June 2023 - cypherpunks - lists.cpunks.org

BREAKING: Ex-Goldman Banker Convicted Of Insider Trading
by Gunnar Larson 21 Jun '23

21 Jun '23

BREAKING: Ex-Goldman Banker Convicted Of Insider Trading By Stewart Bishop A former Goldman Sachs investment banker on Wednesday was convicted on insider trading charges, stemming from accusations that he passed the financial giant's confidential deal information to a close friend who secretly traded on the tips in his brother's account. https://www.law360.com/banking/articles/1691428?nl_pk=99a2a594-20ad-4b2f-a2…

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Bloomberg https://www.bloomberg.com › articles McAfee Founder's Neighbor Dead in Belize After Dogs Poisoned
by Gunnar Larson 21 Jun '23

21 Jun '23

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.bloomberg.…

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Re: MIA Coin and POX Kleptocracy: CORRUPTION FIN-2022-A001 - SAR 38(m).
by Gunnar Larson 21 Jun '23

21 Jun '23

Dear Department of the Treasury: Today marks one year and one week from FinCEN's Resource Center's prompt to contact you concerning potential NYCCoin and MIA Coin Kleptocracy powered by STX. Given FinCEN's alert on kleptocracy and public corruption we kindly seek guidance. Thank you, Gunnar Gunnar Larson xNY.io - Bank.org 917-580-8053 On Wed, Apr 20, 2022, 4:38 PM Gunnar Larson <g(a)xny.io> wrote: > Dear Department of the Treasury: > > From the prompt of FinCEN's Resource Center, the details below are kindly > submitted to your esteemed attention. > > Please let me know if I can be of any assistance. > > Sending you the very best regards. > > Thank you, > > Gunnar Larson > -- > *Gunnar Larson - xNY.io <http://www.xny.io/> - Bank.org <http://bank.org/>* > MSc > <https://www.unic.ac.cy/blockchain/msc-digital-currency/?utm_source=Google&u…> - > Digital Currency > MBA > <https://www.unic.ac.cy/business-administration-entrepreneurship-and-innovat…> - Entrepreneurship > and Innovation (ip) > > G(a)xNY.io > +1-646-454-9107 > New York, New York 10001 > > ---------- Forwarded message --------- > From: Gunnar Larson <g(a)xny.io> > Date: Fri, Apr 15, 2022 at 1:17 PM > Subject: MIA Coin and POX Kleptocracy: CORRUPTION FIN-2022-A001 - SAR > 38(m). > To: <FRC(a)fincen.gov> > Cc: cypherpunks <cypherpunks(a)lists.cpunks.org> > > > Dear FinCEN: > > xNY.io - Bank.org, PBC thanks you for sending yesterday's advisory on > kleptocracy and foreign public corruption. We have made 30 highlights to > the FIN-2022-A001 > <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yF3qDQG19J-qN1vUPC36lQfVClq3HPXB/view?usp=…> > advisory for reference. > > *The aim of today's memo is to learn FinCEN's insights into MIA Coin and > the consensus algorithm Proof of Transfer (POX). xNY.io - Bank.org, PBC is > concerned about potential MIA Coin and City Coin kleptocracy that may be > affecting our global enterprise. * > > *FinCEN may note that NYCCoin is illegal in New York State, given the > BitLicense mandate. As such, we are not concerned with NYCCoin's legality > given the clear BitLicense mandate. * > > - On February 4, 2022 we submitted a City of Miami records request for > any and all correspondence between the City of Miami concerning CityCoins, > MIA Coin and Stacks (STX). Additionally, any and all related correspondence > concerning CityCoins, MIA Coin, Stacks (STX), Digital World Acquisition > Corp and Harvard Management Company. > - Today, April 15, 2022 > <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OyVUBq8PcG7SVZ5lUp_oWyL0IDAR5uTP/view?usp=…> > we have yet to receive the 13, 092 records. Attached you will find our > latest correspondence with Miami, notifying them of our intention to > contact FinCEN concerning MIA Coin and POX. > - Conducting independent marketplace research, xNY.io - Bank.org, PBC > established a premise to potential kleptocracy between the City of Miami > and City Coins, of Iceland <https://who.is/whois/citycoins.co> > international registration. Furthermore, MineMiamiCoin.com is registered > in Germany <https://who.is/whois/minemiamicoin.com>. > - Please find the City of Miami's resolution > <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IrQwP46alrnQXRxIoXxm8kifZMVTRB_x/view?usp=…>approving > gifts from City Coins ... Furthermore, City Coins suggests a $25,000 > "reward" > <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Eb2Q-LZNApwQRyjbBcD5-_yEW0Id51QD/view?usp=…> > (that