[Wikimedia-l] strategy proposals on meta (was Re: convert from BitCoin to FoldingCoin and other proofs of useful work)

[James Salsman]

Thanks to all who participated in this discussion. I am glad to
withdraw my cryptocurrency proposals below, which are not included in
the proposals at
https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Strategy/Wikimedia_movement/2018-20=prev=18545871

It seems fair to assume that changing circumstances can result in
changing answers to questions. Anyone should be forgiven for asking
the same question when there is evidence that consensus has changed.
Accordingly, I do expect that the cryptocurrency cash-out instructions
question will arise again, probably in years or decades not months. I
remain in favor of converting to foldingcoin before cashing out in
fiat currency if and only if foldingcoin hasn't been corrupting the
validity of the Folding@Home results.

Best regards,
Jim

On Fri, Nov 2, 2018 at 7:30 PM Joseph Fox  wrote:
>
> Please please please take this conversation to another venue. It has little
> to nothing to do with this movement.
>
> Joe
> On Fri, Nov 2, 2018 at 18:15, geni  wrote:
>
> > On Thu, 1 Nov 2018 at 07:23, James Salsman  wrote:
> > >
> > > Geni, it's the "Day of the Dead" now so I want to attempt to resurrect
> > > this thread.
> > >
> > > Is FoldingCoin still vulnerable to a 51% attack? What is a 51% attack?
> >
> > You've had 6 months to do this basic research.
> >
> > > Do you think it is reasonable for the Foundation to convert bitcoin to
> > > FoldingCoin as part of its program to source clean electricity?
> >
> > No. Cash is more efficient.
> >
> > ___
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> > 
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] convert from BitCoin to FoldingCoin and other proofs of useful work

[Joseph Fox]

Please please please take this conversation to another venue. It has little
to nothing to do with this movement.

Joe
On Fri, Nov 2, 2018 at 18:15, geni  wrote:

> On Thu, 1 Nov 2018 at 07:23, James Salsman  wrote:
> >
> > Geni, it's the "Day of the Dead" now so I want to attempt to resurrect
> > this thread.
> >
> > Is FoldingCoin still vulnerable to a 51% attack? What is a 51% attack?
>
> You've had 6 months to do this basic research.
>
> > Do you think it is reasonable for the Foundation to convert bitcoin to
> > FoldingCoin as part of its program to source clean electricity?
>
> No. Cash is more efficient.
>
> ___
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> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] convert from BitCoin to FoldingCoin and other proofs of useful work

[geni]

On Thu, 1 Nov 2018 at 07:23, James Salsman  wrote:
>
> Geni, it's the "Day of the Dead" now so I want to attempt to resurrect
> this thread.
>
> Is FoldingCoin still vulnerable to a 51% attack? What is a 51% attack?

You've had 6 months to do this basic research.

> Do you think it is reasonable for the Foundation to convert bitcoin to
> FoldingCoin as part of its program to source clean electricity?

No. Cash is more efficient.

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Re: [Wikimedia-l] convert from BitCoin to FoldingCoin and other proofs of useful work

[Joseph Seddon]

Hey all,

The Wikimedia Foundation does not hold cryptocurrency in Bitcoin. Whilst we
do accept bitcoin donations, this is currently done indirectly via BitPay
which converts from Bitcoin/Bitcash to Dollars prior to receipt.

This is documented on our Ways to Give page:

https://donate.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ways_to_Give#Bitcoin

Regards
Seddon

On Fri, Nov 2, 2018 at 8:59 PM Jeremy Lee-Jenkins 
wrote:

