Ngaio shares my perception that the altcoin scene is throwing up a few reminders of the early days of the web. If the parallel holds true then corporates will be again be slow on the uptake, mainly because to “get” it requires i) an actual familiarity with the tech and ii) a change in thinking. Both requirements are inherently difficult for corporates to meet.

(A corporate is like a tree of monkeys. Those at the top, looking down, see bright eyes and attentive faces. Those at the bottom, looking up, see only arseholes.)

I wish I had more time to respond, I'm finding this discussion useful because it's prompting me to think more deeply about how cryptocurrency relates to the societal shifts that are occurring both in working life and in what counts as a leisure activity - and that includes taking a broad enough view of the “PnD rush” to put it into the same category as following the horse racing on telly. For at least that aspect of the altcoin scene, the rules are reasonably well-worked out by now - to the extent where I can just about make out the basics of a pitch for a videogame, “Risko-Risto's CryptoCurrency Challenge”. Even when playing with real money, it's arguably better entertainment value and a lot cheaper than dropping £40 on a night out at the cinema.

But the main problem that altcoins present to corporate uptake is the volatility of the market ...

Which leads me to the reason why I'm pressed for time --- I've been busy bringing DOACC up to date with recent launches. It's a bit of a rambling collection of metadata and very patchy in places but I've made an effort to assign at least an “incept” %y-%m date for every single altcoin listed. A few will inevitably be off by a month or three but the vast majority of incept dates are reasonably accurate. Which means I can publish graphs of numbers of altcoin launches by %y-%m ...



Looks like an awful lot of heat has gone out of the market, reflected by a rash of coin creation special offers. During the height of the mid-2014 Cryptocoin Rush, some folks were predicting an after-effect of an increased demand for coins able to demonstrate real longevity. Maybe we should be on the lookout for that or maybe the phenomenon has simply run its course.

A dynamic version of the chart is available on Minkiz (http://minkiz.co/coin/infographics/)

Cheers

Graham

Yes, the blockchain's still being tended. I'll hazard a guess that the dev pre-paid for 12 months hosting. It's still trading on allcrypt but there were no buy orders last time I checked. There's a lightweight and incomplete block explorer on http://acme.minkiz.co/rlt/ (JSONRPC-based).

Cheers

Graham

Edit: indicate removed

You seem a bit beleaguered. Do you need some help managing this? The codebase remains unchanged in this above respect: https://github.com/darktoken/darktoken/blob/master/src/test/key_tests.cpp#L41

The last activity was a 652-file commit which did nothing other than improperly set the executable filemode bit on a raft of source files and add a superfluous IDE config file as a final flourish. It strongly suggests either i) a lack of familiarity with the tools or i) the result of the dev's cat walking on the keyboard.

Then, given there's 100 BTC of other folks' money on the table, surely it's worth cleaning up the code and removing the inappropriate substitutions? Sort of like this: https://github.com/gjhiggins/darktoken

(I'm a little disturbed at what seems to be an increasing tendency to to favour publishing developed binaries, particularly Windows binaries, where the enhancements are not committed to the open source repository, obliging users to adopt what is effectively proprietary code. I note that the exchange tab in the screenshots is only available in the published binaries. To ensure that Linux users don't get left out, I added an exchange trading tab, filched from some development going on in icebergcoin's repos. It's hard-coded to use just Bittrex' JSON API but it does seem to hold promise. I was able successfully to add a Bittrex API tag and key which then enabled the Buy/Sell/History tabs. I'll leave the acid test to someone who actually holds DT.)


Cheers

Graham

In order to attract the kind of FMCG corporates you mention, I suspect that there'd have to be several orders of magnitude more positive consumer awareness of the real-life practical advantages of using cryptocurrency. And it will be a remarkably brave brand manager who commits the corporation to using a precious (and enormously expensive to maintain) FMCG brand identity to endorse and lend corporate legitimacy to the notion of cryptocurrency. The profit potential would have to be gigantic.

And they'd still have to surmount the profound mismatch of a centralised organisation running a decentralised cryptocurrency. Whose interests are supposed to take priority?


It's just a wild-arsed guess, intended to emphasise the difference that comes with working with eight- and nine-figure budgets that are carefully planned to evolve over time. (The original $100m figure is genuine from 1994 and recent experience informs me that nowt's changed). Everything has to scale, including projects, just to be able to retain control. My out of date experience of the corporate environment contrasts sharply with your description, that's all.