may be confused as bribery) for Mayors who participate. > > MIA Coin is powered by POX > <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wL2kN6aMfsyT-T7g01YJSBB8meMn2SWg/view?usp=…>, > a computer protocol that may exploit the U.S. and international financial > systems to launder illicit gains, including through the use of shell > companies, offshore financial centers, and professional service providers > who enable the movement and laundering. > > MIA Coin' POX protocol is a wealth extraction tool that unfairly rewards > an inside group of miners, rewarding patronage networks that benefit his > inner circle and regime. These practices harm the competitive landscape of > financial markets and often have long-term corrosive effects on good > governance, democratic institutions, and human rights standards. > > FinCEN, we are concerned Miami's City Coin > <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IrQwP46alrnQXRxIoXxm8kifZMVTRB_x/view> > resolution potentially confirms Miami leaders as kleptocrats, using their > position and influence to enrich themselves and their networks of corrupt > actors. > > Finally, we understand that MIA Coin and POX operations are powered by > international data warehouses, located in Iceland, Germany and Hong Kong. > For these reasons, given FinCEN's alert on kleptocracy and foreign public > corruption we kindly seek guidance. > > Sending you the very best regards. > > Thank you, > > Gunnar Larson > -- > *Gunnar Larson - xNY.io <http://www.xNY.io> - Bank.org <http://Bank.org>, > PBC* > MSc > <https://www.unic.ac.cy/blockchain/msc-digital-currency/?utm_source=Google&u…> > - Digital Currency > MBA > <https://www.unic.ac.cy/business-administration-entrepreneurship-and-innovat…> > - Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ip) > > G(a)xNY.io > +1-646-454-9107 > New York, New York 10001 > > ---------- Forwarded message --------- > From: Financial Crimes Enforcement Network < > fincenupdates(a)public.govdelivery.com> > Date: Thu, Apr 14, 2022 at 2:46 PM > Subject: FinCEN Updates: FinCEN Issues Advisory on Kleptocracy and Foreign > Public Corruption > To: <g(a)xny.io> > > > *You are subscribed to FinCEN Updates. The information below is available > at Fincen.gov.* > > *FinCEN Issues Advisory on Kleptocracy and Foreign Public Corruption* > > The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today issued an advisory > on kleptocracy and foreign public corruption, urging financial institutions > to focus their efforts on detecting the proceeds of foreign public > corruption — a priority for the U.S. Government as it continues to > implement the U.S. Strategy on Countering Corruption > <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVy…>. > The advisory provides typologies and potential indicators of kleptocracy > and other forms of foreign public corruption, namely bribery, embezzlement, > extortion, and the misappropriation of public assets. > > *News Release:* > > > https://www.fincen.gov/news/news-releases/fincen-issues-advisory-kleptocrac… > <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVy…> > > *Advisory: * > > https://www.fincen.gov/resources/advisories/fincen-advisory-fin-2022-a001 > <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVy…> >

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Feds Say Ex-Goldman Exec Lied At Insider Trading Trial
by Gunnar Larson 21 Jun '23

21 Jun '23

By Stewart Bishop A Manhattan federal prosecutor on Tuesday told jurors that the government's insider trading case against former Goldman Sachs investment banker Brijesh Goel is rock solid and that he lied on the witness stand, while the defense argued that his former best friend and sole cooperating witness was the real fraudster. https://www.law360.com/mergersacquisitions/articles/1690907?nl_pk=8bba16ad-…

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DOJ To Scope Bank Mergers With Wider Antitrust Lens
by Gunnar Larson 21 Jun '23

21 Jun '23

By Jon Hill The U.S. Department of Justice's top antitrust official said Tuesday that his division will take a more expansive view of potential competitive effects when reviewing proposed bank mergers, signaling a shift that could mean tougher scrutiny for transactions involving larger banks. https://www.law360.com/competition/articles/1690583?nl_pk=2063be2d-1a29-43b…

