A general introduction to blockchain and cryptocurrencies
This project is dedicated to making crypto economics and crypto assets more accessible.
At the root — whether you think cryptocurrencies and blockchain will be a cornerstone of future civilizations, or whether you’re a hobbyist finding fun in watching the “to the moon” memes as the value of your favorite coin increases — there is a lot to learn about the functionality and impacts of these new technologies.
The success of a new economy, based on privacy and more control over equitable and fair financial systems will rely on vast, decentralized networks. Those networks need people to participate in order to remain robust and resilient.
Cryptocurrencies, and the blockchain technology that underpins them, are not yet even a decade old. We are still in the early days in terms of adoption and application development. And while these new economic systems that are based on computer code and digital best practices continue to emerge and impact more parts of our daily lives — everything from how we get our paycheck and save for retirement to managing climate credits and more efficient environmental conservation — there will be a lot to try to unravel, figure out, and discuss.
Right now, there is a little bit of a cart/horse problem facing cryptocurrencies and blockchain. There are a number of reasons why the accessibility of crypto assets remains difficult. Some of the issues relate to the technical nature of the crypto space, the elitism of early adopters, and just the general speed at which the infrastructure around the crypto economy is being built (and without much in the way of agreed-upon governance or regulation).
In its own way, and at a very micro-scale, this project looks to address some issues in the cryptocurrency and blockchain information landscape by trying to identify larger trends and make sense of cornerstone concepts that apply broadly to the new crypto economy.
Welcome
If you are new to this project, or new to cryptocurrencies and blockchain, these are some suggested posts to help get you oriented:
1. Cryptocurrencies are complicated. Be skeptical of anyone claiming to be an expert. Also, the learning process takes time.
2. Trust and privacy are two tenants of the emerging crypto economy. The thing is, these are also both slightly misunderstood. While encrypted systems do offer better levels of privacy when conducting digital transactions, cryptocurrencies (bitcoin especially) are by no means completely private. But maybe more important is the issue of trust. Cryptocurrencies are often viewed as a better alternative to traditional fiat currency because central banks and centralized financial institutions are replaced by mathematically-driven computer code secured by distributed and decentralized computer networks. One of the main arguments that politically-minded proponents will make is that cryptocurrencies support sovereignty. But really, are cryptocurrency users just replacing central banks with groups of developers, technologists, and miners?
3. The cryptionary is a glossary of sorts that contains key crypto terms and concepts. It started as a simple way of taking notes and making sense of new or specific parts of the crypto space. Now, it’s become a thing of its own — one of the highest ranking inbound search terms for this site is “lambo crypto.”
4. Understand that not all cryptocurrency and blockchain projects are created equal. An entire system of cryptocurrency and blockchain projects is under development, with projects addressing everything from how we will make payments to the interoperability of the internet-of-things.
5. Read more books. Here are some cryptocurrency and blockchain book recommendations.
Disclaimers
One characteristic shared by all parts of the emerging crypto economy is the need for increased personal responsibility. Instead of formalized governance by cryptocurrency and blockchain companies and projects, or clearly articulated regulations, individual users need to take a more proactive role in understanding what kinds of systems they are joining, the risk associated with participating in cryptocurrencies, and the soundness of the investments they are making.
This project talks various cryptocurrencies and blockchain opportunities and potential investments. But make no mistake, this content should be read as investing advice or financial guidance. No one affiliated with the project is qualified in any way to give financial advice, and you are always advised to check all the facts and information you gather from the internet.
As mentioned at the top, the goal of this project is to increase the accessibility to digital assets and hopefully add value by approaching the blockchain and cryptocurrency conversation in a slightly different (and hopefully unique) way.
Please be in touch with any feedback, ideas, or collaborative opportunities.