as well as extend its functionality with privacy, smart contracts, and more. It is based on the concept of second-party custody, which involves trusting family members or friends with the custody of Bitcoin in a way that improves the trust and security models inherent in the classic centralized third-party custody solutions. Additionally, Fedimint leverages Federated Chaumian Ecash, which gives users added privacy.

In summary, Fedimint wallets have the potential to bring strong privacy to Bitcoin users with better security than third-party custody setups and more ease of use than fully-fledged self-custody solutions. Obi Nwosu, Fedi CEO, stated that “At Fedi, we believe that Fedimint will become the ideal open platform for the delivery of consensus-based applications on the internet. Bitcoin was created to bring financial freedom to the world, and we are confident that with Fedimint, users will be able to fully realize this.”

Therefore, Fedi is excited to launch this hackathon in celebration of Bitcoin’s 14th birthday, and to see the creative solutions developers come up with to help bring real world benefits to users. Participants should have some coding experience, and will be rewarded with 2.1 BTC for their efforts. Fedi believes that this hackathon will be a great way to help bring Bitcoin’s potential to the world.

1. Bitcoin had a defining year in 2022 and is ready to onboard the next billion Bitcoiners in 2023.
2. Predictions for 2023 include the Global South continuing to lead Bitcoin adoption and the divide between Bitcoin and the rest of the financial system growing.
3. The Built With Bitcoin Foundation opened the Bitcoin Technology Centre in Ghana to educate 400 people in its first year.

The year 2022 has been a defining one for Bitcoin and its users. With the rapid growth of cryptocurrency markets and the increased attention it has received from governments, investors and entrepreneurs, it is clear that Bitcoin is here to stay. As we look ahead to 2023, the expectation is that Bitcoin will continue to expand its reach and bring in new users from around the world.

The Global South is expected to be a major driver of Bitcoin adoption in the coming year. Already, the continent of Africa has seen immense growth in the number of people using the currency, with trade volume continuing to increase in countries such as Ghana and Nigeria. It is believed that this is due to the necessity of Bitcoin in these countries, as it is a cheaper and more efficient way to send money back home, make payments and preserve wealth. The Built With Bitcoin Foundation has also set up a Bitcoin Technology Center in Kumasi, Ghana, with the goal of educating 400 people in its first year.

The divide between Bitcoin and the rest of the financial system is also expected to grow in the coming year. As more and more people turn to Bitcoin as a safe haven in times of economic uncertainty, it is likely that the currency will continue to gain traction and move further away from the traditional banking system. This could open up new opportunities for those who are looking for a more secure and efficient way to move their money around the world.

Finally, it is important to note that it is up to Bitcoin users to educate governments, businesses and individuals about the real-life use cases of the currency. As time goes on, it is likely that more and more people will be brought into the digital currency world, and it is up to us to ensure that they understand the potential of the technology and its various benefits.

Ultimately, 2022 was a defining year for Bitcoin, and 2023 promises to be just as exciting. With the Global South continuing to lead the way in terms of adoption and the divide between Bitcoin and the rest of the financial system growing, it is clear that the currency is here to stay. With the right education and support, there is no reason why Bitcoin can’t continue to bring in new users and open up opportunities for all.

• CoinCorner has partnered with Pouch, a Lightning service provider based in the Philippines, to enable customers in the U.K. and Europe to use their Send Globally feature to transfer funds to the country.
• Send Globally utilizes the Lightning Network to convert one fiat currency into bitcoin, which is then sent over the Lightning Network to a receiving entity, making global payments instant.
• The partnership will allow for more than $2,412,600,000 (£2 billion) to be remitted from the U.K. and Europe to the Philippines each year.

CoinCorner, a cryptocurrency exchange and wallet provider, has recently partnered with Pouch, a Lightning service provider based in the Philippines, to enable customers in the U.K. and Europe to use their Send Globally feature to transfer funds to the country. This will help to facilitate the remittance of more than $2,412,600,000 (£2 billion) from the U.K. and Europe to the Philippines each year.

Send Globally utilizes the Lightning Network, which is a decentralized network of payment channels used to facilitate low-cost, instant transactions between two parties. The network enables one fiat currency to be converted into bitcoin, which is then sent over the Lightning Network to a receiving entity. This receiving entity then converts the bitcoin into another fiat currency, making global payments instant.

