For over 40 years, Svengoolie has kept horror hosting alive and well, first in Chicago and now nationwide. Above, here’s he is in all his ghoulish glory, as portrayed by master portrait artist Drew Friedman — the John Singer Sargent of our time (if Sargent had painted horror hosts, aging comedians, and character actors in all their warted, wrinkled splendor).

Friedman’s hyper-detailed style brings out every curl of Svengoolie’s wig and glint in his theatrical makeup, while the pink shirt and black formal wear pop against the spiderweb backdrop. The illustration captures the mischievous spirit of America’s beloved horror host, who has spent decades making bad movies good and good movies not-quite-but-arguably-almost great with his trademark mix of corny jokes and rubber chickens.

The portrait joins Friedman’s extensive gallery of cultural figures, from presidents to comedians to comic book creators. His precise, documentary-like approach pairs perfectly with Svengoolie’s blend of horror and humor. The piece was commissioned by MeTV’s marketing department for use in Svengoolie promotions.

Previously:
• Enjoy an old school Halloween horror marathon hosted by artist Skinner.
• Archie McPhee’s Rubber Chicken Museum opens in Seattle

May 1st, 2025 – Seoul, Republic of Korea

Global Bitcoin leaders, listed companies, and innovators will gather in Seoul on June 4–6 for Bitcoin Seoul 2025 — Asia’s flagship event shaping Bitcoin’s future.

Bitcoin Seoul 2025, Asia’s largest Bitcoin-focused conference, will take place from June 4 to 6, 2025, at two of Seoul’s most iconic venues: Signiel Seoul and SKY31 Convention.

Following its successful debut in 2024, Bitcoin Seoul quickly established itself as a key fixture in the global Bitcoin conference circuit.

The inaugural event featured leading Bitcoin thinkers such as Saifedean Ammous and Jimmy Song, and attracted thousands of industry professionals and community members to Seoul to exchange insights on Bitcoin’s evolution and future.

Building on this momentum, the 2025 edition promises an expanded scale and a deeper examination of Bitcoin’s global trajectory. 

More than just a conference, Bitcoin Seoul 2025 will feature a multidimensional program spanning Bitcoin strategy, regulation, finance, policy, and real-world adoption.

Amid the growing trend of publicly listed companies in Asia and Europe adopting Bitcoin as a treasury asset, executives who have led these initiatives—including from MetaPlanet and The Blockchain Group—will be participating in the event to share first-hand experiences from the corporate frontlines.

Additionally, Dennis Porter, who spearheaded the Bitcoin strategic reserve movement in the United States, will offer insights into Bitcoin’s expanding adoption at the corporate and governmental levels.

Highlighting real-world adoption

El Salvador’s Mi Primer Bitcoin and Bitcoin Beach—trailblazers in national Bitcoin integration—will lead a special session titled “El Salvador Bitcoin Adoption Showcase.”

The event will also welcome Bitcoin community leaders from around the world, including the United States, Australia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Indonesia, who will share firsthand experiences of community-driven Bitcoin adoption across different continents and regions.

The 2025 program will feature: 

• Bitcoin Policy Summit: Seoul Edition — Insights into regulatory trends and Bitcoin-related public policy
• Bitcoin Finance Forum — addressing institutional investment, Bitcoin treasury management, and macroeconomic perspectives; 
• Global Bitcoin Community Assembly — A global forum for Bitcoin grassroots and community leaders

In addition, attendees will be able to experience live Lightning Network payments at the on-site Lightning Market, showcasing Bitcoin’s real-world utility.

Event Structure:

• VIP Day (June 4): Exclusive sessions and a private reception for global executives and institutional participants
• Industry Day (June 5): Focused on enterprise use cases and strategic insights from publicly listed companies and institutional players.
• Public Day (June 6): Dedicated to Bitcoin finance, adoption stories, and infrastructure innovations, welcoming community members, builders, and enthusiasts.

As institutional interest in Bitcoin accelerates following the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States, Bitcoin Seoul 2025 positions Seoul as a key node in the emerging global Bitcoin finance ecosystem.

