The hottest Blockchain Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Following Flows V: Pool Cross-Pollination

Coin Metrics' State of the Network • 0 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Cryptocurrency Blockchain Mining Decentralization Data Analysis
  1. Decentralization concerns exist within Bitcoin mining due to the dominant control by a few major pools like Foundry and AntPool.
  2. Cross-pollination between mining pools is observed through shared addresses and flow of funds, indicating potential coordination among pools.
  3. Mining pools utilize different payout models and external networks like Cobo's Loop for liquidity, leading to a complex landscape with hidden consolidation of power.

How to Upgrade a Diamond to Use New State Variables?

EIP-2535 Diamonds • 0 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Blockchain Programming
  1. In diamond upgrades, you can add, replace, or remove external functions to incorporate new state variables.
  2. When adding new state variables to a shared struct in a diamond, only the external functions that use them need to be replaced.
  3. To upgrade a diamond with new state variables, you only need to add new external functions and replace existing ones that use the new state variables.

The Metaphysics of the Metaverse

For your consideration • 0 implied HN points • 07 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Metaverse Blockchain NFTs Smart Contracts AI
  1. The Metaverse must allow objects to be arbitrarily and dynamically divisible or fusible, reflecting real-world transformations.
  2. NFT Smart Contracts in the Metaverse should apply predefined rules for permissible actions on objects, enabling fusion or fission on demand.
  3. Objects in the Metaverse have shareable components, allowing for different rights and behaviors that can be bought, sold, or transferred based on defined rules.

Elliptic Curve Cryptography

Quantum Formalism • 0 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Cryptocurrency Cybersecurity Mobile Blockchain Internet of Things
  1. Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) is crucial for secure internet communications like TLS protocols, mobile security, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies.
  2. ECC is efficient and widely utilized in mobile devices for securing transactions and communications due to lower computational power requirements.
  3. ECC plays a significant role in various sectors like government communications, wireless security protocols, and cloud computing due to its high security and efficiency.

Smart Contracting’s Fine Print

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 04 Jan 19
🕹 Technology Blockchain Smart Contracts Economics Innovation Cryptocurrency
  1. Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize smart contracts by using a distributed ledger with a 'Turing complete' virtual machine.
  2. Smart contract applications are currently limited, with a few examples being used as substitutes for escrow services or for generating controlled lists.
  3. Economic innovation is crucial for the success of smart contracts on the blockchain, as they need to incentivize human action effectively to ensure contract performance.
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Can the blockchain make teams work?

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 13 Oct 18
🕹 Technology Blockchain Cryptocurrency Algorithms
  1. Al Roth, a prominent economist, is engaged with a blockchain startup focused on knowledge workers, which shows promise for trust establishment.
  2. Covee proposes using a blockchain algorithm to automate team coordination, solving the challenge of ensuring everyone contributes to a project.
  3. Covee's solution involves peer evaluations with stakes, aiming to maintain fairness and accountability among team members, but potential challenges may arise in more dynamic project environments.

The problem with Numerai’s Erasure protocol

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 05 Oct 18
🕹 Technology Blockchain Cryptocurrency Predictions Quality Staking
  1. Quality of predictions can be a challenge to assess before the fact, leading to market issues.
  2. Flooding the market with predictions can be avoided by having predictors earn reputations and stake their predictions.
  3. The mechanism of using staking and griefing in prediction markets may not effectively deter bad predictions and flooding, suggesting the need for alternative strategies.

A limit to Bitcoin scale?

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 26 May 18
🔮 Crypto Bitcoin Blockchain Cryptocurrencies
  1. Eric Budish's paper highlights a potential contradiction at the core of 'proof of work' schemes supporting cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
  2. The economic viability of Bitcoin in the long term is based on short-term enforcement mechanisms, which could pose challenges as Bitcoin becomes more economically significant.
  3. The use of specialized ASIC chips for mining may increase Bitcoin's robustness against attacks, but it challenges the democratic philosophy initially associated with Bitcoin.

Crypto-Casino or Crypto-World ?

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 09 Dec 17
🔮 Crypto Cryptocurrency Blockchain Investing Technology Economy
  1. Bitcoin's main weaknesses include slow transaction processing and high energy consumption, hindering its scalability as a decentralized protocol.
  2. Bitcoin's volatility and lack of adoption for real-life transactions make it unstable and ineffective for broader economic use.
  3. For the crypto-world to mature, technology needs to scale efficiently, distribution models must allow growth without creating bubbles, and cryptocurrencies must gain real-world use cases for stability.

