I think the author, like most people who work in banking and compliance, still have yet to overcome the barrier of understanding what Bitcoin is. I know this because of my partner who works in compliance and the questions I see them field demonstrates how little they understand about Bitcoin.

So they're not wrong with their view of compliance from the perspective of service providers, as in, companies, individuals (business entities) in regulated jurisdictions. These are, for example, wallet providers, account providers, exchangers, transmitters, payment providers and settlers.

What they don't get is that the network itself can't be forced to comply.

I usually use the internet as a comparison. You can get ISPs, email providers, telephony services to comply. You can't get internet surfers and "the internet" itself to. Regulators and states can "legitimise" and "regulate" Bitcoin only to the extent they can "legitimise" and "regulate" the internet.

Can't catch a break, really. Just as I thought I was doing alright several races in a row, I finished sooo many points off yellow cap, and have slipped down a rank in the process. What's that they say about one step forwards and two steps back?

Anyway, have to say good job to that amazing yellow cap.

Trofo I have the same tactic but that is my Superbru criticism from the very beginning. Pointless not to choose the strong favourite, as an upset of 100/1 or of 3/1 gives the same points. I have no strategy other than to guess who enters top 10 as those finishers gives points. Time to cut off Ocon and Gasly?

Seems a pretty easy pick to make, for someone like me just checking the odds. It's a question in this week's BSFL -- not sure you guys following it, but tokes , man, been a long while since we shared a discussion in this forum so I gotta ask: Poirier seems the type keen to finish fights: 2 KO/TKOs and a submission in his last 3 bouts. More of the same?

(and hello jeremypwr, the question courtesy of )

Holy heifer, I know I'm going to regret joining yet another pool but will consider this with a high likelihood of saying aye -- and a small likelihood to say nay, not because it's not fun, but because I might not have quality time!

I'll pop by a bit later -- I already see some very familiar names so I know I'll be in "bad" company

Thank you for the considerations, Cro2, and Harko for the shoutout! It's an honour for me.

Does this mean I can bookmark and permanently leave sheet tab open?

Ah, nothing feels better than smelling the sweet, sweet smell of an opponents tears if his name happens to be Igebotz. And I must also congratulate darxiami for ensuring CLS63 doesn't make it impossible for the chasing pack. Take it easy on me this time, ok? jeremypwr breathing down my neck, good luck brothers! My first time on top, I'll enjoy the view while it lasts.

Re being late: As Harko said send early if you're busy tomorrow and use VAR if necessary

You answered yur own question without really realising. It's a national payment service, for USD. North America catching up to LatAm, Africa and Asia in terms of fintech.

But all of these regions who've been using SMS or QR code payments for over a decade now still find use for Bitcoin. Think bigger: sanctioned people and governments, individuals, businesses and states that the US and its allies have excluded from money/economy.

Iranians have this instant payment system. But they still have a need for Bitcoin (US dollar sanctions). Argentinians have similar but still need Bitcoin (hyperinflation).

Come on, OP, you can ask better questions.

^ Looked it up myself. In short: tradition, and gentlemen's agreement.

Technically, it is still a race, but no biker who loves his career would attack Vinge, and if they did, other teams would protect him. It's just a parade for cyclists to be with the public. Better explained here: https://cyclingbeginner.com/why-do-they-not-race-the-last-stage-of-the-tour-de-france/

So, in all possibility, Vinge has won TdF. But he must still cross the finish line today. In most cases, even with injury or accident, other cyclists would wait or even help him finish. He would have to be horribly injured not to finish.

Why, buying actual Bitcoin and holding it. As I've mentioned many times, institutional interest from 2016 already led to huge OTC buys. Look at the famed custodians holding huge amounts on behalf of institutional. Look at Saylor, more recently. Look at the Norwegian sovereign wealth fund from a few years back.

They didn't need to sit around waiting fir ETFs (which interest short-term speculators). They went out and added actual coins to their portfolios. You don't think those are more significant than ETFs that sometimes also use derivatives? Then again. I'm no expert, just an opinion-monger ha.

I'd have taken it every time, even without hard familiarity, those two teams have shown their prowess over the last couple of tournaments. PSG let us down this time but it was great value nevertheless. Feel free to drop more tips, I'm sure to follow!

