Hi,

If you're looking to invest in a unique project with a ton of potential, check out our organization, BTRIC.

Here's the BCT thread: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2710678

Here's our website (whitepaper and token sale are there): https://www.btric.org

We are a non-profit, which means your contributions to our BFD Token fundraising campaign are tax-deductible.  But we incubate businesses and then spin them off as separate (for-profit) entities.  This is a way to deal with some of the low-quality ICO's out there, we take a good idea and incubate it with best practices so it can emerge as a separate business at the top of the pack.

The unique structure of using a 501(c)(3) as incubator and then spinning off for-profit businesses is one of the ways we can deliver value to everyone in the ecosystem, both through their initial tax deduction and later as a potential investor in the spun-off entity.  We put a lot of work into developing the business model and operational structure, believe it has great potential to raise the bar in the industry.

I'd be happy to answer any questions you have.  Go ahead and post them in our BCT thread or you can contact me through any of the ways listed there.  I don't want to hijack this thread.

I hope you're having a good weekend!

Best regards,
Ben

Hi All,

I keep reading stories like this:

Capital One Refuses to Let Customers Buy Cryptocurrency From Any Exchange
Link: https://themerkle.com/capital-one-refuses-to-let-customers-buy-cryptocurrency-from-any-exchange/

Seems like more and more banks are cutting people out from fiat/crypto transactions and this is a point of failure that could endanger wider adoption of cryptocurrency.

So, I just wanted to informally ask, how do you guys feel about the concept of a Federal Credit Union being chartered that specializes in dealing with cryptocurrency people and businesses?

Remember, a credit union is owned by each account holder (members of the CU), they are non-profits and return any profit to their members as high interest and/or dividends.  Federal credit unions are chartered by the National Credit Union Association and would be able to have account holders from people and businesses throughout the United States.  If a CU were chartered, it would be built to specialize in the type of so-called "high risk" crypto/fiat transactions that scare the banks away (besides the existential thread to their business models, of course).

Properly implemented, a CU to specialize in crypto accounts would be a real benefit to not only people, but also to the businesses such as exchanges that need to perform crypto/fiat transactions en masse.  It would offer the type of services that these FinTech businesses need (checking, savings, loan products, prepaid/debit/credit card issuance, ACH credit/debit, etc.) on an open and level field which would encourage more businesses to enter the market.  I think that eventually, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency will replace much of the need for traditional banking services, but for some time there will be a need for a "gateway" between crypto and fiat, and the choices of exchanges here in the US is pretty limited.  A CU that enables a much easier path to opening other exchanges or other innovative crypto-related businesses could be a big help.  And as a credit union, it's not about ripping customers off in the same way that commercial banks do.  Credit unions are owned and governed by the members (account holders).

One of the projects that my non-profit is going to be pursuing is taking the steps to conduct a formal, statistically valid survey of interest among the "target member group", that would be cryptocurrency users and businesses.  This is required to be done to charter a FCU.  If there's interest, then the process to secure a charter and open the CU would take place.  But this is not really an ad for BTRIC, it's me asking informally how the community feels about the need for a CU?

I am interested in your views about this.  The feedback I've received from our BTRIC Founding Donors is that it is absolutely something that would be an asset to the field, but after reading yet another major bank (Capital One) blocking exchange transactions, I figured I'd post here and see what you all think.

Thanks for any thoughts you have.

Best regards,
Ben

I am not affiliated with CoinPayments (beyond using their service) but just wanted to remind you that you should make sure to turn off the Litecoin testnet before your ICO goes live.  I think they should put a notice up on each page while you have the test coin enabled, it can be dangerous to go live with a testnet coin.

Good luck with your ICO!

Thank you very much dorismak!

We are poised to accomplish great things.  This is a unique opportunity in world history to make a difference in ways that will outlive all of us.  Bitcoin has proven that the control that banks have had over our lives, our businesses, even our governments, will and IS slipping away.

More people see that their lives have been managed by "gatekeepers" and the Internet makes those structures ripe for dismantling.  Even better, people are ready for it as well.  They see the truth, the traditional gatekeepers are no longer needed and for most, no longer wanted.

Technology, economics, and societal attitudes have come together at this moment in history.  We either seize it or we don't, and I'm of the mind that we need to make the absolute most of this chance to bring society to the next level.  Both in developed countries and also in the developing world which has been held back, in many ways, by forces of a corrupted form of capitalism.  We support true, free-market capitalism and want to do our part in bringing down the corrupted form and promoting fair, honest, transparent free-market economies.  Bitcoin proves it can be done.  Now we do it everywhere, with the many applications that distributed ledgers can be applied towards.

I'd be happy to answer any questions you have about our organization.  Feel free to reach out.

Best regards,
Ben

Hi Mlester,

Thank you for your interest in our organization!

Currently our BFD Token IDO fundraising campaign is in progress, so the full supply of BFD Tokens are stored in a secure paper wallet in our custody.  After the sale concludes (which may be sooner than February 15 at the current rate of contributions), we will distribute all of the BFD to those that contributed.  Our white paper says within 10 days from the close of the IDO, but it will very likely be done on or before February 19, which is the Monday after the IDO ends.

We are working with EtherDelta to ensure that our donors are able to exchange BFD tokens after they are distributed.  We are open to suggestions from our donors on other exchanges to ensure that donors are able to exchange their tokens easily.  Some of this cannot be announced in advance due to NDAs that they require.  But on our side, at BTRIC, we will do whatever we can to ensure that the token is listed on global exchanges as well as regional exchanges if there is sufficient donor interest in that region.

Now, an important factor to keep in mind is that all that hold BFD Tokens will be given a grant of "BTRIC Coin" (working name), which will be either a different token or a cryptocurrency, when it launches in the second quarter of 2018.  This is different from BFD (BTRIC Founding Donor) Tokens, and we are not sure yet which platform it will be issued on (if a token), or which codebase it will be forked from (if a cryptocurrency).  We are going to consult with crypto engineers on the mechanics of the BTRIC Coin, we want to make the right design decisions for a secure and resilient token or currency.

However, to repeat, all BFD Token holders will be given a grant of the BTRIC Coin when that launches.  This will not be an exchange, you'll be able to keep your BFD Token.  We want to reward our Founding Donors for supporting our organization in its initial launch phase.  Besides the BFD Token, founding donors can also have their name/business name, logo, and website forever listed on our website and recognized in our materials as founding donors.  We are in this for the long-term, and want our Founding Donors to be recognized as the leaders of the industry in bringing about this organization.

We also welcome participation from our donors and the community at large in our projects and even in our governance.  Our mission for BTRIC is to create an organization that:

- helps promising projects become investment-ready businesses (BTRIC Project Incubator Program);
- advances causes that are for the common good of the emerging technology industry (such as advocating against regulations that would harm the industry, educational outreach, and promoting more women and diversity in projects and as users of crypto and other emerging technologies);
- researches solutions to problems faced across the field (BTRIC Labs).

As a non-profit charity, we are formed for the good of the entire ecosystem.  Our projects graduate from the incubator program and become separate businesses.  We see it as a way to take a project from a "great idea, let's make it happen" phase to the "investment-grade, ready to launch" phase.  Like a traditional business incubator, but focused on emerging technologies like cryptocurrency, distributed ledger, and IoT.  These are the technologies that are going to reshape society, we want to do our part to make that happen!

