2023-11-29

AI 有多可怕

 AI Can Track you through your WIFI

https://fb.watch/oEurmAYLDi/?mibextid=GpiG5r

【#32科技】打败ChatGPT 首款Ai人形智能体!“莓用机器人”Useless Man正式发布!更多黑科技,良心售价9999元!

https://fb.watch/oEvhgHatC2/?mibextid=GpiG5r


以上两个视频,

一个正经八百,值得深思;

一个无厘头但耐人寻味。

它们都带出同样的讯息:AI 可以有多厉害,也可以有多可怕。

英语视频简单解说了电影 Eagle Eye AI 布局杀人背后的操作逻辑,

中文视频以趣味的方式带出了在未超越 Point of No Return 之前,我们是否该谨慎、认真的对发展人工智能这一块有更多更深入更全面的思量(甚至借助AI的自我反馈)?

两个视频也同时展现了成功的解说/发布会是可以怎么设计的。

注:以上两个视频皆是社媒AI通过算法推给我滑到的。这个讯息算是“回敬”它的一个小测试。“大家”相互学习。

Seek and you shall find.






2023-11-28

Revamping HowTze.com

I decided to revamp my site howtze.com in November 2023, to focus only on travel-related content - bucket lists and footprints.

While it started with a strike of "Enough watering other's garden. It is time to water your own garden.", the process reminds me of pruning bonsai.

There are 2 important points to keep in mind:
  1. Clarity leads to power
  2. Knowledge is power. Applied knowledge is real power
Clarity leads to power. Quantifiable, measurable, graphical elements bring more clarity.

How did it start?

This has to be traced back to early 2023. I made a New Year resolution to travel overseas, as 2022 was mostly traveling to Sarawak, Borneo for business purposes (Miss Tourism International 2022).

Personal resolution 2023:
1) Stay lowkey
2) Make money 
3) Travel monthly 

Then, the resolution (rather than simply calling it a wish) evolves:

Go overseas. ✅
Go overseas every month.
Go overseas every month, at least one week per trip.
Go overseas every month, at least one week per trip, and fly business class.

While not "every month" was achieved and no specifically other criteria were met, I made it 5 months overseas this year to date as of November 2023.

“As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.”

Where did the inspiration come from?

Inspiration 1: Where the hell is Matt?


This video clip was published on Jun 20, 2008, with 53,260,110 (53 Million+) views and growing. As stated below the video on the YouTube page: "14 months in the making, 42 countries, and a cast of thousands. Thanks to everyone who danced with me." ~ Matt Harding

The point in this case is that he traveled around the world while he was young, enjoyed his trips, produced content of value, and is still making money today out of what he enjoyed doing back then.

Notes: Matt Harding's Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/user/mattharding2718, website: www.wherethehellismatt.com

Inspiration 2: It took me 40 years to be here!

My friend once told me there was this guy who traveled around the world collecting the sound of nature and selling it to rich people who bought his recording to test out their home audio system.

One thing he never forgot was his expression when sharing his secret: "You might see me doing enjoyable work traveling around the world yet can make money out of every trip instead of just spending money like most people, yet it took me 40 years to figure all this out!"

What had been figured out from these inspirations?

As stated above, knowledge is power, yes. But only applied knowledge is real power.

It's a shame that I knew both inspirations above for quite some time, but not until recently did I figure out how I could apply it to my passion and generate real value out of it.

Can we add value or make money out of every trip? Yes. If we can squeeze more value out of one single thing, why not? My Sugar Cane Juice Theory applies. 

What do I like? Can I make money doing what I like? Why not?

"In my view, the amateur does not love the game enough. If he did, he would not pursue it as a sideline, distinct from his ‘real’ vocation." ~ Steven Pressfield, The War of Art

What had been done for the website?

1. changed to Trawell premium theme.

2. trimming of posts from ~300 posts to only travel-related content:

- Suwon, Korea (8), Oct '23
- Tokyo, Japan (20), Jun '23
- Taipei, Taiwan (2), May '23
- Hong Kong, China (3), Apr '23 
- Bali, Indonesia (2), Mar '23
- Dubai, UAE (4)
- Vientiane, Laos (1)
- Osaka, Japan (5)

What next?

Add more previous travel content.

To add a page for the Top 10 photos of the year. Maybe one for around the world, one for my home country, Malaysia.

Keep refining the resolution and execution in actualizing the goals.

What had been learned and applied?

Clarity leads to power.

Most of my previous footprints had been in Asia. More to explore.

Never stop exploring.

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Above are the Western perspectives while the similar ones in Chinese are:

读万卷书不如行万里路;

千里之行,始于足下。


Just do it. Start something, somewhere, somehow.

