Category Archives: Allgemein

Bitcoin: From $0 to $68K in 13 Years. An Incredible Journey!

• Bitcoin was created in 2008 as an alternative to the existing system of centralized, credit-based money.
• Bitcoin’s price has had a turbulent history, with multiple appreciations of 1,000% and drops of up to 90%, but it has always bounced back.
• From $0 in 2009 to $68,000 in only 13 years, bitcoin’s journey is one of resilience and innovation.

Introduction

Bitcoin was created in 2008 to challenge the existing system of centralized, credit-based money issued by bureaucrats and unstable banks. By trusting code instead of human vulnerabilities, bitcoin offered a way out of that debacle. At first the new invention was nothing more than an experiment, but those who read the white paper and were knowledgeable of cryptography, money and finance could already see it turning into something much bigger than a simple cryptographic toy.

Price History

Figures vary somewhat based on the data source chosen, especially in the first few years: In 2010 bitcoin didn’t have a market price; it had no premine or any rounds of investment from big venture capital firms. Something changed in 2010 when it started to be traded for goods and services which would set it on the path toward today’s innovative monetary system — a journey from $0 in 2009 to $68,000 in only 13 years.

Halving Cycles Impact

Price swings in bitcoin are mainly driven by its own halving cycles as well as macroeconomic events. The halving cycle is designed such that every 210k blocks mined (roughly every 4 years), the number of bitcoins rewarded for mining will be cut by half — this has implications for its scarcity and pricing structure over time. Additionally macroeconomic events such as coronavirus pandemic can also drastically affect its price movements due to their influence on consumer sentiment about digital currencies like bitcoin.

Declarations Of “Death”

How many times has bitcoin been declared dead? At least 463 times! And it’s never been because of its monetary system failing or its technical operation breaking down but rather because of its price crashing suddenly due to macroeconomic events or other factors outside its control. Every single time though, bitcoin has bounced back — proving some seasoned investors wrong and winning new supporters along the way!

Conclusion

In conclusion, despite all odds against it — including declarations that it is dead — bitcoin has proven resilient yet again through rising above setbacks faced over various halving cycles and macroeconomic events throughout its history so far. Its success story cannot be denied – from being worth practically nothing 13 years ago ($0) to now being worth almost seventy thousand dollars ($68K). It remains to be seen what further heights this innovative currency can reach going forward!

Bitcoin: The Solution to Our Fiat Problems

• Tim Niemeyer is a teacher and co-host of the Lincolnland Bitcoin Meetup, who has gained a unique perspective on our current monetary system, due to his appreciation of Bitcoin.
• He believes that the current fiat monetary system incentivizes less-than-optimal decision making and substandard relational habits, while also noting that many people do not realize the benefits of sound money.
• He argues that helicopter parenting is a result of living in a fiat system, as it allows humans to impose their morals onto said money supply.

Seeing Beyond Fiat

I’m Tim Niemeyer, an elementary school teacher and the co-host of Lincolnland Bitcoin Meetup. As someone who has both passions for my job and for Bitcoin, I have been able to develop a greater understanding of each – even if I don’t mix them at work. My appreciation for Bitcoin has given me insight into our current monetary system and how it can lead to poor decision making and relationship dynamics.

The Effects of Fiat Money

One particular observation I’ve noticed in recent years is the emergence of helicopter parents – those who fight their child’s battles, do their schoolwork or coach their coaches – which I believe stems from living in a fiat system where humans are in control over the money supply. This means they can impose their own morals on said money supply, leading to high time preference actions instead of long-term systemic change.

The Benefits Of Sound Money

Unfortunately, too few people understand the advantages associated with sound money that isn’t controlled by those in power with their own agendas; this lack of knowledge makes it difficult for them to break free from short-term thinking or choose something other than ‘red or blue’. The fact remains that having sound money is beneficial; it helps improve decision making processes by providing stability and reducing volatility – two things essential for financial planning and investing.

Bitcoin Fixes This Problem

Fortunately, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin provide an alternative option which allows users to remain independent from governments or central authorities while still being able to store value securely and build wealth over time without worrying about inflation or manipulation by politicians. In addition, since all transactions are recorded on its blockchain ledger, there’s no way to make false claims or manipulate data – unlike fiat money which can be printed at will when needed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I firmly believe that cryptocurrency provides an amazing opportunity for everyone regardless of political opinion or economic status: by giving individuals more control over their finances without relying on third parties as middlemen. It also encourages better decision making processes through increased transparency which leads to more reliable investments opportunities over time. With all these benefits combined together we should all strive towards creating a world where everyone understands the potentials available with cryptoassets.

Bitcoin Mining Uses Way More Sustainable Energy Than We Thought

• The Cambridge Centre For Alternative Finance’s (CCAF) study on Bitcoin’s environmental impact underestimates the amount of sustainable Bitcoin mining going on.
• ESG investors generally trust CCAF’s research due to its reputable and independent reputation, which has stalled Bitcoin user adoption.
• For ESG funds to get behind Bitcoin, there needs to be independent empirical data demonstrating that the macro trend is quantifiably moving toward sustainable energy.

Environmental Impact of Bitcoin

The Cambridge Centre For Alternative Finance’s (CCAF) recently released a study on the environmental impact of Bitcoin, estimating that only 37.6% of all energy used for Bitcoin mining is sourced from sustainable sources. This number is significantly lower than a separate study by the Bitcoin Mining Council (BMC), which found that 58.9% of energy used was from renewable sources.

Impact on ESG Funds

ESG funds are increasingly investing in ESG-based projects, with an estimated $10.5 trillion being invested in the U.S. alone by 2022. However, these funds have been hesitant to back projects related to cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin due to worries about its negative environmental impact; while some may be skeptical of Alex de Vries’ claims regarding the cryptocurrency’s sustainability, many more prefer trusting research done by reputable institutions such as CCAF over industry bodies like BMC due to their independence and accuracy in reporting data. As a result, user adoption for Bitcoin has been stunted and environmental organizations are further pushing for governments to regulate it punitively due to lack of sustainability concerns being addressed adequately.

What Would It Take?

In order for ESG funds to feel comfortable enough investing in projects related to digital assets such as Bitcoin, they require three things: independent empirical data demonstrating how much actual sustainable energy is being used for mining; proof that this trend is actually moving towards greater sustainability; and assurance that overall usage of renewable energies remains positive despite current levels being low according to CCAF’s estimates.

Actionable Solutions

To tackle this problem head-on, people within the cryptocurrency community need to start actively working together with researchers and other stakeholders outside their own circle in order create more accurate data points when it comes not just measuring current usage levels but also predicting future trends – this way we can ensure that investors have clear evidence when it comes time decide whether or not they want invest money into this sector without having worry about potential hidden costs associated with environmentally unsustainable practices occurring within underlying technology infrastructure itself (such as bitcoin mining).

Conclusion

Overall, ensuring transparency regarding sustainability metrics associated with cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin will go a long way towards helping ensure better acceptance from mainstream finance players who are looking at investing large amounts capital into digital assets long-term basis – however doing so means having real conversations between various stakeholders involved within ecosystem itself about what metrics actually matter most when discussing environmental factors surrounding any given project or initiative before making any decisions either way about future investments related same topic!

Coinkite Launches COLDCARD Q1: The Ultimate Bitcoin Hardware Wallet

• Coinkite is launching a new higher-end COLDCARD, the COLDCARD Q1.
• The device features a full QWERTY keyboard, larger LCD screen, QR code scanner and battery power.
• It also includes NFC compatibility, USB virtual disk mode, USB-C connector, activity LEDs and a flashlight.

Coinkite Launches New Higher-End Coldcard

Hardware company Coinkite has announced the launch of their new higher-end COLDCARD, the COLDCARD Q1. The device is designed with a full QWERTY keyboard, larger LCD screen and a QR code scanner which can be used in low light conditions. Additionally, it is powered by batteries instead of being connected to a power outlet or computer for convenience.

