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Today on the show I have a conversation with crypto mining activist Jackie Sawicky. After the recent election, she’s decided to dissolve the Texas Coalition Against Crypto Mining and move out of state. We talk about what’s happened to change her mind and what we think about the near future and the upcoming “regime change” which appears to be full of crypto shills and grifters.
Direct podcast download: http://podcast.ioradio.org/IOR40.mp3?ior
For this episode we have a “who’s who” of Crypto Critics who have assembled in Twitter Spaces, hosted by author Jake Donoghue, of “Crypto Confidential.” Jake put together a team of prominent people to discuss the current state of the industry, including myself, former SEC cybercrime head, John Reed Stark, journalist David Gerard, tech entrepreneur Dave Troy, senior policy analyst Mark Hays and others. We have a casual conversation about what’s going on in the industry and take some questions.
I apologize for the beginning and ending being cut off – I started recording when I came in and somehow the recording stopped at around the 2 hour mark, but we have almost the entire conversation archived.
Hope you enjoy!
Regarding my counter-argument to the crypto-shitcoin-shilling troll who appeared in the podcast, let me address that… her claim was that ‘blockchain is mainstream’ and IBM is using it. This is a phony narrative that crypto people keep spreading. Here’s the truth on that:
For those wondering whether her claim that “IBM is using blockchain” is legit, no it’s not. Their primary IBM blockchain project that was hyped by crypto bros — still to this day, was a prominent partnership with shipping company Maersk. While the web page promoting the venture still sits online and is cited every day as a “crypto success story” in reality it was cancelled. See: https://www.maersk.com/news/articles/2022/11/29/maersk-and-ibm-to-discontinue-tradelens
Other so-called “blockchain” projects, such as IBM’s “hyperledger” are not actually blockchain – IBM has just borrowed that name and registered their own trademark: “IBM Blockchain®” When you examine what IBM calls “blockchain” it looks nothing like crypto’s version.
IBM’s version is centralized; it’s not permissionless; it’s not public, and there’s no evidence it’s “immutable” in the same manner as crypto blockchain. It’s just a marketing ploy to take advantage of the crypto/blockchain fad.
So if you ask somebody, “What makes blockchain, blockchain?” They’ll give you a list of answers that basically negate whatever IBM is claiming is blockchain, as being anything that resembles what crypto/blockchain people call “blockchain.”
Words mean things. If just labeling something “blockchain” without actually checking to see if it resembles the conventionally-known tech is ok, then we no longer have the ability convey legitimate ideas.
But more importantly, there’s insufficient evidence that any mission-critical apps are using the tech. There’s lots of name-dropping but nothing indicating this is anything more than prototypical. The reason for this is because we know, by design. blockchain is an inferior database system, hamstrung from its birth, abandoned decades ago by real engineers. I prove this in my documentary (see www.BlockchainII.com).
Our last episode and the story that Sal exposed regarding the questionable “objectivity” of those behind the crypto media company “Protos” caused quite a bit of stir among a certain “Crypto Critic” community, to the point where Bennett Tomlin and Cas Piancey blocked everybody associated with the criticisms and began spiraling downwards into some kind of odd meltdown.
Along the way, we were accused of trying to ‘attack’ and ‘cancel’ the Crypto Critics.
This seemed quite odd because all we basically did was ask a few basic questions.
It seems the “Crypto Critics” are very good at casting aspirsions and critiques at others, but not at all comfortable having the light shown on themselves.
This culminated in a two hour impromptu Twitter Spaces showdown between Adam and one of their people, a guy by the name of Cameron Crews.
Watch the train wreck in all its glory here:
Additional images and screen caps relating to the story can be found here:
https://ioradio.org/ccc/
Sal discusses an investigative piece he’s published on questions and concerns over crypto news entity, “Protos” and the “Crypto Critics”, Bennett Tomlin and Cas Piancy who are on their payroll.
Are some of the most prominent “crypto critics” in media double agents? Pretending to be critical of crypto when instead they’re lap dogs for the industry? Sal chronicles an interesting turn of events that manifested over several months that led him to look into who’s behind some of the work penned by the people behind the “Crypto Critics Podcast.”
UPDATE NOTE that this podcast was recorded before the “Crypto Critics” released their most recent podcast where they actually claimed Tether was fully-backed. So before we made this public, there’s even more evidence of some questionable conflicts of interest.
Also, new details will be listed after the video and podcast links below – check them out:
This podcast was recorded last week. A number of things have come to light since then, and we’ll continue to update this page with new developments and citations.
First and foremost, as mentioned in the podcast, many of us have been trying to reach out to the CCC (crypto critics corner) people for some time to talk about various issues, and have been ghosted. This has resulted in more of an adversarial relationship than we would have preferred, but it is what it is. However, we finally got Bennett to, at least someone respond to our inquiries in their Discord the other day. Unfortunately, most of our inquiries that were the subject of this podcast and Sal’s article, remain unanswered — in fact, when pressed to identify who the mysterious “co-found of Protos” is, Bennett quickly exited the conversation and was no longer heard from.
