Tag: Mati Greenspan

It’s Mati Greenspan versus the Maxis at ‘Shitshow’ 2021

by Cointelegraph

The Miami Bitcoin 2021 conference officially kicks off on June 4 and with it has resurfaced controversy over crypto tribalism involving some of the industry’s leading figures.

Organizers expect attendance exceeding 50,000 for the Mana Wynwood Convention Center hosted conference. Among the attendees in Miami this year is the founder of Quantum Economics and a former Senior Market Analyst at eToro Mati Greenspan.

Writing today, Greenspan highlighted a growing rift in the crypto community in what he described as a ‘toxic problem’. The financial advisor had inadvertently ignited a social media storm with the innocuous comment that Bitcoin 2021 would be “Biggest crypto conference ever!”

Greenspan was told in no uncertain terms that it was a “Bitcoin conference” intended only for BTC enthusiasts. Bitcoin Magazine editor Pete Rizzo set him straight:

“It’s a Bitcoin conference, about Bitcoin. Bitcoin is the subject and hence why it’s used as an adjective,”

Greenspan replied that “Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency sir”, however, it only served to fuel the tirade from Bitcoin maximalists claiming exclusivity on the event.

The Miami Bitcoin 2021 conference will run until June 5 and play host to a vast pool of industry luminaries ranging from former congressman Ron Paul, Twitter’s Jack Dorsey, the Winklevoss twins, and Morgan Creek Digital partner Anthony Pompliano. To be fair to the organizers they have been crystal clear that it’s a Bitcoin Only Event/No Altcoins Allowed in the Telegram channel:

“This is a Bitcoin only conference. Please stay focused and on topic at the event. Save conversations about other protocols and cryptocurrencies for outside the conference.”

A clearly disappointed Greenspan retorted that there was clearly a lot of insecurity among the Bitcoin crowd, and eventually tired of the debate exclaiming: “This really is a shitshow.”

In his newsletter today he clarified his thoughts on the topic:

“Now, obviously everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and they can call me whatever names they like, but the one thing I want to say about all this is that these so-called Maxis don’t own the Bitcoin network. I am a Bitcoiner too, and there is nothing anyone can do about it.”

Greenspan said that “zealotry” was unproductive and urged the community to “focus our energy toward a common enemy and not spend our time and efforts on infighting. It doesn’t help.”

The Bitcoin-only vibe extended beyond Greenspan with some questioning why Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin had made an appearance after various photos of him surfaced including one with Miami’s pro-crypto Mayor Francis Suarez. Buterin actually unveiled Ethereum at the Bitcoin Miami 2014 event.

DeFiPulse co-founder Scott Lewis saw the funny side of things:

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Mati Greenspan warns SEC’s latest action could threaten future of all cryptocurrencies

by Cointelegraph

Quantum Economics founder Mati Greenspan has warned the SEC’s latest action against decentralized content platform LBRY could threaten the future of all cryptocurrencies.

According to the complaint filed by the SEC on March 29, LBRY is alleged to have offered and sold millions worth of unregistered securities through LBRY Credit tokens since 2016. The company has disputed the SEC’s accusations, as they state their tokens are utility-focused and not for speculation.

In today’s newsletter, ominous titled “Don’t let them kill crypto,” Greenspan asserts that if the SEC’s lawsuit against LBRY is successful, it will have dramatic consequences:

“Should the court side against LBRY, it would literally put the future of all cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ether, in question.”

Greenspan notes that the U.S has fallen far behind on crypto regulation and warns this case could set a precedent of classifying “multifaceted programmable money” as securities.

“Judges generally take their guidance from previous rulings on similar cases, so a negative ruling here could make it easier for them to kill off any project which utilizes crypto tokens. DeFi, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), smart contracts, and just about everything except possibly stablecoins.”

Greenspan believes the platform’s only crime was to set up in the U.S. and told Cointelegraph the case highlights the US’s  “backwards approach to forward-looking innovation.”

Although the Isreal-based commentator doesn’t think an SEC victory would stifle innovation in the crypto industry overall, it will certainly do so in the U.S.:

“It will simply drive it out of the United States. Projects like this are flourishing in Europe and some parts of Asia and the technology continues to progress globally. America is being left behind.”

LBRY has contested the SEC case, arguing that while the “SEC claims that Credits have no use other than speculation,” the Credits actually allow users to tip, publish, purchase and boost content on the platform, and the company “at no time indicated that LBRY Credits were an investment, and consistently discouraged purchasing Credits for this purpose.”

Greenspan has urged readers of his newsletter to either write a letter to congress to show support of LBRY, or visit helplbrysavecrypto.com. to get more educated about the “idiotic actions of American regulators.”

Despite sounding alarm bells over a negative outcome of this case, Greenspan told Cointelegraph he is optimistic:

“Hopefully, the judge will be able to see the blatant holes in the SEC’s case. LBRY seems to have some very sound arguments so I’m quite optimistic.”