> > Is FoldingCoin still vulnerable to a 51% attack?
>
> It's still highly vulnerable to a 51% attack because there is
> literally no way to combat the basic principle without giving up on
> the idea of decentralization.
>
> > I don't know anything about FoldingCoin and whether it is more or less
> vulnerable to this kind of fraud than other cryptocurrencies.
>
> The only reason some of the larger cryptos don't get affected by this
> is because there are so many stakeholders that no one can really get
> enough power together to take over.
>
> > Do you think it is reasonable for the Foundation to convert bitcoin to
> FoldingCoin as part of its program to source clean electricity?
>
> In a nutshell, no. While Folding@home is a worthwhile project,
> FoldingCoin is not, and the fact one project is worthwhile should not
> be taken to men the other has any merit whatsoever.
>
> No serious person should be investing in someone else's
> cryptocurrency, the underlying technology is free and if you want one,
> make one. The blockchain is just a software package that anyone can
> make their own version of as easily as installing a MySQL database.
> Simple as that.
>
> J.
>
> On 11/1/18, Gerard Meijssen  wrote:
> > Hoi,
> > Bitcoin and its ilk rely on an overabundance of energy. In this day and
> age
> > the speculation of these "currencies" is irresponsible. The best attack
> on
> > this pyramide game is to stay away from it.
> > Thanks,
> >  GerardM
> >
> > On Thu, 1 Nov 2018 at 10:38, Robert Rohde  wrote:
> >
> >> > What is a 51% attack?
> >>
> >> A 51% attack is when a single malicious entity controls >51% of the
> >> computing power being used to validate the blockchain of a particular
> >> digital currency.  Blockchain-based digital currencies rely on a
> consensus
> >> of computing participants acting in good faith to verify transactions
> and
> >> coin ownership.  However, if a single entity controls a majority of the
> >> compute power, then it is possible for them to maliciously validate bad
> >> transactions to steal, double spend, and otherwise commit fraud using
> the
> >> currency.
> >>
> >> Smaller digital currencies, with fewer participants acting to maintain
> >> their blockchain, are generally more vulnerable to this kind of
> attack.  A
> >> bad actor can rent a large block of computing power and then use it to
> >> attack a small blockchain.   Such attacks have been becoming more
> common,
> >> though the largest coins (e.g. BTC) are still resistant due to the size
> of
> >> their community.
> >>
> https://www.coindesk.com/blockchains-feared-51-attack-now-becoming-regular/
> >>
> >> I don't know anything about FoldingCoin and whether it is more or less
> >> vulnerable to this kind of fraud than other cryptocurrencies.
> >>
> >> However, the 51% attack may just be the death of many smaller alt-coins,
> >> unless an effective countermeasure can be developed.
> >>
> >> -Robert Rohde
> >>
> >> On Thu, Nov 1, 2018 at 8:23 AM James Salsman 
> wrote:
> >>
> >> > Geni, it's the "Day of the Dead" now so I want to attempt to resurrect
> >> > this thread.
> >> >
> >> > Is FoldingCoin still vulnerable to a 51% attack? What is a 51% attack?
> >> >
> >> > Do you think it is reasonable for the Foundation to convert bitcoin to
> >> > FoldingCoin as part of its program to source clean electricity?
> >> >
> >> > Best regards,
> >> > Jim
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > On Fri, Apr 13, 2018 at 7:21 AM James Salsman 
> >> wrote:
> >> > >
> >> > > > Cryptocurrency. If your first thought isn't "how could a scammer
> >> > > > exploit this" you are doing it wrong.
> >> > >
> >> > > I've thought about that for several hours now, and I'm sure scammers
> >> > > far prefer bitcoin. Folding@Home's lab director is a partner
> >> > > Andreessen Horowitz, so he has certainly had no lack of resources to
> >> > > defend against the possibility, and I am persuaded that the Indiana
> >> > > nonprofit behind FLDC is sincere and acting in good faith at
> present.
> >> > > If the Foundation is hesitant, they might sponsor an audit of either
> >> > > or both, but the Folding@Home project is so established that its
> >> > > article is featured on enwiki.
> >> > >
> >> > > I have no financial interest in any cryptocurrency, and I never
> have,
> >> > > and I don't have a familial interest with anyone who I am aware has
> >> > > any either.
> >> > >
> >> > > Best regards,
> >> > > Jim
> >> >
> >> > ___
> >> > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> >> > 

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Summit 2019: Registration now open

[Pine W]

While I support the concept of this event in regards to gathering
affiliates and those at WMF who work with affiliates, I feel that I should
remind people that, as interesting as this event will likely be, it is not
an all-Wikimedia summit. I continue to object to the name of the event.
While I believe that I'm a minority of one on this point, I'm okay with
that.

I hope that this meeting will be valuable for the people who participate
and for the organizations which they represent. I'm glad that I attended
the Wikimedia Conference a few years ago, and as tiring as it was, I
consider it to have been one of my highlights of that year. If you can
attend then I encourage you to do so.

Pine
( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Pine )
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] convert from BitCoin to FoldingCoin and other proofs of useful work

[Jeremy Lee-Jenkins]

> Is FoldingCoin still vulnerable to a 51% attack?