Do Not Research: Over-Hyphenated Platform Capitalism Futures

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 22
🕹 Technology AI Blockchain Cryptocurrency Virtual reality Digital Platforms
  1. Participants in a reading-group meeting created speculative scenarios based on the themes of Platform Capitalism.
  2. The scenarios included themes like post-capitalism, decentralized protection, and even an AI ending capitalism.
  3. The speculative scenarios portrayed a future where technology, AI, and social structures intertwine in complex and sometimes dystopian ways.

Halving Pain May Be Inevitable After All

Miner Weekly • 0 implied HN points • 25 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Bitcoin Blockchain Cryptocurrency Mining
  1. Bitcoin's hashprice surged post-halving due to soaring transaction fees linked to the Rune protocol.
  2. Despite an initial surge, the average block fees have subsided, causing the hashprice to drop below pre-halving levels.
  3. Miner operators were able to profit substantially from the fee market volatility following the halving, with significant increases in collected fees.

Decentralize Your Data Journey: Introducing Web3 for Analytics Engineers Newsletter!

Web3 for Analytics Engineers • 0 implied HN points • 06 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Web3 Analytics Blockchain Decentralized Finance Data Analysis
  1. Web3 is transforming the world of data analytics, offering transparency, security, and immutability.
  2. The newsletter "Web3 for Analytics Engineers" provides exclusive tutorials, resource round-ups, best practices, and more to stay ahead in Web3 analytics.
  3. Topics covered include blockchain data analysis, decentralized finance, analytics tools like The Graph, and career growth strategies in Web3.

Reflections on student research projects

Solresol • 0 implied HN points • 27 May 24
🕹 Technology AI Computer Vision Blockchain LLMs Quantum Computing
  1. Many students in the cohort did not train their own computer vision models, instead relying on prompting AI models which proved to be inefficient and not very accurate.
  2. Explainability of results was emphasized in the research projects, with students looking into explaining their models' outcomes.
  3. The compatibility of blockchains with quantum computers is uncertain due to the vulnerability of traditional encryption methods to quantum breaking, leading to ongoing research on solutions.

The parallels between shitcoin sniping and pre-seed VC investing (Part 1/3)

Boltzmann Soul • 0 implied HN points • 15 May 24
💰 Finance Cryptocurrency Trading Investing Blockchain DeFi
  1. Crypto bull runs occur every four years and can mint new millionaires and billionaires.
  2. Shitcoin sniping in meme coin trading has similarities to pre-seed VC investing, including the dominance of returns by power law and the impact of FOMO on deal economics.
  3. New traders in meme coin trading should pick a blockchain ecosystem, track PnL in the network's native token, and avoid getting influenced by noise like fake influencers and copy trading.

The Hidden Value of Web3 Technology

The Digital Anthropologist • 0 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Cryptocurrency Blockchain Digital Identity
  1. Web3 technologies offer hidden value for the future of the internet by challenging current systems and empowering individuals.
  2. Key Web3 technologies include NFTs for ownership rights, DAOs for egalitarian ownership, and Ethereum for digital identity.
  3. Despite criticisms and confusion, the continuous development and passion behind Web3 technologies ensure ongoing benefits and innovation in the online world.

Why Blockchain Remains in the Shadows

The Digital Anthropologist • 0 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Blockchain Regulation Energy consumption Innovation
  1. Blockchain struggles to gain cultural relevance due to human societies' operation with opacity and grey areas.
  2. Many people have limited understanding of blockchain technology, hindering its adoption outside of tech circles.
  3. The challenges facing blockchain include transparency issues, lack of scalability, technology debt, and dwindling investor attention compared to other tech sectors.

The System Clashes of our Digital Age

The Digital Anthropologist • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Digital Age Artificial Intelligence Blockchain Social media
  1. We are currently experiencing significant systemic changes globally across various sectors due to the rapid advancement of digital technologies.
  2. Technological advancements, such as Artificial Intelligence, blockchain, and social media, are reshaping our societal, economic, and political systems, leading to both positive and negative outcomes.
  3. The role of technology in driving systemic changes is crucial, and while technology itself is neutral, it is how humans choose to use it that determines the impact on our sociocultural systems.

