S2 E24 Our Blockchain Future

Episode discussion topics <ul><li>MVP and RWJ take a turn at discussing what they've learned to date about cryptocurrencies and the technology underpinning them: blockchain. </li> <li>This episode makes the case for why we are likely to keep hearing more and more about these new financial instruments and why we should start learning more to be future-ready. </li> <li>In a previous episode, we mentioned several exchanges. MVP has developed an initial fondness for Binance.US due to its features, low cost, and breath of currencies on offer. You can also access "staking" which allows your parked funds to earn a return, traditionally referred to as an APY, meaning annual percentage yield. Coinbase is a great option for those starting out who want to earn while they learn. To be fair, they have a Pro option that's trader-friendly. I can't get over the low fees on Binance however. </li> <li>A serious watch item related to the long-term viability of large, decentralized blockchains is sustainability. There is an environmental cost at the core of these various coins, it takes energy in the form of dedicated computers in order to mine/maintain transactions happening on the blockchain. People do this in return for coin all over the world. You can do it right now and start earning Bitcoin, Etherum, or any other flavors from the gaggle of upstarts. Seems like the newer ones tend to give you more buck for the bang especially when you have to net out your electricity bill. Seriously, it can be a chunk of change.</li> <li>Two recent articles examining the costs of production from an energy or carbon perspective. A keen point made by TechCrunch is that more efficient blockchains will likely be planned for the future and we would add that efficiencies in how energy is produced and transmitted will be changing in the future as well. So harping on the energy point might be moot, especially if mining is relatively less intensive than say, the existing banking system. <ul><li><a href='https://hbr.org/2021/05/how-much-energy-doe