One thing we did get from the short interaction was an official statement on their stance on certain issues of import: “Are you pro crypto/blockchain?” Here’s what he said:
The “crypto critics” do not think Bitcoin is a ponzi. They think Tether is fully backed. They continue to harp an unproven narrative that “blockchain has potential” despite no evidence of this in the last 15 years. Suffice to say, the fact that they are employed by a company who is run by both a mysterious co-founder they won’t identify, and another co-founder who clearly benefits from further proliferation of the crypto industry, the writing is on the wall. In our opinion, the “crypto critics” are more double agents, working for the crypto industry, than they are independent free-thinkers who can be relied upon to report the truth to the public. As always, you make up your own mind on this, but we find their insistence on promoting certain narratives in lieu of legitimate evidence, very disconcerting and deceptive.
We’ve extended them an invitation to appear on our podcast at any time and defend their position, and have offered ourselves on theirs as well, but based on their demeanor and past behavior, it’s unlikely there will be any good faith debate on the subject. We will remain open to it however. Let it be known, that myself and Sal are available to answer any questions – we are not going to disappear or ghost anybody that asks something uncomfortable. The same apparently can’t be said for the “crypto critics.”
And to make things clear… here are OUR disclosures (as if there was any confusion)
1. Blockchain is an inferior, obsolete technology that does nothing better than existing non-blockchain technology (and Adam produced an entire award-winning documentary detailing the evidence to back up this claim that the crypto critics will not even acknowledge exists).
2. There is inadequate credible evidence that USDT/Tether is “fully backed.” There’s an industry standard way to remove doubt on this issue: having an independent audit done by a reputable accounting firm. Tether has refused to submit to this basic industry standard. That’s all anybody needs to know as far as the credibility of their claims. And in our opinion (which is likely echoed by any professional with knowledge of ethical accounting procedures) it is irresponsible to parrot any claim to the contrary in lieu of this standard audit.
3. As we’ve reported on and researched in detail before, the operational model that treats Bitcoin (or any cryptocurrency) as an “investment” is functionally identical to a Ponzi scheme. The notion that bitcoin is a Ponzi is not a fringe opinion. It is echoed by many other experts across both computer science and finance industries, as well as governments.
So there you have it. In our opinion, it’s misleading to label oneself a “crypto critic” yet continue to parrot certain narratives that are not at all critical of crypto, but in fact, extremely un-critical of the industry, to the point where large swaths of undeniable evidence is wholly ignored (which explains CCC’s unwillingness to call attention to the documentary, “Blockchain – Innovation or Illusion?” and their unwillingness to have an honest, unfiltered debate on the subject.
As always, think critically… and often. And watch the watchers. That’s what we’ll be doing.
In this episode we tackle one of our biggest tech pet peeves: Comparing crypto & blockchain to the “early Internet” as a way to suggest blockchain has the same potential as the Internet did, but merely “takes time” to become accepted as something essential and useful.
This is a flat out delusion. And we discuss the details of how and why it’s a dreadful false equivalence to suggest crypto is in any way, comparable to the Internet.
We found a funny clip online of a crypto bro who called into the Majority Report with Sam Seder trying to convince him he is wrong about crypto. We react to the caller and the people on The Majority Report as they take a side of the argument that is rather unorthodox.
Audio only here:
Adam and I have a casual conversation about what’s been happening in the world of social media. A lot has been going on and major social media sites are unraveling before our eyes.
From Elon Musk’s rabid attempt to progressively make Twitter more “functional”, to Reddit sacrificing the golden goose of loyal moderators and content creating users upon the alter of corporate profits, no platform seems safe from the greedy embrace of silicon valley’s techno parasites.
What’s going on? And where are for profit platform refugees going? In IO Radio #12 we talk social media meltdown, part of an ongoing discussion about the evolution, and devolution, of social media in the 21st century.
AmericanScream and I react to RFK Jr.’s Bitcoin 2023 keynote rantings in Miami. Kennedy equates public health measures during COVID to totalitarian oppression and argues that Bitcoin is important because it protects civil liberties from governmental repression.
In IO Radio #11 we discuss the democratic presidential candidate’s COVID obsession and anti-vaxxer status. Were the Canadian truckers freedom loving patriots, or whiny entitled far right anti-science nut jobs? Join us, and let us know if ‘Bitcoin solves this’™.
P.S. I want to drown Bitcoin in a bathtub.
American Scream and I discuss the latest happenings on Reddit, including censorship of /r/buttcoin (gasp!), Reddit’s love of crypto, and the eternal sunshine that private for profit corporations bestow upon the world.
By the way, did you know the SEC is going after Binance? Join us for IO Radio #10 and listen to two grown men cry about how Admins have taken away their favourite toys because they’re big meanies who don’t want us making fun of subreddits whose most helpful posts are links to suicide prevention hotlines.
P.S. I suddenly want pizza.
American Scream and I react to the “Biggest Bitcoin Ballers” panel discussion at Bitcoin 2023 in Miami.
Watch Saint Adam Back, joined by fellow cultists Jack Mallers & Matt Odell, preach the gospel of FOMO and evangelize the sacred tenant of HODL. How much fiat are you donating to the church of crypto? It might be time to sell your worldly possessions and become a Bitcoin monk, while some might pray, the truly devout DCA.
In IO Radio #9 we provide colour commentary while three of the world’s biggest con-artists try to take every last dollar you have and stuff it into their already overflowing pockets. The only thing on stage scarcer that the panellist’s sense of empathy is a real world use case.
To finish, we share a sneak peak of highlights from day 1 of Bitcoin 2023. Enjoy!