Do what we can, with what we have, where we are, towards where we want to be.


2023-11-23

BTC Super Cycle

Bitcoin Super Cycle

Adoption, supply, institutional demand.
  • increased value of the network as adoption grows (Metcalfe’s law), 
  • increased scarcity due to the halving and 
  • increased institutional adoption.



This supercycle will, theoretically, see Bitcoin run up to new all-time highs, from which there will be no further downside, as there will be enough adoption and institutional support to continue to prop up the price.

  1. institutions are only one factor here.
  2. the market value of a commodity is not derived from centralized entities but rather from decentralized independent actors perceiving value in the commodity...investing in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is akin to emerging markets investing at this stage in the adoption cycle.
  3. Bitcoin itself needs to have perceived value from market participants, or it will not have the staying power. 

The Minsky Moment

In economics, the very height of the boom cycle, where overvaluation is at its apex just before the bust, is called the “Minsky moment.”

In 1995, Netscape had a successful initial public offering, backed by institutions like Morgan Stanley, which pushed the stock price from $14 to $28 — valuing the not-yet profitable 16-month-old company at over $1 billion.

The Nasdaq Stock Market rose dramatically between 1995 and 2000, peaking in March 2000 at 5,048.62 before falling 76.81% to 1,139.90 in October 2002. 

Without customers and the actual usage of these firms’ services in the market, there was nothing to keep the overvaluation afloat.

As the world continues with the trend of dedollarization, the flight to safety could be Bitcoin.

The drops in credit ratings signal decreasing confidence in the U.S. and, by extension, the standing of the U.S. dollar being the central unit of account for global settlement.

If hyperinflation starts to rear its head in the U.S., it is possible that alternatives will be used instead of holding onto cash.

It is yet unknown whether America’s economic and sociopolitical climate will nudge people to adopt Bitcoin as a medium of exchange, a store of wealth or a hedge against further dollar inflationary pressure.

"a loss of confidence in fiat currencies, increased banking oversight and the collapse of exchanges like FTX “strengthen the Bitcoin narrative.” ~ Julian Liniger, CEO of Bitcoin-only exchange Relai

What are the probabilities of a 2024 Bitcoin supercycle?

The Bitcoin supercycle is likely not upon the world for this continued adoption cycle. 

There is simply too much speculation over adoption and daily usage happening globally for the asset to have no or just a soft correction to cushion the fall once the Minsky moment pops the bubble. 

2028, on the other hand, may be a different story altogether.

https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-supercycle-2024-investment-trading









2023-11-21

要搞懂「收益率」的概念

 家里至少一定要有一个人 #深懂并执行财务运作


理财篇 



拿EPF还房贷  值得吗?


▋ 很多长辈常犯的错


今年55岁的他,正感慨着人生好短啊...

没想到那么快就到了退休年龄。


陈先生是个厂工。


打拼了半辈子,

省吃俭用才存到了一点积蓄和退休金。


积蓄放在定期存款,

有大约 RM200k,

每年大概有3%的利息。


EPF户口则有大约RM500k,

每年也能有5%到6%的股息收入。 


陈先生有一间小房子。

每个月辛辛苦苦供,

到现在算下来,

也供了差不多25年了。


没想到 RM300k 的房贷,

供了那么久,

竟然还欠着银行 RM130k...


到了这个年纪,谁也不想再负债供房子...


他有点茫然。

听了一些朋友意见,

于是他就把从 EPF里提出了一些退休金,

直接把欠银行的 RM130k 清掉了~


虽然退休金只剩 RM370k,但是无债一身轻~

陈先生顿时觉得好轻松!


正在读者文章的你,

身边是不是也有一些长辈们都喜欢这样做?


事实上,

这样做会白白让你损失掉 #几万块,

甚至更多!


▋ 别花10块来省下8块


很多人因为缺乏基本的理财知识,

常常会做出不太正确的财务决定。


就拿陈先生的例子,

首先,

他想还清掉房贷,

想无债一身轻,

这没问题。


问题是,

他用能够获得更高收益的退休金,

去还掉房贷,来省下较低的利息...


这就好像,

你家里有一只每天能生「金蛋」的母鸡,

而外面有债主每天要和你讨「普通鸡蛋」,

你因为不想每天有人和你讨「普通鸡蛋」,

于是你把那只能生「金蛋」的金母鸡给了债主...


变相就是用10块来省8块,还倒亏2块...


▋ 为什么不用6块来省下8块?


不用退休金还的话,要怎么办?


陈先生手上不是还有 RM200k 的定期存款吗?

用它来换掉房贷不就行了?

