Nice meeting you all--wish I could have stayed longer.
Keep in touch.

Not necessarily for sale--

But I do have a platform. Currently held by a publicly-traded holding company.

PM me as I currently have some ideas I'm mulling as well and am completely open to discuss.

Best,
Makksik

I would have loved to intern at Bloomy when I was in UG--currently I'm a PE Analyst in Toronto (and grad school/CFA candidate) I'm fortunate enough to work on some pretty cutting edge stuff at work and with my research--consequently that involves developing ideas and building stuff with the talented programmers at BLP; I am a (devoted) client--not an employee of Bloomberg LP.

...now if I could only convince them to put the idle time of 300,000 terminals (and the lovely GPUs that power their multi-screen setups) to good use and point them here :

Proof of concept:

Integration of CADvirtex on Bloomberg.

Gotta study for a final tomorrow... Update you guys later.

All Bloomberg Technical Studies can be run (RSI and BOLL on example snap). Will try to integrate every exchange at full granularity and release to the public over the weekend.

We've got Tradehill data. Currently working on some proof of concept ideas. Should be able to run all technical studies on historical data soon.

Out of curiosity--is there some independent way of validating the volume of transactions for each exchange?

If someone would like to provide a ranking of some sort just to give me an idea in the meantime I'd sincerely appreciate it.

Thank you -- I'm following up with them.

Yes indeed. See ^

Actually we were texting his number is/was +1 647 795 3222. Number appears to be disconnected now...

Only got an e-mail after payment was sent. Unfortunately headers were scrambled on that e-mail so there's not someone with my relative lack of sophistication can do...

Wtvs life goes on... Now I will always use escrow and be more careful of encryption with wallets etc... Tough intro to the world but I'm certain that my complacency would have been more painful in the future...

Best,

Thanks guys--currently working on getting Mt.Gox and will follow up with Virtex.

Will keep you guys updated. If anyone knows where to find an independent historical database that would be sincerely appreciated.

Thanks,
Makksik

I'm a journalist--not a computer scientist--typically the header would contain the sender's IP--however seeing as they are all 10.x.x.x I'm guessing he masked himself through tor or something... As much as I would love to, I don't think I can provide you much more. Than a phone number and e-mail address--thanks for anything that you can do or anyone you can refer me to--cost is pretty irrelevant, I'm determined find this person for the principle of it.

Thanks,
Makksik

Hi there, I've got a bit of rack-space available.

Wouldn't mind hosting a small/mid miner or other small server.

Prices negotiable, power included.

Located in an office building on Bay Street. 25/100 Mb/s connection available.

Hey doc,

Bitsky recommended you--

So, quick background. I'm a freelance finance journalist in Toronto and after a few days of lurking around, I decided to pull the trigger and purchase some BTC to go through the whole experience. Some friends in the office wanted some too--so we decided to go to LocalBitcoins.com and find someone willing to sell either live or via interac in Toronto. Counter party was user "Duckie" with a previous positive review. We texted back and forth--his number is +1 647 795 3222. Funds were accepted for 5 BTC and poof. A couple of hours later, a disconnected phone number and nothing, nada.

I have a header from the e-mail (his address is premiumbtc@gmail.com) he sent confirming receipt of funds and alleging transfer of BTC:

