pull down to refresh

I like Jack, he is very passionate about Bitcoin. But at the same time, Strike is a KYC custodial app no better than Coinbase. They block and close accounts, report everything to the state and can be one day shut down. It is against the spirit of Bitcoin, so I will never use it.
reply
No better than Coinbase?
  • Strike has supported lightning for years. Coinbase just started
  • Coinbase partners with the feds doing chan analytics
  • Coinbase has focused on shilling scams and shitcoins for many years instead of bitcoin.
I do not think that is a fair comparison at all. Strike is a bridge and any business in places like the US has a choice. Cease existing or abide by the ridiculous laws around money.
IMO Strike and Cash app while far from perfect could do much worse.
Out of curiosity. Do you use a bank? Do you have credit cards? If you don't good for you. Most people do have those in places like the US. To then act like Strike is bad is kinda silly.
reply
Sure I use a bank to pay utility bills, but I use cash everywhere else and I don't show the government my bitcoin at all.
reply
You get what I'm saying? You use a bank because you have to. If you don't like Strike and can acquire bitcoin in No KYC ways that's better. But Strike exists to fill a need. One we hope will cease some day.
reply
Strike is just another Paypal over LN (aka the new neobanks), fooling people saying that is a "bitcoin company". They are just perpetuating the use of fiat, even that the user can buy sats, they still want the user to spend fiat in shops. If you still have/use fiat bank acc or cards, then use those directly. If you want to use bitcoin then use bitcoin. But don't pretending. Remember: fiat delenda est, so we must do everything possible to avoid using fiat in any form.
reply
That may be true. Not my point. My point is they provide a service people want. Clearly. People also want Paypal. They are different from Paypal in my opinion but that's opinion.
What is your point? Is it just that they are money transmitting service that works inside the state system and use dollars? I have never heard anyone say Strike and other companies are sovereign bitcoin companies. I think people get it. Mallers even promotes people using self custody. We are all grown ups here. We can understand tradeoffs and decide where we want to compromise.
It is admirable that you don't use these services (I presume). You're more based I guess. I just see little value in dunking on companies like Strike that are trying to do things different from Coinbase when they can. I think Stike is a net positive not a net negative.
reply
they provide a service people want
People are dumb sheeple, they consume what they see and is promoted. They think with their ass.
For US people maybe Strike is a good option to buy sats and move them to self-custody. Even that are way more better ways to acquire sats, US people are still trapped into the fiat world and using apps like Strike and Cashapp.
US people will be really fucked up soon if they do not escape from this fiat world mindset.
And yes, I do not have any bank account from 2018. Why? Because I really wanted and I fought hard for that. But yeah some people like complacency into fiat world, because why not, NgU...
reply
I don't disagree with most of that.
Prosperity and laziness are the two greatest weaknesses of people in the US. This is why I have more hope for people in "less developed" countries getting bitcoin and adopting it on mass.
I just see little value in pretending Paypal, Coinbase, CashApp, and Strike all the same. They are in some ways but two of those are not like the others.
Thanks for sharing that note btw.
Sounds like this guy sent coin joined UTXOs on-chain to Strike. I believe the same outcome would happen on any US based exchange. I do not think this is Strike specific.
I believe they could have avoided this by using your cleaning method and send sats over lighting vs. onchain but honestly this use case is not great. I would never recommend anyone use any KYC service this way.
Spend bitcoin using sovereign wallets/tools. If you must convert to fiat there are other ways.
reply
I think Jack Mallers is a net positive for bitcoin. Hoping we see more platforms that offer n-kyc.
reply
I feel the same way. I could be wrong. Don't make hero's out of people simply providing a service. But, he has made many decisions that show his ideology. Same goes for Jack Dorsey. I think many bitcoiners have never started a business. When you do you are deciding to play in the state system. I support those that pursue grey markets but those that don't are pretty limited by the state.
reply
Does anyone know where the acquisition offer is discussed? I couldn’t find it.
reply
12min mark
reply
good chat
reply
why i respect mallers is because his motivation is not just about financial success but also about making a significant impact on people's lives, particularly in countries with high inflation and unstable currencies
reply
He being a fool?
reply
Love this guy
reply
As a guy, he seems like a cool dude to grab a drink with. Always loved his vibe.
reply