很多人都没有意识到。


把钱放定期,相等于把钱借给银行。


更没意识到,


你借给银行100块,

银行付你3块的利息。

而你因为要买房跑去跟银行借100块,

然后银行却收你4块的利息...

你白白给银行赚了1块。


这时候你会发现,

放大量现钱在定期,

同时又借房贷的人,

好像有点傻。


这种不合理的分配,

有部分原因是传统思想告诉我们


人一定要有房 有存款!

而存款放在定期是最安全的!


▋ 有现金就不应该借房贷?


那又不一定哦!

这要看你

有没有办法利用现金获得比房贷利息更高的收益。


你手上有100块,

如果你能用这100块赚20块,

那买房要用的100块,

你还是跟银行借吧,


因为你只需要付银行4块的利息,

你还有16块可以放口袋!


要做好理财,

至少要搞懂「收益率」的概念


懂得对比收益率,

就能做出相对正确的理财决定。


比如刚刚的 100块赚20块,收益率就是20%。


▋ 有什么方法能让现金取得更高的收益?


首先,一定要明白一件事。


高收益,必须要用以下至少其中一样来交换:


1. #高风险

2. #高认知


这里列出几种投资,以及它对应的平均合理收益,风险和流动性:


#定期存款 | 年收益率 2% - 4% | 无风险 | 中等流动性

#EPF | 年收益率 5% - 7% | 接近无风险 | 超低流动性

#房产 | 年收益率 6% - 10% | 低风险 | 低流动性

#债券 | 年收益率 6% -10% | 低风险 | 高流动性

#ETF | 年收益率 7% - 15% | 中等风险 | 高流动性

#股票 | 年收益率 8% - 30%  | 中等风险 | 高流动性

#外汇 | 年收益率 >50% | 高风险 | 高流动性

#虚拟货币 | 年收益率 >50% | 高风险 | 高流动性


一些投资种类的收益率,范围会很大~

是因为取决于它所在的市场、细分类别等。


就比如股票,

在马来西亚市场的平均收益,

和在美国市场的平均收益会有所不同。


看历史数据,


马股大盘,长年的平均收益率是 6% - 7%

美股大盘,长年的平均收益率是 9% - 12%


而是否能获得比大盘好的收益率,

也很取决于投资者自己的技术水平以及风险管控的能力


Source: FB / 慧眼识股 Stock Insight

2023-11-19

Only Results Matter

1) Make Things Happen

2) Get Things Done

3) Only Results Matter


1) Make Things Happen

Start something somewhere somehow.

Do what we can, with what we have, where we are, towards where we want to go.


2) Get Things Done

Follow through:

- No assumption

- Meet dateline

- Check points / reminders


Be effective:

- Optimize resource utilization. 最优化资源配置

- Maximize value output. 最大化价值创造


How to serve more and more people with less and less effort?

- Leverage on tech

- Delegate to leaders


3) Only Results Matter

Money talks, bullshit walks.


Promises deliver hope.

Commitment builds trust.

Actions reveal commitment.

赛道理论

 [ 转载 ]

当我去过美国史丹福大学学习及认识了很多优秀的圈子过后,我突然感悟什么叫起跑线。

什么叫起跑线? 

我相信玩过富爸爸现金流游戏的朋友应该清楚,在游戏开始的时候,大家都在“老鼠赛道”里面挤,一点点往前挪,靠着微薄的工资托底,一点点做生意、做投资,竞争很激烈,而且成长非常慢,抗风险能力非常小,一点失误、一点意外就一夜回到解放前。

不过,一旦进入“快车道”之后,一切都变了,竟争者非常少,而且自己所有的束缚基本都消失了,你可以自由自在地做任何事情,生命体验完全不可同日而语。

这个“ 赛道理论”很简单粗暴,不是很严谨,但是呢很能说明问题。

赛道理论

赛道选择,竟争维度这些东西是真实存在的,你处在什么维度,你的思考模式就基本固定在那个维度里,很难跳出那个阶层去思考问题。

以在中国教育小孩这件事。普通家庭或小城市的父母,在教育孩子这个问题上,基本都是同一个套路:从小学开始,就让他去最好的小学,找最好的老师,甚至有的从小学开始就内卷,不断刷题,参加竞赛,一切都是为个高考做准备。

能考进北大清华最好,实在不行拼个985也行,最次211吧。不然根本换不回这十几年的投资,以及你的寒窗苦读。

所以,我觉得中国国内的朋友没有童年回忆,只有寒窗苦读。等到大学毕业了,中国一些父母会鼓励你考研、考工务员、考编制、考教师。实在不行进个国企也行。要是还不行,那就只能去私企打工了。