If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Best regards,
Ben

Is Bitcoin Racist?
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-01-12/bitcoin-racist

Hi All,

I wanted to draw your attention to a great cause that is being supported by the Pineapple Fund.  They will double any contribution you give (crypto or fiat) towards this work through early March.  The research into using MDMA to treat PTSD has been going on for some time, but this latest study looks especially promising.  Check it out:

$4mil will fund MDMA trials for PTSD; marked 'Breakthrough Therapy' by FDA. Pineapple Fund is matching MAPS donations 1:1. Reddit, let's make history by crowdfunding an incredible treatment for PTSD, in bitcoin!
https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/7pg1rh/4mil_will_fund_mdma_trials_for_ptsd_marked/

Best regards,
Ben

Hi, wafdawg,

Thanks for your interest in our organization.

For the BTRIC Founding Donor Token (BFD), We have EtherDelta in process.  We are also working on other exchanges and want to seek feedback from our donors as to their preferences.  Some of the exchanges we are talking with require that we not discuss them by name (and also sign an NDA) until the listing is active or they reserve the right to ban the token.  Do you have particular exchanges that you believe are essential?  We want to be responsive to our donors.

As far as "BTRIC Coin" (working name)... this is a cryptocurrency or token that will be issued in 2018 Q2.  All holders of BFD Token as of a snapshot date/time (to be publicized in advance) will be granted an amount of BTRIC Coin for each BFD they possess at the time of the snapshot.  We do not yet know if BTRIC Coin will be a cryptocurrency with its own blockchain or will be a token, and if so, what platform it will be deployed on.  We are going to consult with advisors concerning the stability and resilience of the Ethereum platform as we do have some concerns about both.  Also, if we do deploy our own blockchain, again, we are going to do so under advisement of experts.  We do not want our organization to make a poor decision and cause harm to our reputation, so that's something that will be carefully considered as we move towards the launch of the coin.

If you have any more questions, please let me know.  Have a great day.

Best regards,
Ben

Full headline: Here Comes "The Goldman Of Crypto": Novogratz Is Starting A Cryptocurrency Merchant Bank


https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-01-09/here-comes-goldman-crypto-novogratz-starting-cryptocurrency-merchant-bank

Sure, there's non-blockchain projects that have funded themselves through an ICO/ITO.

However, you do need to issue a coin or token -- so you'll have some nexus to a blockchain.  But your business model doesn't necessarily have to be blockchain-centric.

Good luck with your project!

Best regards,
Ben

Hello SeveralQ, thanks for adding our organization to your website.  Considering your site is for due diligence, would it be appropriate for us to add material to the page?  Or should it come from other members in the community?

In any event, if you need any information about our organization, please feel ffree to reach out on here or by email to me directly at benjamin.beideman@btric.org.

Please have a great day!

Best regards,
Ben

Thanks pangu, I appreciate that.  Looking at the CoinMetro white paper very briefly, I completely agree with the need for cryptocurrency to become much easier to use from an end-user perspective.  If crypto is going to replace much of banking, it needs to be at least as easy to use as a payment card.  In my view, that's the bar that must be met or exceeded in order for the paradigm-shift to really take hold.

I recognize that's a huge challenge and that it's really the trillion dollar opportunity, but eventually crypto must work as quickly and reliably as a card swipe.

I wish your project the best and will be reviewing the white paper more fully later today.

Best regards,
Ben

Ohh they did announce, very good, I'll have follow.  Thank you very much!

Hi All,

Finally had a chance to look at the CMC adjustment today that removed Korean sources of BTC (and other cryptocurrencies) from their pricing formula.

Just a couple thoughts, wondering if anyone else had any feedback on these:

1. CMC should have provided advance notice that they were making the change.  Also, perhaps they should have displayed the two prices side-by-side for a time.

2. How much of the selling that took place after the adjustment was algo momentum trading? I see what appears to be their adjustment between 04:52 and 04:57 UTC today and was curious about the trading that took place immediately following the adjustment.  Haven't had a chance to look into it closely yet, has anyone else?

Best regards,
Ben

Thank you! We are really focused on doing great things and will have some other partnerships and announcements to make in the coming days.  All of our projects that complete the incubation phase, we're going to give them all the support they need to be outstanding ICO/ITO offers (or whatever other method they choose to raise capital).  Some quality is needed in the ecosystem and we're going to use existing best-practices, contribute to improving them, and work hard to share this with all of the community.  We want everyone to benefit from the paradigm shift we're just at the very, very beginning of.

We're putting together a great team of professionals that really want to make a difference in the field.  2018 is going to be a great year for BTRIC, cryptocurrency, and the whole emerging technology community.

Best regards,
Ben

The main reason we are focused on a fundraising target of $500,000 is because that's what we budget we'll need (and a prudent reserve) to get us through calendar year 2018 and focus on our mission.  We do not want to try to raise more than we need.  We accept donations at any time, of course, but we are limiting our BTRIC Founding Donor fundraising campaign to 500,000 tokens.  Only those donors that participate in this campaign will be able to be recognized as BFD's (on our website if they choose as a Founding Donor).  Check out our white paper for more details on that.

One of the challenges where we we're focusing on making a difference is in increasing the quality of projects that emerge as investment offerings.  We've all seen too many ICO/ITOs that either cut/pasted their white paper or ran off with the money.  The projects that we incubate will be put together like top-shelf businesses during our incubation program.

Thank you!  It's not all going to happen at once, but you're right, it will happen eventually.  The end of nations is not our objective, but we do want them to be more fair, more open, more honest, and promote businesses and projects that can (and are) fundamentally change society.

BTRIC's mission is to focus on specific projects as an incubator and then, when they're ready, to launch them as separate businesses.  At the same time, as a non-profit, we can focus on advocacy and other initiatives that really can advance the ecosystem as a whole.

Have a great day!
Ben

Reserved.

[Reserved for updates.]

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Get involved with our organization

Now through March 31 is the only time that BTRIC will be offering BFD Tokens (BTRIC Founding Donor).  Only 500,000 BFD will ever be minted, and all of them go to those that participate in this crowdfunding campaign as Founders.  

By participating, you become a BFD Token holder and receive these unique benefits exclusively for our Founding Donors:

• You can choose to be featured on our website (name/logo/URL) as a Founding Donor.  This is a great way for people or organizations to demonstrate their commitment to leading the emerging technology industry through the founding of new organizations devoted to supporting the rapidly evolving field.
• You will receive a free grant of "BTRIC Coin" (code name) when it is launched later this year.
• You will be given rewards from each project that completes the BTRIC Innovations Incubator program.  We're getting started with three projects and we intend to build our organization until we're launching at least one new business each month.  As a BFD Token holder, you will be rewarded from all of these projects.

What is BTRIC and what does it do?


BTRIC is short for Blockchain Technology Research Innovations Corporation.  We're a 501(c)(3) economic development organization.  Our mission is to build promising emerging technology projects into great startup businesses, through business incubation and acceleration, and to advocate, educate, and research about the benefits that emerging technology is bringing to humanity.

As a non-profit, we do not have investors—we have donors.  However, like other non-profit economic development organizations, our donors are uniquely positioned to become investors in the businesses that launch from our Innovations Incubator program.  Of course, the rules about investing are complicated and in a state of flux, but as each project launches as an independent business, they will reward their donors in some form (legally compliant based on their business model and the jurisdiction in which they choose to form their business).  This provides tangible benefits to our donors.

In addition, as a non-profit, we are uniquely positioned to provide our BTRIC Institute and BTRIC Labs programs that benefit the entire emerging technology ecosystem.  BTRIC has been awarded the GuideStar Platinum Transparency Seal, the highest recognition that GuideStar offers, demonstrating our commitment to operational and financial transparency.

Contributions to BTRIC – monetary, asset, and in-kind – may be tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Consult with a qualified tax advisor for more information.

[Learn more about BTRIC: WEBSITE  ▬  FAQ]




BTRIC’s Innovations Incubator program is a project incubator and startup accelerator for emerging technology businesses.  We identify projects with great potential and transform them into businesses which we help launch.  By promoting best practices, focusing on delivery of the project, and handling administration so projects can focus on ideas, we create better businesses, one at a time.

Donations from people, businesses, organizations, and grants financially support projects while they’re in the program.  When they launch, they are divested from BTRIC into independent business entities.  All projects in the program commit to providing contributors with rewards once they’ve launched as businesses.

The first three projects in our Innovations Incubator program are code named as follows:

• Bitcoin for Good: This project is creating a platform enabling donations to be made to any recognized charity.  With an "Amazon Smile"-like experience and integrations for major shopping cart platforms and that will be marketed to major online retailers, donations to the charities will be paid in Bitcoin.  This increases the adoption of crypto assets as well as provides financial support to charitable organizations.  This business will launch in the second or third quarter of 2018.    [Learn more about Bitcoin for Good...]
• Cryptocurrency Federal Credit Union: This project is exploring the possibility of creating a U.S.-based Federal Credit Union that specializes in accounts for cryptocurrency users and businesses.  The first step is to conduct a statistically-valid survey of the proposed national scope of membership (crypto users and businesses).  If the survey is successful, then the work to prepare an application for a Federal Credit Union charter will be undertaken. If chartered, this credit union will help cryptocurrency users and businesses as they face ever-increasing challenges with the legacy banking and financial services industry.    [Learn more about Cryptocurrency Federal Credit Union...]
• Sea to Table: Utilizing a special purpose blockchain and IoT technology, this project will create a tracability system that will trace seafood, which is highly subject to fraud and misrepresentations, from the point of capture, farming, or import through to the point of sale.  In the United States, Federal regulations will mandate the use of seafood tracibility systems to reduce IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unmonitored) fishing and seafood fraud.  This business will launch in early 2019 with a product ready for fishermen, seafood importers, and fisheries management bodies.    [Learn more about Sea to Table...]

We will be developing an application and review process to admit new projects into our Innovations Incubator program during the second and third quarters of 2018.  If you're interested today, go ahead and fill out our contact form and we'll be in touch.

[Learn more about BTRIC Innovations Incubator: ON OUR WEBSITE  ▬  FAQ]




BTRIC Institute is our advocacy, education, and policy development initiative.  Working across the emerging technology industry, it is important for common ground in the areas of standards, policies, and regulatory flexibility be developed and maintained.  There exist volumes of great concepts that don’t get as wide of an audience as they deserve.  At the same time, there is a need to develop and promote best-practices for organizations in the industry, as well as develop and implement educational programs that help the ecosystem as a whole.

• Women and Diversity: It is important to promote greater diversity, including participation by women, both in emerging technology projects as well as end users.
• Effective Advocacy: Working with other organizations, we focus on developing and advocating common-sense, light-touch regulatory frameworks that enhance—not stifle—innovation.
• Reference Repository: We host a reference library of materials, both current and historical, to ensure that the records of the rapidly evolving emerging technology industry are quickly and easily accessible.
• Open Frameworks: We collaborate across the emerging technology industry to develop open frameworks for best-practices security, KYC/AML/CFT policies, crypto asset evaluation criteria, and others.
• Educational Outreach: We develop educational materials that are freely available to all.  We use them to conduct educational outreach to ensure that the public, policymakers, and business leaders understand our industry and the ways that it is reshaping society.
• Best-practices Standards: We work with legal advisors and other experts to develop open standards that can be used by the community for business formation and management, governance, project management, and other standards.

BTRIC Institute, through teamwork and collaboration with other organizations, plays a role in meeting this important need.

[Learn more about BTRIC Institute: ON OUR WEBSITE  ▬  FAQ]




BTRIC Labs focuses on conducting technology research and development that is not specific to any given project in our Innovations Incubator program.  The work done by BTRIC Labs could have applications in multiple projects or in the emerging technology industry as a whole.  By conducting “blue sky” research, we work to advance the leading edge of emerging technology.

Through BTRIC Labs our employees are also encouraged to contribute to open source projects of their choosing.  We believe it is vitally important to contribute to the projects that underpin much of the emerging technology ecosystem.

BTRIC Labs also provides offers to provide, on a cost recovery basis, support to carefully selected emerging technology projects that have a need for infrastructure or systems that are operated independently of their project.

[Learn more about BTRIC Labs: ON OUR WEBSITE  ▬  FAQ]




Our Launch Fundraising Campaign is open now through March 31, 2018.  This is your only chance to obtain BFD Tokens directly from BTRIC and be a BTRIC Founding Donor.

BTRIC’s mission is to work with great projects and transform them into awesome businesses through our Innovations Incubator program.  Once they’re ready, we launch them as separate entities, ready for investment and primed for growth.

We also focus on industry-wide advocacy, educational, and research efforts to promote best-practices and smart approaches to changing the world through decentralization and other emerging technologies.

BTRIC Founding Donors receive BFD Tokens, which are Ethereum ERC20 tokens.  Holders of BFD Tokens will be rewarded by every project that completes our Innovations Incubator program.  Now, strictly speaking, you shouldn’t consider BFD Tokens to be an investment (as that has specific legal meaning), but when projects are launched as businesses they will provide rewards to all those that then hold BFD Tokens.  Each business launch will specify the rewards that are given for that business (which is subject to applicable legal and regulatory requirements).  These could include:

• Credits for use of their product or service;
• Free “not-for-resale” products;
• “Airdrop” coins or tokens;
• Buyback of coins or tokens; and/or
• Equity in the newly-created business.

BFD Token holders will also receive a grant of “BTRIC Coin” cryptocurrency or token when it is issued.

BTRIC Founding Donors can choose to be permanently recognized on our website and in our materials as a Founding Donor.  (This is optional, we won’t list your name/business name, website, logo, and URL unless you give us permission!)


BTRIC Founding Donor Token details

• Token name: BTRIC Founding Donor Token
• Token symbol: BFD
• Token type: ERC20 smart contract deployed on the Ethereum blockchain.  The BFD token supports eight [8] decimal places.
• Fundraising dates: January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018
• Tokens generated: 500,000
• Token details URL: BFD Token on Etherscan.io.
• Contract address URL: BFD Token smart contract on Etherscan.io.
• Token vault address URL: BFD Token vault address on Etherscan.io.
• Token verified: Yes, on Etherscan.io.
• Token repository URL: https://github.com/btric/bfd-token

• Fundraising goal: $500,000.00 USD
• If goal is reached early? Fundraiser will end early.
• If goal is not reached? Remaining BFD will be distributed pro-rata.
• Token distribution: Token distribution within 10 business days of the end of the fundraising campaign.

So, do you have what it takes to be a BFD?

Visit our website to learn more and join the campaign as a Founding Donor: FUNDRAISING PAGE  ▬  TOKEN SPECIFICATIONS  ▬  FAQ


For more information

We welcome your ideas, questions, feedback, and suggestions.  Please feel free to reach out through any of the channels below, or just contact us through our website.

• Office: BTRIC, 1000 Bennett Boulevard, Suite 8, Lakewood, NJ 08701-5944 USA
• Telephone: +1 732-719-6839 and +1 877-55BTRIC
• BTRIC Website
• White paper
• Executive Director: benjamin.beideman@btric.org
• General Inquiries: info@btric.org
• Team Recruitment: team@btric.org
• Partner Relations: partners@btrc.org
• Media Inquiries: media@btric.org
• BTRIC Forum
• Twitter
• Medium (Blog, News, and Updates)
• GitHub
• Reddit
• Facebook
• Telegram Channel

Thank you for your support of Blockchain Technology Research Innovations Corporation!  Together we will capture this unique moment in world history to bring real and lasting change through the Decentralization Revolution!

Do you work in the field or provide a service? Please get in touch, we're hiring!