Messari CEO Selkis Resigns After Controversial Political Posts

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CEO of Crypto Research Firm Messari Resigns After Series of Politically-Charged Tweets

July 19, 2024 The Daily Hodl

Messari Founder Ryan Selkis Accuses Martin Shkreli of Working Covertly to Hurt Trump’s Campaign Through DJT

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Crypto community reacts to Biden’s proposed crypto tax reporting rules

August 27, 2023 Coin Telegraph

Chris Perkins

Many prominent crypto commentators are concerned that this will make crypto firms even more reluctant to do business in the United States.

Several prominent crypto commentators have criticized the new crypto tax reporting rules recently put forth by United States president Joe Biden.

On Aug. 25, in an effort to catch crypto users avoiding taxes, the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) proposed brokers follow new rules for selling and trading digital assets. Brokers would use a new form to make tax filing easier and prevent cheating on taxes.

The Treasury indicated that the proposed rules would make digital asset reporting similar to reporting on other kinds of assets.

However, many in the crypto community believe the stringent rules will push the crypto industry even further away from the U.S.

Messari CEO, Ryan Selkis was among those who responded unfavorably to the news, believing that if Biden secures re-election, the crypto industry will not flourish in the country.

There's no future for crypto in the US if Biden is reelected. I'm sorry.

Move abroad, draft Newsom and hope for the best, or vote GOP where at least we know the top three candidates are less terrible on this issue.

Crypto has always been political. ‍

Have a nice weekend.
— Ryan Selkis (@twobitidiot) August 25, 2023

Likewise, Chris Perkins, president of crypto venture firm CoinFund holds the viewpoint that other countries have surged ahead of the U.S., and these rules will inevitably result in reduced innovation flowing into the country.

Rather than resorting to harsh crackdowns, he believes that simple and detailed rules that will allow safe innovation across the crypto industry is needed.

To clarify, I agree that other jurisdictions have seized the initiative and the U.S. has sadly fallen behind. We need proactive, nuanced policies that encourage and unlock responsible innovation across crypto verticals. Clarity is coming, one way or another. The time to engage…
— Christopher Perkins NYC (@perkinscr97) August 26, 2023

Meanwhile, others remain skeptical that neither the Democrats or the Republicans would adequately champion crypto interests in the U.S.

“I'm not confident that either party would be good for crypto. Though it definitely feels worse now than last presidency,” one user stated, as another pointed that the new rules raise privacy concerns:

“US devotion to income tax means they can NEVER accept private transactions on public ledgers without tax and sanction surveillance.”

On Aug. 25, Cointelegraph reported that Kristin Smith, CEO of the Blockchain Association, held reservations about merging digital asset reporting with traditional assets.

“It’s important to remember that the crypto ecosystem is very different from that of traditional assets, so the rules must be tailored accordingly and not capture ecosystem participants that don’t have a pathway to compliance," Smith stated.

This follows Biden’s suggestion to impose taxes on crypto mining in order to decrease mining operations.

In a budget proposal dated March 9, it was proposed that there would be an "excise tax equal to 30 percent of the costs of electricity used in digital asset mining.”

The crypto industry in the U.S. has repeatedly voiced concerns about regulatory choices affecting innovation within the nation.

On Aug. 13, Grayscale Investments CEO Michael Sonnenshein warned that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) constantly resorting to enforcement action will drive crypto firms out of the country.

“If every crypto issue needs to go to a court of law, then as a country, we are squashing the innovation taking place here,” Sonnenshein stated.

In the same vein, Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, recently indicated that the crypto industry is shifting away from the U.S. due to its slower crypto regulation process compared to other countries like Australia, United Kingdom and Singapore.

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If good UX is like driving auto, Web3 is ‘driving stick’ — UX designers

July 13, 2023 Coin Telegraph

0xDesigner

The high stakes of crypto applications mean developers often need to prioritize security — but that comes at the cost of poor user experience.

