Thanks for for sharing, Wiser. It's an interesting reminder that a lot more need to be done to encourage and assist women to participate in the digital currency space. We plan to remake CryptoMoms the later part of this year. Personally, I like to see our scope expanded.  Let us know if anyone is interested to assist in some capacity.

I thought that the CFTC Commissioner Brian Quintenz was accommodating and forward looking with his prospective. Our industry certainly has issues that need to be resolved or restrained. As being said, “Someone's got to take down that bad actor.”  The SEC certainly has the best enforcement jurisdiction when retail investors are blatantly misled and harmed. 

It appears that there is a great deal of confusion in part because of multi-jurisdictional questions. Some might be misled to believe that satisfying KYC and AML requirements are sufficient. Unfortunately, that does nothing to reduce the risk of the SEC enforcement action if it involves the sale of securities that are not registered or exempt with the SEC.

The next big issue is about exchange. It will be sad if they all need to be registered or exempt with the SEC, especially at this formative stage. Here is where an industry self-regulatory organization is most viable.

Good advice, RJF, “Don't Ignore The Gatekeepers”. We mandated them to protect the consumers and their hard-earned money. It’s important that we all have a level playing field.

“It's getting easier to see crypto operating next to fiat and being considered a real investment/asset like gold.” And that is a wonderful thing. There is no likelihood of a sudden switch from fiat to digital currency. I believe that it will evolve slowly as a supplement to certain fiat currencies and eventually gain mass adoption. Meanwhile, it is important that our law makers, understand the process and the technologies. They should help to facilitate and shape the industry to be efficient and productive and not fall into the trap of regulatory overreach that stifles innovations.

DNotes is leading by example. Trust, integrity, and a strong commitment to educating the general populace have always been important to us. We all need to do our part.  

Sometimes we forget that we live in a massively competitive world with an incredible amount of innovations taking place. In most cases, no single entity is big enough to go at it alone.

The immense success stories of the future will be dominated by those who think, strategize, and execute collaboratively across multiple platforms and national borders. But only a few will lead, most will perish along the way. That is the nature of our highly competitive world. If you are not among the best you may be just contributing to the cause.

Here is a fascinating article worth reading:

How Banks Are Disrupting Payments – Two International Models

There is an outstandingly large community of over 10,000 FinTech startups operating around the world – shedding international borders, democratizing remittances in the name of inclusion, facilitating inclusion through economic identity on the blockchain, and a lot more.

The FinTech startup community is very diverse and rich in ideas and solutions. We track around 50 FinTech sub-segments into which the 10,000+ startups fall, but there are only two categories continuously at the top of their game in terms of capital saturation and entrepreneurial activity – lending and payments. No wonder. The role models – Stripe, Square Cash, PayPal, M-Pesa, Alipay, and Venmo – opened the floodgates into the world of social payments and efficient e-commerce, demonstrating opportunities that technology brings into this segment. Let’s look at PayPal’s 2017 operating results for some numbers:

•   Active customer accounts of 227 million, up 15% with growth of 29 million net new actives
•   7.6 billion payment transactions, up 24%
•   $451 billion in total payment volume (TPV), up 27% both on a spot and FX-neutral basis
•   33.6 payment transactions per active account on a trailing 12-month basis, up 8%

Once the way was paved and proven to be lucrative, enthusiastic entrepreneurs knocked down a lot of VC doors to launch the next best thing in payments. In fact, within the payments segment, mobile wallets/payments represent the largest pieces of the pie – over 30% of the companies, according to MEDICI data.

Read more: https://gomedici.com/how-banks-are-disrupting-payments-two-international-models/?utm_source=Subscribe+to+MEDICI&utm_campaign=8edb8df4e6-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_03_08&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_aa5e7321a3-8edb8df4e6-91508637&mc_cid=8edb8df4e6&mc_eid=f5832b2593

This is quite concerning. I do not recognize any of our industry exchanges on the following lists:

Investors can find a list of SEC-registered national securities exchanges here:  List of Active National Securities Exchanges
Investors can find a list of ATSs that have filed a Form ATS with the SEC here:  List of Active Alternative Trading Systems

Looks like the SEC is going after SAFT as well.

https://www.coindesk.com/sec-going-saft/?utm_source=ICO-facebook

Wiser, you are absolutely correct. "The banking and financial system will adapt but it's not going away."

We are creating a very friendly "Bridge" for bankers and regulators to work with us to best take full advantages of the new realities and opportunities being generated by the nascent decentralized world.