How Crime Could Stop A.I. From Taking Over

The Digital Anthropologist • 0 implied HN points • 03 May 23
🕹 Technology AI Blockchain Cybersecurity Scams Generative AI
  1. Cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies may face challenges from criminal activity and mass disillusionment, similar to what AI may encounter.
  2. Fake websites generated by AI, AI-written spam emails, and AI scams highlight potential risks associated with the widespread use of artificial intelligence.
  3. Criminals, hackers, and scammers exploiting AI could inadvertently lead to a societal distrust of AI and a shift towards more human-centric approaches, potentially preventing the negative impacts of artificial intelligence on humanity.

Deep-Tech Newsletter | November 2022.

Deep-Tech Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 10 Nov 22
💰 Finance Cryptocurrency Investment Technology Blockchain Economy
  1. The crypto world is facing challenges due to liquidity issues and potential bankruptcy at FTX, impacting several high-profile VC-backed crypto projects.
  2. This situation might lead to VCs bailing out crypto projects to maintain reputation, exposing flaws in the crypto ecosystem focused on short-term gains rather than long-term value.
  3. Despite the current turmoil, Zaiku Group remains optimistic about the potential of tokenization to revolutionize assets like money, art, and shares, with a focus on decentralized ownership and blockchain management.

I Hate Data Migrations

Tribal Knowledge • 0 implied HN points • 11 Dec 22
🕹 Technology Data Software Blockchain Database Migration
  1. Data migrations in software engineering can be incredibly challenging due to the complexity and inconsistency of data.
  2. Routine database backups are crucial for quickly restoring data and avoiding catastrophic losses.
  3. Utilizing blockchain technology for building databases can provide benefits like easy recreation of data structures and decentralized app development.

Web3: What I Know So Far

Tribal Knowledge • 0 implied HN points • 31 Jul 22
🕹 Technology Blockchain Cryptocurrency NFTs Web3
  1. The author shares their experience with cryptocurrency trends and technologies like Coinbase, Nexo, MetaMask, and more, emphasizing the vastness of Blockchain technology.
  2. The author is working on a startup utilizing web3 technology, referencing data on the blockchain and facing data challenges with NFT contracts on Ethereum chain.
  3. The author looks forward to exploring different NFT contract types and working with various blockchains beyond Ethereum, such as Polygon, Solana, Cardano, and Tezos, each presenting unique data challenges and scale issues.

Worldcoin Madness Begins

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 0 implied HN points • 30 Jul 23
🔮 Crypto Blockchain Tokens Privacy Ethics Finance
  1. Worldcoin is a new project that uses eyeball scans to create a digital currency. It aims to change the way people think about money and wealth.
  2. The project launched in 35 cities across 20 countries and had over 2 million sign-ups before even starting. However, it's not popular in the US yet.
  3. There are concerns about privacy and ethics related to scanning people's eyes for cryptocurrency. Some countries are questioning if the project is even legal.

The Feeling of Helplessness 😣

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 0 implied HN points • 31 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Web Development Blockchain Software Hardware
  1. Nvidia is struggling to keep up in a fast-changing market despite its success. It's hard for them to stay relevant as new technology comes out.
  2. The shift in Ethereum from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake caused Nvidia's GPU prices to drop significantly. This change affected many of their products and hurt their stock prices.
  3. Big tech layoffs are a common topic now, and there are debates about whether layoffs are good or bad for the companies and employees involved. These discussions are important as the job market shifts.

Goodbye, Miners

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 0 implied HN points • 18 Sep 22
🔮 Crypto Blockchain Mining Decentralization
  1. Ethereum has switched from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake, which changes how it operates. This new method involves validators being chosen based on how much they own.
  2. Proof-of-stake is seen as more energy-efficient than proof-of-work. This shift can help reduce environmental impact.
  3. The upgrade marks a significant change in the blockchain world, moving towards more sustainable practices. It sets a new standard for other cryptocurrencies to consider.