然后就是贷款买车买房,结婚生子,然后再让孩子重复自己的老路,把自己没有完成的梦想寄托到孩子的身上。

从我看来,至少有10亿人走的是这个同样的路径。也就是说,如果让孩子走这条路,他会跟10亿人竞争,非常卷。

但是,从我这个在马来西亚,新加坡,美国上过课的还家庭,作为父母我见过世界,有这样的认知,他们会让孩子在小时候就开始备战雅思托福,也许再大一点就去参加国际的学术夏令营,去做测绘、实验、甚至去观测南极冰川融化数据,去非洲做义工,去联合国科教文组织交流学习……如果有这样的履历基本不用参加国内的高考,直接是能申请世界排名前100的学校。我也跟国内的身边朋友说过,看看哪些有世界观有能力的企业家,当然,还有很多明星、著名主持人,到美国生把孩子,就直接美国身份。

我们国外这些孩子选择面就更广了,他们愿意回来上北大清华就回来读北大清华,不愿意回来就读国外的大学,反正有些大学排名也不在清北之下。

我始终相信这些孩子,他们的学识、认知、眼界都要比只是在中国国内的同龄孩子认知高好几个等级。

以谷爱凌为例,固然她的能力很强,但要知道她成长的环境,不是普通家庭可以给的。

循环?

她的家人就为她选择了一条相对来说竟争小的路径。其实我看到能跳出所处维度去培养孩子的家长非常少。就算物质条件够了,却还在走老路。

说实在的。我认为孩子的天花板根本不是他自己能决定的,而是原生家庭的经济基础,家长圈子,认知结构以及眼界所决定的。所以真正的起跑线是这些。

当然,也有一种我个人不认同的理论:我培养孩子,无论是纬度还是阶层,最终的目的是培养孩子对待人生,生活的一种态度,比如认真做事,诚实做人,胸襟宽广,什么女孩富养,男孩穷养等等这才是他的财富。

这种人其实挺多的,他们坚信:大城市的孩子,跟小地方贫穷家庭出身的孩子比起来,做事情一定不认真,做人不诚实,没人性,没道德,胸襟狭隘,有小礼而无大义。我们虽穷,不能给孩子提供太多的物质支持和精神指引,但儿孙自有儿孙福,男儿当自强!靠他自己摸索出来的人生,一定比富人的孩子更加幸福美满!你们机关算尽,最后也是白费的。

结果是就,穷读书,死读书出来的孩子,直到大学毕业了,每年还要做几次“高考迟到”“考试快结束了,作文还没写”的噩梦,然后被惊醒,一身冷汗。进入社会后,才认识到原生家庭对自己成长的影响,以及对自己竞争力的制约。

同样是坐在办公室的两个员工,他们的差距可能是50年、100年甚至更长,这个差距是他们的前几代人拉开的。

别人的孩子一毕业,父母早就把车房准备好了,上班就是找个事做,赚到的钱全花光,享受生活就行了,如果不够了父母还会给。而你的孩子,想要达到这个阶段,需要再奋斗30年,50年,甚至需要寄托到再下一代人身上。

自己这辈子是无望了,继续生娃,继续让他们自强不息。又一个循环就这样开始了。


用马来西亚及一些发达国家做案例,我们基本没有医疗、教育等这些压力,赚到的钱花在了提升认知,体验这个世界生活,亲子关系等上,甚至敢于借信用卡消费,一到时间就下班,加班在很多国家,绝对不干,什么领导都不好使。一到下班,看见邮件一率不回。还有什么每晚要家长打卡,老师给家长打电话这事,有就是侵犯隐私了。 

我们很多请假的理由是要陪家人,一到假期就出去旅游,享受生活。

所以,我跟朋友说,改变命运从自己开始,家长为孩子赛道的选择在哪里? 而不是任劳任怨,教导下一代没完成就要自愿加班,为了迎合领导,在领导面前用酒,牺牲自己的健康,家庭生活等去表示效忠,而这一代完不成要留给下一代人,子又生子,子又生孙,子子孙孙无穷尽也。

只有你自己改变了,赛道选好了,下一代才会改变,这才是重点、还是愿意世世代代重复这样的生活呢? 

有感而发,与朋友共勉。加油吧!

Kelvin Cho, Facebook

2023-11-18

貴族真的需要三代才能養成嗎?

貴族真的需要三代才能養成嗎?