CoinCorner and Strike recently enabled users from Europe, the U.S. and the U.K. to send money quickly and at low cost to Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria through the Send Globally feature. This partnership with Pouch will now make it possible for customers in the U.K. and Europe to send funds to the Philippines. Ethan Rose, the CEO of Pouch, expressed excitement about this new partnership and the possibilities it will open up. He commented, “The Lightning Network is the most efficient way to send money across borders, but until now the user experience has been too complex for the average user. We’re so pleased to announce the partnership between Pouch & CoinCorner, because it allows us to drastically simplify a remitter’s user experience while still taking full advantage of the utility of Lightning.” Danny Scott, the CEO of CoinCorner, echoed these sentiments, adding, “We’re excited to announce our latest partnership with Pouch and expand our Send Globally service to the Philippines. Every year, more than $2,412,600,000 (£2 billion) is remitted from the U.K. and Europe to the Philippines, so this is another great opportunity to demonstrate the power of Bitcoin, with instant and low cost transactions via the Lightning Network.”

Overall, this new partnership between CoinCorner and Pouch will make it much easier for customers in the U.K. and Europe to transfer funds to the Philippines. By utilizing the Lightning Network, customers will be able to enjoy the benefits of low-cost, instant payments. This will be a great opportunity to demonstrate the power of Bitcoin and the Lightning Network, while also serving to improve the financial well-being of many individuals in the Philippines.

1. Bitcoin reduces administrative bloat, cheaply transfers large sums of wealth, and can potentially act as a secure store of wealth.
2. Bitcoin’s contribution to civilization is expected to be so significant that gold and treasury bonds should gradually become obsolete, as bitcoin’s adoption rate increases.
3. Charlie Munger expressed his opinion that Bitcoin’s success is “disgusting and contrary to the interests of civilization”.

Bitcoin has become an increasingly popular and important financial tool, with its value and usage growing exponentially in recent years. This digital currency was created to allow for the transfer of large sums of wealth across the globe in a secure and cost-efficient manner. Moreover, the decentralized nature of Bitcoin means that it is a safe and reliable store of value.

The development of Bitcoin has caused a significant shift in the way that wealth is handled and stored, reducing bloat and eliminating the need for paperwork and audits. Additionally, Bitcoin can potentially act as a treasury bond-like instrument, offering higher yield returns than traditional treasury bonds. This is because the real return on bonds is always lower than the nominal expectation, due to inflation.

As Bitcoin has become more popular, its market capitalization has grown and its volatility has decreased, leading it to increasingly function as a secure store of wealth or even as a savings account. The colossal amount of computing power that already powers Bitcoin, as well as the manner in which this computing power is distributed across several jurisdictions, make it virtually incorruptible.

In light of Bitcoin’s growing popularity and potential to revolutionize the way wealth is handled and stored, there are some who disapprove of the development of Bitcoin. Charlie Munger, a life-long thinker, philosopher and author, expressed his opinion that Bitcoin’s success is “disgusting and contrary to the interests of civilization”. However, contrary to Munger’s opinion, Bitcoin’s potential contribution to civilization is expected to be immense, and its adoption rate is expected to continue growing. As Bitcoin’s popularity increases, its usage is expected to surpass that of gold and treasury bonds, making them obsolete.

In conclusion, Bitcoin is a revolutionary financial tool that is revolutionizing the way wealth is handled and stored. Its potential for contribution to civilization is immense, and its growing popularity and usage suggest that it will soon become a necessary part of the financial world. Despite some negative opinions such as those of Charlie Munger, Bitcoin is here to stay and will continue to be an important part of the financial system.

• Layer 2 Labs is launching with the goal of scaling and building out drivechains for the Bitcoin Network.
• The company has closed a seed round at launch, raising $3 million in funding.
• Drivechains define a specific way through which to create Bitcoin sidechains, which enable BTC to “flow” between the two networks in a two-way peg.

Layer 2 Labs is a company that has recently launched with the goal of scaling and building out drivechains for the Bitcoin Network. The company is backed by a seed round of funding, raising a total of $3 million. These funds will be used to develop the drivechain technology, which is a specific way through which to create Bitcoin sidechains.

The purpose of sidechains is to enable Bitcoin (BTC) to “flow” between the two networks in a two-way peg. This means that Bitcoin can’t actually leave the Bitcoin network, so sidechains are used to accomplish this task. To do this, BTC is locked up on the Bitcoin blockchain and represented in different ways in the sidechain. The goal of this process is to ensure that the representation of BTC in the sidechain maintains a 1:1 peg to the actual BTC locked on the Bitcoin network.

