number – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com Latest Crypto News Sun, 07 Sep 2025 13:51:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.7 https://i0.wp.com/earlybirdsinvest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cropped-New-Project-2024-12-17T235703.455.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 number – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com 32 32 240146708 I only give my real number to people, not companies https://earlybirdsinvest.com/i-only-give-my-real-number-to-people-not-companies/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/i-only-give-my-real-number-to-people-not-companies/#respond Sun, 07 Sep 2025 13:51:21 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/i-only-give-my-real-number-to-people-not-companies/
Spam Protection unknown numbers

Ryan Haines / Android Authority

I shudder every time I get a phone call from an unknown number. I dread looking at the hundreds of unread text messages in my inbox. No, I’m not being melodramatic. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been very lax with securing my phone number. Every app, every food delivery service, every shopping website that I’ve logged into has my phone number. At the time of signing up for these services, it seemed like the obvious thing to do. After all, if the delivery guy needs to find my address, he’ll have to call me for assistance. Plus, it makes sign-in so much easier on services that default to phone numbers. As harmless as this seems, it’s opened up a world of pain for me.

Once your phone number is in the hands of a business, it stops being yours.

For years my phone has been cluttered with spam texts, unwanted messages, and more robocalls than I know how to handle. I’d be pulling out my hair if it weren’t for call screening services like TrueCaller. But even the best of these is far from perfect. The point is, the number that was supposed to connect me with family, friends, and colleagues is now up for grabs as a target for digital advertising. And I didn’t sign up for that. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and there is a way out.

How big of a problem are spam and robocalls for you?

17 votes

Turning point

spam calls

Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

For me, the turning point came one evening when I missed an urgent call from family because I’d switched off my phone’s vibration alert after multiple back-to-back spam calls. That is a no-go. That was it. My phone number is mine, and it should only be available to the people I give it to. The solution? As simple as it sounds — a secondary number. As drastic as it seems, keeping a secondary number has been the easiest trick to keep spammers and scammers at bay.

My phone number is mine, and it should only be available to the people I give it to.

It might sound like I’m making a mountain out of a molehill, but hear me out. Your phone number isn’t just a phone number. It’s how people reach you, it’s how you control your focus, your time, and your peace of mind during a busy workday. As much as our phones are gateways to the internet, that phone number is still a critical part of the puzzle.

And once your phone number is in the hands of a company, it stops being yours. While countries in the European Union might have strong GDPR-based data protection laws, that’s not the case worldwide. Once your number is in their hands, it’s a free for all for ads, for spam, for interruptions, and to be sold further ahead to data aggregators. Moreover, there’s no way to undo it after the fact.

Why a second phone line makes perfect sense

spam messages on a Pixel phone

Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

I didn’t come to this rather extreme solution as my first step. I’ve tried apps that offered temporary numbers and email authentication where possible. But neither of these is a permanent solution. Inevitably, you will run into a service that will not let you sign up without a valid phone number. Moreover, I wanted a number that would be capable of receiving two-factor authentication codes. That’s a no-go with a temporary number. So, I settled on the, frankly, easier option of getting a second SIM card.

This SIM card is dedicated for use with apps, online services, and anything or anyone that needs a number but doesn’t need to contact me personally. I’m using a cheap prepaid plan with just the minimal basics to ensure I get verification codes. Honestly, most of the time I just switch off that second SIM unless I’m expecting a text code. When it’s on, I ignore any errant calls. Simple as that. But this singular step towards separating my personal life from my public-facing number has transformed my day-to-day experience. My real phone number is exclusively mine again. When it rings, it’s almost always someone who is actually trying to get in touch with me, and I’m much more likely to pick up the call.

It doesn’t have to be a physical SIM card either. You can use an eSIM instead for added convenience while still getting all the benefits of being able to disable calls, mute messages, or fetch one-time passwords. Personally, I prefer physical SIM cards, but the principle of separation remains the same.

The secondary number is effectively disposable — if spam gets out of hand, I can toss it and start fresh.

What’s particularly surprising with this approach is how simple it is. The obvious reduction in spam comes with the added benefits of control. The secondary number is effectively disposable, and if spam starts going out of hand once again, I can just toss the number and start afresh. There’s also the mental shift that comes with it. When I sign up for a service, I have the choice of giving it my real number or the burner. In practice, almost no service other than perhaps my bank deserves my main number. It’s made me a lot more deliberate in giving out my phone number. And yes, you can use the same approach when handing out your number to people as well. But hey, you didn’t hear that from me.

In addition to convenience, there are real security advantages, too. When your real number is no longer linked to a service, you reduce the risk of it being exposed in a data breach or leaked through an app. You reduce the chances of phishing attacks or impersonation. You aren’t relying on a single point of contact. Two-factor authentication for critical services, like my bank, still remains tied to my main number. But the likelihood of my bank leaking out data is much lower than the online store I buy t-shirts from. Essentially, bad actors might get access to your disposable number, but this approach drastically reduces the chances of your main number and its associated services being hacked.

It’s not a perfect approach

Of course, no approach is perfect and this one isn’t either. For one, there’s an extra cost to it. Even if you’re on a prepaid plan with the bare minimum services subscribed to, you’re still looking at some cash outlay every month. It can also be mildly annoying. I tend to keep the second number toggled off, and you’ll have to manually switch it back on anytime you’re expecting a verification code. While you’re at it, expect a barrage of spam texts as well.

Finally, if your phone doesn’t support dual SIM cards or a secondary eSIM card slot, this approach falls flat. You could get an old-school flip phone that only accepts phone calls and texts, but that might be pushing it as far as convenience goes. Barring that, most of these aren’t issues aren’t dealbreakers, but they’re worth keeping in mind.

Now, some might say that this is a lot of effort for dealing with spam. Paying for a second number, managing the SIM for authentication codes, etc. But honestly, once it is integrated into your workflow, the effort is pretty minimal compared to the benefits. In fact, once set up, it doesn’t need much manual intervention at all. I rarely even think about the secondary line unless I’m expecting a verification code. Meanwhile, my life continues as normal on my main number, minus the spam.

Nor is this approach new and novel. People have been using burner phones and disposable numbers for years, but the modern implementation, if your phone supports it, makes it much easier and cleaner. Between eSIMs, prepaid SIM cards, and cheap secondary plans, it’s easy and affordable enough to add a second line and build a digital boundary.

Better security with a side of sanity

spam calls on a Pixel phone

Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

At the end of the day, for me at least, segregating phone numbers isn’t just about spam. It’s about establishing boundaries between what’s important and what’s not. A phone number may look like just ten digits, but in practice, it represents your attention, your time, and your willingness to be interrupted during a busy day or a relaxing vacation.

Companies will continue to demand your number, but they don’t need the real one.

This small act of separation also changes how you view technology. When your real number is reserved for people, every call and message on that line feels intentional. You stop bracing yourself for or dreading spam calls and instead expect meaningful contact. It’s had a tangible effect on my anger and stress levels. I’m not an angry person by nature, but even the most stoic person would fail to be calm after the 10th call selling you a credit, insurance or a loan. I also think this practice has implications beyond phone numbers. Just like phone numbers, it’s important to be mindful of the amount of data you are giving access to while using apps, email signups or web services. But that’s fodder for yet another article.

If anything, I wish I had started maintaining dual phone lines earlier. The peace of mind I get from knowing my real number is private has made every bit of the effort worthwhile. My daily call log is certainly a lot cleaner, and my texts are from people I know. Most importantly, my phone no longer feels like a public billboard. Companies will continue to demand your number, but they don’t need the real one. They never really did.

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]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/i-only-give-my-real-number-to-people-not-companies/feed/ 0 57232 Scammers Spoof Wells Fargo Phone Number To Steal $5,800 After Fake ‘Best Buy’ Purchase Alert: Report https://earlybirdsinvest.com/scammers-spoof-wells-fargo-phone-number-to-steal-5800-after-fake-best-buy-purchase-alert-report/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/scammers-spoof-wells-fargo-phone-number-to-steal-5800-after-fake-best-buy-purchase-alert-report/#respond Thu, 07 Aug 2025 10:40:53 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/scammers-spoof-wells-fargo-phone-number-to-steal-5800-after-fake-best-buy-purchase-alert-report/

An equestrian coach reportedly lost thousands after falling victim to a spoofing scam that offered to protect her bank account from fraud.

NBC 7 in San Diego reports that in June, Alixe Garcia received a text asking her if she authorized a large purchase at Best Buy.

Garcia received a call after texting back “no”.  She says she trusted the call the moment she answered the phone because the caller ID showed it was from a Wells Fargo customer service number.

Garcia says that during the 41-minute call, it sounded as if she was talking with someone who was able to view her accounts. She ended up transferring $5,700 to Apple Cash, believing that the money would be deposited into her new Wells Fargo account that the caller supposedly helped her create.

Thirty minutes later, when she logged in, the money was not there.

“I waited another 30 minutes. I’m, like, ‘Maybe it’s a little slow.’ No money. Then I was just, like, sick thinking about it.” 

She called the bank the next morning, but the agent told her that the person she was talking to was not from the bank.

Her money is also gone. Wells Fargo says that its security controls were functioning as intended, and Garcia ultimately authorized the transfers.

The bank warns consumers that if they get a similar call asking them to send a payment, transfer funds or send their physical cards to stop fraud in their account, they should immediately hang up and call their bank directly.

“Safeguarding our customers’ assets is our top priority, and we are actively working to raise awareness of common scams through various resources and ongoing education. We have robust security measures in place and conduct thorough investigations of fraud and scam reports before making claim decisions.”

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]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/scammers-spoof-wells-fargo-phone-number-to-steal-5800-after-fake-best-buy-purchase-alert-report/feed/ 0 51950 How do I calculate the number of expected SATs and arrive at a probabilistic payment flow? https://earlybirdsinvest.com/how-do-i-calculate-the-number-of-expected-sats-and-arrive-at-a-probabilistic-payment-flow/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/how-do-i-calculate-the-number-of-expected-sats-and-arrive-at-a-probabilistic-payment-flow/#respond Sun, 06 Jul 2025 05:37:37 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/how-do-i-calculate-the-number-of-expected-sats-and-arrive-at-a-probabilistic-payment-flow/ Take a look at the following network example:

Enter the image description here

Assume S I want to send it 3 Sit down R. You can assume that further S Each local channel has sufficient liquidity 3 soil. It also assumes channel fluidity (A,R), (B,R) and (C,R) It is distributed evenly.

One optimally reliable payment flow in this diagram looks like this:

1 sat: S --> A --> R   probability: 2/3
2 sats: S --> B --> R  probability: 3/5

This flow has a total probability 2/3*3/5 = 2/5 = 0.4 = 40%

question:

How to calculate the expected value of the arrival of Satoshu R if S send 3?

Option a

(I already know I’m wrong, but I think some people have similar initial thoughts, so I’ll write it down)

At first I thought this was just right 3 sats * 2/5 = 6/5 sats = 1.2 sats This is obtained by multiplying the amount of transmission with the probability of flow. This seems strange when sending two SATs S-->B-->R There is a chance of 3/5 And with the above reasoning 2 sats * 3/5 = 6/5 sats = 1.2 sats. The expected value of 1 is sitting along S-->A-->B The path is bigger 0 This is inconsistent with the expected additive.

Option b

Starting with the above reasoning, we add the expected value to the broken path.

E(3 sats) = 1 sat * 2/3 + 2 sat * 3/5 = 10/15 sats + 18/15 sats = 28/15 sats

Option c

Of course, two Satoshi Passes S-->B-->R You don’t need to send it as a single onion as an onion, but you can send it as two onions each with one soil.

The first is the probability 4/5 The second is a conditional probability 3/4 This is widely explained in this issue. You should be able to add these expectations using the logic in option B. Therefore S--> B --> R It is calculated as follows:

E(2 sats) = 1 sat * 4/5 + 1 sat * 3/4 = 31/20 sats

Add one Saturday onion S-->A-->R That was 2/3 soil

We expect to have

E(3 sats) = 31/20 sats + 2/3 sats = 93/60 sats + 40/60 sats = 132/60 sats = 33/15 sats

This is 5/15 sats = 1/3 sats More than the answer to option b

Option d

Worse, I’m confused if there’s a chance that the expectation of analyzing two SAT onions in option C into two SAT onions could be linearly added, as the second onion is conditional to have two SAT onions in the channel. If the first onion fails, the second onion certainly fails. Therefore, in order to send such two Saturday onions, you need to calculate the expected value.

E(2 sats) = 1 sat * 4/5 + 1 sat * 3/5 = 7/5 sats

This gives you the following total expected value:

E(3 sats) = 2/3 sats + 7/5 sats = 10/30 sats + 21/15 sats = 31/15 sats

thought

There are results just for comparison

  • Option a: 18/15
  • Option b: 28/15
  • Option c: 33/15
  • Option d: 31/15

Option B certainly seems correct, but it makes sense to further analyze the two SATS onions. In the simulation, option D appears to be correct. This is a bit surprising to me. Using the formalism of probability theory, the difference between the 2 SAT paths is as follows:

  • Option c: E(2 sats) = 1 sat * P(X>=1) + 1 sat * P(X>=2 | X >= 1)
  • Option d: E(2 sats) = 1 sat * P(X>=1) + 1 sat * P(X>=2)

As mentioned earlier, the simulated setting indicates that option D is correct, but that is very surprising to me as I expect the second term to be a conditional probability.

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/how-do-i-calculate-the-number-of-expected-sats-and-arrive-at-a-probabilistic-payment-flow/feed/ 0 46031 Number of XRP holders almost doubled within six months, overtaking Solana https://earlybirdsinvest.com/number-of-xrp-holders-almost-doubled-within-six-months-overtaking-solana/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/number-of-xrp-holders-almost-doubled-within-six-months-overtaking-solana/#respond Tue, 24 Jun 2025 19:33:38 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/number-of-xrp-holders-almost-doubled-within-six-months-overtaking-solana/

The number of XRP holders has nearly doubled between October 2024 and May 2025, expanding from 1.29% to 2.42%, while Solana (SOL) experienced the opposite, falling 35% from 2.72% to 1.76%.

According to Bybit’s “H1 2025 asset allocation report,” the rebalancing stems from a shift in sentiment as both retail and institutional investors have begun to favor XRP over Solana.

XRP has gained momentum in recent months as its years-long legal battle with the SEC comes to a close, setting the stage for a potential spot exchange-traded fund tied to Ripple’s token. 

The sentiment shift has propelled XRP to the third-largest cryptocurrency by market cap after Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). It overtook Solana in November 2024.

In January, XRP allocations registered the largest percentage of the period, representing 5% of the total. In the same month, the token touched $3.31, its highest price since the all-time high registered on January 7, 2018.

ETF expectations drove the pivot

The report linked the allocation swing to exchange-traded fund (ETF) expectations, noting that Polymarket traders assign a 90% probability of approval by year-end 2025. 

It added that the redirection of SOL exposure to XRP was not a move made only by retail investors, as institutions also made the same decision during the first half of the year. 

The study covered active traders between October 2024 and May 2025. Active traders were those who executed at least 20 transactions per month. 

Additionally, the report classified participants into institutional, VIP, and general retail tiers to track wallet behavior across market segments.

Bitcoin and Ethereum still reign

Stablecoin allocations also declined in May, as users allocated fresh capital to Bitcoin and Ethereum. Yet, XRP maintained its expanded share. 

The report highlighted that Bitcoin controlled nearly 31% of assets, while BTC and ETH combined reached 58.8% of non-stablecoin holdings during the same month. 

XRP’s advancement, coupled with Solana’s retreat, caps a period in which altcoins overall ceded ground to Bitcoin. Altcoin share peaked at 35.22% in November 2024 before easing to 23.46% in May 2025, the same month that Bitcoin registered its latest all-time high.

Lastly, traders pulled stablecoin balances off the sidelines and redeployed them into BTC and ETH in May. 

Institutional accounts cut their stablecoin share by 14% from April, steering roughly 6% each to Bitcoin and Ether and one point to Solana, with smaller flows rounding out the remainder.

This movement reversed the defensive build-up that followed earlier market dips.

Mentioned in this article
]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/number-of-xrp-holders-almost-doubled-within-six-months-overtaking-solana/feed/ 0 43892 Ethereum at a crossroads: SSV founder Alon Muroch on the ‘dangerous’ divergence affecting crypto’s number 2 coin https://earlybirdsinvest.com/ethereum-at-a-crossroads-ssv-founder-alon-muroch-on-the-dangerous-divergence-affecting-cryptos-number-2-coin/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/ethereum-at-a-crossroads-ssv-founder-alon-muroch-on-the-dangerous-divergence-affecting-cryptos-number-2-coin/#respond Sun, 15 Jun 2025 21:32:42 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/ethereum-at-a-crossroads-ssv-founder-alon-muroch-on-the-dangerous-divergence-affecting-cryptos-number-2-coin/

Welcome to Slate Sundays, CryptoSlate’s new weekly feature showcasing in-depth interviews, expert analysis, and thought-provoking op-eds that go beyond the headlines to explore the ideas and voices shaping the future of crypto.

Alon Muroch is a man on a mission. As the founder of SSV Labs, which contributes to the second-largest Ethereum staking infra provider, SSV Network, Alon has been passionately championing the virtues of the industry’s number-two coin since the early days. Long before Ethereum switched to Proof of Stake, Alon contributed to the initial Ethereum clients. And Eth’s lackluster performance and knockdown price are bothering him. A lot.

So much so, in fact, that beyond speaking at the Staking Summit, it’s one of the forces at play bringing Alon to Dubai today, raising awareness about the elephant in the room no Eth bag holder wants to discuss. He explains:

“Most of the negative feedback Ethereum is getting right now is due to the token, not necessarily the technology, and I think Ethereum needs to recognize it. The Ethereum community needs to recognize it and then prioritize it, because this divergence will become very dangerous.”

With 100,000 Ethereum validators, SSV Network secures around 10% of all staked ETH, so Alon is pretty invested in seeing the token price rise. And his sense of urgency is palpable.

“We’re not focusing enough on the narrative and the reason for holding ETH. That’s why ETH is like this,” he bemoans.

Deep in the Ethereum weeds, even deeper in the souk

This is my first time meeting Alon, and I’m not familiar with his temperament, but I can tell there’s a lot on his mind. The price of Eth, for one, which is languishing under $1,800. It’s at least 20 minutes past our scheduled meeting time, and he’s already ordered his coffee when I arrive at the crowded patio.

After traversing the outdoor area between the conference hall and Madinat Souk in the punishing afternoon heat, my inclination is more toward a nice cold beer than a steaming hot cappuccino. I’m flustered and red-faced after walking round in circles, lost, deep in the souk’s rat’s nest of perfumes, textiles, stuffed camels, dates, and multiple other knick-knacks on sale. That Starbucks was harder to find than a patch of shade in the Sahara.