有一個說法是,貴族需要三代才能夠培養出來。最粗淺的解讀是,衣食足而知榮辱,祖上積福使下一代不被資源壓迫,而且六親有靠,才讓他們有閒餘去學習變得有教養。

不過先問你一個問題,一個窮人,其實也可以盡量的有禮,有教養,溫文儒雅。即是性情溫和有禮,舉止得體,品格高尚,富有智慧的窮人多的是,那先不講經濟情況,這些人為何不是貴族呢?如果我們說這些人也能是貴族,那豈不是有出息的窮人要成為貴族,根本不需要三代。

這個問題其實我想了很多年,只有隨著年紀增加,我慢慢開始理解是甚麼回事。

首先我們要有一個觀念:冷靜理性不是一種性格,冷靜理性是一種狀態。

人舉止得體,溫文儒雅,品格高尚... 是一種狀態,那是代表他目前身處的環境容許他這樣表現出來,衣食足而知榮辱,不是說有了財富就會變得有教養,而是「衣食不足榮辱就會消失」,人類受到物理的生存資源壓迫,很多態度都難以維持。

是的,我是說,你看到每一個溫文儒雅的人,只要面對資源極度貧乏,生死存亡的時刻,只要他求生存,他都會不再優雅。

請看清楚,這裡是「求生存」,他要保持教養到最後,就像鐵達尼號的紳士一樣,將最後的生存機會讓予別人,最後就是消滅而消失。也就是說, 物競天擇這回事,去到極端的情況,會連教養與高貴也是一種有礙生存的缺點,而淘汰掉這些人。

能適者生存的人,終究榮辱就是有界線的。

你我也一樣,今天你我看來能理性地談話,談論人如何變得高貴的話題,只因為我們目前生存不叫受太大的威脅。

每人只是容忍程度不一樣,但如果我們不堅持優雅地死亡,那就有一條使我們走向蠻荒的界線。因此,請直接排除那些堅持品格然後死掉的人,他們成為了烈士之後就是消失。烈士是偉大的,但並不會是大部份人類可以及應該學習的對象。

我們能生存下來就是因為我們不選擇當烈士,或者未有機會要我們去選擇。

故此,維持我們的品位,基礎是環境不變得太惡劣,我們之所以追求高貴,而不至於下流野蠻,是因為環境充足友善。

這也意味著,「貴族」之所以是貴族,先決條件就是環境容許,他再發展出配得起及超越環境的品格,那就是貴族。

那麼一定會有疑問是,白手起家的暴發戶不就有錢了嗎?那他們的環境不夠好嗎?我直接回答,是,有錢不導致環境充裕。

因為我指環境從來都不止是「錢」或「物質」,這兩者只是入門。

環境也包括了你四周的親族,社會關係,即是你有甚麼親族,社會怎樣看你,你有多少先天想要對付你的敵人,你身處甚麼時代,所謂環境包括了所有你不能控制的東西。你的才能與努力都不能改變的東西。而 最重要的是:世代流傳的智慧。

世代流傳的智慧,成為貴族重要的條件,甚至是最重要的條件。

甚麼是智慧呢?就是 對人類以及社會最深層的理解與知識。


你要怎樣令自己變得富裕?

和哪些人做朋友?

不要和哪些人做朋友?

誰該碰政治?

誰不該碰政治?

你要炫富還是低調?

你要怎樣對待怎樣的人?

有甚麼錢賠了就要認賠不要去討?

財富是怎樣累積?

你甚麼時候可以安頓下來,甚麼時候要逃難?

你聽哪些人的說話,不聽哪些人的說話?

你能看到誰會成功,誰會失敗?

你該做甚麼工作?


這些無數關於人的問題就是智慧,這些問題在 facebook 上的心靈雞湯都有答案,但沒有貴族會相信那些答案的。

所以你見一些曾經偉大風雲一時的霸主,他們的子孫卻低調平和,看不出他們的先祖那麼偉大,卻在社會混得非常不錯,這些都是最終他們家族得出的結論。

其實也不用遠,只要你看一下世界上顯赫家族的歷史,都會發覺他們早期的歷史,是充滿了各種錯誤,內鬥,兄弟不和分家,互相殘殺,或者在大時代的政治上站錯隊,導致了臭名遠播,或被抄家喪失家業。

從貧窮無名走向富裕顯達,之後會引來的就是人類所有醜陋的一面,而且是窮人接觸不到的醜陋的一面,因為他們一生都沒接觸過這樣的機會與財富,限制了他們的想像力,也限制了他們的墮落程度。

從貧轉富的過程中,人類才赫然發現財富會引來的災難和危險與惡意何其的多,有外在的危險,例如搶掠,政府要抄你家,騙子,也有內在的危險,例如爭產,內鬨甚至為了遺產去整死人。

這些「happy problem」不是貧窮的人有機會經歷的事情,但卻是人交上好運道時會遇到的新的惡意。

就像抗體一樣,疫苗是從接觸病原而康復得來的,窮人的世界並不會接觸到中上層的疾病,世代貧窮的人,就算得到財富,可是上一代能教授的一切智慧,都沒有辦法處理這些問題,因為這是世代都沒接觸過的新問題,卻是必然會出現的問題。