👀The Facial Recognition Hypocrisy & Karnataka’s Bitcoin Scam 🎯🚠🚜

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 0 implied HN points • 21 Nov 21
🕹 Technology AI Blockchain Scams Privacy Surveillance
  1. There is a contradiction in how facial recognition technology is used and regarded in society. Some support its use for safety, while others condemn it for privacy invasion.
  2. Karnataka's Bitcoin scam highlights the risks and challenges of cryptocurrency and online transactions. Many people lost money due to lack of regulation and security.
  3. Upcoming events like the Data Scientists Awards and Machine Learning Developers Summit provide great opportunities for networking and showcasing new research. Participating can help professionals grow in their field.

My Answers for the paradigm fellowship

Something to Consider • 0 implied HN points • 07 Aug 24
🔮 Crypto Blockchain Smart Contracts Ethereum Decentralization Economics
  1. The game with Ethereum bids will likely end with the biggest firm winning because they can raise the most capital. Smaller players may drop out when they see they can’t compete.
  2. Censorship doesn't change the game much because firms that want to win will pay a lot. They’ll still plan based on their chances of success.
  3. Smart contracts could change the game by allowing players to offer rewards to others for letting empty blocks go. This might make it harder for anyone to win the bidding eventually.

Linux, git, Bitcoin, and ChatGPT: The Four Distributed Horsemen of the Singularity

The Future of Life • 0 implied HN points • 24 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Software Decentralization AI Blockchain Open Source
  1. Linux shows how working together online can create powerful software. It proved that volunteers can outdo big companies.
  2. Git helps teams collaborate better on projects and keeps their work safe. It changed how people can be creative together, no matter where they are.
  3. Bitcoin and ChatGPT are also part of this decentralized movement. They let us share value and knowledge without needing a central authority, pushing us toward a smarter future.

A First Principles guide to Data Availability: Part 3

Matthew’s Substack • 0 implied HN points • 04 Aug 24
🔮 Crypto Blockchain Ethereum Web3 Decentralization
  1. Data availability (DA) projects are still new and evolving, with challenges in technology and security needing to be overcome. Many are in the early rollout phase and will require time to mature.
  2. EIP-4844 is currently preferred by major existing projects for DA since it integrates easily with Ethereum. Other alternatives like Celestia and EigenDA are gaining attention but have a long way to go.
  3. DA prices have dropped significantly, making it much cheaper for projects to use. However, there's still an excess of capacity over demand, meaning the market will need time to catch up.

A First Principles guide to Data Availability: Part 2

Matthew’s Substack • 0 implied HN points • 31 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Blockchain Web3 Data Systems Cryptography Decentralization
  1. Data Availability (DA) is crucial for ensuring that transaction data is accessible and secure, especially as blockchain technology grows. New solutions are needed to handle increased demand without high costs.
  2. There are two main types of DA solutions: Ordered DA, which includes consensus and provides stronger security, and DACs (Data Availability Committees), which focus on scalability and lower costs but offer less security.
  3. Choosing the right DA solution depends on factors like transaction value, data cost, and security needs. Different use cases, like finance or gaming, may prefer different DA features.

Five thinking principles I learned from the discovery of Bitcoin as a teenager

do clouds feel vertigo? • 0 implied HN points • 10 Feb 23
🔮 Crypto Digital Currency Blockchain Decentralization Innovation Investment
  1. You can find amazing ideas in unexpected places. Keep your mind open and explore things that seem out of the ordinary.
  2. Sometimes the weirdest ideas can turn out to be the most interesting and valuable. Don’t be afraid to dig into concepts that sound crazy at first.
  3. It's important to understand the basics of how things work. Asking fundamental questions can help you see the true nature of ideas and concepts.

The Bitcoin Boom: Asset, Currency, Commodity or Collectible?

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 24 Oct 17
🔮 Crypto Digital Currency Blockchain Trading Investing Market Analysis
  1. Bitcoin is a currency, not an asset. This means you can't determine its value the same way you would for things like stocks or real estate.
  2. You should focus on trading Bitcoin rather than investing in it. Trading is about predicting price changes, while investing requires valuing an asset.
  3. The future of Bitcoin can go in different directions: it could become a global currency, a gold alternative for the younger generation, or even a trend that fades away like the tulip bubble.

The Crypto Currency Debate: Future of Money or Speculative Hype?

