Blog
The One-Size-Fits-All Blockchain
Recently, I tuned into the LBRY Community Podcast and near the end, they brought up a question that someone had asked about LBRY. This person wanted to know why it was not built on a privacy coin like Monero. They implied that LBRY should move to a private chain like that. Now, apart from the obvious technical issues regarding such a request, this does bring up something that I often see when people discuss crypto.
People love one-size-fits-all technology. They love to pick one favorite thing or company that does everything. They might be an Apple person who stupidly uses Apple for everything. They might be a Google person who can’t get enough of Google’s products and services. They might be a Facebook person who puts down any other social media platform because they just don’t provide all of the same features as Facebook.
When it comes to crypto, you have the Bitcoin-only people. All other coins are what they call “shitcoins.” You also have the Monero-only bunch, who can’t imagine any reason to use a public blockchain. You also have the ERC-20 crowd who just can’t get enough of their little tokens. Now, there is nothing wrong with having favorites, whether a favorite brand or platform or blockchain, but it is incredibly naive and counter-productive to turn around and then say that everyone should use your preferred solution.
There is no one-size-fits-all blockchain, and there shouldn’t be. If one blockchain tried to do it all, we would end up with less innovation, less freedom, less technological progress. If we all had to gather under the banner of one blockchain, the forced association would lead to more infighting and less excitement.
Bitcoin doesn’t serve the same purpose as Monero. Ethereum doesn’t serve the same purpose as LBRY. Blocknet doesn’t serve the same purpose as DASH. If you want a blockchain for crypto conservatives, Bitcoin is there for you. It is tried and true. It may be slow and it may be expensive, but with Bitcoin you know exactly what you are getting and you know that it won’t dramatically change overnight. If you want private money, if you value fungibility, Monero and other privacy coins are there for you. If you want to publicly post videos and other content, LBRY is there for you. If you want to connect and interact directly with multiple blockchains using a standard API, then Blocknet is there for you. If you want to build complex, worldwide blockchain applications, Ethereum and the brilliant Ethereum Virtual Machine exist for you.
None of these chains could accomplish everything that the others accomplish, and it would be a waste of time to try and do so. What makes far more sense is having a large number of crypto projects out there, with many different blockchains that are each specially designed to provide certain solutions. Sure, some do more than others, but that doesn’t change the point.
With a multitude of projects, everyone gets to focus on their own particular passions and they get to innovate on those. Specialization ultimately leads to innovation for everyone because we can all learn from those projects in order to build the next generation of crypto products and services.
Lots of crypto projects, lots of blockchains, is a good thing. And apart from the benefits in terms of innovation, it’s also worth pointing out that if everyone only used a one-size-fits-all blockchain, then that would mean we are all depending on one project, which should worry everyone. Software projects come and go. Blockchains come and go. Tech is innovative one day and deprecated the next. If we all relied on the same thing, then that would put us all at risk because then the enemies of our freedom and autonomy would have a central point to attack in an attempt to seize more control over us.
Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Don’t be naive enough to think that your pet project or blockchain is the answer to everyone’s problems. Nothing good will come of that.
In a healthy, free market there are lots of technologies out fighting to provide solutions to our problems, and that is a good thing.
Originally posted at: https://technoagorist.com/52
TechnoAgorist on LBRY: https://lbry.tv/@TechnoAgorist:8
TechnoAgorist on Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TechnoAgorist:8
TechnoAgorist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjWlrSuf4b4eApnFX9o82BA
TechnoAgorist is a production of the MLGA Network. Find more great content at: https://mlganetwork.com
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Austin’s Mayor…
…telling us to conserve energy, sitting in front of his painting with special accent lighting and thermostat turned up so high he doesn’t need a sweater.
More Interviews of Me
Thanks to Everyone’s Orphan for rounding up the links.
Scott Horton And Jackson Hinkle Discuss Biden Foreign Policy
Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism w/ Scott Horton – Part Of The Problem #696
Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism Video Adaptation Chapter Nine – Somalia
Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism by Scott Horton, A Video Adaptation
Commentary by the author. Directed by Gus Cantavero.
Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism Video Adaptation Chapter Eight – Af-Pak
Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism by Scott Horton, A Video Adaptation
Commentary by the author. Directed by Gus Cantavero.
Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism Video Adaptation Chapter Seven – Iraq War II
Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism by Scott Horton A Video Adaptation
Commentary by the author. Directed by Gus Cantavero.
FAA Issues COVID-19 Pandemic NOTAM For International Air Travel
The FAA has issued a NOTAM (notice to airmen) requiring passengers entering the USA from foreign countries to have a negative covid test or proof they recovered from covid in the last 3 months. Hopefully they won’t go as far as Canada and require quarantine.
COVID-19 Pandemic NOTAM Highlighting 12 Jan CDC Order for all Passengers Entering the U.S.
Notice Number: NOTC1682
The FAA Safety Team would like to draw your attention to NOTAM FDC 1/2431. It can be accessed on the Defense Internet NOTAM Service Defense Internet NOTAM Service (faa.gov) To locate the NOTAM please find and select the “FDC Notices” button and then keyword sort for the term 2431.
FDC 1/2431 (KFDC A0014/21) FDC Special Notice of Public Health Requirement for All Air Passengers Entering the United States (U.S.) and its Territories.
All air carriers and other aircraft operators departing a foreign country intending to land in the U.S. or a U.S. Territory are advised the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an order, effective 26 Jan 2021, prohibiting the embarkation of any air passenger on a flight to the U.S. from a foreign country unless the passenger, in accordance with the specific terms of the CDC order, presents documentation of:
1) A negative result for a pre-departure test for SARS-COV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) taken no more than 3 days in advance of departure; or
2) Recovery from COVID-19 within the previous 3 months or as specified in CDC guidance.
Effective immediately, all affected operators are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with this CDC order, which provides important details, including info on: applicability; exemptions; criteria of a qualifying test; requirements for documentation of recovery, including a positive test result for SARS COV-2 and confirmation from a licensed health care provider or health official that the individual is cleared to travel; passenger attestations; and compliance implementation, including requirements levied directly on operators. This CDC order and a link to FAQs may be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/
Non-urgent questions regarding the CDC order may be directed to eocgmftcommsme@cdc.gov Operators should also refer to FAA SAFO 20009, as discussed in the CDC order.
Urgent questions may be referred to the FAA Washington Operations Center at (202) 267-3333.
The FAA is issuing this NOTAM in support of extraordinary public health measures in the face of a global pandemic.
Podcasts
