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This is the real value of cryptocurrencies. Yes, I know HN doesn't like them, yes there's a bunch of get-rich-quick bros and scammers out there, please try and

This is the real value of cryptocurrencies. Yes, I know HN doesn't like them, yes there's a bunch of get-rich-quick bros and scammers out there, please try and separate the grift from the tech and consider how vital it is that people are able to control their finances without a third party having the ultimate say as to whether a transaction takes place or not.

walrus01 5y ago
cryptocurrencies and not screwing up global implementation of SMTP are completely different things. cryptocurrencies are not in any way going to solve the problem of people centralizing their MX all onto office365 and gsuite.
dtech 5y ago
The only currently realistic way to acquire cryptocurrency or for non-tech people to use it is through a 3rd party broker. It's about as difficult as running your own SMTP server I'd say. edit see this current front-page submission about how Bitcoin fails to provide this despite being centralized in exactly the same way as the decentralized SMTP: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30224637 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30224637
- dane-pgp 5y ago
  > for non-tech people to use it Then it should be only the SMTP server operators who have to handle the crypocurrency side of things, so email users never have to worry about it. As you say, acquiring and using the cryptocurrency would be about as technically difficult as what the SMTP server operators are already doing, and there are a variety of 3rd party brokers they can choose if they want to simplify things and not run a node themselves. The system I'm imagining is one where each newly registered domain has to put up a cryptocurrency bond if the registrant wants to send email from it. Existing domains would be grandfathered in (having already built up their reputation) and new domains would have their bonds burned if some N-of-M stakeholders agreed that they were sending (DKIM-signed) spam. Choosing those stakeholders would be controversial, but hopefully no less controversial than the system we have today where Google can use the threat of a Gmail blacklist to make every SMTP server in the world follow its wishes. Ideally some of the stakeholders would be non-profits like the ISRG and Mozilla Foundation.
- RunSet 5y ago
  > The only currently realistic way to acquire cryptocurrency or for non-tech people to use it is through a 3rd party broker. They could provide goods or services for it the same way people acquire dollars without going through a 3rd party broker.

walrus01 5y ago

cryptocurrencies and not screwing up global implementation of SMTP are completely different things. cryptocurrencies are not in any way going to solve the problem of people centralizing their MX all onto office365 and gsuite.

dtech 5y ago

The only currently realistic way to acquire cryptocurrency or for non-tech people to use it is through a 3rd party broker. It's about as difficult as running your own SMTP server I'd say. edit see this current front-page submission about how Bitcoin fails to provide this despite being centralized in exactly the same way as the decentralized SMTP: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30224637 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30224637

dane-pgp 5y ago
> for non-tech people to use it Then it should be only the SMTP server operators who have to handle the crypocurrency side of things, so email users never have to worry about it. As you say, acquiring and using the cryptocurrency would be about as technically difficult as what the SMTP server operators are already doing, and there are a variety of 3rd party brokers they can choose if they want to simplify things and not run a node themselves. The system I'm imagining is one where each newly registered domain has to put up a cryptocurrency bond if the registrant wants to send email from it. Existing domains would be grandfathered in (having already built up their reputation) and new domains would have their bonds burned if some N-of-M stakeholders agreed that they were sending (DKIM-signed) spam. Choosing those stakeholders would be controversial, but hopefully no less controversial than the system we have today where Google can use the threat of a Gmail blacklist to make every SMTP server in the world follow its wishes. Ideally some of the stakeholders would be non-profits like the ISRG and Mozilla Foundation.
RunSet 5y ago
> The only currently realistic way to acquire cryptocurrency or for non-tech people to use it is through a 3rd party broker. They could provide goods or services for it the same way people acquire dollars without going through a 3rd party broker.