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 02 Aug 17
🔮 Crypto Cryptocurrency Blockchain Investment Financial Markets Decentralization
  1. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether have seen huge price increases, but they are still new and not widely used for everyday transactions.
  2. The blockchain technology behind cryptocurrencies is real and valuable, but for these currencies to succeed, they need to be more reliable and accepted as money.
  3. Many people are interested in cryptocurrencies as investments more than as actual currencies, which makes it hard for them to be used for purchases.

Bitcoin Q & A: Bubble or Breakthrough? Both! Cult or Currency? Both!

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 10 Mar 14
🔮 Crypto Digital Currency Blockchain Investing Technological Innovation Financial regulation
  1. Bitcoin is a currency that can be accepted in transactions, but it's hard to value like traditional assets. It's treated differently from other currencies, as its value relies more on market perception and less on cash flows.
  2. The success of Bitcoin depends on trust in its underlying technology, how widely it's accepted for transactions, and how securely it can be stored. Without strong trust and use, its value might not hold in the long run.
  3. For Bitcoin to thrive, it needs to be used more broadly beyond just enthusiasts. If people can trust the system and find it convenient, it could evolve as a currency despite its current limitations.

Skip the joins with Semantic ABI

HyperArc • 0 implied HN points • 26 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Blockchain Web3 Data Analysis Open Source Smart Contracts
  1. Semantic ABI helps organize data from Ethereum transactions better. Instead of dealing with lots of confusing tables, it allows you to get a clear view of the data directly.
  2. By using Semantic ABI, you can easily combine data from different sources without complex joins. This saves time and makes analysis simpler.
  3. The library supports features like adding extra meaning to data and finding matches in transactions more efficiently. It's designed to help with analyzing Web3 data easily.

New App.axie Updates are LIVE!

The Lunacian • 0 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Blockchain Gaming Cryptocurrency Apps NFTs
  1. You can now ascend up to 20 axies at once using the new Bulk Ascension feature. This makes it quicker and easier to strengthen your axies.
  2. The Fortune Slip feature has improved by giving you a 20% increase in slips for each evolved collectible axie part. This means you can earn more by leveling up your collectibles.
  3. App.axie now shows how many Fortune Slips you might earn, helping you plan better for your axie's growth and rewards.

Polymarket and the Power of Collective Intelligence

Coin Metrics' State of the Network • 0 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
🔮 Crypto Blockchain Prediction Markets Digital Assets Market Analysis
  1. Prediction markets can give real-time insights into how likely certain events are to happen, rather than just relying on static polls. This makes them more dynamic and informative.
  2. Polymarket is a popular prediction market built on the Polygon blockchain, where users can bet on future events. It has a large investment of over $200 million locked in and is a major player in the Polygon ecosystem.
  3. The markets for the 2024 U.S. presidential election on Polymarket are very active and show how political events can affect the cryptocurrency market, especially with fluctuations in Bitcoin prices.

An Overview of the Flow Blockchain

Coin Metrics' State of the Network • 0 implied HN points • 15 Oct 24
🔮 Crypto Blockchain Smart Contracts Digital Assets DeFi Tokenomics
  1. Flow is a Layer-1 blockchain built for quick, consumer-friendly apps. It uses a unique system to help scale and manage tasks efficiently.
  2. The recent Crescendo upgrade allows Flow to work with Ethereum's smart contracts, letting developers use tools from both ecosystems.
  3. Flow is popular for digital collectibles like NBA Top Shot and has low transaction fees, making it great for fast and affordable transactions.

We're moving! A quick update

The price of agency • 0 implied HN points • 07 May 24
🔮 Crypto Blockchain Decentralization Web3 Smart Contracts Finance
  1. The author is switching their content to a new platform called Mirror, which is similar to Substack but offers some extra features.
  2. You can still follow their posts by subscribing with your email on Mirror, where they already have five posts available for you to read.
  3. The author mentions that their writing has become more frequent and engaging, thanks to the energy from their team.

Origins Season 11 is LIVE!

The Lunacian • 0 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
🔮 Crypto Blockchain Gaming NFTs Rewards Market
  1. Origins Season 11 has started with a big prize pool of 80,000 AXS! Players have seven weeks to compete for this opportunity.
  2. Nightmare axies are now available and can morph in exciting ways, making the gameplay more fun. Players can also earn additional rewards with collectible items.
  3. It's easier to upgrade runes and earn rewards this season with reduced mint fees and better rank-up bonuses. Plus, collectible chests are back with more chances to earn AXS!