In my opinion any token or coin which is controlled in not a cryptocurrency.
For pegging any currency to another currency, the supply and demand should be controlled. Sometimes it is needed to burn coins and sometimes it is needed to add some to the supply. So, a third party is needed. Any coin or token which is controlled by a third party is not a cryptocurrency. (As tether is not a cryptocurrency)

As far as I know there is an ERC20 token called Wrapped Bitcoin which is backed 1:1 with Bitcoin.
It has probably been created to facilitate decentralized trading of ERC20 tokens.

Note: I don't know much about this token and I haven't ever used it. So, I don't know whether it is safe and trustworthy or not. If you want to use it, do it at your own risk.

Recently, there have been some discussions about those who send 50 merit in a single transactions.
You can visit the following threads.

50 merit for an non-contribute topic
Posts: 0, Activity:0, merit: 136
Does this tread really deserve the attention it has got?
Reduce 50 merit limit per post.

I provided some data with the help of DdmrDdmr merit dashboard for a 100-day period (from September 24, 2019 to January 03, 2020)
In these 100 days, we have 26 merit transactions that contain 50 merit. ( I didn't consider merits sent in the art contest)
Numbers in parentheses are number of earned merits.

from TMAN (1195) to The-Devil (102)
from TMAN (1195) to Vispilio (761)
from TMAN (1195) to Vispilio (761)
from TMAN (1195) to yogg (1109)
from TMAN (1195) to tk808 (537)
from TMAN (1195) to tk808 (537)

from franky1 (577) to gmaxwell (2040)
from franky1 (577) to theymos (6388)
from franky1 (577)to 50 to gmaxwell (2040)

from suchmoon (3467) to tk808 (537)
from suchmoon (3467) to LTU_btc (295)

From theymos (6388) to eaLiTy (162)
From JL421 (0) to Newbie1273819 (136) suspicious
From phr0stbyt3 (0) to Newbie1273819 (136) suspicious
From emberbekas (0) to Isildur (official) (80)
From Vlad2Vlad (167) to Nasakioto (133)
From gjhiggins (105) to BitcoinFX (253)
From Rw13enlib88 (25) to Hal (681)
From abctc (4) to BCNext (53)
From Deathwing (209) to Vispilio (761)
From Jalum (0) to Neovitadi (252) suspicious
From asdalani (0) to Neovitadi (252) suspicious
From stripykitteh (1) to Neovitadi (252) suspicious
From MicroGuy (11) to satoshi (2397)
From Mitchell (433) to Royse777 (591)
From marcus_of_augustus (191) to infofront (909)


According to these data, I don't think there is a big issue. I mean there aren't many abusers.

TMAN, franky1 and suchmoon are only users that have sent 50 merit in a single transaction more than one time in the 100-day period.
There is no doubt that there is no problem with these merit transactions.

There are 15 users that have sent 50 merit in a single transaction in the 100-day period.
It's obvious that, JL421, phr0stbyt3, Newbie1273819, Neovitadi, Jalum, asdalani, stripykitteh have abused the merit system.


Edit: while I was writing, tranthidung made a post and provided some data too.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5215884.msg53555092#msg53555092

The second post by tranthidung with some clarification:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5215884.msg53557181#msg53557181

I guess the post was deleted once it was merited and that's why merit transactions have not been recorded by BPIP
Those merit transactions are shown in Loyce.club.

I don't know why it says No results found for "Newbie1273819".

I doubt this user has abused the merit system.
According to BPIP, this user has received 127 merit 57 times, from 32 profiles including some well-known users of the forum.

Any effort to educate others is commendable. So, generally it's not a bad idea. But I doubt such things can attract newbies. Many of them have stuck in bounties board, don't check any other board and don't even know what is going on in the forum. They will never see such giveaways and contests.
1miau held a contest (Visit the link below) in December, 2019 focusing on education of participants. But no newbie was attracted.
Educational giveaway | guess first Bitcoin Block in 2020 [9.5 mBTC]

Yesterday, Blitzboy posted about a user who had sent 50 merit to a newbie for a post that didn't deserve any merit.
Now, I want to draw your attention to a user who has earned 136 merit while has zero post.

Newbie1273819 has received 136 merit from phr0stbyt3, JL421 and dancingnancy.
The merited post has been deleted. Merits have been sent recently, but as the merited post is an old post created before LoyceV started to archive the posts, I couldn't find it using Loyce.club.  

Yes. Good idea.
I won't make a new post until you post the final list. Every time you update the list, I will only edit this post.

Here is list of participants with links to posts each of them has made. Now, it's easier to find and read thoughts of participants.
I will update this list regularly (after micgoossens updates his own list)


3151-3200          KTChampions *
4451-4500          MagicByt3
5051-5100          fabiorem
5151-5200          sgbett *
5451-5500          cabalism13
5601-5650          Asuspawer09
5751-5800          Mallyx
5801-5850          makrospex
5901-5950          Mbitr
5951-6000          Snork1979
6001-6050          tyKiwanuka *
6051-6100          tweetious
6151-6200          bakasabo
6201-6250          dothebeats *
6251-6300          Heisenberg_Hunter *
6301-6350          Spray. *                    -A previous winner-
6351-6400          DoublerHunter
6451-6500          Icygreen *
6501-6550          haloxon
6551-6600          Majormax *
6601-6650          bitebits                     -A previous winner-
6651-6700          Corrosive
6701-6750          Polar91
6751-6800          theymos *
6801-6850          bbc.reporter *
6851-6900          ChuckBuck
6901-6950          Biodom
6951-7000          Last of the V8s
7001-7050          tvplus006
7051-7100          sirazimuth                      -A previous winner-
7101-7150          GazetaBitcoin
7151-7200          unsoindovo
7201-7250          hosseinimr93 *
7251-7300          wheelz1200
7301-7350          dragonvslinux *
7351-7400          Cryptotourist
7401-7450          android17
7451-7500          bct_ail
7501-7550          iasenko
7551-7600          xyz
7601-7650          sheenshane
7651-7700          7jaka7
7701-7750          Lauda
7751-7800          ezeminer *
7801-7850          Globb0 *                   -A previous winner-
7851-7900          teeGUMES
7901-7950          tg88
7951-8000          leea-1334 *
8001-8050          HairyMaclairy *
8051-8100          wachtwoord
8101-8150          brobbel
8151-8200          gentlemand              -A previous winner-
8201-8250          Ryker1
8251-8300          JSRAW
8301-8350          marlboroza
8351-8400          efialtis
8401-8450          TopTort777
8451-8500          madnessteat
8501-8550          pawel7777
8551-8600          kurious  *
8601-8650          oscar2000 *
8651-8700          mindrust
8701-8750          Phil_S *
8751-8800          abel1337
8801-8850          malevolent *
8851-8900          mu_enrico
8901-8950          stompix
8951-9000          Mitchell
9001-9050          Dunkelheit667 *
9051-9100          actmyname
9101-9150          Olegya199
9151-9200          somac.
9201-9250          psycodad
9251-9300          Tytanowy Janusz
9301-9350          hatshepsut93 *
9351-9400          BobLawblaw
9401-9450          Febo
9451-9500          buwaytress *
9501-9550          FutureBitcoin
9551-9600          Vispilio
9601-9650          1miau
9651-9700          DragonDance
9701-9750          JimboToronto *
9751-9800          AlcoHoDL
9801-9850          wwzsocki
9851-9900          thisisntbic
9901-9950          DeathAngel
9951-10000        GrosWesh
10001-10050      jojo69
10051-10100      Pamoldar
10101-10150      Lanatsa
10151-10200      krogothmanhattan
10201-10250      vapourminer
10251-10300      JanEmil
10301-10350      BitcoinPenny
10351-10400      cryptobaboon
10401-10450      RapTarX
10451-10500      ivomm *
10501-10550      DireWolfM14
10551-10600      F2b
10601-10650      hacker1001101001
10651-10700      LoyceV *
10701-10750      xLays
10751-10800      d_eddie
10801-10850      SPQRCoin
10851-10900      akhjob
10901-10950      Dabs
10951-11000      wh1rlw1nd *
11001-11050      RaspoBTC
11051-11100      Swordsoffreedom *
11101-11150      slaman29 *
11151-11200      Searing
11201-11250      FontSeli
11251-11300      LFC_Bitcoin
11301-11350      Real-Duke
11351-11400      geophphreigh
11401-11450      Sat0shisGhost
11451-11500      bitmover
11501-11550      LUCKMCFLY *
11551-11600      alegotardo
11601-11650      STT *
11651-11700      bitserve
11701-11750      johhnyUA *
11751-11800      xenon131
11801-11850      freedomgo
11851-11900      Kasabus
11901-11950      P_Shep
11951-12000      WhiteManWhite
12001-12050      Stedsm
12051-12100      Soonandwaite
12101-12150      naska21
12151-12200      gokudera
12201-12250      Lesbian Cow
12251-12300      Darker45 *
12301-12350      o_e_l_e_o
12351-12400      Lakai01
12401-12450      NeuroticFish
12451-12500      cygan
12501-12550      ChinkyEyes
12551-12600      Questat
12601-12650      tokeweed
12701-12750      rhomelmabini
13001-13050      Hhampuz
13051-13100      jokers10
13101-13150      hanspeter77
13151-13200      Captain-Cryptory
13201-13250      Yamifoud *
13251-13300      SFR10
13301-13350      JollyGood
13351-13400      Yatsan
13401-13450      eddie13
13451-13500      Buchi-88
13501-13550      epis11
13951-14000      igor72
14001-14050      klaaas
14201-14250      Hueristic
14351-14400      Debonaire217
14401-14450      mole0815
14451-14500      Koal-84
14501-14550      qwk
14551-14600      Sanitough
14701-14750      fronti
14751-14800      mirakal
14901-14950      Steamtyme
15001-15050      tranthidung
15151-15200      zasad@
15201-15250      TryNinja
16201-16250      plvbob0070
16351-16400      xhomerx10
16401-16450      finaleshot2016
16501-16550      PoolMinor
16601-16650      SwayStar123
16801-16850      yefi
16851-16900      Vaculin
17451-17500      friends1980
17501-17550      minerjones
18801-18850      Wind_FURY
18851-18900      rdluffy
19501-19550      MishaMuc
19651-19700      posi
20001-20050      ChefImGartenPavillion
21951-22000      bitcoinPsycho *
22501-22550      Bitcoinaire
22551-22600      bkbirge
23201-23250      pressnegl
23501-23550      Hyperjacked
24501-24550      VB1001
25001-25050      fillippone *
28501-28550      Smartprofit
34001-34050      smartcomet

Updated up to this post
 

Here is my first post in the forum


I didn't even know what is private key. I didn't know any wallet and I was keeping my coins in the worst way.

A few days later I knew a web wallet. I don't remember what was the web wallet I used that time.


Here is another post of mine. I didn't know how erc20 tokens work.


When I was a newbie, I thought as altcoins are cheaper, they are more profitable and I preferred altcoins to bitcoin.
Look at this post.

Yes, both of you are right. No one will be banned for merit abusing. Also, I agree that reversal of such a merit transaction is a good idea.
But as far as I know admins (or maybe only theymos, I am not sure) can ban suspicious accounts until they prove their ownership. I have seen some topics about such cases in "Meta".
The account that has sent those 50 merits might have been hacked.

The purpose is clear. Abusing the merit system
The user probably know nothing about trust system (The abuser will get negative trust from DT members once they see this) or don't know merit transactions are shown publicly.
Most probably, the account has been hacked or sold and now a newbie that know nothing about the forum is using the legendary account.  

Soon both accounts will be banned or at least will get negative trust.

Maybe, theymos should consider decaying unused smerits.

I appreciate what you and Lafu are doing in the forum. We have many valuable members in the forum like you, Lafu, JollyGood, gmaxwell, qwk, Carlton Banks, etc. (Apologize others I not mentioned, there are many) that are not using their signature space for any campaign. We have also many constructive users that are participating in signature campaigns but are very valuable for the forum too. Good examples are almost all of Chipmixer campaign participants.

---

You got me wrong. I was talking about the way the advertising is done. We have many members in the forum advertising in their signature space without breaking any rule. Just visit the post history of the user I referred in the OP.
Rule number 24:

As you know, wearing a signature to advertise a service is allowed.

---

You are 100% right. We will see a significant drop in number of posts.

I know a big part of tickets come from free rolls, referral, wagering, etc.
I was talking about the profitably of buying tickets. I was not talking about the profit house makes with lottery tickets and I didn't say going only 25% to winners is not normal. Considering free tickets, I don't think the house even makes any profit in the lottery.

The game is in favor of those who earn tickets via free rolls, referral, wagering, etc. But those who participate in the lottery by buying the tickets play a game with 75% house edge.
It doesn't mean that the house is making 75% profit.

If you gamble or claim the faucet, you will get some free tickets. Perhaps you win the lottery with the free tickets you get and make a good profit. But it's not a good idea to buy lottery tickets.
In the last round of the lottery (Round 240), there were totally 260 million tickets. They cost 2.6 BTC. The value of total prize given to winners was 0.65 BTC.
So, 25% goes to winners and 75% goes to the house.
If you buy the tickets to participate in the lottery, it's like that you play a game with 75% house edge.

^^^^
Lottery round 240 just ended. The winner of fifth place had only 16 tickets. Also, the winner of sixth place had only 79 tickets.
Earning more tickets (buying them or earning them) improves your chance, but the outcome depends on your luck. You can win the lottery with only 1 ticket and a user with more than 50 million tickets wins nothing.
A good example is round 232 where the first winner had only 2 tickets.

The forum allows anyone to advertise their services. We have some boards like Service Announcements and Announcements (Altcoins). Signature space can be also used for advertisements. There is no excuse for using other boards for advertising.
In my opinion using any board other than Service Announcements, Announcements (Altcoins), etc. for advertising any service is abusing the forum.
Sometimes, I see there are many replies in such topics. If you don't report these topics, at least do not reply to them. By replying to their topics, you help them to be be more visible.

Take a look at Post history of CoinTrendy.
This user is posting his/her website link everywhere in the forum. This is abusing the forum.

I am sure there are many other examples.
Please avoid replying to topics that are made for advertising purposes in boards that are for other purposes.

micgoossens, you should replace following participants with each other.

bitcoinPsycho has predicted  bigger price, so should be placed under ChefImGartenPavillion.

These statistics are 100% helpful. Thanks for providing them.

I have some questions.

1. Did you use the current rank of users or the rank of them at the time the merit transaction was done?

2. Look at the first row of your table. The percentage below Sr. member. That's 11.11%. What does it mean? Is 11.11% the percentage of merits Sr. members have sent to Legendary members or that's the percentage of merits Legendary members have sent to Sr. members?
You should have specified this in your table.

3. 11.11% of what? 11.11% of all merits sent by Sr. members (or received by them)? Or 11.11% of all merits sent by legendary members (or received by them)? Or anything else?

4. Shouldn't total percentage of one column or one row be 100%?
I think at least one of them should be.

micgoossens, this user hasn't earned any merit. Shouldn't be listed.


Also, the price range of the following user needs to be edited.


It should be 7601-7650.

As, poptok1 said, the base reward is 27 satoshi.
I guess you thought the base is 405 and you expected to get 378+405 in each roll. No, the base is 27 and 405 satoshi which you are getting is the base+reward.
The base reward is fixed at 0.002 dollar. So, the amount you get is always changing according to BTC/dollar rate.
   
No, there isn't such a thing for showing how much you should wager or how many tickets you should buy to increase your reward.

micgoossens ignored you because you ignored the rules written in the OP.  
For participating, you must have earned at least 25 merit.

Here is what you ignored.


Edit: micgoossens hasn't ignored you. I just saw the reply to your post. But you ignored that reply too.

Here is the post made by micgoossens  to reply you.


Hope you read this post at least.