Cheers

Graham

fwiw, I didn't get the sense of an exchange of swats but otoh, the discussion is meandering a bit.

I mean, if you really want to get serious, I guess you could start by explaining why you consider a multinational bank would be interested in trying to run and control a decentralised cryptocurrency when their entire business rationale is based on centralisation.

Even if the context could be adjusted to fit, the key question they'd be asking is whether it would provide a consistent revenue stream in excess of $1bn because otherwise it would simply be unprofitable for them (*).

In short, what USP does a cryptocurrency offer a multinational bank and how would they cost it?

Edit: Ramamurthi explained to CoinDesk that a key challenge for banks that send cross-border transactions is making sure those who are sending money aren’t on any terrorist or money laundering watch lists. Given the velocity of money flows, this can create operational issues – and higher costs. By using real-time settlement ledgers like the one Ripple offers, Ramamurthi said banks can reduce the friction created when meeting government oversight standards. - http://www.coindesk.com/us-banks-embraced-ripple/

Cheers

Graham


(*) I've allowed for 20 years of inflation ...
GrahamInR&D: Hey, I've got a govt agency interested in buying the environmental modelling package we've written. They want to know when it'll be on the price list!!
BlokeInCorporate: Not interested. You need to show that it'll add better than $100 million to the bottom line to be taken seriously.

That's most useful, many thanks for taking the time to respond.

Cheers

Graham

Oooh, can I bug you for a list off've the top of your head? (or anyone).

I'm keen to update the relevant DOACC entries to accurately record the distribution scheme.

Cheers

Graham

Exactly the instructions that accompanied the CLAMS launch: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=623147.0

If you had a non-zero balance in a BTC/LTC/DOGE wallet earlier this year there may be CLAMS awaiting you. You then have the opportunity to trial the process with a coin of known integrity and satisfy yourself that the process works as described.

Just a thought.

Cheers

Graham

How do you intend to calculate a majority? Will the calculation be made public?

Cheers

Graham

It quickly boils down to “How much are you prepared to pay for this service?” The cryptocurrency game is overwhelmingly oriented towards gaining personal financial advantage. This is accompanied by the usual entitlement-driven assumption that market support services will be provided free of charge as conveniences. Even worse, as a consequence of this assumption, invitations to donate are simply unheeded by the vast majority.

However, the harsh reality is that data collection is time-consuming to set up, demanding to manage and expensive to maintain. Here's a hint as to what has to happen in the background in order for the publishing of contemporary altcoin market data to take place:

http://www.cryptocoincharts.info/status

and a bit more detail here: http://www.cryptocoincharts.info/news/2014/100-000-000-trades-in-our-database/

You're not alone in your perception of this as a major omission. I'm currently setting up some market activity data collection but, unlike DOACC, I'm not intending to publish it as a free service, it'll be densely value-added and that's something I charge for.

The principle is straightforward, if you intend to take advantage of value-added services to increase your financial standing, you'll be expected to contribute generously towards covering the costs of providing these value-added services. (I'm not as green as I am cabbage-looking.)

Or, you can undertake the task yourself. It's not as if the trading info is secret, publishing trading activity summaries is part of the standard offering by all of the better exchanges. For example, here's Bleutrade's info from their JSON-based API, trivially consumable by most modern programming languages:
https://bleutrade.com/api/v2/public/getmarkets

They offer a help page: https://bleutrade.com/help/API

I really do mean “trivially consumable”, here's a bit of Python to illustrate ...

HTH

Cheers

Graham

I came across a reference to a node crawler a few days ago, I grabbed the source but haven't had chance to try it out yet. If'n'when I do, I'll report back.

Cheers

Graham

Oh, I forgot to mention, the Ubuntu CoinShield tray icon has a white background. You might want to change that to transparent.

Cheers

Graham

I can confirm that the Qt wallet now executes and syncs on 14.04.

Cheers

Graham
 

Some code archaeology, for general interest and a short, sharp lesson on greed.