Features of the Coldcard Q1

The COLDCARD Q1 features several advanced elements such as NFC compatibility, USB virtual disk mode, USB-C connector and activity LEDs for USB and SD card use. It is also equipped with two SD card slots as well as an LCD screen four times bigger than its predecessor model – the Mk4. Furthermore, it includes an LED illuminated QR code scanner with advanced scanning algorithms for secure data decoding and a 50-key QWERTY keyboard for fast passphrase input.

QR Scanner

The improved QR scanner on the COLDCARD Q1 sits at the top of the unit and is connected to it using 2 wires – ensuring that scanned data will not do more than what it should be doing. This specialized scanner comes with an LED illumination so users can scan even in less than ideal lighting conditions – similar to how grocery store scanners are able to read barcodes quickly regardless of their environment.

Availability

The new COLDCARD Q1 is available for pre-sale but its official launch date has yet to be determined at this stage.

Conclusion

The COLDCARDQ1 provides users with added security features plus convenience and mobility due to its battery powered feature making it an ideal choice when dealing with cryptocurrency storage needs

CleanSpark Mines Record 697 BTC, Doubling December 2022 Amount

• CleanSpark reported that it mined 697 bitcoin in a single month, an increase of 50% from December 2022’s amount.
• The company also reported its bitcoin holdings were now at 301 BTC, with a hash rate of 6.6 EH/s and a fleet of approximately 66,000 miners.
• The company recently broke ground on its newest mining facility, but is facing investor lawsuits as well as law firm investigations into the officers and directors.

CleanSpark Reports Record Bitcoin Mining

CleanSpark has reported that the firm mined a record 697 bitcoin in a single month, an increase of 50% from December 2022’s amount. Zach Bradford, CEO of CleanSpark commented that this was their most reliable month ever with 98% uptime across all sites.

Bitcoin Holdings Increase 32% Since December

The company also reported that its bitcoin holdings were now at 301 BTC, an increase of 32% since December 2022. The Company funded growth and operations through the sale of 624 bitcoins in January 2023 at an average price approximately $19K per BTC for proceeds of approximately $11.9 million.

Mining Fleet Expanded to 66,000 Miners

CleanSpark currently has a fleet of approximately 66,000 latest-generation bitcoin miners with a hash rate of 6.6 EH/s, an increase of 7% from December 2022 and up 214% from January 2022 respectively. Last month CleanSpark reported breaking ground on its newest bitcoin mining facility, a planned 50 MW expansion in Washington Georgia.

Lawsuits & Investigations Challenge Expansion Plans

Despite these developments the company is continuing to move forward with its expansion plans however they face investor lawsuits as well as law firm investigations into the officers and directors which have been denied by court recently..Isaac Holyoak commented “This is a frivolous lawsuit and we will continue to vigorously defend ourselves.”

Conclusion

Despite setbacks CleanSpark remains optimistic about future prospects in the bitcoin mining industry and is continuing with their expansion plans

A Bitcoiner’s Guide to Madeira: A Tiny Island with Big Potential

Madeira: Overview

• Madeira is a small island located 600 miles off the coast of Portugal in the Atlantic Ocean.
• It has a warm and temperate climate, making it an attractive tourist destination.
• The island relies heavily on its tourism industry for economic growth and sources of income.

Bitcoiners Unite

This summer, Pleb Music brought Bitcoin to Madeira with their documentary featuring beautiful drone shots, storytelling, and agile camerawork from @Cinemuck_. This documentary highlighted the potential of Bitcoin on this tiny island, prompting other high-profile Bitcoiners to explore it for themselves.

A Peaceful Patch of Land

Madeira is known for its stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage. With direct flights to New York City and other major European cities, visitors have access to all that Madeira has to offer. Other than tourism, the local economy also relies on remittances sent from overseas as well as exports such as tea and wine.

Attracting Digital Nomads

In order to keep its economy ticking over during the low season, Madeira has focused on diversifying its tourism industry by attracting digital nomads who can work remotely while they enjoy everything this Portuguese paradise has to offer. Whether you’re looking for espetada (a type of kebab) or delicious fish dishes – Madeira will not disappoint!