It's still highly vulnerable to a 51% attack because there is
literally no way to combat the basic principle without giving up on
the idea of decentralization.

> I don't know anything about FoldingCoin and whether it is more or less 
> vulnerable to this kind of fraud than other cryptocurrencies.

The only reason some of the larger cryptos don't get affected by this
is because there are so many stakeholders that no one can really get
enough power together to take over.

> Do you think it is reasonable for the Foundation to convert bitcoin to 
> FoldingCoin as part of its program to source clean electricity?

In a nutshell, no. While Folding@home is a worthwhile project,
FoldingCoin is not, and the fact one project is worthwhile should not
be taken to men the other has any merit whatsoever.

No serious person should be investing in someone else's
cryptocurrency, the underlying technology is free and if you want one,
make one. The blockchain is just a software package that anyone can
make their own version of as easily as installing a MySQL database.
Simple as that.

J.

On 11/1/18, Gerard Meijssen  wrote:
> Hoi,
> Bitcoin and its ilk rely on an overabundance of energy. In this day and age
> the speculation of these "currencies" is irresponsible. The best attack on
> this pyramide game is to stay away from it.
> Thanks,
>  GerardM
>
> On Thu, 1 Nov 2018 at 10:38, Robert Rohde  wrote:
>
>> > What is a 51% attack?
>>
>> A 51% attack is when a single malicious entity controls >51% of the
>> computing power being used to validate the blockchain of a particular
>> digital currency.  Blockchain-based digital currencies rely on a consensus
>> of computing participants acting in good faith to verify transactions and
>> coin ownership.  However, if a single entity controls a majority of the
>> compute power, then it is possible for them to maliciously validate bad
>> transactions to steal, double spend, and otherwise commit fraud using the
>> currency.
>>
>> Smaller digital currencies, with fewer participants acting to maintain
>> their blockchain, are generally more vulnerable to this kind of attack.  A
>> bad actor can rent a large block of computing power and then use it to
>> attack a small blockchain.   Such attacks have been becoming more common,
>> though the largest coins (e.g. BTC) are still resistant due to the size of
>> their community.
>> https://www.coindesk.com/blockchains-feared-51-attack-now-becoming-regular/
>>
>> I don't know anything about FoldingCoin and whether it is more or less
>> vulnerable to this kind of fraud than other cryptocurrencies.
>>
>> However, the 51% attack may just be the death of many smaller alt-coins,
>> unless an effective countermeasure can be developed.
>>
>> -Robert Rohde
>>
>> On Thu, Nov 1, 2018 at 8:23 AM James Salsman  wrote:
>>
>> > Geni, it's the "Day of the Dead" now so I want to attempt to resurrect
>> > this thread.
>> >
>> > Is FoldingCoin still vulnerable to a 51% attack? What is a 51% attack?
>> >
>> > Do you think it is reasonable for the Foundation to convert bitcoin to
>> > FoldingCoin as part of its program to source clean electricity?
>> >
>> > Best regards,
>> > Jim
>> >
>> >
>> > On Fri, Apr 13, 2018 at 7:21 AM James Salsman 
>> wrote:
>> > >
>> > > > Cryptocurrency. If your first thought isn't "how could a scammer
>> > > > exploit this" you are doing it wrong.
>> > >
>> > > I've thought about that for several hours now, and I'm sure scammers
>> > > far prefer bitcoin. Folding@Home's lab director is a partner
>> > > Andreessen Horowitz, so he has certainly had no lack of resources to
>> > > defend against the possibility, and I am persuaded that the Indiana
>> > > nonprofit behind FLDC is sincere and acting in good faith at present.
>> > > If the Foundation is hesitant, they might sponsor an audit of either
>> > > or both, but the Folding@Home project is so established that its
>> > > article is featured on enwiki.
>> > >
>> > > I have no financial interest in any cryptocurrency, and I never have,
>> > > and I don't have a familial interest with anyone who I am aware has
>> > > any either.
>> > >
>> > > Best regards,
>> > > Jim
>> >
>> > ___
>> > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
>> > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
>> > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
>> > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
>> > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
>> > 
>> ___
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>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
>> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
>> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
>> 

Re: [Wikimedia-l] convert from BitCoin to FoldingCoin and other proofs of useful work

[Alphos OGame]

Hey,

For once, I'll make this one short : I agree, let's stay away from widely
fluctuating, purely fiduciary, resources-hogging (and no, FLDC does *not*
rely on "clean electricity", it's still an energy hog like the lot of
them), crypto-currencies.
And while we're at it, pretty please, let's also stay away from this
long-dead thread. 6 months is dead enough, I don't think we need to go
through that again.

Thanks.

Roger / Alphos


Le jeu. 1 nov. 2018 à 19:33, Gerard Meijssen  a
écrit :

> Hoi,
> Bitcoin and its ilk rely on an overabundance of energy. In this day and age
> the speculation of these "currencies" is irresponsible. The best attack on
> this pyramide game is to stay away from it.
> Thanks,
>  GerardM
>
> On Thu, 1 Nov 2018 at 10:38, Robert Rohde  wrote:
>
> > > What is a 51% attack?
> >
> > A 51% attack is when a single malicious entity controls >51% of the
> > computing power being used to validate the blockchain of a particular
> > digital currency.  Blockchain-based digital currencies rely on a
> consensus
> > of computing participants acting in good faith to verify transactions and
> > coin ownership.  However, if a single entity controls a majority of the
> > compute power, then it is possible for them to maliciously validate bad
> > transactions to steal, double spend, and otherwise commit fraud using the
> > currency.
> >
> > Smaller digital currencies, with fewer participants acting to maintain
> > their blockchain, are generally more vulnerable to this kind of attack.
> A
> > bad actor can rent a large block of computing power and then use it to
> > attack a small blockchain.   Such attacks have been becoming more common,
> > though the largest coins (e.g. BTC) are still resistant due to the size
> of
> > their community.
> >
> https://www.coindesk.com/blockchains-feared-51-attack-now-becoming-regular/
> >
> > I don't know anything about FoldingCoin and whether it is more or less
> > vulnerable to this kind of fraud than other cryptocurrencies.
> >
> > However, the 51% attack may just be the death of many smaller alt-coins,
> > unless an effective countermeasure can be developed.
> >
> > -Robert Rohde
> >
> > On Thu, Nov 1, 2018 at 8:23 AM James Salsman  wrote:
> >
> > > Geni, it's the "Day of the Dead" now so I want to attempt to resurrect
> > > this thread.
> > >
> > > Is FoldingCoin still vulnerable to a 51% attack? What is a 51% attack?
> > >
> > > Do you think it is reasonable for the Foundation to convert bitcoin to
> > > FoldingCoin as part of its program to source clean electricity?
> > >
> > > Best regards,
> > > Jim
> > >
> > >
> > > On Fri, Apr 13, 2018 at 7:21 AM James Salsman 
> > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Cryptocurrency. If your first thought isn't "how could a scammer
> > > > > exploit this" you are doing it wrong.
> > > >
> > > > I've thought about that for several hours now, and I'm sure scammers
> > > > far prefer bitcoin. Folding@Home's lab director is a partner
> > > > Andreessen Horowitz, so he has certainly had no lack of resources to
> > > > defend against the possibility, and I am persuaded that the Indiana
> > > > nonprofit behind FLDC is sincere and acting in good faith at present.
> > > > If the Foundation is hesitant, they might sponsor an audit of either
> > > > or both, but the Folding@Home project is so established that its
> > > > article is featured on enwiki.
> > > >
> > > > I have no financial interest in any cryptocurrency, and I never have,
> > > > and I don't have a familial interest with anyone who I am aware has
> > > > any either.
> > > >
> > > > Best regards,
> > > > Jim
> > >
> > > ___
> > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> > > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> > > 
> > ___
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> > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> > 
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] convert from BitCoin to FoldingCoin and other proofs of useful work

[David Gerard]

I think any involvement in it is nonsensical and nobody should
entertain any of these ideas for a moment.


- d.


