• Programmer Belch@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      9
      ·
      4 months ago

      Yes, I agree there is a stigma around bitcoin because of the amount of scams and ransomware that is around them but I don’t want to delegitimize decentralized currency.

      Currently the options are really bad because of the amount of resources they consume and their use as an investment option. I really wish there could be an option to have money outside of government control.

      • Sailor Sega Saturn@awful.systems
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        19
        ·
        4 months ago

        I agree decentralized currency is great.

        All I need is some quarters and I can start my laundry without waiting half an hour for the centralized blockchain ledger’s global state to acknowledge the transaction.

        • Programmer Belch@lemmy.dbzer0.com
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          arrow-down
          5
          ·
          4 months ago

          That’s true, cash can be a more private alternative to electronic transactions but I also want an electronic counterpart, something with private and public keys. I am not knowledgeable enough on currencies and transactions to know how the system would work

            • Programmer Belch@lemmy.dbzer0.com
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              4 months ago

              Blockchain will never be a good system of private transactions as it takes too many resources to run it and you have to fork it all of the time because the chains get too heavy. That much I know and agree with.

              I want an alternative and currently after the grift made because of crypto, no one wants to innovate in a private and decentralized currency. In truth, I haven’t searched that much for an alternative.

              • rook@awful.systems
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                4
                ·
                4 months ago

                The problem isn’t just the nature of blockchains, the problem is the uses to which such systems will be put. The explosion in ransomware fuelled by bitcoin et al isn’t something that can be replicated with physical cash at the same scale, for example (consider why you want electronic cash in the first place). Similarly, the need to “be your own bank” will always expose you to a greater risk of fraud and theft and loss, because being a bank is harder than people seem to think.

                The technology involved is (almost) irrelevant.

                • Programmer Belch@lemmy.dbzer0.com
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  0
                  ·
                  4 months ago

                  I wanted this “electronic cash” to make it easier to carry cash without ending with lots of coins in my wallet. The point of being your own bank seems dangerous and too convoluted to make it more convenient.

                  I guess I will keep trying to use cash whenever I can and call it a day.

                  • rook@awful.systems
                    link
                    fedilink
                    English
                    arrow-up
                    4
                    ·
                    4 months ago

                    So I realise that this is very euro-centric and the majority of people on earth don’t get this sort of convenience, but… fast and easy interbank transfers and contactless debit and credit card payments just do all the stuff that most people want out of electronic cash, and transaction logs are a small price to pay for a substantial reduction in risk.

      • Evinceo@awful.systems
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        6
        ·
        4 months ago

        I really wish there could be an option to have money outside of government control.

        Define control

        • Programmer Belch@lemmy.dbzer0.com
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          4 months ago

          Knowing the where, who and why of every transaction. In other chain I agree cash is a good alternative but without an electronic component that I would prefer.