Authoritarian Airdrops, Derivative Competitions, and Lightning at the Point of Sale

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If 2019 saw bitcoin come together around the digital gold/digital SoV narrative, is 2020 poised for a resurgence of the idea of payments utility, thanks to Lightning powered applications? One beta test of a LN point-of-sale app suggests maybe. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Derivatives continue to grow as an area of focus for both retail and institutional traders, with CoinFLEX bringing in some new talent to expand its derivative competitions and institution-focused ErisX sending notice that futures trading would begin tomorrow. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Finally, Venezuela’s President Maduro has announced that public employees and pensioners will be given a holiday bonus of half a petro. Sincere effort or another example of how digital currencies can be a tool of control?</span></p>