On Fri, 2 Nov 2018 at 16:42, James Salsman  wrote:
>
> David, what if the Foundation converted their next largest bitcoin
> donation over some set amount to foldingcoin, and then cash in a press
> event designed to educate cryptocurrency enthusiasts that they don't
> have to be as destructive, strictly as a principled stance against
> bitcoin's waste of electricity? I'd love to get a sense of your idea
> of the potential drawbacks.
>
> Best regards,
> Jim
>
>
> On Fri, Nov 2, 2018 at 1:49 AM David Gerard  wrote:
> >
> > worth noting again that in my (I am paid to have these opinions now)
> > professional opinion, nothing about cryptocurrencies is good or
> > useful, and WMF's involvement should proceed precisely as far as
> > taking donations at arm's length (never touching an actual
> > cryptocurrency). And documenting the phenomenon accurately on the
> > wikis.
> >
> > yet again, anyone reading this list is welcome to read my book for
> > free! (Got good reviews in NYRB and BBC News)
> >
> > http://libgen.io/book/index.php?md5=41A766EE9752E757169A46C936C2EC17
> >
> > there you go, an *official* bootleg copy.
> >
> >
> > - d.
> >
> >
> > On Fri, 2 Nov 2018 at 05:54, Father Of Lies  wrote:
> > >
> > > That is a complete useless responds. Bitcoin, Litecoin and all are no 
> > > piramide games.
> > >
> > > Sent from my iPhone
> > >
> > > > On 1 Nov 2018, at 11:57, Gerard Meijssen  
> > > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hoi,
> > > > Bitcoin and its ilk rely on an overabundance of energy. In this day and 
> > > > age
> > > > the speculation of these "currencies" is irresponsible. The best attack 
> > > > on
> > > > this pyramide game is to stay away from it.
> > > > Thanks,
> > > > GerardM
> > > >
> > > > On Thu, 1 Nov 2018 at 10:38, Robert Rohde  wrote:
> > > >
> > > >>> What is a 51% attack?
> > > >>
> > > >> A 51% attack is when a single malicious entity controls >51% of the
> > > >> computing power being used to validate the blockchain of a particular
> > > >> digital currency.  Blockchain-based digital currencies rely on a 
> > > >> consensus
> > > >> of computing participants acting in good faith to verify transactions 
> > > >> and
> > > >> coin ownership.  However, if a single entity controls a majority of the
> > > >> compute power, then it is possible for them to maliciously validate bad
> > > >> transactions to steal, double spend, and otherwise commit fraud using 
> > > >> the
> > > >> currency.
> > > >>
> > > >> Smaller digital currencies, with fewer participants acting to maintain
> > > >> their blockchain, are generally more vulnerable to this kind of 
> > > >> attack.  A
> > > >> bad actor can rent a large block of computing power and then use it to
> > > >> attack a small blockchain.   Such attacks have been becoming more 
> > > >> common,
> > > >> though the largest coins (e.g. BTC) are still resistant due to the 
> > > >> size of
> > > >> their community.
> > > >> https://www.coindesk.com/blockchains-feared-51-attack-now-becoming-regular/
> > > >>
> > > >> I don't know anything about FoldingCoin and whether it is more or less
> > > >> vulnerable to this kind of fraud than other cryptocurrencies.
> > > >>
> > > >> However, the 51% attack may just be the death of many smaller 
> > > >> alt-coins,
> > > >> unless an effective countermeasure can be developed.
> > > >>
> > > >> -Robert Rohde
> > > >>
> > > >>> On Thu, Nov 1, 2018 at 8:23 AM James Salsman  
> > > >>> wrote:
> > > >>>
> > > >>> Geni, it's the "Day of the Dead" now so I want to attempt to resurrect
> > > >>> this thread.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> Is FoldingCoin still vulnerable to a 51% attack? What is a 51% attack?
> > > >>>
> > > >>> Do you think it is reasonable for the Foundation to convert bitcoin to
> > > >>> FoldingCoin as part of its program to source clean electricity?
> > > >>>
> > > >>> Best regards,
> > > >>> Jim
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>> On Fri, Apr 13, 2018 at 7:21 AM James Salsman 
> > > >> wrote:
> > > 
> > > > Cryptocurrency. If your first thought isn't "how could a scammer
> > > > exploit this" you are doing it wrong.
> > > 
> > >  I've thought about that for several hours now, and I'm sure scammers
> > >  far prefer bitcoin. Folding@Home's lab director is a partner
> > >  Andreessen Horowitz, so he has certainly had no lack of resources to
> > >  defend against the possibility, and I am persuaded that the Indiana
> > >  nonprofit behind FLDC is sincere and acting in good faith at present.
> > >  If the Foundation is hesitant, they might sponsor an audit of either
> > >  or both, but the Folding@Home project is so established that its
> > >  article is featured on enwiki.
> > > 
> > >  I have no financial interest in any cryptocurrency, and I never have,
> > >  and I don't have a familial interest with anyone who I am aware has
> > >  any 

Re: [Wikimedia-l] convert from BitCoin to FoldingCoin and other proofs of useful work

[James Salsman]

David, what if the Foundation converted their next largest bitcoin
donation over some set amount to foldingcoin, and then cash in a press
event designed to educate cryptocurrency enthusiasts that they don't
have to be as destructive, strictly as a principled stance against
bitcoin's waste of electricity? I'd love to get a sense of your idea
of the potential drawbacks.