Countries including South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong are rapidly integrating Bitcoin-based financial products and treasury strategies — reflecting a broader shift in the global financial landscape. Bitcoin Seoul 2025 aims to capture this momentum and further elevate Seoul’s status as a leading hub for Bitcoin-driven innovation and dialogue.

This year, dozens of domestic and international companies are slated to sponsor the event. Among them is Bithumb, one of Korea’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges, recently ranked #1 in the Korea Exchange Brand Reputation Index, signaling strong market trust.

Ryan, the organizer of Bitcoin Seoul, commented: “Bitcoin Seoul 2025 will unite the global Bitcoin community, extending far beyond Asia to connect innovators worldwide. We are committed to creating a forum that integrates Bitcoin policy, finance, adoption, and community development.”

About Bitcoin Seoul

Bitcoin Seoul is the largest Bitcoin-only conference in Asia and serves as a central hub connecting the global and Asian Bitcoin ecosystems. The team is dedicated to creating key momentum for the sustainable growth of Bitcoin businesses and communities, while accelerating global Bitcoin adoption.

By providing a dynamic stage for innovation and collaboration, we aim to contribute to the mainstream adoption of Bitcoin. More than just a conference, their mission is to foster connection, expansion, and action within the Bitcoin ecosystem.

For more information on registration, sponsorship, or speaking opportunities, users can visit:

https://bitcoinseoul.kr

Contact

Event Manager
Sophia Park
Bitcoin Seoul 2025
contact@bitcoinseoul.kr

Nigerian crypto startups remain stable despite a tumultuous year in Africa’s largest market. This assessment is based on statistics related to funding crypto startups. Meanwhile, another “untruthful, the better” crypto platform has been unraveled, leaving potential victims behind. Finally, Wiki Finance Expo will be coming to South Africa in August 2025.

Explore these stories that shape the headlines of this week’s Continental Cryptography.

Explore: Best New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in 2025

Nigeria’s Crypto News: Web3 Company Raises $20 Million in 2024

VC Firm Hashed Emergent Report I’ll check The Nigerian blockchain startup raised at least $20 million in 2024. The report found that Nigeria accounts for around 3% of the world’s blockchain developers. Some of them contributed to the construction Top 1000X Crypto Projects of 2025.

This figure is robust for an industry that faced unprecedented regulatory oversight in 2024. The Nigerian blockchain scene closely monitored the movements by authorities following the public crackdown on vinance, raising concerns about the wider crackdown.

This amount is slightly lower than in 2023, but it reflects important research and innovation in this market. Nigeria offers significant untapped potential for crypto development as the largest crypto market on the continent.

Nigeria and Kenya Crypto News: CBEX Collapse Leaves Victims

The list of suspicious crypto platforms that have collapsed has grown dramatically over the past week. CBEX claims to be a crypto investment platform; It fell It was sunk with customer funds.

➥Reaction afterwards

The collapse led to widespread rage as long as customers in Ibadan and Kenya began looting Oke-Ado’s CBEX office.

Now people have decided to dig deeper for information about cbex

After that they noticed that CBEX was not registered pic.twitter.com/q1sciozium

– Invincible (@thee_invincible) April 16, 2025

The platform promises an astounding 100% return on investment each month, matching some performance Top Solanamime Coin With the last leg. This claim far outweighs the claims of legitimate investment platforms and could represent an unsustainable business model.

CBEX is currently facing allegations of operation as a Ponzi scheme. Historically, the Ponzi scheme uses new investors’ funds to lure users, leading to a lagpur in which the old investors pay until they reach critical mass, and the operator disappears with the user’s funds.

This model appears to be a CBEX story that affects users in Kenya and Nigeria. The collapse has added thousands of users to the unfortunate statistics of crypto fraud victims.

South African Crypto News: Wiki Finance Expo arrives in Johannesburg in August

Wiki Finance Expo will be like that held On August 16th, 2025, in Johannesburg, South Africa. Organizers have booked the Sandton Convention Centre for the event, with the aim of hosting the largest Web3 and Fintech events on the continent.

The event expects up to 10,000 attendees and brings together thousands of leaders from Web3, Fintech, AI, payment systems and related departments to share ideas with the network. Famous guests include Tron’s Justin Sun and Social Media Influencer Marionaufal.

(sauce)

Blockchain and FinTech Summit provide international startup opportunities to enter the growing African market and a platform for local entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas on the international stage.

Discover: 16 Next Cryptocurrency Explosions in 2025: Experts’ Cryptocurrency Prediction and Analysis

Africa’s Cryptography Week after Review: Nigerian crypto companies raised $20 million, and CBEX first appeared in 99 Bitcoin, leaving the exits in Kenya and Nigeria, South Africa.

The Philippines is set to host Crypto Vision Conference—a national blockchain and digital assets host in—Makati, Metro Manila on 26 April 2025.

Organised by Museigen.io, the event—Crypto Vision Conference 2025 (CVCPH2025)—will focus on key developments in blockchain technology, decentralised finance, NFTs, and emerging financial infrastructure in the Philippines. The conference aims to bring together stakeholders from various sectors, including government, banking, fintech, and software development.

Participants will include regulators, company executives, developers, and content creators.

What to expect at CVCPH2025?

The one-day event will take place from 9:00 to 19:00 PHT and is scheduled to include keynote presentations, panel discussions, technical workshops, and interactive sessions. Topics will cover the current state and future outlook of blockchain applications in the country such as:

• The Philippines’ Crypto Adoption Surge – What’s Next?
• NFTs Beyond Art – Real-World Use Cases
• Play-to-Earn & GameFi – The Future of Blockchain Gaming
• The Metaverse Revolution – Work, Play, and Virtual Economies
• Meme Coins – From Hype to Utility
• DeFi & AI in Crypto – The Next Wave of Digital Finance

Workshops will provide demonstrations on token creation, cryptocurrency trading, and basic web3 tools. In addition to formal sessions, the conference will feature interactive activities and a networking session at the end of the day.

The full list of speakers confirmed for the conference will include:

• Fermin D. Barrenechea III, Co-Founder, Museigen
• Usec. David Almirol, Undersecretary for eGovernment, Department of Information and Communications Technology
• Ralph Idio, Business Development Director, Coins.ph
• Atty. Paolo Ong, Assistant Director, PhiliFinTech Innovation Office, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Philippines
• Catherine Casas, SVP & Head of Emerging Technology Business Group, UnionBank of the Philippines
• Wei Zhou, CEO, Coins.ph
• Ron Benito, VASP MSB Start-up Founder | Banker | Fintech Innovator
• Mench Dizon, Country Lead, YGG Pilipinas
• Patricia Arro, Core Contributor, OpenGuild, Polkadot SEA
• Lawrence Ferrer, President & CEO, CIS Bayad Center
• Jason Fernandez, Co-Founder, AdLunam Inc., and Altcoin Observer
• Myrtle Anne Ramos, CEO, Block Tides
• Gail Macapagal, Founder, Women in Blockchain
• Paul Soliman, CEO/CTO, BayaniChain
• Eliezer Rabadon, CEO, DvCode Technologies Inc. & Technical Lead, ICP Philippines
• Nadya Bester, Co-Founder, AdLunam Inc., and Altcoin Observer
• MJ Aguilar, Head of Blockchain Development, XDEFI Wallet
• James Genove, The Resistance Trader
• Giu Comia, Web3 Content Creator
• Gerry Go “Cryptoh Pare”, Web3 Content Creator
• Miguel Avila, Impact Web3 – South East Asia Advisor

Other participants include founders of local blockchain startups, web3 developers, and members of the country’s growing digital asset community.

The conference is supported by partners such as GCash, Coins.ph, BitMEX, and various regional web3 groups including web3 Bulacan and CryptoBilis Philippines.

What’s next for Crypto Vision Conference?

According to the organisers, CVCPH2025 is part of a broader effort to promote dialogue around blockchain and digital finance in the region. Whilst this year’s event is being held in Makati, similar events may follow as part of a wider push to support education and coordination across stakeholders in the Philippines.

Museigen.io has indicated that insights, feedback, and developments from the event will inform future initiatives. A post-event gathering will be held in the evening to allow participants to continue discussions and explore potential collaborations.

More information, including registration details, can be found via Museigen.io or the official event page.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has unveiled plans to host four more crypto-focused roundtables in Washington, D.C., as part of its broader initiative to reshape digital asset regulation.

According to a March 25 statement, these sessions will explore key areas such as crypto trading, custody, tokenization, and DeFi.

The first event, Between a Block and a Hard Place: Tailoring Regulation for Crypto Trading, is set for April 11. Discussions on custody, tokenization, and DeFi will follow on April 25, May 12, and June 6.

All roundtables will be available via live stream on the SEC’s website to encourage public engagement.

These events are part of the Commission’s ongoing effort to modernize its oversight of the crypto sector. Since launching its Crypto Task Force, the financial regulator has emphasized the need for balance—protecting investors while supporting innovation.

The initiative builds on the Commission’s first crypto roundtable on March 21. Despite varying opinions, participants shared a common demand—regulatory clarity. The dialogue emphasized the need for updated policies that better reflect the unique challenges of crypto markets.

Why SEC roundtables?

According to the SEC, the planned roundtables would help the “Commission draw clear regulatory lines, provide realistic paths to registration, craft sensible disclosure frameworks, and deploy enforcement resources judiciously.”

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, who leads the Crypto Task Force, stressed the importance of direct engagement with industry experts. She noted that the sessions offer meaningful debate opportunities, helping shape a more effective regulatory path forward.

According to her:

“The Crypto Task Force roundtables are an opportunity for us to hear a lively discussion among experts about what the regulatory issues are and what the Commission can do to solve them.”

Meanwhile, this development comes amid a dramatic shift in the SEC’s stance under the Trump administration.

The agency has dismantled its crypto-enforcement program and dropped several high-profile cases and investigations involving firms like Coinbase, Kraken, Ripple, Gemini, and OpenSea.

The changes point to a significant transition—from broad enforcement actions to a clearer, more structured regulatory environment for the US crypto industry.

Mentioned in this article

US President Donald Trump will host the first White House Crypto Summit on March 7, bringing together industry leaders to discuss regulatory policies, stablecoin oversight, and the potential role of Bitcoin in the US financial system.

The attendees will include “prominent founders, CEOs, and investors from the crypto industry,” along with members of the President’s Working Group on Digital Assets, according to an announcement shared by the White House “AI and crypto czar,” David Sacks, in a March 1 X post.

The summit will be chaired by Sacks and administered by Bo Hines, the executive director of the Working Group.

Sacks was appointed White House Crypto and AI and Czar on Dec. 6, 2024, to “work on a legal framework so the Crypto industry has the clarity it has been asking for, and can thrive in the U.S.,” Trump wrote in the announcement. 

Part of Sacks’ role will be to “safeguard” online speech and “steer us away from Big Tech bias and censorship,” Trump added.

Trump has previously signaled that he intends to make crypto policy a national priority and make the US a global hub for blockchain innovation. The upcoming summit may set the tone for crypto regulations over the next four years.

Sacks only has two years to push through pro-crypto policies before the 2026 midterm elections in the US, Joe Doll, the general counsel for NFT marketplace Magic Eden, told Cointelegraph in an interview.

According to Doll, the threat of a gridlocked government could stifle regulations, and the current administration must push through pro-crypto policies while still in control of both chambers of Congress.

Related: Bitcoin risks deeper drop if $75K support fails amid macro concerns

Stablecoin, Bitcoin reserve regulation remain focus

While there are no additional details about the summit’s agenda, stablecoin regulation and legislation related to a potential strategic Bitcoin (BTC) reserve have been at the forefront of regulatory discussions in the US.

The White House announcement came days after Jeremy Allaire, co-founder of Circle, the company behind the world’s second-largest stablecoin, said that stablecoin issuers worldwide should be required to register with US authorities.

Citing consumer protection, Allaire argued that US dollar-based stablecoin issuers should not get a “free pass,” enabling them to “ignore the US law and go do whatever the hell you want wherever and sell into the United States.” Allaire told Bloomberg:

“Whether you are an offshore company or based in Hong Kong, if you want to offer your US dollar stablecoin in the US, you should need to register in the US just like we have to go register everywhere else.”

The upcoming summit may shed more light on upcoming stablecoin legislation, considering Sacks previously stated that stablecoins could “extend the dollar’s dominance internationally.”

Related: Altseason 2025: ‘Most altcoins won’t make it,’ CryptoQuant CEO says

Interest in a US-based strategic Bitcoin reserve is also on the rise. So far, at least 24 states have introduced legislation related to a potential Bitcoin reserve, Bitcoinlaws data shows.

However, the state-level Bitcoin reserve initiatives may not represent a pivotal moment for Bitcoin; they are only a “symbolic move” unless a significant purchase is announced, according to Iliya Kalchev, dispatch analyst at Nexo.

“Unless the hearing unveils a near-term purchase plan or a major policy shift, the market’s response will likely be mild, as Texas’ pro-crypto stance is already well known,” Kalchev told Cointelegraph.

Bitcoin has averaged over 1,077% returns over the past five years, showing the lucrative potential of a long-term holding strategy.

Magazine: Unstablecoins: Depegging, bank runs and other risks loom

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/trump-to-host-first-white-house-crypto-summit-on-march-7/feed/ 0 22613 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/austin-university-uatx-is-working-to-host-satoshi-papers-symposium-in-partnership-with-the-texas-bitcoin-foundation-bitcoin-policy-institute-and-unchained/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/austin-university-uatx-is-working-to-host-satoshi-papers-symposium-in-partnership-with-the-texas-bitcoin-foundation-bitcoin-policy-institute-and-unchained/#respond Fri, 28 Feb 2025 07:02:32 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/austin-university-uatx-is-working-to-host-satoshi-papers-symposium-in-partnership-with-the-texas-bitcoin-foundation-bitcoin-policy-institute-and-unchained/

Austin University (UATX) is working to host Satoshi Papers Symposium in partnership with the Texas Bitcoin Foundation, Bitcoin Policy Institute and Unchained

press release

Austin University (UATX) is working hard at the Texas Bitcoin Foundation (TBF), Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI), Unchained and Asset Management to host Satoshi Papers Symposium, an academic conference celebrating the launch of TBF’s first book. Satoshi’s paper: Reflection on the post-Bitcoin political economy.

Sato’s Essaypublished by BPI and edited by TBF Executive Director and fellow BPI Natalie Smolensky, takes inspiration from 18th-century American debates between federalists and anti-federalists about the role of government in protecting individual and community freedom. The book features open exchange of ideas among scholars about the relationship between money and nation in the post-Bitcoin world.

“Sato’s Essay Natalie Smolensky, founder and executive director of the Texas Bitcoin Foundation, said:

Bitcoin Policy Institute, a DC-based policy think tank, will be releasing the book’s publication imprint Sato’s Essay.

“Starting a Publication Imprint is a natural next step for BPI as we continue to advance the Bitcoin Policy Intellectual Foundation. Sato’s Essay “We’re looking forward to seeing you in the future,” said Grant McCarty, co-founder of BPI.

Atsoshi Papers Symposium, which will be held at the UATX campus on April 16, 2025, features presentations by the authors of the atsoshi Papers Symposium. Sato’s Essay He is also a BPI fellow, including Avik Roy, Josh Hendrickson, Craig Warmke and Natalie Smolenski. Faculty at Austin University discuss the discussions the authors have in their books.

“Austin University is committed to a fearless pursuit and rigorous debate of truth about ideas that shape our world,” says Chad Tebnott, Austin University’s SVP of Progress and Communications. “Satoshi Papers Symposium is a perfect example of its commitment, bringing together scholars and students to explore the economic and political implications of Bitcoin. We are honored that UATX will be the platform for convening for this important conversation.”

The symposium independently encourages student participation. Thanks to generous donations from Strive Asset Management, a financial services company co-founded by Vivek Ramaswamy, all students in UATX’s first class will receive copies of Sato’s Essay An invitation to participate in discussions during the symposium.

Matt Cole, CEO of Strive, said: In light of the inevitable volatility that characterizes the early lives of rapidly monetizing new assets, deep education is essential for investors to build and maintain convictions in their allocations. Sato’s Essay It is an important contribution to Bitcoin education and we are honored to partner with holding the symposium. ”

The symposium is generously supported by Unchained, Bitcoin’s Austin native financial services company.