Received: by 10.50.185.232 with SMTP id ff8csp111908igc;
        Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:00:12 -0700 (PDT)
X-Received: by 10.50.170.36 with SMTP id aj4mr3922913igc.67.1365987612880;
        Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:00:12 -0700 (PDT)
Return-Path: <premiumbtc@gmail.com>
Received: from mail-ie0-x244.google.com (mail-ie0-x244.google.com [2607:f8b0:4001:c03::244])
        by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id q9si7940887igl.58.2013.04.14.18.00.12
        (version=TLSv1 cipher=ECDHE-RSA-RC4-SHA bits=128/128);
        Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:00:12 -0700 (PDT)
Received-SPF: pass (google.com: domain of premiumbtc@gmail.com designates 2607:f8b0:4001:c03::244 as permitted sender) client-ip=2607:f8b0:4001:c03::244;
Authentication-Results: mx.google.com;
       spf=pass (google.com: domain of premiumbtc@gmail.com designates 2607:f8b0:4001:c03::244 as permitted sender) smtp.mail=premiumbtc@gmail.com;
       dkim=pass header.i=@gmail.com
Received: by mail-ie0-f196.google.com with SMTP id c10so2002039ieb.11
        for <max@XXXXXXXXX>; Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:00:12 -0700 (PDT)
DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed;
        d=gmail.com; s=20120113;
        h=mime-version:x-received:in-reply-to:references:date:message-id
         :subject:from:to:content-type;
        bh=6Lhw8K6z1lDJr46QdFjHKy4WVgUkie0pKug7HMz16qU=;
        b=A+d/SJwvgxuXzIrjTueh/OQvsyvVm6MyAoswOcOy4KclB8+LN+ZFTBHpGL4DXH0/13
         TglfiCyhQ13Xuz8H3F5RyLHY1yLCvjbsfqSQk2Tpuj3x3AlIQ02BGMwDITAQq9RDS571
         NmRXcy3N2elpLcwuXO2zgYxWkU0FSGp1ffN+REch34MvjKwVJnvCoIf7n3Dfp66rcfBR
         z0kPxp0VD8DG4gy5nmT6aabXN3YxLh75Uz5/XxA5+luHMUZlM7RbZR1nB+kw//iFc5v7
         N1HUUiUvMXuR4KIpNnlk1CqJ/LRSD3gLW9kJU1ivTQCu+jEanveI2H2N1+JS9z/rdo49
         WthQ==
MIME-Version: 1.0
X-Received: by 10.50.192.138 with SMTP id hg10mr3823515igc.95.1365987612705;
 Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:00:12 -0700 (PDT)
Received: by 10.64.136.82 with HTTP; Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:00:12 -0700 (PDT)
In-Reply-To: <CAAPeHVTJv-rnLfg_J6b0Nib1H1hbNeo9wXQQZjfrAhqRgV4YgQ@mail.gmail.com>
References: <CAAPeHVTJv-rnLfg_J6b0Nib1H1hbNeo9wXQQZjfrAhqRgV4YgQ@mail.gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2013 21:00:12 -0400
Message-ID: <CAD160-0SkLz5KZtSvRcGjWadkzaFV0T5NsQwPyBx4i10te2LzQ@mail.gmail.com>
Subject: Re: 5 BTC - makksik
From: Premium Btc <premiumbtc@gmail.com>

Any advice?  I'm not sure if it would be appropriate but I'd really like to place this bounty on the identification of this person. I really believe in the power and potential of BTC but some examples have to be made of people like this--and I guess I've learnt a lesson as well.

This was my first transaction and I just feel so deluded and let down--Legit hit the ground running: http://www.youtube.com/embed/qNPhVVjnoC0

Thanks Bitsky!

At this point, I would think it depends on the kind of business and how many layers of the supply chain above and below BTC is used as a means of exchange in. We've heard murmurs of Amazon and others accepting BTC in the future, but I highly doubt that would happen if they didn't have some sort of mechanism where they could immediately exchange BTC received for goods at some sort of very liquid exchange that will let them lock in prices for the duration of a transaction (i.e. not hedging of days/months but rather minutes/hours).

In all probability however, I don't believe we will see BTC used directly by large retailers as their payment processors (who are centralized, and as such have the organization and resources to lobby) -- will make the argument that potentially illicit, untraceable funds are being recycled into the normal economy from the underworld of money-launderers, drug-related types and maybe even terrorists... The level of exaggeration and rhetoric will purely be a function of the perceived threat of BTC to these processors,.

Hi there,

So I'm a newb. Consequently, I'm wearing a dunce cap. I was mugged by a lovely individual in Toronto to the tune of 5 BTC and $500. I made an interac transfer and poof. He's out. My bank is telling me that I have no recourse.

I would love to either get the 5 BTC or the $500 and exchange it for some identifying information in order to find this person and shame them in some funny, public way in the style of http://www.419eater.com

So, quick background. I'm a freelance finance journalist in Toronto and after a few days of lurking around, I decided to pull the trigger and purchase some BTC to go through the whole experience. Some friends in the office wanted some too--so we decided to go to LocalBitcoins.com and find someone willing to sell either live or via interac in Toronto. Counter party was user "Duckie" with a previous positive review. We texted back and forth--his number is +1 647 795 3222. Funds were accepted for 5 BTC and poof. A couple of hours later, a disconnected phone number and nothing, nada.

I have a header from the e-mail (his address is premiumbtc@gmail.com) he sent confirming receipt of funds and alleging transfer of BTC:

Received: by 10.50.185.232 with SMTP id ff8csp111908igc;
        Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:00:12 -0700 (PDT)
X-Received: by 10.50.170.36 with SMTP id aj4mr3922913igc.67.1365987612880;
        Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:00:12 -0700 (PDT)
Return-Path: <premiumbtc@gmail.com>
Received: from mail-ie0-x244.google.com (mail-ie0-x244.google.com [2607:f8b0:4001:c03::244])
        by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id q9si7940887igl.58.2013.04.14.18.00.12
        (version=TLSv1 cipher=ECDHE-RSA-RC4-SHA bits=128/128);
        Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:00:12 -0700 (PDT)
Received-SPF: pass (google.com: domain of premiumbtc@gmail.com designates 2607:f8b0:4001:c03::244 as permitted sender) client-ip=2607:f8b0:4001:c03::244;
Authentication-Results: mx.google.com;
       spf=pass (google.com: domain of premiumbtc@gmail.com designates 2607:f8b0:4001:c03::244 as permitted sender) smtp.mail=premiumbtc@gmail.com;
       dkim=pass header.i=@gmail.com
Received: by mail-ie0-f196.google.com with SMTP id c10so2002039ieb.11
        for <max@XXXXXXXXX>; Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:00:12 -0700 (PDT)
DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed;
        d=gmail.com; s=20120113;
        h=mime-version:x-received:in-reply-to:references:date:message-id
         :subject:from:to:content-type;
        bh=6Lhw8K6z1lDJr46QdFjHKy4WVgUkie0pKug7HMz16qU=;
        b=A+d/SJwvgxuXzIrjTueh/OQvsyvVm6MyAoswOcOy4KclB8+LN+ZFTBHpGL4DXH0/13
         TglfiCyhQ13Xuz8H3F5RyLHY1yLCvjbsfqSQk2Tpuj3x3AlIQ02BGMwDITAQq9RDS571
         NmRXcy3N2elpLcwuXO2zgYxWkU0FSGp1ffN+REch34MvjKwVJnvCoIf7n3Dfp66rcfBR
         z0kPxp0VD8DG4gy5nmT6aabXN3YxLh75Uz5/XxA5+luHMUZlM7RbZR1nB+kw//iFc5v7
         N1HUUiUvMXuR4KIpNnlk1CqJ/LRSD3gLW9kJU1ivTQCu+jEanveI2H2N1+JS9z/rdo49
         WthQ==
MIME-Version: 1.0
X-Received: by 10.50.192.138 with SMTP id hg10mr3823515igc.95.1365987612705;
 Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:00:12 -0700 (PDT)
Received: by 10.64.136.82 with HTTP; Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:00:12 -0700 (PDT)
In-Reply-To: <CAAPeHVTJv-rnLfg_J6b0Nib1H1hbNeo9wXQQZjfrAhqRgV4YgQ@mail.gmail.com>
References: <CAAPeHVTJv-rnLfg_J6b0Nib1H1hbNeo9wXQQZjfrAhqRgV4YgQ@mail.gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2013 21:00:12 -0400
Message-ID: <CAD160-0SkLz5KZtSvRcGjWadkzaFV0T5NsQwPyBx4i10te2LzQ@mail.gmail.com>
Subject: Re: 5 BTC - makksik
From: Premium Btc <premiumbtc@gmail.com>

Any advice?  I'm not sure if it would be appropriate but I'd really like to place this bounty on the identification of this person. I really believe in the power and potential of BTC but some examples have to be made of people like this--and I guess I've learnt a lesson as well.

This was my first transaction and I just feel so deluded and let down--Legit hit the ground running: http://www.youtube.com/embed/qNPhVVjnoC0

Keep us posted--if you're less than 50ish people and want a location downtown--feel free to PM but I'd host you guys at my place if you want.

Best,
Makksik

Hi there,

I'm curious if anyone has a dataset with historical USD/BTC rates/volumes at a high level of granularity. I'm going to be working with Bloomberg to pipe-in Mt.Gox data but would like any and all inputs in terms of ideas, alternative exchanges to include, and any heads up you may have to those that have attempted to do something similar previously.

Thanks,
Makksik

You would virtually always have less as you'd be paying a premium to your counterparty for them to take on the risk of fluctuating prices.

You could remain hedged at all times by entering into a series of rolling forward agreements--however with the volatility inherent to BTC and the lack of debt or swap markets denominated in BTC from which a forward curve could be derived, you're still SOL.

Perhaps as a newly scammed individual (out 5 BTC last night)--I'm still a bit bitter, but the reality is that the success of fiat currencies to date and especially the establishment and development of financial markets (specifically debt and derivatives which are traded OTC) has been predicated almost completely on trust in your counterparties. As trust appears to be anathema to the founding principles of BTC, I believe it will be very difficult to successfully recreate derivative markets for the BTC ecosystem--and as such, I don't think we'll be seeing cost effective ways to hedge (and as a corollary, stabilize BTC exchange rates) for the foreseeable future.

If anyone wants any input or a sounding board to discuss hedging and derivatives--fell free to get in touch--I'm still a newbie here but AFK I might have a clue or two on how these markets work 

I'd like to put out a 5 BTC bounty for whomever can reveal the person behind premiumBTC@gmail.com--they gave me a lovely welcome to the btc world---and I'd love to thank them for it in as public a way as possible...

P.S. Sorry for trolling 5 posts to get by the no trolling limits--I do have more specific discussions to get to....