他們沒有抗體,只能從零培養,然後給下一代。

財富與機會帶來的危險與墮落,遠超窮人能想像,當然能夠白手起業的第一代,自然是有能力的人,可是他也只能夠從經歷與錯誤中得到智慧,然後好運的話,傳去下一代。或者傳不到下一代,第二三代就直接敗了家重新開始。

也就是說,第一代人,終其一生也如果能建立大成就與財富,在對人類惡意的智慧上只能去到學習的途中,歷史告訴你,連大部份的世族都是從幾代才能學習完成,因為人類的惡意與墮落太過豐富而廣大,而且無窮無盡。

最終大部份世族都走向低調,只因為一件事,就是人類的惡意是學不完的,人不可能達致可以處理一切惡意的神的智慧,反樸歸真,盡量把自己裝成像窮人一樣不起眼,就會少點要處理的問題,才是長治久安之策。

有些東西單純就是要有錢了,有被社會真正認可的地位了(而不是別人看你拿著一個名牌手袋就以為你有地位那種),你才能夠「開始學習」,那不是興趣班,那不是拉小提琴,不是插花,不是茶道,而是中上層世界的惡意。

所以外面那些想小孩贏在人生起跑線的嘗試,他們都是誤解了,會拉小提琴讀名校的窮人還是窮人,對他的起跑線其實毫無幫助。

上一代的階級才是唯一的起跑線,那可不是才藝或者一套好的西裝可以裝得出來的。

也必須充足理解人類的惡意與限制,以及有一套處理這種惡意與限制的原則,貴族才培養完成。

2023-11-17

Stablecoin, Bitcoin, US Dollar

Bitcoin-backed Dollar?

Countries adopting a bitcoin standard will be a Trojan horse for continued global dollar dominance.

...imagine the possibility of moving stablecoins around the world, instantly and for nearly zero fees.

Zooming out, we can see that since March 2020, the stablecoin supply has grown from under $5 billion to over $150 billion. 

What I find most interesting is not the rate of growth of stablecoins, but which stablecoins are growing the fastest. After the recent Terra/LUNA debacle, capital fled from what’s perceived to be more “risky” stablecoins like tether, to more “safe” ones like USDC. 

This is because USDC is 100% backed by cash and short-term debt.

BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager and recently headlined a $440 million fundraising round by investing in Circle. But it wasn’t just a funding round; BlackRock is going to be acting as the primary asset manager for USDC and their treasury reserves, which is now nearly $50 billion.

Tether has been viewed as the unregulated offshore U.S. dollar stablecoin. That being said, Tether sold their riskier commercial paper for more pristine U.S. government debt. They also agreed to undergo a full audit to improve transparency.

If Tether is true to their word and continues to back USDT with U.S. government debt, we could see a scenario in the near future where 80% of the total stablecoin market is backed by U.S. government debt. Another stablecoin issuer, MakerDao, also capitulated this week, buying $500 million government bonds for its treasury.

It was crucial that the U.S. dollar was the main denomination for bitcoin during the first 13 years of its life during which 85% of the bitcoin supply had been released. Network effects are hard to change, and the U.S. dollar stands to benefit most from the proliferation of the overall “crypto” market.

... what if a proliferating stablecoin market, backed by government debt, can help soak up that lost demand for U.S. Treasurys? Is this how the U.S. finds a solution to the unwinding petrodollar system?

Interestingly, the U.S. needs to find a solution to its debt problems, and fast. Nations around the world are racing to escape the dollar-centric petrodollar system that the U.S. for decades has been able to weaponize to entrench its hegemony. 

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/markets/united-states-will-back-dollar-with-bitcoin

Related news from CT


IMF envisions ‘new class’ of cross-border payment platform with single ledger
https://cointelegraph.com/news/imf-new-class-cross-border-payment-platform-single-ledger

BIS releases unified-ledger proposal for cross-border, tokenized asset transactions
https://cointelegraph.com/news/bis-releases-unified-ledger-proposal-cross-border-tokenized-asset-transactions

Five US enforcement agencies form new digital currency anti-crime task force
https://cointelegraph.com/news/five-us-enforcement-agencies-form-new-digital-currency-anti-crime-task-force

CBDC will be used for ‘control,’ ECB president admits in vid chat with fake Zelensky
https://cointelegraph.com/news/cbdc-will-be-used-for-control-ecb-president-admits-in-vid-chat-with-fake-zelensky

Singapore MAS proposes digital money standards with major industry players
https://cointelegraph.com/news/singapore-mas-proposes-digital-money-standards

Issuing digital euro, or ‘Cash+,’ is probably a duty, French central banker says
https://cointelegraph.com/news/banque-de-france-governor-issuing-digital-euro-probably-duty

2023-11-13

CT Summary 14th Nov 2023

Summary 14th Nov 2023


1️⃣ Funding Rates is one yardstick relate to our Digital Asset (BTC in specific) management business.