The current Web3 user experience (UX) is akin to driving a manual transmission car — there’s more control, but most users will find it unnecessarily clunky, according to several UX designers.

Over the years, discussion around mainstream adoption of Web3 has centered around the need to improve crypto’s user experience and “ease of use.”

However, in a July 12 tweet, Web3 UI/UX designer 0xDesigner argued that certain properties of blockchain make it challenging to build easy-to-use Web2-like applications.

Web2 vs Web3 UX

I was asked by a reporter from a crypto publication about the disparity between web2 and web3 UX. It’s a meaningful line of questioning that isn't covered enough. So I’m going to share some half-baked thoughts in hopes that it triggers more discourse.

Why is…
— 0xDesigner (@0xDesigner) July 12, 2023

According to 0XDesigner, one of the main issues with cryptocurrency applications is that every action is “irreversible” — there’s no “undo button” on the blockchain and mistakes are expensive. They added:

“Think of it this way: Web2 is like driving an automatic car. It’s straightforward; you get in, press the pedal and off you go. Web3, on the other hand, is more like driving stick.

“You need to understand the gears, the clutch and constantly monitor the tachometer; otherwise, you’ll damage the transmission or stall the car,” they added.

Speaking to Cointelegraph, 0xDesigner argued most of the “broader population” may not even care about the sovereignty (control and ownership) that blockchain offers.

The Web3 UX paradox

Thomas Ling, a former user interface (UI) designer for blockchain tech firm Immutable and Web2 gaming studio Riot Games, told Cointelegraph that UI is typically more simple in Web2 because with Web3, ownership and control are vested with the user.

While this makes Web3 unique, it adds more complications on the backend, Ling explained:

“Where a Web2 app may only need to show one step out of five, a Web3 app needs to show all five in order for a user to achieve an action and retain the value proposition of Web3.”

Because of this, Web3 UI/ UX designers are “limited” in the way that they can make “magic” happen in creating an easy-to-use application, explained Ling.

Got me thinking about UX/UI in crypto, oh and GM pic.twitter.com/ayEIbWQPDg
— irena (@irena_clarke) July 4, 2023

Ling said this is particularly challenging when product teams are faced with making design decisions with tradeoffs:

“It’s a bit of a paradox — by making Web3 flows simpler, we have to take away some control from the user, which starts to take away from the point of Web3.”

0xDesigner believes another problem lies in the lack of priority given to user experience in Web3 projects.

“From what I’ve seen, most product teams are engineering driven. The designer-to-developer ratios are lower than in Web2. That usually results in more technical solutions.”

This could be because of the high stakes in Web3, especially regarding financial applications, meaning that more staff will be focused on security and error prevention.

0xDesigner believes mass adoption of Web3 will come when there’s a truly useful application of it, like gaming and music.

“The adoption problem is usefulness first, not usability. It needs to be a good game or good music. I don’t think it will matter that it’s Web3.”

Cryptocurrency applications should also “feel invisible,” they added.

“I think the next crypto cycle will be driven by consumer apps that are powered by crypto, but users won’t know it’s crypto unless they look closely.”

In a contrasting view, Messari CEO Ryan Selkis downplayed the problem of UX/UI on adoption during a July 11 Twitter Spaces.

Just under 1 hour until our next On the Road to #Mainnet2023 Spaces! Join @twobitidiot, @bloomberg_seth & @mikeykremer as they dive into current crypto product solutions and their usefulness.

https://t.co/StNxv2kOoG pic.twitter.com/DzS8Vuxasg
— Messari (@MessariCrypto) July 11, 2023

“The wallets are fine, there’s definitely some things to be desired [...] but it’s really a lot of the off-chain, social and regulatory things that cloud long term adoption.

Collect this article as an NFT to preserve this moment in history and show your support for independent journalism in the crypto space.