Liquid is currently the most popular sidechain in the Bitcoin ecosystem. Blockstream’s model leverages a federation to handle the on-chain lock-up and withdrawals, as well as sidechain block creations. Drivechains, however, aim to move away from the federated model in favor of something that is more decentralized –– Bitcoin’s own miners. Under the drivechain model, Bitcoin miners are responsible for creating blocks in the sidechain, which allows users to move BTC back and forth without having to trust a third-party.

Layer 2 Labs believes that drivechains have the potential to revolutionize the way we use Bitcoin by enabling greater scalability, extensibility, privacy, and flexibility on the network. The company believes that drivechains have the potential to kill altcoins, increase Bitcoin adoption, and provide the catalyst for hyperbitcoinization.

The team at Layer 2 Labs is determined to make everyone in the world a Bitcoin user and believes that drivechains are the way to make this happen. They are committed to pushing the drivechain technology forward and are confident that it will bring great benefits to the Bitcoin network.

• Layer 2 Labs is a start-up aiming to scale and build drivechains for the Bitcoin Network.
• They have closed a seed round at launch, raising $3 million in funding.
• Their goal is to make everyone in the world a Bitcoin user, and they believe drivechains have the potential to revolutionize the way we use Bitcoin.

Layer 2 Labs is a start-up company that has recently launched with the goal of scaling and building out drivechains for the Bitcoin Network. The company closed a seed round at launch, raising $3 million in funding, and they have a clear vision of what they want to accomplish.

The driving force behind Layer 2 Labs is their desire to make Bitcoin more accessible and easier to use for everyone in the world. Co-founder and CEO Paul Sztorc said in a statement, “We believe that drivechains have the potential to kill altcoins, increase Bitcoin adoption, and provide the catalyst for hyperbitcoinization.”

Drivechains define a specific way through which to create Bitcoin sidechains. Sidechains are parallel blockchains to Bitcoin that enable BTC to “flow” between the two networks in a two-way peg. Since bitcoin can’t actually leave the Bitcoin network, sidechains accomplish this task by locking up BTC on the Bitcoin blockchain and representing them in different ways in the sidechain. The goal is that the representation of BTC in the sidechain maintains a 1:1 peg to the actual BTC locked on the Bitcoin network.

Layer 2 Labs believes that drivechains have the potential to revolutionize the way we use Bitcoin. They can provide greater scalability, extensibility, privacy, and flexibility on the network. Sztorc has authored two Bitcoin improvement proposals (BIPs) that detail the technical specifications of drivechains, BIP 300 and BIP 301.

The company hopes to make Bitcoin more accessible to a wider audience and to reduce the reliance on altcoins. They believe that drivechains are the way forward for Bitcoin and that they have the potential to increase adoption and create a more efficient and secure network.

Layer 2 Labs is just getting started and they have already raised significant funds to support their mission. It will be interesting to see how their drivechain technology will affect the Bitcoin network and the wider cryptocurrency community.

• Foundation Devices recently concluded a seed round of $7 million, led by Polychain Capital.
• The company has released the second edition of its flagship product, the Passport, and also its new mobile app, Envoy.
• The company is focused on preserving freedom and privacy for users through decentralized technologies.

Foundation Devices recently announced the successful completion of a seed round of $7 million, led by Polychain Capital. Investor participation also included new additions Greenfield Capital and Lightning Ventures, alongside previous investors Third Prime, Warburg Serres, Unpopular Ventures and Bolt. The company, which launched in April of 2020, has seen considerable success in the 18 months since its launch, selling thousands of its flagship product, the Passport. To meet consumer demand, the company released the second edition of the Passport and also debuted its new mobile app, Envoy.

Envoy offers users a standalone sovereignty toolkit complete with a Bitcoin software wallet and the easiest onboarding and user experience of any Bitcoin wallet. Additionally, Envoy utilizes the Tor network, a free and open-source software for enabling anonymous communication, to ensure maximum privacy for users. The company is focused on protecting user’s freedom and privacy, with CEO Zach Herbert stating that “Preserving freedom and privacy is more important than ever amidst worldwide censorship, privacy violations, and reckless financial and monetary policies.”

The seed round was met with enthusiasm from investors, with Polychain Capital Founder and CEO Olaf Carlson-Wee commenting that “We are incredibly excited to support them on the next phase of their vision to empower self-sovereign individuals through decentralized technologies.” Foundation Devices is continuing to expand its offerings to meet the growing demand for decentralized technology, aiming to offer users the freedom and privacy to control their own data and finances.