News: https://cointelegraph.com/news/funding-rates-69k-btc-price-5-things-bitcoin-this-week


2️⃣ Daily BTC mining revenue hit USD 44 million

On Nov. 12, the daily Bitcoin mining rewards crossed $44 million for the first time in 2023, a number last seen in April 2022, according to data from blockchain.com. 

Alongside Bitcoin mining companies and individual miners, numerous countries actively participate in securing the Bitcoin network via mining.

News: https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-mining-revenue-44-m-annual-all-time-high

Data: https://www.blockchain.com/explorer/charts/miners-revenue


3️⃣ Stablecoin firm Tether minted 4B USDT in 4 weeks: Data <- this is Money Printing

News: https://cointelegraph.com/news/tether-issues-4-billion-usdt-4-weeks


4️⃣ Bitcoin institutional inflows top $1B in 2023 amid BTC supply squeeze

Crypto institutional product AUM up 99% year-to-date

“Digital asset investment products saw inflows totalling US$293m last week, bringing this 7-week run of inflows past the US$1bn mark, leaving year to date inflows at US$1.14bn, making it the third highest yearly inflows on record,” 

“At US$44.3bn, total AuM is now the highest since the major crypto fund failures in May 2022,”

CoinShares summarized.

Among the impressive statistics showing crypto’s renaissance in 2023 is the assets under management (AUM) tally for crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs).

“This is what adoption looks like” : 

https://twitter.com/PositiveCrypto/status/1724064084339921110

https://www.lookintobitcoin.com/charts/addresses-holding-x-btc-by-year/

News: https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-institutional-inflows-1b-2023-btc-supply-squeeze


5️⃣ Our windows of opportunities

If history has taught us anything, it’s that capitalism is a boom-and-bust game. And right now, we are at the beginning of a fresh cycle.

We can also draw parallels between the dot-com boom and crypto. January will almost certainly spell one or more U.S. Bitcoin spot ETF approvals, which will drive huge waves of institutional money into this relatively new asset class. This could potentially spur a wave of IPO activity inside and outside the industry that, as it did in 1999, could eventually go bang.

While we can draw some comparisons with the 1990s, there is one overriding factor that puts us closer to the market cycle of 2001-07: debt. As we all know — thanks to Margot Robbie explaining it to us in a bubble bath — 2001-07 saw one of the most reckless periods of lending, and then trading on that lending, ever known. And the result was world changing.

Consumer debt is at a record high, a fact that will weigh on the market in 2024. Yet, it's safe to say central banks will keep rewriting the rules to keep the economy at full steam.

As things wobble, goalposts will likely be moved. 

What goes up must come down, though. 

Of that, we can be sure.

The odds, then, favor an extremely strong bull market over the next year or two until the steam runs out, as it always does. 

Video: https://cointelegraph.com/news/history-tells-us-strong-bull-market-hard-landing

News: https://cointelegraph.com/news/history-tells-us-strong-bull-market-hard-landing


Our Billion dollar question:

Item 2️⃣ Hard monetary system, asset-backed currency issuance, we can link up physical gold and digital gold (BTC)

Item 4️⃣ Where are we as the trend of coinmarketcap growing from $1T to $10T? How much we can scoup as $9T in the making?

Item 5️⃣ We are not left with much windows of opporutnities. How much and how fast can we go?

2023-11-07

Blockchain and Altcoin Projects (Ripple, Cardano, Solana)

Blockchain. Bitcoin. Money.

People. Process. Technology.


To explore Blockchain, 

we need to study Bitcoin, 

because Bitcoin is the first, proven Blockchain. 


To understand Bitcoin, 

we need to know what is money 

and how it works. 


People-centric, lean process 

with technology as the enabler.


"Why is it a powerful tool for creating regenerative economies? 

Because we have this power of smart contracts. 

We have this power of programmable money. 

You can build the rules for an economy right down at the code level, at the protocol level."