To gain mass adoption of DNotes, there must be a fully integrated financial system built for the digital age where digital cash will be the norm one day. Meanwhile, there are many challenges to overcome.

Thank you, Brandon. The credit should go to the entire DNotes Team. This is the most passionate and committed team I have the privilege of working with. We are very mission and purpose driven - do the right no matter how much harder it is. Taking four years to building a solid foundation, while watching others walking away with "quick money" is not easy for many people to justify. We happen to believe that if that is what it takes - it's well worth it.

Thank you all for your contributions.

That is a good one, Chase. It's a great indicator of acceptance.

I have my own indicators too: More and more top bankers are requesting to connect with me on LinkedIn. And to top it off - including a Former Secretary of Treasury and other government officials. It's quite an honor. We must be doing something right and that has taken only four years to show up. Let's Go DNotes!!!

Wiser, the quick answer is that the cases you described are being done in bits and pieces. In DNotes' case it will be done as a fully integrated systems bridging the decentralized world with the centralized world - centered around our own fully integrated banking and financial systems.

It is time consuming, complex, and expensive. But to do it right and be in compliance with existing regulations, that is the right path positing DNotes Global with enormous growth potential.

I see your point, Wiser. Fully integrated systems consisting of an inclusive trusted digital currency with global banking and financial systems are the vital components for a digital currency in gaining mass adoption. This is a complex machine we have been building from ground up. After four years we have built a great foundation for the next phase. Everything that we have accomplished is verifiable. We believe that our white paper, once available for general release, will help a lot of people to better understand our vision and the strategic path we have chosen.

These are being done step by step, with more tasks done in parallel, especially when the funding is in place. For now lets get back to the multi-currency card. We like to see it as "Your Liquid Asset Card" with DNotes being your primary asset. Being an account holder at DNotesVault, you assign a pre-approved limit as the spendable limit. It can always be adjusted up or down. Our banking and financial networks will do all the conversion for you, anywhere in the world, where our approved list of fiat and digital currencies are accepted.

This is how we see the future. It will take years to built out the essential infrastructure and be in compliance of multiple layers of regulations.

Thank you for bringing this up, The Chezzz. Your friend gave you a complex wish list. Fortunately, it is in line with our vision.

To realize our vision, we must have a clear path to reach that ultimate destination – mass adoption of DNotes as an inclusive trusted digital currency in global commerce. There are many challenges that must be overcome in the meantime, including meeting regulatory requirements. Our ecosystems are built as solutions to overcome many of those challenges.

The biggest challenges of all are to mimic the full functions of money and the banking and financial systems. DNotes is strategically positioned to be equal to and ultimately superior to fiat currency and the delivery of financial services. It may take generations. But as you said, “DNotes never dies; it adapts to what the world will let it do within the regulations and the capabilities of modern technology.”

DNotes 2.0, CRISPs, and DNotesVault are our first foundation blocks to enable DNotes stakeholders to save and spend DNotes like money. Subject to getting regulatory approvals, with a full-service exchange, bank, and partner banks, DNotes stakeholders would be issued a multi-currency card that could be used just like, money, credit and debit card anywhere DNotes is accepted around the world. That is the power of our fully integrated ecosystems.

I have been with them for almost four years and was able to withdraw all my DNotes. They were doing great until a year ago.

Poloniex delisted DNotes last November. We were never given the reason or received any response to our inquiries. We assume that it was due to low trade volume. DNotes is available at Cryptopia: https://www.cryptopia.co.nz/Exchange/?market=NOTE_BTC

This is the year we will gain significant momentum with a very full plate. There are four top priorities that are getting a lot of my personal attention.

* Launch DNotes 2.0 in early April, 2018 with beta preview on March 18.

* Two funding Rounds utilizing Reg. D 506 (c) to raise up to $2.5 to fund software development and Mini-IPO and Reg. A+ Mini-IPO Tier 2 to raise up to $50 million from accredited and non-accredited investors worldwide.

* Get DNotes listed on more exchanges

* Work with publicist to promote book "Improve Your Odds - The Four Pillars of Business Success."

Our team has also been working very hard on our white paper. We plan to have a general release at the end of this month.

Helpful information worth reading:

Here is the CFTC Memo that Says it is OK for Employees to Own Bitcoin & Other Cryptocurrency – but be Careful
March 4, 2018 @ 12:55 pm By JD Alois

Last month, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) posted a memo to all staff providing guidance regarding holding and transactions using cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin. In brief, the memo from Daniel Davis, General Counsel of the CFTC, said it was ok to invest in crypto – but employees must be careful.