Best regards,
Jim


On Fri, Nov 2, 2018 at 1:49 AM David Gerard  wrote:
>
> worth noting again that in my (I am paid to have these opinions now)
> professional opinion, nothing about cryptocurrencies is good or
> useful, and WMF's involvement should proceed precisely as far as
> taking donations at arm's length (never touching an actual
> cryptocurrency). And documenting the phenomenon accurately on the
> wikis.
>
> yet again, anyone reading this list is welcome to read my book for
> free! (Got good reviews in NYRB and BBC News)
>
> http://libgen.io/book/index.php?md5=41A766EE9752E757169A46C936C2EC17
>
> there you go, an *official* bootleg copy.
>
>
> - d.
>
>
> On Fri, 2 Nov 2018 at 05:54, Father Of Lies  wrote:
> >
> > That is a complete useless responds. Bitcoin, Litecoin and all are no 
> > piramide games.
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> > > On 1 Nov 2018, at 11:57, Gerard Meijssen  
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > Hoi,
> > > Bitcoin and its ilk rely on an overabundance of energy. In this day and 
> > > age
> > > the speculation of these "currencies" is irresponsible. The best attack on
> > > this pyramide game is to stay away from it.
> > > Thanks,
> > > GerardM
> > >
> > > On Thu, 1 Nov 2018 at 10:38, Robert Rohde  wrote:
> > >
> > >>> What is a 51% attack?
> > >>
> > >> A 51% attack is when a single malicious entity controls >51% of the
> > >> computing power being used to validate the blockchain of a particular
> > >> digital currency.  Blockchain-based digital currencies rely on a 
> > >> consensus
> > >> of computing participants acting in good faith to verify transactions and
> > >> coin ownership.  However, if a single entity controls a majority of the
> > >> compute power, then it is possible for them to maliciously validate bad
> > >> transactions to steal, double spend, and otherwise commit fraud using the
> > >> currency.
> > >>
> > >> Smaller digital currencies, with fewer participants acting to maintain
> > >> their blockchain, are generally more vulnerable to this kind of attack.  
> > >> A
> > >> bad actor can rent a large block of computing power and then use it to
> > >> attack a small blockchain.   Such attacks have been becoming more common,
> > >> though the largest coins (e.g. BTC) are still resistant due to the size 
> > >> of
> > >> their community.
> > >> https://www.coindesk.com/blockchains-feared-51-attack-now-becoming-regular/
> > >>
> > >> I don't know anything about FoldingCoin and whether it is more or less
> > >> vulnerable to this kind of fraud than other cryptocurrencies.
> > >>
> > >> However, the 51% attack may just be the death of many smaller alt-coins,
> > >> unless an effective countermeasure can be developed.
> > >>
> > >> -Robert Rohde
> > >>
> > >>> On Thu, Nov 1, 2018 at 8:23 AM James Salsman  wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>> Geni, it's the "Day of the Dead" now so I want to attempt to resurrect
> > >>> this thread.
> > >>>
> > >>> Is FoldingCoin still vulnerable to a 51% attack? What is a 51% attack?
> > >>>
> > >>> Do you think it is reasonable for the Foundation to convert bitcoin to
> > >>> FoldingCoin as part of its program to source clean electricity?
> > >>>
> > >>> Best regards,
> > >>> Jim
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> On Fri, Apr 13, 2018 at 7:21 AM James Salsman 
> > >> wrote:
> > 
> > > Cryptocurrency. If your first thought isn't "how could a scammer
> > > exploit this" you are doing it wrong.
> > 
> >  I've thought about that for several hours now, and I'm sure scammers
> >  far prefer bitcoin. Folding@Home's lab director is a partner
> >  Andreessen Horowitz, so he has certainly had no lack of resources to
> >  defend against the possibility, and I am persuaded that the Indiana
> >  nonprofit behind FLDC is sincere and acting in good faith at present.
> >  If the Foundation is hesitant, they might sponsor an audit of either
> >  or both, but the Folding@Home project is so established that its
> >  article is featured on enwiki.
> > 
> >  I have no financial interest in any cryptocurrency, and I never have,
> >  and I don't have a familial interest with anyone who I am aware has
> >  any either.
> > 
> >  Best regards,
> >  Jim
> > >>>
> > >>> ___
> > >>> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> > >>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> > >>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> > >>> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> > >>> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> > >>> 

