Mar 30Member-onlyOperation Chokepoint 2.0 — Fact or fiction?“Operation Choke Point 2.0” — the (conspiracy?) theory that the US government coordinated effort to pressure banks to not deal in crypto. It’s no surprise that 2022 (and now 2023) has been difficult on the crypto space — mostly due to bad actors, corruption and, yes, massive illegality. FTX is…Cryptocurrency2 min readCryptocurrency2 min read
Dec 12, 2022Member-onlyRe-thinking Electricity GridsIt’s time for a new approach In a recent FT article, a German utility leader claimed that Europe must “boost grid to cope with renewable power surge” that involves new investments of “up to €39bn a year to 2030”. Not only is that thinking passé, but it’s also extremely…Renewable Energy5 min readRenewable Energy5 min read
Dec 11, 2022Member-onlyMore formal education? At 53 yo? Yes!More formal education? At 53 yo? Yes! Why I’ve decided to return to formal education About 3 years ago, whilst “stuck” in yet another corporate job, I woke up. Truly. I was fortunate to be an early adopter, fascinated always with new tech, new business models, new ways of seeing…Education2 min readEducation2 min read
Dec 2, 2022Member-onlyAnother Crypto DeathYet another crypto central exchange failure. 2022 has been brutal — Terra Luna, Three Arrows Capital, Celsius, Voyager, FTX (of course, FTX, the “Enron” of crypto failures) and now AAX… Time to re-emphasise a few key points in the crypto-sphere: 1/ crypto is about personal empowerment and one of the key…Cryptocurrency2 min readCryptocurrency2 min read
Oct 17, 2022Member-onlyBitcoin is alive & well in EuropeThe Bitcoin Amsterdam conference did not disappoint I spent last Wednesday & Thursday in Amsterdam attending the Bitcoin conference. I would estimate 2,000 or so people attended and the two day agenda was jam-packed with passionate & knowledgeable speakers. The conference organisers also included “speed dating” functionality to pre-arrange meetings…Bitcoin3 min readBitcoin3 min read
Jun 26, 2022Member-onlyThe Demise of the US$LinkedIn is a business platform, not a political one. That is clear. However, I wonder how many (western) business leaders are missing the bigger picture regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war. We certainly aren’t getting broad context from corporate media & its impact will be (notice use of future tense) devastating. First…3 min read3 min read
Jun 15, 2022Member-onlyGreen Hydrogen Cometh?I attended a green hydrogen conference last week in Amsterdam to gather insight into the various players as well as better understand the what, when & where of the sector. A few key takeaways: · Green hydrogen (“GH2”) goes hand in hand with the REPowerEU initiative (at least for Europe)…Hydrogen5 min readHydrogen5 min read
Jan 31, 2022Member-onlyA Bright Future for the YoungFar too often one reads how AI, robotics (and even blockchain) will destroy jobs, leaving our youth with bleak futures. Well, this article is quite different. Tascha (from TaschaLabs) highlights the megatrends she sees that are futuristic, positive & downright exciting. 10 Prophecies for the Web 3.0 (read here) I…Cryptocurrency2 min readCryptocurrency2 min read
Oct 15, 2021Member-onlyThe Need to Regulate Stable CoinsI’m typically not one to call for regulation — particularly in the #crypto space. However, I’m increasingly thinking that “stable” coins need some type of oversight as they very much may prove UNstable in times of financial duress. The crypto ecosystem is an exciting place to be, whether one just…Cryptocurrency2 min readCryptocurrency2 min read
Sep 20, 2021Member-onlyBitcoin is for the PeopleSylvain Saurel writes well-researched & insightful posts on topics ranging from bitcoin to personal development to life in general. You can find him on SubStack. This particular article (link below), published yesterday, caught my interest. The typical negative article about bitcoin of late either focuses on ESG issues or organised…Bitcoin1 min readBitcoin1 min read