Conclusion

Madeira is quickly becoming a popular destination amongst Bitcoiners thanks to its picturesque scenery and diverse culture – not forgetting the fact that it’s now home to one of the most comprehensive documentaries about Bitcoin adoption! So if you’re looking for a great place to spend your winter holiday or perhaps even work remotely from – then look no further than beautiful Madeira!

CleanSpark Set to Expand Hash Rate by 4.5 EH/s with New Mining Site

• CleanSpark announces the start of construction on a 16,000 miner site in Washington, Georgia.
• The expansion is estimated to cost nearly $16 million and is expected to bring the company’s hash rate total to 8.7 EH/s.
• The mining machines will include Antminer S19j Pro and Antminer S19 XP models, which are among the most power-efficient and sustainable bitcoin mining operations available today.

CleanSpark Announces Construction of 16,000 Miner Site

CleanSpark has announced the start of construction on a site in Washington, Georgia set to house 16,000 miners. This could bring the company’s hash rate total to as high as 8.7 EH/s and contribute an additional 2.2 EH/s of hash rate for the company. It is estimated that this expansion will cost nearly $16 million according to CleanSpark’s press release sent out to Bitcoin Magazine.

Mining Machine Fleet

The mining machine fleet at the new phase will consist of Antminer S19j Pro and Antminer S19 XP models which are said to be the newest and most power-efficient models of bitcoin mining machines available today. These machines use mainly low-carbon sources of power and employ newest generation tech making them some of the most power-efficient and sustainable bitcoin mining operations available today.

Growth & Expansion

Despite significant downturns in the mining industry recently, CleanSpark has managed rapid growth from 2.1 EH/s in January 2022 up to 6.2 EH/s in December 2022 due to its expansion plans alongside another site buildout in Sandersville, Georgia planned for later this year.

Company Comments

Commenting on their acquisition of this new site Zach Bradford, CleanSpark CEO stated “When we purchased the Washington site in August we were confident about our ability to quickly expand adding this 50MW infrastructure”. Scott Garrison Vice President of Business Development added “We are looking forward to expanding our relationship with The Washington City community and being able to support construction jobs that come with this expansion”.

Conclusion

This exciting news from CleanSpark shows just how rapidly they have been able expand their operations despite recent downturns in industry trends – it’ll be interesting too see how far they can go!

Managing Technology Addiction: Taking Steps to Find Balance in the Age of Social Media

• Mark Maraia, a professional development author and Bitcoin researcher, has been studying Bitcoin since 2020 and has noticed the vibrant community on Twitter, which he calls “Bitcoin Twitter.”
• Marty Bent and Ryan Breslow, CEO of BOLT, discussed on a recent “TFTC” podcast episode the addiction to technology, particularly Twitter.
• Breslow encouraged taking steps towards managing the addiction, and Maraia himself has found a compromise by joining Telegram instead.

Since I began studying Bitcoin in 2020, I have noticed a strong, vibrant community on Twitter that I have come to refer to as “Bitcoin Twitter.” This online country is one that I have not been a part of, as I have had a Twitter account since 2009 but have never found it to be a good use of my time. As a Boomer, I see social media as a huge time and productivity drain and possibly the worst addiction of our age.

Recently, Marty Bent, host of the podcast “TFTC”, and Ryan Breslow, CEO of BOLT, discussed the addiction to technology, particularly Twitter, that so many of us have. Bent admitted to his own addiction, but noted he had not done much to break it, while Breslow had. Breslow detailed how checking Twitter randomly and often was a source of dopamine, and he acknowledged that with no silver bullet for dealing with it, it was a daily challenge for him to manage his own time on the platform.

Being that I am not on Twitter, I can easily feel excluded from the “Bitcoin Twitter” community. I may have great ideas to contribute, but they will not be heard unless I become more active on the platform. To compromise, I have joined Telegram, which has been the perfect middle ground for me.

Breslow’s advice is something that many of us should take to heart, as it is so easy to become addicted to something that is “always available, one button away.” We should all strive to find a way to manage our addiction, not just to Twitter but to technology as a whole. It is possible to find a balance, as I have done by joining Telegram, and there are many other alternatives that we should explore.