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Republican crypto bill a ‘10x improvement’ on all others: Messari CEO

June 8, 2023 Coin Telegraph

Chester Pierce

Speaking in a Twitter Space hosted by Coinbase on June 7, Ryan Selkis praised the new crypto bill for providing new firms with a clear path to compliance.

Messari CEO Ryan Selkis has praised a newly proposed Republican crypto bill, commenting it is a “10x improvement” on all other crypto bills introduced to the United States Congress so far.

The “Digital Asset Market Structure” (DAMS) bill, introduced on June 1, proposes to establish a framework to fill the gaps in the regulatory process between the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and Securities Exchange Commission on activities related to crypto-assets.

Speaking at a Coinbase-hosted event on Twitter Spaces on June 7, Selkis explained that U.S. Representatives Patrick McHenry and Glenn Thompson have drafted a pathway for tokens to reach compliance through decentralization without instantly triggering securities laws.

https://t.co/xB0ebVq2vL
— Coinbase ️ (@coinbase) June 7, 2023

“How could tokens in their earliest stage come into compliance with securities laws on a temporary basis unless and until they were sufficiently decentralized?” Selkis asked rhetorically.

He went on to acknowledge the former work of U.S. Securities Exchange Commission Chair Hester Pierce, who released a “Safe Harbor” proposal in February 2020.

“A lot of the language that she had included in those proposals is now being worked out in legislative text [and] that's kind of made its way into this new bill.” He added:

“I do think that this is probably a 10x improvement versus anything that we've seen so far.”

The last similar crypto bill to hit the floor of Congress was the Digital Commodities Consumer Protection Act, which was introduced on August 3 to provide further supervision over the crypto industry following the collapse of FTX.

The Messari CEO’s comments were backed by TuongVy Le, head of regulatory and policy at Bain Capital Crypto, who added that DAMS finally gives token issuers “a path to compliance.”

“The issue that a lot of crypto issuers or token projects face is when you're launching a token, you don't become decentralized right away, right?” said Le.

Great to be on today with @iampaulgrewal @JBSDC @twobitidiot! @coinbase thanks for having me. There’s a lot going on right now, but we are fighting for progress and innovation and something better than the status quo. And we will get there! - onward! https://t.co/oHGhh6wssP
— TuongVy Le ️ (@TuongvyLe12) June 7, 2023

She explained that token issuers “need time to work towards that,” but while that’s in the works, the SEC can swoop in and “bring enforcement action against you.”

While Le considered this to have always been the “fundamental problem,” she remains hopeful that DAMS can resolve it once and for all:

“I think this bill addresses that. It gives token issuers a path to get there [...] in a really thoughtful way.”

Paul Grewal, the chief legal officer at Coinbase, also acknowledged the problems that many token issuers are tackling:

“Under the current law there really is no reasonable pathway for those assets that start out life as a security to evolve and involve in large part by decentralizing in a way that's recognized under the law.”

While there are many details to be ironed out, the Digital Asset Market Structure Discussion Draft is a strong step towards developing a regulatory regime that embraces innovation, maintains US industry presence and protects consumers.
— paulgrewal.eth (@iampaulgrewal) June 5, 2023

The bill was discussed in light of the SEC’s recent lawsuits filed against the two largest cryptocurrency exchanges — Binance on June 5 and Coinbase on June 6 — for allegedly breaking securities laws by offering tokens as unregistered securities.

The SEC now considers at least 67 cryptocurrencies to be classed as securities.

Among the most notable tokens the financial regulator deems to be securities are Binance Coin (BNB), Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), Polygon (MATIC) and Cosmos (ATOM).

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Bitcoin (BTC) Primed for Over 270% Explosion, Predicts Messari CEO Ryan Selkis – Here’s the Timeline

March 17, 2023 The Daily Hodl

From a $32 Billion Valuation to Financial Troubles: An In-Depth Look at the Rise and Fall of FTX

November 10, 2022 Bitcoin.com

Binance Proof-of-Reserve pledge gains support following FTX crisis

November 9, 2022 Coin Telegraph

Acquisition

The call for a more detailed disclosure of liquidity through the use of "Proof-of-Reserves" has been backed by many high-profile industry figures.