~ Daniel Kelleher, founder of Sunrise Stake


Presentation File: https://www.slideshare.net/howtze/blockchain-bitcoin-money

Transcript: https://www.slideshare.net/howtze/mblbc-oval-debate-kuala-lumpur


Related News:

Ripple (Custody):

HSBC taps Ripple’s Metaco to launch security token custody

Ripple (Payment):

Ripple, Onafriq partner for new payment corridors for Africa, UK, Australia and Gulf

Cardano (Project Catalyst):

How decentralized platforms democratize crypto funding initiatives 

Solana:

Blockchain’s positive impact on sustainable development: Solana Breakpoint


Notes:

HSBC’s plans to launch digital asset custody came in response to the increasing demand for custody and fund administration of digital assets from asset managers and asset owners, according to HSBC’s head of digital, data and innovation, Zhu Kuang Lee. “This market continues to evolve,” Lee stressed, adding that asset servicers have never seen a “more important time to innovate.”

The bank expects to roll out the new digital asset custody service in 2024, complementing its digital asset issuance platform known as HSBC Orion and HSBC offering for tokenized physical gold, launched on Nov. 1, 2023. Together, the services form a complete digital asset offering for HSBC’s institutional clients, the firm said.

https://cointelegraph.com/news/hsbc-ripple-metaco-security-token-custody


“Sub-Saharan Africa has proven to be a bright spot of crypto adoption, with consumers in countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa employing digital assets for real-world, day-to-day purposes.”

Ripple will power new payment corridors between 27 African countries and Australia, the United Kingdom and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) under a deal with African mobile payments provider Onafriq.

Onafriq will use Ripple Payments’ blockchain technology along with three partnering companies. Zazi Transfer will provide transfer services to Australia, PayAngel will serve the U.K., and Pyypl will serve GCC member states Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

https://cointelegraph.com/news/ripple-onafriq-payments-africa-uk-australia-gulf


... decentralized funding initiatives provide “a bit of like direct democracy” and platforms for crypto holders to voice their ideas and concerns.

... Catalyst launched a pilot where the community not only decides on which proposals get funded but also enables them to verify that the funded projects are reaching their set targets through a milestone-based funding approach and accountability model.

"We want the community to define the scope; we are stewards of the fund." ~ Kriss Baird

... he envisions it becoming a multi-tenant ecosystem, where more communities of other blockchain networks, Web2 businesses and governments adopt the same approach.

The Catalyst’s group product manager said they have funded more than 1,300 projects, raising 137 million ADA (approximately $60 million) since 2021. He estimates the initiative would allocate over $100 million over the next four years.

https://cointelegraph.com/news/how-decentralized-platforms-empower-crypto-funding-decisions


Why is it a powerful tool for creating regenerative economies? 

Because we have this power of smart contracts. 

We have this power of programmable money. 

You can build the rules for an economy right down at the code level, at the protocol level.

https://cointelegraph.com/news/blockchain-impact-sustainable-development-solana-breakpoint

2023-11-03

Better To Own A Home

10. Keep thinking about tomorrow. 

Are you in the best possible career for the rest of your working days? 
Should you make a switch? Is your current job in danger? 
Set a date every few months to do a career review with a spouse, partner or friend.

11. Your living standard is your bottom line. 

Simulate its potential paths based on alternative investment and spending strategies to see where these strategies can land you.

14. No free lunch.

All lifestyle decisions — switching careers, moving homes, getting married, having kids, getting divorced — come at a price. 

Measure these prices in terms of your sustainable living standard.

5. Owning a home can reduce longevity risk. 

Since you are neither buying nor selling your home, who cares what the housing market does? Your housing consumption is guaranteed through the end of your days.

20. Most conventional investment advice is, to be nice, of dubious value. 

It’s predicated on you making four major economic mistakes: 

  • Saving the wrong amount when younger, 
  • putting your preretirement savings on autopilot, 
  • spending the wrong amount when you’re older, and 
  • never adjusting to market conditions.

21. If you’re worried about downside risk, play the stock market like a casino. 

Think of the investment in stocks as cash you take to the casino: 

Don’t spend a penny of your winnings, if you make any, until you’ve left the building. 

Or, in other words, don’t put more money into the stock market until your initial bets are safe from losses.

2023-11-02

Work Smart

I’ve built two seven-figure online businesses — a music education company and a business coaching brand. 

Combined, they bring in about $160,000 a month in passive income. 

 I’ve learned a lot about what it takes to create a highly profitable business. I always tell people that if they want to start a side hustle or full-time company, there are three complete lies they need to stop believing: 

Lie #1: You have to work a lot of hours to make a great income. 

40-year-old works ‘only 5 hours a week’ and makes $160,000/month in passive income 

Creating a time constraint will force you to get creative and focused. 

Lie #2: You need a large team. 

My secret is automation

I’m a fan of tools that can handle email marketing, webinars, product delivery and content creation. 

Lie #3: Your happiness will increase as your income increases. 

 “Givers Glow.”