On 31st May 2013, a Litecoin backport introduces some Qt5 compatibility for Mac Dock icon handling: https://github.com/litecoin-project/litecoin/blob/07b32c2cb247244a58e9e481c97e2e5ec2aa4867/src/qt/macdockiconhandler.mm#L86

The code includes this comment, unremarkable at the time but which would later act as a tell-tale:

One the 3rd Feb 2014, the change is integrated into MemoryCoin: https://github.com/memorycoin/memorycoin/blob/psforkinit/src/qt/macdockiconhandler.mm#L98
The comment text remains unchanged.

On the 7th May 2014, carsenk commits the source for Dreamcoin and, although the code was subsequently expunged from the Dreamcoin repos, I forked a copy at the time and we can see that the comment has now changed:
https://github.com/gjhiggins/dreamcoin/blob/master/src/qt/macdockiconhandler.mm#L92

The comment testifies to carsenk's crude approach to regexp in that the word “hack” has been regexplaced with “DRM”, making it crystal-clear that DreamCoin was forked from (also-expunged) HackCoin.

On the 9th May 2014, the tell-tale continued to sing its sweet song of betrayal, this time for LibertyCoin: https://github.com/liberty-project/LibertyCoin/blob/master/src/qt/macdockiconhandler.mm#L92

And boys and girls, if you listen very carefully, you can right now hear the tune filtering out of CraigsCoin:
https://github.com/CraigsCoin/CraigsCoin/blob/master/src/qt/macdockiconhandler.mm

So, be careful out there with those greedy regexps, otherwise you could put someone's eye out.


Cheers

Graham

Edit: corrected URL

Surely not. It's a fairly direct copy of Icebergcoin, including the clumsy cut'n'paste ...

https://github.com/darktoken/darktoken/blob/master/src/test/key_tests.cpp#L41


    for (int nCompressed=0; nCompressed<2; nCompressed++)
    {
        bool fCompressed = nCompressed == 1;
        printf("  * %s:\n", fCompressed ? "compressed" : "uncompressed");
        CIcebergcoinSecret bsecret;
        bsecret.SetSecret(secret, fCompressed);
        printf("    * secret (base58): %s\n", bsecret.ToString().c_str());
        CKey key;
        key.SetSecret(secret, fCompressed);
        vector<unsigned char> vchPubKey = key.GetPubKey();
        printf("    * pubkey (hex): %s\n", HexStr(vchPubKey).c_str());
        printf("    * address (base58): %s\n", CIcebergcoinAddress(vchPubKey).ToString().c_str());
    }
}


Cheers

Graham

Close enough for ya? ...

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=732345.0

Cheers

Graham

I shall bide my time until then. You have perhaps made an unfortunate choice of boost 1.54 for the Ubuntu build, many altcoin READMEs refer to 1.54 as problematic. I have 1.55, via Ubuntu 14.04.

Cheers

Graham

The Bittrex listing leaves much to be desired. I'd be especially pleased to see the return of disambiguating coin names. Trading symbols aren't necessarily unique and sometimes it can be difficult to work out which coin is being referenced. For example, the Bittrex zendesk page for removals of 08/02/14 cryptically lists “BTC-PPC”.

There's no longer an opportunity to check whether that was the decayed remains of PaypalCoin being expunged or the successful culmination of Bittrex' long-fought campaign to have PeerCoin de-listed.

PPC was slated to be de-listed on a couple of earlier occasions but was reprieved each time after the community pointed out PeerCoin's eminent status in the market cap listings.

Perhaps Bittrex' statement of intent needs re-writing: “We look for coins that have high community demand, innovations to crypto-coin technology, or a contribution to science and humanity.”

So, Minki offers the Bittrex bum’s rush, a less cryptic listing of Bittrexits, including a sketchy calculation of (incept date - delisting date) as a for-amusement-only indicator of trading longevity (incept dates are YYYY-MM, very rough'n'ready).


Cheers

Graham

I can't be certain about “still active” until I develop the back-end further so that it performs regular checks but Minki has a fairly comprehensive list that's actively being maintained.

http://minkiz.co/exchange

HTH

Cheers,

Graham

Block generation is proceeding in fits and starts, mostly not at all.

And I have to say, on the surface of it a 17million EQX transfer looks a teensy bit out of place:

http://blockexperts.com/eqx/height/138

confirmed by Minki's block explorer:

http://minkiz.co/abe/block/00000b457762125fca2c51f740c4d7dc0fdefb6e514c8996d603f971d9bcf8c8

Cheers,

Graham