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My entire point is that power over mining is derived from power over energy. Nations do have the power to use energy and build miners. Multiple nations working

My entire point is that power over mining is derived from power over energy. Nations do have the power to use energy and build miners. Multiple nations working together can form a cartel just like the oil cartel of previous years. I understand what you're saying, re: txns and forks. My point is everything rests on this idea of 51% attacks being impossible. They are not at all impossible or even unlikely. Nations can form alliances or control huge parts of the mining capacity. The blockchain cannot magically solve the problems of politics and centralized power because that power can be used to control the chain too. Use proof of work and miners can collude to launch attacks or manipulate prices. Use proof of stake and large stakeholders can do the same. Owning crypto in an anonymous wallet, or running your own node cannot save you from a dictator with a gun. Mining may be decentralized but they can't escape crackdowns from a government with guns either. There is fundamentally no purely technological solution to political problems in the real world. It's a distraction from the real frustration we have with democracy and centralized power in the real world. It reminds me of when people thought social networks would unite the world.. instead they only mirror its problems. I feel like crypto is so far up in the digital land you have forgotten there is a real world out here..

gruez 5y ago
>Multiple nations working together can form a cartel just like the oil cartel of previous years. Is there a wheat cartel? Coal cartel? Oil cartels are only a thing because it's geographically concentrated to a few countries. Oil could be used to generate electricity, but it's by no means the only way, or the cheapest. >My point is everything rests on this idea of 51% attacks being impossible. [...] The blockchain cannot magically solve the problems of politics and centralized power because that power can be used to control the chain too. The possibility of 51% attacks is acknowledged in the original whitepaper, so what you're describing isn't exactly a revelation. Moreover, the presence of a flaw doesn't mean it's absolutely useless. It simply means users think the possibility is low enough that it doesn't outweigh the other benefits. >Owning crypto in an anonymous wallet, or running your own node cannot save you from a dictator with a gun The most advanced military in the world lost wars against a bunch of goat herders and rice farmers. Being impervious to all attacks isn't a necessary feature. >There is fundamentally no purely technological solution to political problems in the real world. It's a distraction from the real frustration we have with democracy and centralized power in the real world. What's your opinion on encryption, then? Is working on e2e apps a distraction from advocating for better data privacy laws? What about VPNs? Are VPNs a distraction from petitioning the government to uncensor websites? I think technological solutions have their place alongside political ones.

gruez 5y ago

>Multiple nations working together can form a cartel just like the oil cartel of previous years. Is there a wheat cartel? Coal cartel? Oil cartels are only a thing because it's geographically concentrated to a few countries. Oil could be used to generate electricity, but it's by no means the only way, or the cheapest. >My point is everything rests on this idea of 51% attacks being impossible. [...] The blockchain cannot magically solve the problems of politics and centralized power because that power can be used to control the chain too. The possibility of 51% attacks is acknowledged in the original whitepaper, so what you're describing isn't exactly a revelation. Moreover, the presence of a flaw doesn't mean it's absolutely useless. It simply means users think the possibility is low enough that it doesn't outweigh the other benefits. >Owning crypto in an anonymous wallet, or running your own node cannot save you from a dictator with a gun The most advanced military in the world lost wars against a bunch of goat herders and rice farmers. Being impervious to all attacks isn't a necessary feature. >There is fundamentally no purely technological solution to political problems in the real world. It's a distraction from the real frustration we have with democracy and centralized power in the real world. What's your opinion on encryption, then? Is working on e2e apps a distraction from advocating for better data privacy laws? What about VPNs? Are VPNs a distraction from petitioning the government to uncensor websites? I think technological solutions have their place alongside political ones.