According to the memo, the CFTC received many inquiries from staff and the Commission has decided they are not “prohibited interests.” But the document asks CFTC employees to avoid creating the appearance that staff may be violating the law.

The document states:
As a general matter, you should keep the following in mind when considering owning or engaging in transactions in cryptocurrencies:

•   If your knowledge of cryptocurrencies is gained from the CFTC and your holdings or transactions of virtual currencies would lead a reasonable person to question your conduct, you may run afoul of the agency’s ethical standards.

•   You cannot own or transact in derivatives products (i.e., futures or swaps) regulated by the Commission. that are based on cryptocurrencies(or any other commodity). For example, you cannot own or transact in Bitcoin futures products.

•   You cannot purchase cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, on margin.

•   You cannot transact in cryptocurrencies if you have nonpublic information regarding cryptocurrencies. Thus, if your job at the CFTC brings you in contact with information regarding enforcement actions regarding cryptocurrencies, surveillance of cryptocurrencies, or policy decisions regarding cryptocurrencies, you most likely have nonpublic information regarding cryptocurrencies and cannot trade them.

•   Simply holding cryptocurrency or other commodities may not create an 18 U.S.C. 208 conflict of interest for you. However, if you participate personally and substantially in a particular matter that will directly or predictably affect your financial interests or your imputed financial interests (i.e., the financial interests or your spouse, dependents, and others, including certain business relationships), and you believe that your financial interest in the cryptocurrency (or the interest of your spouse, minor child, or other interested person) will also be affected, seek ethics advice before participating in the matter.

While CFTC are understandably banned from investing in Bitcoin futures it is pretty interesting that at least some are interested in the investment opportunity that cryptocurrencies, in general, may provide.

Source: https://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2018/03/129157-cftc-memo-says-ok-employees-bitcoin-cryptocurrency-careful/

Looks great. Graphics can be improved. Check it out HERE: http://dnotescoin.com/

So far Option 1 is the clear winner:

“If everyone took their Bitcoin money and tried to buy a new car all at once the whole thing would collapse.” 
That argument is so baseless, it’s silly – almost entertaining.

Should MP Diane Abbott be correct then we can also say, “If everyone took their fiat money and tried to but a new car all at once the whole world would collapse.”  And returned to the stone age? Obviously, that is a ridiculous assumption. 

The Former FDIC Chief Sheila Bair is spot on as to why cryptocurrencies should not be outlawed. Her arguments are simple but not without substance. Every emerging industry has issues and growing-pains that need time to be sorted out. Give it a chance.

"I don't think we should ban it - the green bills in your pocket don't have an intrinsic value, either," she was quoted as saying.

We should push for "good disclosure, education, warding off fraud, and making sure it is not being used for illicit activities."

Again, I agree. We need education and good disclosure. DNotes has always been committed to education and inclusiveness. Good disclosures and lots of verifiable research materials are also important for investors to make more objective investment decision.

DNotes is different in one other respect. We pro-actively identify industry challenges and incorporate strategic action plans to overcome them. These actions are reflected in our current ecosystems and our roadmap going forward. That is a part of DNotes’ vision in gaining mass acceptance one day.

Don't Ban Crypto, Says Former FDIC Chief Sheila Bair
Mar 1, 2018 at 23:05 UTC  |  Updated  Mar 2, 2018 at 11:24 UTC

The former chairperson of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which insures bank deposits in the U.S., says that cryptocurrencies shouldn't be outlawed.

According to a new interview published by Barron's, Sheila Bair suggested that while bitcoin and other cryptos lack an "intrinsic value," so do currencies such as the U.S. dollar.

"I don't think we should ban it - the green bills in your pocket don't have an intrinsic value, either," she was quoted as saying.
The comments from Bair - who led the government corporation between 2006 and 2011 - are notable, given the growing scrutiny being applied to the market from a range of regulators worldwide. Bair, who has opined about cryptocurrency regulation in the past, is also a member of blockchain startup Paxos' board of directors.

Indeed, she suggested that as far as the price of cryptocurrencies is concerned, the market itself is best equipped to ascertain some kind of value.

"Let the market figure out what it's worth," she told the publication. "That is what it is doing now."

That said, Bair didn't say that regulators should take an entirely hands-off approach. Officials, she indicated, should push for "good disclosure, education, warding off fraud, and making sure it is not being used for illicit activities."

Read more: https://www.coindesk.com/former-fdic-head-let-the-market-figure-out-bitcoins-value/

Very cleverly worded.

So far, this is my top pick.

Thanks, Tim.

I like his one: DNotes - The inclusive digital currency, for everyone.