“We’re looking forward to seeing you in the future,” said Joe Kelly, Unchained co-founder and CEO and director of Texas Bitcoin Foundation. Sato’s Essay It challenges you to think critically about economic sovereignty. By allowing individuals to control their own Bitcoin, we ignore it and create something real. We are proud to support this symposium and the broader efforts to ensure economic freedom for future generations. ”

Unchained will hold public receptions, book sales and signatures Sato’s Essay At Bitcoin Commons on the evening of April 16th.

About Austin University

Austin University (UATX) is a new private, nonprofit, nonprofit university in Austin, Texas, dedicated to fearless pursuit of truth. Its innovative faculty curriculum combines rich inheritances from the past with the most persuasive ideas and initiatives of the present. Each student will undertake a four-year Polaris project to build, create and discover something that will serve humanity. Austin University’s first freshman class began its journey in the fall of 2024. Find out more at uaustin.org.

About the Texas Bitcoin Foundation

The Texas Bitcoin Foundation (TBF) is a public charity dedicated to research and education on Bitcoin and the political and economics. Founded in 2021 by Natalie Smolensky, the foundation brings together academics in disciplines around the world to explore the social and political influence of decentralized digital technologies. For more information, please visit txbitcoinfoundation.org.

About Bitcoin Policy Research Institute

The Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank located in Washington, DC. It is dedicated to educating policymakers and the public about Bitcoin and disruptive digital technologies, providing research-based insights to inform US sound policies. For more information, please visit btcpolicy.org.

About Unchained

UNChained is the most trusted name in Premium Bitcoin Financial Services, protecting over 100,000 BTC through a joint custody model that combines institutional-grade security with white glove services for the wealthy, families and businesses. Find out more at Unchained.com.

About efforts

Co-founded by Vivek Ramaswamy in 2022, Strive is a financial services company with a mission to maximize the value of its clients through incompatible capitalism. The company has grown rapidly to manage its $1.7 billion assets since the launch of its first fund in August 2022, and is directly competing with the world’s largest financial institutions by strengthening Americans’ sole focus on maximizing shareholder value. With an effort, he recently launched the Wealth Management Business Unit to provide true financial freedom, including a coordinated integration of Bitcoin into the everyday American portfolio. For more information, please visit strive.com.

Argentinian President Javier Milei said it would be “an honor” for Argentina to host the next edition of Devconnect, a gathering of independent events that foster the growth of the Ethereum ecosystem. 

Milei made the statement in response to Vitalik Buterin’s praise of Argentina’s Ethereum community. He said the energy and determination of builders based in the country are real and the event should be held there.

The Ethereum co-founder assessed that the recent LIBRA memecoin scandal should not be seen as a reason to stop believing in crypto but as a motivation to spread education.

He added:

“I continue to be very optimistic about Argentina and Latam’s contributions and role in the space.”

In another X post, Buterin suggested that the next edition of Devconnect should be hosted in Argentina. He said this could be a “great opportunity” to showcase good examples of crypto usage to the Argentinian community and then tagged Milei in the post.

Milei responded via social media:

“THANK YOU VERY MUCH VITALIK BUTERIN  FOR YOUR WORDS ABOUT ARGENTINE TALENT!!! It would be an honor for Argentina to host Devconnect. I agree that it would be a great opportunity for our country.”

According to Chainalysis’ “2024 Geography of Crypto Report,” Argentina has the 15th-largest crypto adoption index and leads Latin America in crypto value received, at an estimated $91.1 billion between 2023 and 2024.

LIBRA controversy

The interactions between the Argentinian President and the Ethereum co-founder come in the backdrop of significant controversy. Milei endorsed the memecoin LIBRA on Feb. 14, saying the token was a way to fund Argentinian ventures. 

The token reached a $4.5 billion valuation before crashing 95% over the weekend. A report by Nansen estimated that 86% of traders lost $251 million, and 70% of wallets trading the token over the weekend endured losses.

Hayden Davis, a key figure behind LIBRA, said in an interview that Milei had no financial stake in the token after the fiasco. Davis reportedly claimed to influence the Argentinian President by paying Milei’s sister.

Notably, Milei said he did not intend to promote the token and only shared it on social media as a gesture of good faith toward the industry.

Mentioned in this article

Author

Gino Matos

Reporter at CryptoSlate

Gino Matos is a law school graduate and a seasoned journalist with six years of experience in the crypto industry. His expertise primarily focuses on the Brazilian blockchain ecosystem and developments in decentralized finance (DeFi).

Editor

Assad Jafri

Editor & Reporter at CryptoSlate

AJ, a passionate journalist since Yemen’s 2011 Arab Spring, has honed his skills worldwide for over a decade. Specializing in financial journalism, he now focuses on crypto reporting.

SIA is a decentralized storage network that allows renters to keep their data safe and 100% private. Some of its main selling points is that SIA offers very competent prices per stored Terabyte of information due of its decentralized nature.

All transactions within the network are done using the SIA coin and there are three ways of getting your hands on it:

SIA Hosting vs Mining

Mining supports the decentralized nature of the SIA blockchain. Just like, say, Ethereum, SIA needs a lot of hashpower to stay decentralized and reliable. That’s why it’s performed using GPUs and ASICs (though as of today, only the latter is somewhat profitable).

Hosting, on the other hand, does not generate any SIA coins. Instead, hosts create the product SIA is offering, which is decentralized storage. Any coins you earn through hosting are coins someone paid to rent storage space from the network.

The SIA Coin – What to Do with It

You can trade, hold it (Sia-UI wallet) or you can use it to buy cheap cloud storage and keep your files safe there.

How to Host SIA

Let’s get into the meat of the article.

1) First and foremost, you need to comply with the minimum requirements:

2) Here are a few extras that might help you:

3) Getting the right software

Sia Hosting Hardware

Here is the hardware that i used for this sia hosting pc (below you will find other and maybe better alternatives as well)

NAS (Network Attached Storage) for Hosting SIA

Price Disclaimer

How to Set a SIA Host

Once you have everything ready, follow me along the following steps to install and configure your SIA host:

SIA Wallet and Host Manager Installation

1) Port Forwarding Router Setup

First of all we will have to forward the following ports: 9980, 9981, 9982, 9983. This can be done from your router. Here is a very useful article if this is new for you!

Sia Host After Few Days

Sia Host After 1 Year

All You Need to Know About SIA Host Rank

Also known as Host Scoring Metrics, your rank is what determines how many contracts you will get. When looking for a node to host their data, the renter introduces the price they are willing to pay and the system offers them the top hosts in that price category. This means that having low fees alone won’t necessarily get you more contracts. If you want to be on the top, here’s what you need to know:

The SIA network has nodes located on three servers all around the world that constantly monitor hosts for bandwidth, uptime and latency. Those tests are called ‘benchmarks’ and they determine the rank of the host. It’s okay to have better latency and upload/download speeds with one of them.

My Rank Is Decent But I Am Getting Few Contracts, What’s Wrong?

There are two factors that might affect your contracts:

SIA Mining

As for today, the only profitable way of mining SIA coin is by using an ASIC. GPU mining is possible but it’s no longer profitable. There was an incident with SIA bricking most existing ASICs by making an algorithm change, leaving only the Obelisk SC-1 units compatible with the new algo.As for today, those units are not on sale and even though they can be purchased from third party sites, the high price and low profitability combo makes them an option few people might be interested in.

In Conclusion

Hosting a SIA node isn’t for everyone but it’s quite straightforward and easy to do. If you haven’t already, make sure to check my analysis on hosting profitability. You will need that information to set the prices right.

If you can’t afford to run a powerful PC as a Sia host, you can get a RaspberryPi with 4GB RAM. Either way, give it a try but don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

I would like to thank Meije Sibbel (Co-founder & COO) from storewise.tech for proving me a lion’s share of the information I know about SIA hosting and renting. Meije Sibbel knows the ins and outs of SIA and he is currently developing the S3 API interface to Sia. Storewise.tech is platform that’s built on SIA that has similar functionalities to wetransfer.com. It’s a great platform and I can personally recommend it. I’ve been using it for a while now and I am not looking back.

Thank you for reading. As always, your comments, suggestions and questions are welcome.

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