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1/ Dear @alexhern,
I have just listened to your podcast for the @guardian regarding #bitcoin
. You open by saying you first wrote about #bitcoin seven years ago yet you keep recycling false narratives.
cc @rachel_hump https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2021/jan/25/will-bitcoin-ever-be-a-viable-currency
I have just listened to your podcast for the @guardian regarding #bitcoin
. You open by saying you first wrote about #bitcoin seven years ago yet you keep recycling false narratives.cc @rachel_hump https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2021/jan/25/will-bitcoin-ever-be-a-viable-currency
2/ Would you like to do a follow up where someone who understands #bitcoin can respond to your criticism?
I assume as a responsible journalist your goal is to ensure you keep to the code of practice of ethical journalism, including "Accuracy and standards for factual reporting"
can respond to your criticism? I assume as a responsible journalist your goal is to ensure you keep to the code of practice of ethical journalism, including "Accuracy and standards for factual reporting"
3/ I operate a popular #bitcoin podcast and would be able to assemble the right candidates to help you with this.
The result would be that you could release a new podcast for your listeners which is balanced and fair.
podcast and would be able to assemble the right candidates to help you with this.The result would be that you could release a new podcast for your listeners which is balanced and fair.
4/ While the story of James Howells throwing away a hard drive with 7,500 #bitcoin might create clicks because it is essentially worth around £172m, him being an irresponsible idiot is not a fair representation of #bitcoin .
might create clicks because it is essentially worth around £172m, him being an irresponsible idiot is not a fair representation of #bitcoin .
5/ There are far more interesting stories such as how activists in Belarus are being funded with #bitcoin as they attempt to overthrow a stolen election by dictator Lukashenko, or similar with activists in Nigeria protesting to #EndSARS 
.
as they attempt to overthrow a stolen election by dictator Lukashenko, or similar with activists in Nigeria protesting to #EndSARS .
6/ Listen, I get it, traditional publishers face many challenges now, clicks are important as you need to sell those pesky banner ads.
But Alex, as a journalist, wouldn't you rather report on important human rights issues over some moron looking through a rubbish tip?
But Alex, as a journalist, wouldn't you rather report on important human rights issues over some moron looking through a rubbish tip?
7/ Truth is he has lost this #bitcoin . Despite it being worth nearly £200m, he first realised when it was worth £4.5m. He probably would have sold back then.
The value will continue to grow, are you going to recycle this silly story every year?
. Despite it being worth nearly £200m, he first realised when it was worth £4.5m. He probably would have sold back then.The value will continue to grow, are you going to recycle this silly story every year?
8/ Your description of Bitcoin to your co-host was "Imagine if leaving your car idling, solved sudokus that you could then trade for heroin."
This is like me describing journalism as:
"Imagine leaving monkeys, tapping random keys to create propaganda."
Insulting right?
This is like me describing journalism as:
"Imagine leaving monkeys, tapping random keys to create propaganda."
Insulting right?
9/ After that silly description, you actually do a very good job of explaining how #bitcoin works.
Sadly you followed this up using the false narrative of #bitcoin being an environmental disaster.
works.Sadly you followed this up using the false narrative of #bitcoin
being an environmental disaster.
10/ If that wasn't bad enough, after stating that people use #bitcoin as a savings technology, you said the next two most popular uses are drug dealing and ransomware. Alex, this is not 2017.
Less than 0.34% of #bitcoin use is for illicit activity. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/24/overall-bitcoin-related-crime-fell-last-year-but-one-type-of-crypto-hack-is-booming.html
as a savings technology, you said the next two most popular uses are drug dealing and ransomware. Alex, this is not 2017.Less than 0.34% of #bitcoin
use is for illicit activity. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/24/overall-bitcoin-related-crime-fell-last-year-but-one-type-of-crypto-hack-is-booming.html
11/ And this has fallen from 2% a year earlier. It is lazy and provable wrong. The primary uses for #bitcoin are:
- Saving
- Payments
- Settlements
- Inflation hedge
You should take a look at @ln_strike by @JackMallers which is reducing the cost of sending money globally.
are:- Saving
- Payments
- Settlements
- Inflation hedge
You should take a look at @ln_strike by @JackMallers which is reducing the cost of sending money globally.
12/ Right now only a moron would use #bitcoin for drug dealing. The open ledger would give law enforcement a record of all your transactions.
I tell you what drug dealers also use, pound notes, cars, mobile phones and pavements. Shall we ban pavements?
for drug dealing. The open ledger would give law enforcement a record of all your transactions.I tell you what drug dealers also use, pound notes, cars, mobile phones and pavements. Shall we ban pavements?
13/ You discuss the pseudonymous nature of #bitcoin like it is a bug, this is a feature. We are living in an increasingly Orwellian state where the government surveillance tracks our every action.
Is this the world you want to live in?
like it is a bug, this is a feature. We are living in an increasingly Orwellian state where the government surveillance tracks our every action.Is this the world you want to live in?
14/ Maybe this is okay for you in your middle-class English life, but what about those people living under authoritarian rule, where certain beliefs can have you thrown in jail?
Financial privacy is the bedrock of freedom.
Financial privacy is the bedrock of freedom.
15/ I agree with you that ransomware cases are not great for #bitcoin PR. Hacking and viruses have been an issue since the birth of the Internet, companies and institutions need to ensure they protect themselves against this, whether #bitcoin exists or not.
PR. Hacking and viruses have been an issue since the birth of the Internet, companies and institutions need to ensure they protect themselves against this, whether #bitcoin exists or not.
16/ I take particular issue where you discuss #bitcoin is advertised as a get rich quick scheme? Please tell me where and who is advertising this as I will tear them a new one.
Government money and inflation is a get poor slowly scheme with #bitcoin a free-market opt-out.
is advertised as a get rich quick scheme? Please tell me where and who is advertising this as I will tear them a new one.Government money and inflation is a get poor slowly scheme with #bitcoin
a free-market opt-out.
17/ I could go on and on. My offer is available to you, if you would like to do a follow up where we work through your criticisms and correct them then let me know, I am just down the road in sunny Bedford.
I think your listeners deserve something a little more accurate.
I think your listeners deserve something a little more accurate.