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Feds Seek 7 Years, Crypto Thief Seeks 'Time Served'
by Gunnar Larson 21 Jun '23

21 Jun '23

By Dorothy Atkins A U.K. citizen who pled guilty to a wide range of online crimes, including "swatting" executives and a California teenager, hacking celebrity Twitter accounts and stealing $800,000 in cryptocurrency, asked a New York federal judge Monday for a lenient sentence of time served, while prosecutors pushed for seven years behind bars. https://www.law360.co.uk/financial-services-uk/articles/1690476?nl_pk=4fb41…

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Cryptocurrency: US GovBank EDX ETFs vs BRICS... The Race For Sound Money
by grarpamp 21 Jun '23

21 Jun '23

With countries fleeing worthless USD and US Treasuries, the USA has option to try to +1 the BRICS's rising gold+commod+etc money play by racing to adopt the only remaining higher form of money first before its competitors do... crypto finance at the speed of light, BTC freed upon international markets and into the hands of US users.

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Fwd: We have nothing to hide, only everything to protect
by pro2rat＠yahoo.com.au 21 Jun '23

21 Jun '23

Here is one real easy way to protect your loved ones - get off the internet.

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Cryptocurrency: Elizabeth Warren's Monetary Bizarro World, No Authority: GovBankCorpPols Gonna Hate, CBDC
by grarpamp 21 Jun '23

21 Jun '23

Monetary Bizarro World Why Elizabeth Warren cannot understand Bitcoin's value >From the mainstream’s viewpoint, when it comes to money… I live in Bizarro World. You may not recall, but Bizarro World was the original comic book version of multiverse themes. In the 1960s, Superman had to deal with another Earth — eerily like ours — but where many details were the opposite of what we call normal. We’ll let Jerry Seinfeld explain it: Why do I live in Bizarro World when it comes to money? In contrast to the conventional viewpoint, I don’t believe that money should be backed by governments. In fact, I think the only way a money can be long-term viable is if it is backed by no authority at all. Elizabeth Warren disagrees with this notion I realize how truly bizarre my stance sounds to almost everyone. Indeed, the reason I’m writing this post is because Elizabeth Warren recently expressed her adamant view that unbacked money is thoroughly absurd: There’s a lot to unpack here. First of all, let’s give Liz the benefit of the doubt - I believe she is genuine in her views and earnest in her attempt to explain why Bitcoin doesn’t make sense. That said, no matter how much or how little you know about Bitcoin, you can sense that she is confused. She does not have mastery of the topic she is trying to discuss - though her performative confidence aims to obscure that fact. In the first half of the clip, she strives to convey her version of reality: that money must be backed by something in order for it to have value. With every fiber of her being, she knows this to be true. And by contrast, Bitcoin is backed by nothing and therefore cannot have value - surely, if she just explains this to people, they will come to their senses! Halfway through the clip, she aims to bring the conversation back from the Bizarro World of unbacked money and into the real world, where money is backed by something. She attempts to articulate how government-issued digital currencies (CBDCs) can leverage the technological advantages of digital money while imbuing them with the all-important backing of government authority. This is how the world works today, after all. And in her mind, a digital currency with the backing of the US Government is obviously superior to one without it. Considering the inverse perspective I have tried to remain fair in my presentation of the conventional view of money. And now, it’s time to consider the other side of the argument. It’s not that Bitcoin is the true opposite of the conventional view of money, just that in a few ways it feels truly bizarre — an inversion of what we’ve been taught as common sense. First, the ethos underpinning Bitcoin patently rejects the idea that government authority strengthens money. The reason is that the interests of government conflict with the interests of currency users — everyday people living their lives and storing their savings in that money. If a government has authority over a currency, they have the right to print more of a currency (diluting the purchasing power of existing holders). And indeed, that is the irresistible allure of controlling one’s own currency. History is replete with examples of governments addressing their problems through the convenient but myopic salve of creating more money out of thin air. In ancient Rome, this meant melting the silver from 10 coins & spreading it across 11 new coins. Today, it’s even easier — the Fed just prints more dollars by changing some numbers in their computer. Second, there are other disadvantages to allowing anyone to have authority over a money. These all come back to predictability & reliability. If a government (or anyone else) has authority over a money, they can change the parameters of that money. They can create more or less of it than before; they can tell you when or where you’re allowed to use the money; they can change the Terms of Service to use that money. What I’ve just described is what Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) offer the world — more power and greater control for governments, reduced rights for users. A central authority turns money from a matter-of-fact bearer instrument (whoever possesses it, controls it) into a permissioned system of financial access — money with strings attached. Money without government So, printing more of a money harms the existing holders. And having an authority in control of a money impinges on the rights of existing holders. From the perspective of everyday users of a money, it would be best then if nobody could increase the supply of their money & nobody had authority over their money. To take this to its logical conclusion, the ideal money would have a finite supply, be completely permissionless to use, and grant no authority the ability to change the rules. Sound familiar? This shouldn’t be as radical of an idea as it sounds. The fact of the matter is that gold offered most of these properties, and that’s why it emerged as the preferred money for the world, through 6,000 years of the free market selecting for the money that people most wanted to hold. But gold had an Achilles’ Heel — its materiality necessitated storage in vaults, which ultimately allowed centralized authorities (governments) the ability to control it & slowly shift the meaning of money over time. Until 1971, the US Dollar was backed by gold. But now, it’s not. And yet, to this day, 30% of Americans still believe the dollar is backed by gold. Which brings us back to Elizabeth Warren — she characterizes Bitcoin as unbacked, but what exactly is the dollar backed by? Might makes right The US Dollar is backed by “the full faith & confidence of the US Government.” Which is to say, it is backed by the government saying it’s worth something, punk. If this sounds reminiscent of a schoolyard bully imposing his will through threat of force, well… But even if governments didn’t use their authority to debase the purchasing power of existing holders (they do), this system of government money backed by threat of force does not create the best assurances for end users (meaning, everyday people). As formidable as it is, the U.S. Military is not all-powerful, permanent, or omnipresent. But there are a few things that are: Math & self-interest. Ideal money for everyday savers >From the point-of-view of everyday savers, the best money would: 1. Have a hardcapped supply 2. Have no authority in control 3. Have no ability to change the rules 4. Be protected by the universal laws of math 5. Incentivize savers to hold onto their money (via supply dynamics that cause the money to appreciate in purchasing power over time) Now, doesn’t that sound like a pretty sensible system? One that puts the interests of holders first & protects them indefinitely via the unblinking steadfastness of math. If such a system could leverage human self-interest via a reliable incentive to adopt and hold for the long haul, that would be a pretty great money from the point-of-view of people using it as a savings vehicle. And it would be a bad money from the point-of-view of governments seeking greater power & control over money. What’s unfamiliar appears bizarre The funny thing about Bizarro World is that the side that appears bizarre is just a matter of perspective. If you grew up living on a cube-shaped planet, you would think a spherical world was very weird. You grew up living in a world where money is backed by threat of force (because this arrangement benefits governments). As a result, you think a money sensibly designed to serve the interests of savers is weird. Perhaps, all this time, it’s you who has been living in monetary Bizarro World.

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Cryptocurrency: License Freedom Not Manipulators, ETF, EDX, Blockstream To Corrupt, Expect Forks, Privacy, Mining, etc
by grarpamp 21 Jun '23

21 Jun '23

If you want only humans in crypto and not entities and manipulators doing things you don't want, you need to explore restrictive licensing, and coin privacy. Blockstream / Core / Lightning ... likely to return favor to their upstream GovBankCorp paymasters now. ETF's, EDX's, GovBankPols, etc... can all be forked around as needed, but pointless if no privacy or scale. ASIC mining was always a centralizing mistake. Staking was always a centralizing mistake. If you listened to cpunks and had been doing a real privacy coin (p2p distributed, blockchain-storage-less, asic-hard, cryptographic levels of privacy, no-features, fair-launch, no-governance, no founder/dev reward, anon-devs, PoW, simply money) all these years... you probably would have won already. So while price go up... do a real privacy coin and reclaim your Freedom. XMR and ZEC etc were first gen, and as such subject to same long term scale and other issues as BTC. The privacy and coin tech may now good enough to get a few next gen competing designs for a real privacy coin developed and into operation. A billion humans are waiting to use that Freedom.

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