Re: [Wikimedia-l] convert from BitCoin to FoldingCoin and other proofs of useful work

[David Gerard]

worth noting again that in my (I am paid to have these opinions now)
professional opinion, nothing about cryptocurrencies is good or
useful, and WMF's involvement should proceed precisely as far as
taking donations at arm's length (never touching an actual
cryptocurrency). And documenting the phenomenon accurately on the
wikis.

yet again, anyone reading this list is welcome to read my book for
free! (Got good reviews in NYRB and BBC News)

http://libgen.io/book/index.php?md5=41A766EE9752E757169A46C936C2EC17

there you go, an *official* bootleg copy.


- d.


On Fri, 2 Nov 2018 at 05:54, Father Of Lies  wrote:
>
> That is a complete useless responds. Bitcoin, Litecoin and all are no 
> piramide games.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On 1 Nov 2018, at 11:57, Gerard Meijssen  wrote:
> >
> > Hoi,
> > Bitcoin and its ilk rely on an overabundance of energy. In this day and age
> > the speculation of these "currencies" is irresponsible. The best attack on
> > this pyramide game is to stay away from it.
> > Thanks,
> > GerardM
> >
> > On Thu, 1 Nov 2018 at 10:38, Robert Rohde  wrote:
> >
> >>> What is a 51% attack?
> >>
> >> A 51% attack is when a single malicious entity controls >51% of the
> >> computing power being used to validate the blockchain of a particular
> >> digital currency.  Blockchain-based digital currencies rely on a consensus
> >> of computing participants acting in good faith to verify transactions and
> >> coin ownership.  However, if a single entity controls a majority of the
> >> compute power, then it is possible for them to maliciously validate bad
> >> transactions to steal, double spend, and otherwise commit fraud using the
> >> currency.
> >>
> >> Smaller digital currencies, with fewer participants acting to maintain
> >> their blockchain, are generally more vulnerable to this kind of attack.  A
> >> bad actor can rent a large block of computing power and then use it to
> >> attack a small blockchain.   Such attacks have been becoming more common,
> >> though the largest coins (e.g. BTC) are still resistant due to the size of
> >> their community.
> >> https://www.coindesk.com/blockchains-feared-51-attack-now-becoming-regular/
> >>
> >> I don't know anything about FoldingCoin and whether it is more or less
> >> vulnerable to this kind of fraud than other cryptocurrencies.
> >>
> >> However, the 51% attack may just be the death of many smaller alt-coins,
> >> unless an effective countermeasure can be developed.
> >>
> >> -Robert Rohde
> >>
> >>> On Thu, Nov 1, 2018 at 8:23 AM James Salsman  wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Geni, it's the "Day of the Dead" now so I want to attempt to resurrect
> >>> this thread.
> >>>
> >>> Is FoldingCoin still vulnerable to a 51% attack? What is a 51% attack?
> >>>
> >>> Do you think it is reasonable for the Foundation to convert bitcoin to
> >>> FoldingCoin as part of its program to source clean electricity?
> >>>
> >>> Best regards,
> >>> Jim
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On Fri, Apr 13, 2018 at 7:21 AM James Salsman 
> >> wrote:
> 
> > Cryptocurrency. If your first thought isn't "how could a scammer
> > exploit this" you are doing it wrong.
> 
>  I've thought about that for several hours now, and I'm sure scammers
>  far prefer bitcoin. Folding@Home's lab director is a partner
>  Andreessen Horowitz, so he has certainly had no lack of resources to
>  defend against the possibility, and I am persuaded that the Indiana
>  nonprofit behind FLDC is sincere and acting in good faith at present.
>  If the Foundation is hesitant, they might sponsor an audit of either
>  or both, but the Folding@Home project is so established that its
>  article is featured on enwiki.
> 
>  I have no financial interest in any cryptocurrency, and I never have,
>  and I don't have a familial interest with anyone who I am aware has
>  any either.
> 
>  Best regards,
>  Jim
> >>>
> >>> ___
> >>> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> >>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> >>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> >>> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> >>> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> >>> 
> >> ___
> >> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> >> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> >> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> >> 
> > ___
> > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: 
> > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and 
> > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> > New