@Slissy, Jinetics1111 yeah I was watching final sprint on TdF last night and pleased the gap didn't change much (Poda won but just by seconds). Then turned to PGA where pre-tourney fav McIlroy doesn't look like he'll win -- I also need the American to keep pace, but not get his par tally better. I also picked -14 and below =)

P.S. Thank you Denmark women's!

I'll take a look later if I remember, good effort -- I just would stop short at calling these myths FUD, only if to lend more credibility to the debunking efforts. Many of the arguments made against Bitcoin does come from a neutral place, and I don't think it is the objective of some academics to spread fear, uncertainty, doubt.

Would like to dig into the data behind energy use -- I last read pretty solid data from some presentation but have lost my bookmark. In particular, how energy use is actually predicted to plateau, while providing the same level of security in the next 2 decades.

I think saying Web3 focus is on coin and gambling now does prove that you can give something a bad name... I mean it wasn't too long ago when they said Bitcoin was also a fad because it was focused on gambling and speculation. Or AI for gaming and marketing and content creation.

Erroneous on both counts (the focus). The most visible activity, sure. The majority of utility, sure. But I'm pretty excited by web3 concepts of more user ownership of personal info, and removal of single points of failure for data storage or host -- these align with some Bitcoin foundational philosophies.

I doubt that many NFT projects really are web3. Just as few DEXs were truly Web3 (exhibiting only self-custody features).

Nice one casper, I forgot you're from there (or neighbouring anyway) so should know these. I'll start paying attention a little later once I've got full functionality, but I really ought to keep an eye on markets for those tasty longshot odds, seem to be missing out on quite a few already.

I think we must all be warming up to this cup, huh?

Just joined! Hoody Hoo the only one I saw there apart from Cro2, feels good to be an early bird

Have been completely out of the news for a while, a bit bummed that our long-term interest has joined Real, man they have their midfield sorted out for ten years haha. Also Bobby was intended to replace Benzema and then Saudi happened.

Time for some early Sevilla bets? Ha

Couldn't miss Trofo's tip and happen to be checking this thread when it happened. Popped in a small balance of usdt for this on SB (it's an external provider, I guess, very unfamiliar screen and betslips don't appear in the same location ya?)

Beer money but who knows, this goes on a Tether doubling streak eh?

Ireland, Luxembourg, Serbia, Slovakia, Gibraltar.

I'm only very sure of Linfield (their names are unmistakably Irish), and Europa FC were the target of my crazy bets 2 seasons ago. The rest I'm just guessing, feel free to correct me. Just like BSFL, Conference is getting us to know the fringes of UEFA club football, huh!

Yup. To note, when I started out, not a few people were discouraging newcomers like me, saying the peak had come and gone. I remember very well that loud voices were saying 1k would never come again. I'm not saying they'd be wrong today, just saying DCA is meant to last many years for results.

Definitely can't dream big though. I had to liquidate a couple years back -- and it wasn't like I was fabulously wealthy, but it did allow to afford a personal "crisis".

Even if ETFs were to matter, they would be among the most insignificant of anything that did. I think the proof keeps showing up in the various ETF puddings, no matter the flavour.

I really feel like too much was made out of them (along with their delays and repeated applications, which, for any other financial instrument is normal, regular, and doesn't raise eyebrows).

@Trofo @cryptofrka I couldn't agree more with your assessment. One penalty is almost a gift to the opponent, and it almost makes it a penalty for everyone else in the league (it's free points).

I definitely didn't enjoy my victory in a round where my opponent had a penalty (the actual outcome was a draw so I got 2 free points). If I win (haha) by a point or two, it would not feel good for me, or those in 2nd/3rd place.

But there's no good way to do it, and this method we have, I have no issue with. Best we got, really.

BTW cool video shared with the Mbappe deepfakes -- I always said women's football at top level has good technical skill -- but off-the ball skills, formation, defence, and goalkeeping are far off the mark. Still some ways to go in terms of development.

I'm off to a bad start, picked the first rounds to be all underdog wins but high-scoring haha. Did not expect 1-0 wins. Fixing up the next rounds to reflect this new outlook.

Bit difficult for me to access betting right now on my poor connection but I popped my WWC cherry with this special today: