3 ms·

Where does this preoccupation with payments come from all of a sudden? Personally I don't want "payments" implemented in my web browser, and I seriously doubt

by lottin 5y ago

Where does this preoccupation with payments come from all of a sudden? Personally I don't want "payments" implemented in my web browser, and I seriously doubt that that would be in anyone's interest.

paulryanrogers 5y ago
Micro payments may prove to be a compelling alternative to. Or at least that is the hope.
- malermeister 5y ago
  Alternative to what? I think you forgot a word there
  - redisman 5y ago
    Ads
    - malermeister 5y ago
      Ah! I can kind of see the idea, but crypto seems... kind of overengineered for that? There was flattr [1] a while ago, with a similar concept, but it didn't really take off. I'm not sure a more complicated solution with a higher barrier of entry would. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flattr https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flattr
  - paulryanrogers 5y ago
    ads, sorry the word got dropped
porknubbins 5y ago
I found it pretty eye opening to be able to make payments freely and (practically) pseudonomously, in contrast to which all other digital payments systems are heavily permissioned. Crypto UI may not be great but try sending a wire internationally in the banking system and you are presented with 2-3 massively leaky abstractions (why should I the consumer have to research the difference in ACH, electronic wire) with various fees, delays, and possible invisible censorship issues (blacklists, whitelists, reports triggered) PER bank.
- lottin 5y ago
  I make international payments pretty often and have never been presented with a leaky abstraction, suffered from "censorship" or anything like that. "Permissioned" is simply a consequence of that fact that most countries establish barriers to the free movement of people, goods and capitals in and out of their territory. You're not going to solve that with technology, because it's not a technological problem. It's not even clear that it's a problem.
  - porknubbins 5y ago
    I’m sure many people haven’t experienced that kind of censorship but lots of people have. I used to play online poker which was made illegal in the US through payment channel crackdowns(for reasons at best paternalistic but realistically just physical casino lobbying). Given that the internet facilitates pretty much any kind of information transfer I have to ask mysef is it more likely the future will be a future where I can only transfer value by requesting 20th C institutions to proxy for me or is it more likely I will be able to freely transfer value in my own right.
    - lottin 5y ago
      If you're talking about transmitting money, it's a regulated activity in the US. [1] If you think that you will be able to bypass regulations by using crypto-currencies and suffer no consequences, I think you're in for a surprise. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_transmitter https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_transmitter
      - porknubbins 5y ago
        Nothing I’m talking about requires me to get licensed to operate a money transmitting company.

by lottin 5y ago

Where does this preoccupation with payments come from all of a sudden? Personally I don't want "payments" implemented in my web browser, and I seriously doubt that that would be in anyone's interest.

paulryanrogers 5y ago

Micro payments may prove to be a compelling alternative to. Or at least that is the hope.

malermeister 5y ago
Alternative to what? I think you forgot a word there
- redisman 5y ago
  Ads
  - malermeister 5y ago
    Ah! I can kind of see the idea, but crypto seems... kind of overengineered for that? There was flattr [1] a while ago, with a similar concept, but it didn't really take off. I'm not sure a more complicated solution with a higher barrier of entry would. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flattr https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flattr
- paulryanrogers 5y ago
  ads, sorry the word got dropped

porknubbins 5y ago

I found it pretty eye opening to be able to make payments freely and (practically) pseudonomously, in contrast to which all other digital payments systems are heavily permissioned. Crypto UI may not be great but try sending a wire internationally in the banking system and you are presented with 2-3 massively leaky abstractions (why should I the consumer have to research the difference in ACH, electronic wire) with various fees, delays, and possible invisible censorship issues (blacklists, whitelists, reports triggered) PER bank.

lottin 5y ago
I make international payments pretty often and have never been presented with a leaky abstraction, suffered from "censorship" or anything like that. "Permissioned" is simply a consequence of that fact that most countries establish barriers to the free movement of people, goods and capitals in and out of their territory. You're not going to solve that with technology, because it's not a technological problem. It's not even clear that it's a problem.
- porknubbins 5y ago
  I’m sure many people haven’t experienced that kind of censorship but lots of people have. I used to play online poker which was made illegal in the US through payment channel crackdowns(for reasons at best paternalistic but realistically just physical casino lobbying). Given that the internet facilitates pretty much any kind of information transfer I have to ask mysef is it more likely the future will be a future where I can only transfer value by requesting 20th C institutions to proxy for me or is it more likely I will be able to freely transfer value in my own right.
  - lottin 5y ago
    If you're talking about transmitting money, it's a regulated activity in the US. [1] If you think that you will be able to bypass regulations by using crypto-currencies and suffer no consequences, I think you're in for a surprise. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_transmitter https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_transmitter
    - porknubbins 5y ago
      Nothing I’m talking about requires me to get licensed to operate a money transmitting company.