Following the liquidity crisis and acquisition of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao said his exchange will soon start a Proof-of-Reserves audit system to allow verification of its digital asset holdings.

In a Nov. 8 Twitter post, Zhao pledged to implement a Proof-of-Reserve mechanism at Binance to provide “full transparency” through the use of Merkle Trees — a data structure used to encode blockchain data more efficiently and securely.

All crypto exchanges should do merkle-tree proof-of-reserves.

Banks run on fractional reserves.
Crypto exchanges should not.@Binance will start to do proof-of-reserves soon. Full transparency.
— CZ Binance (@cz_binance) November 8, 2022

A Proof-of-Reserve audit is ordinarily conducted by an independent third party to ensure the custodian’s assets are owned as claimed.

The Binance CEO’s intention to implement Proof-of-Reserves comes after Binance agreed to buy rival cryptocurrency exchange FTX on Nov. 8, who’s been rumored to be on the brink of financial collapse despite CEO Sam Bankman-Fried initially dismissing the claims.

Cointelegraph contacted Binance to confirm if the exchange had begun implementing a Proof-of-Reserve system but did not immediately receive a response.

Chainlink (LINK) CEO Sergey Nazarov expressed his views in a Nov. 8 tweet that a cryptographic-based Proof-of-Reserves mechanism could paint investors with a more clear picture of the solvency situation of a trading venue or financial firm, and “is becoming the new industry standard.”

It is clear that cryptographically proving the solvency of trading venues and financial institutions is becoming the new industry standard. Proof of Reserves is a great example of a cryptographically guaranteed financial world that starts in crypto going on to mainstream finance. https://t.co/eZw1pj5706
— Sergey Nazarov (@SergeyNazarov) November 8, 2022

Meanwhile, crypto exchange Kraken has already implemented its “advanced cryptographic accounting procedure” to allow users to verify their token balances since Feb. 2022.

Crypto exchange OKX also announced its plans to roll out a Merkle tree-based Proof-of-Reserves audit system in a Nov. 8 Twitter post —- something they consider to be an “important step” in establishing a “baseline trust” in the industry.

The idea of more Proof-of-Reserve audits received near-full backing from the Twitter community, with crypto industry figures weighing in on the move by Binance.

Host of The Daily Gwei podcast, Anthony Sassano, and founder of open-source crypto exchange ShapeShift, Erik Voorhees, both suggested Proof-of-Reserves are already integrated into decentralized finance (DeFi) and automated by smart contracts.

Transparent proof-of-reserves:

✅ Wild West Defi
❌ Regulated and Compliant Centralized Exchanges https://t.co/T8QxZ4VOTE
— Erik Voorhees (@ErikVoorhees) November 7, 2022

The founder of crypto market intelligence platform Messari, Ryan Selkis, took things one step further, arguing that regulators should direct their attention to focus on the more centralized players in the industry.

The fact we are debating DeFi protocol regulation before responsible disclosures like proof-of-reserves and liquidity from the mega-funds like a16z and Alameda shows just how far off the ball we are on policy right now.
— Ryan Selkis (@twobitidiot) November 8, 2022

But not all agreed. Antonio Juliano, founder of crypto derivatives trading platform dYdX argued that a Proof-of-Reserves wouldn’t disclose all necessary information needed to verify an exchange's holdings.

The issue is that CEXs *can’t* do proof of reserves

So what if you show a wallet with $20B? How do you know the sum of user balances isn’t $30B?

How do you know if the entity has outstanding loans? How do you know what contracts they’ve entered into? https://t.co/lbL6YGD5Ze
— Antonio | dYdX (@AntonioMJuliano) November 8, 2022

Ryan Selkis

The Web3 UX paradox

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