Altcoins Fail, Bitcoin Thrives: A Look at Crypto’s Fast-Changing Landscape

• CoinKickoff recently released a report that outlines the failure of various altcoin projects and the success of Bitcoin.
• 91% of the coins that were present for the 2014 cryptocurrency market crash are now entirely abandoned. 2018 was the deadliest year for cryptocurrency with 751 coins becoming defunct.
• Bitcoin has remained strong and has seen continual growth. Hash rate is now up to 270 EH/s, more than 1 million addresses hold 1 bitcoin or greater, and $14 trillion in annual transaction volume has been carried over the Bitcoin network.

The cryptocurrency landscape has changed drastically since its inception in 2009. The most notable success story has been Bitcoin, which has remained the dominant currency since its creation. On the other hand, the majority of altcoin projects have failed, as demonstrated in a recent CoinKickoff report.

CoinKickoff’s data shows that 91% of the coins that were present for the 2014 cryptocurrency market crash are now entirely abandoned. Interestingly, 2017 saw the most coins created, with 704 now-dead coins. 2018 was the deadliest year for cryptocurrency, however, with 751 coins becoming defunct. Reasons for failure included being a scam, being a joke or having no purpose, being an ICO or short-lived scheme, or simply running out of volume.

In the midst of all this, Bitcoin has remained strong. Its hash rate has continued a steady climb, now up to 270 EH/s according to the Hashrate Index. More than 1 million addresses now hold one bitcoin or greater, and over $14 trillion in annual transaction volume was carried over the Bitcoin network the past year, a 13,900% increase from 2015’s transaction volume. Metrics demonstrate that, aside from the price of bitcoin, the network itself is continually growing, while altcoins which hope to ride on its coattails simply have no longevity. Bitcoin has successfully weathered existential attacks like the Blocksize Wars, further cementing its place as the most successful cryptocurrency project.

Despite the success of Bitcoin and the failure of altcoins, many still believe that the cryptocurrency market is in its early stages. With the right projects, altcoins could still make a lasting impact, though it remains to be seen if any will be able to compete with the success of Bitcoin.

New Symbol for Bitcoin Sats Proposed: Reverse ‘S’ & Vertical Strikethrough

• Arman The Parman proposed a new symbol for Bitcoin sats – a reverse “S” and a vertical strikethrough, which symbolizes the 21 million Bitcoin hard supply cap.
• The symbol is a vertically-reversed or horizontally-reversed dollar sign, representing the anti-dollar or dollar-killer.
• The symbol has received an overwhelmingly positive response from Twitter, with many suggesting that the reverse “S” and strikethrough can represent the first and last letters of “Satoshi.”

Arman The Parman, a passionate Bitcoin educator, recently proposed a new symbol for Bitcoin sats – a reverse “S” and a vertical strikethrough. This symbol symbolizes the 21 million Bitcoin hard supply cap and has been met with an overwhelmingly positive response from the Bitcoin community.

The symbol is a vertically-reversed or horizontally-reversed dollar sign, which is meant to represent the anti-dollar or the dollar-killer. This is a reference to the idea that Bitcoin can one day become the world’s primary currency and replace the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency. It is also a fitting tribute to Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, whose pseudonym has been immortalized in the symbol.

The proposed symbol has sparked an interesting discussion among Bitcoiners, many of whom have suggested that the reverse “S” and strikethrough can represent the first and last letters of “Satoshi.” This is an interesting idea and a fitting tribute to the creator of the world’s most popular cryptocurrency. Other suggestions have included an actual “2” instead of an “S”, but this was dismissed as it can look a little messy when written in front of actual numbers, and is unlikely to get as much support.

The response to the proposed symbol has been overwhelmingly positive, with many in the community praising the elegant design and the clever symbolism behind it. There is a very good chance that this symbol could become the universal symbol for Bitcoin sats, and it could become a fundamental part of the Bitcoin community. It is clear that Arman The Parman’s proposed symbol has resonated with Bitcoiners and could become the official symbol for Bitcoin sats.