I bet Alon didn’t have as much trouble. After 10 years navigating his way through Ethereum’s many twists, turns, and narrative changes, Google Maps was probably a walk in the park. I apologize for my poor map-reading skills and ask what drew him to Ethereum in the first place.

“Ethereum is at the forefront of decentralization…” he answers, “I’ve been in Ethereum since the beginning.”

With Eth price limping along like a wounded dog, a divided community bickering over its direction, and a score of alternative smart contract platforms offering better, faster, cheaper, I ask Alon whether Ethereum still holds that central role today. He pauses:

“Yes, and no. Ethereum, the blockchain, I think it is. The roll-up-centric roadmap proved itself and continues to prove itself. In terms of the scale Ethereum is at, I think the technology is very innovative. They know how to take risks. Obviously, there are blockchains with riskier technology or more cutting-edge technology, but they’re much smaller, so it’s much easier to do. Ethereum is seeing all-time high usage, so that’s good.”

The ‘risky divergence’ between ETH, the token, and ETH, the blockchain

He’s mentioned the worsening disparity between the Ethereum blockchain and its native token a couple of times. I ask him to expand.

“In terms of the token, it’s lagging behind quite significantly, and there’s a divergence happening there, which is quite risky for Ethereum. I can debate until tomorrow the difference between Solana, Cosmos, Polkadot, and Ethereum, and why Bitcoin is lagging behind as a technology. I can debate, but that’s not translating very well to the actual frontiers of adoption right now.”

Indeed. Yet, if Ethereum’s problem is simply about crafting a better narrative, why do projects migrate to other ecosystems in search of more favorable economic models, like Uniswap or dYdX? He’s not phased:

“There will always be projects preferring other blockchains. I think it’s much more of a marketing opportunity than anything else. You can find very cheap transactions on Ethereum.”

He sips his coffee before doubling down:

“The challenges Ethereum has right now are not technological. It’s mostly narrative and a simple question: “Why would the average TradFi user, who doesn’t really understand decentralization or TPS, and doesn’t know how to differentiate between Solana and Cosmos, or Ethereum for that matter, hold Eth? It’s a very big question.”

He explains that traditionally, Ethereum didn’t pay much attention to narratives, marketing, and PR, but times have changed, and it’s becoming impossible to ignore.

“It used to be the case that institutions came to crypto to learn, and then immediately went to Ethereum, because that was the only game in town. Now, if you look at Wall Street today, well, they might understand the concepts of decentralization and self-sovereignty, but they don’t care about it. That’s where the narrative plays a major role. You can’t have conferences on Wall Street where Solana and Cosmos and Polkadot are going on stage and explaining why people should use them, and nobody is talking for Ethereum. It’s coming up with a narrative that is compelling.”

Finding a new raison d’être for Ethereum in the hearts and minds of token holders is no mean feat, particularly in an industry where not everyone is “in it for the tech.” When NGU ceases to deliver and prices bleed steadily down, Alon has his work cut out.

“When you buy Bitcoin, you hold one of 21 million. That’s fine. That’s a good narrative, and Wall Street and TradFi and everyone else really connect to that. The Solana narrative is “we can beat Ethereum.” So the reason to hold SOL is that if there’s a price difference between tokens and SOL wins, it’s better to hold SOL than anything else. Why would you hold ETH?”

As a Bitcoiner first, I confess I’ve been asking the same question for several years, but I don’t say that to Alon. Instead, I await his answer:

“ETH has nobody to win and compete with. They’re already the biggest smart contract platform, so there has to be another expansion. Historically, there were very good reasons to hold ETH. With ICOs, you had to hold ETH in order to get into ICOs. With DeFi, you had to hold ETH to provide liquidity or to trade. There were really good reasons.

What is the reason now? On my end, the reason is to make Ethereum the trust and security layer for the entire internet of value. If we can make that and attract value back to Eth, the token, then there’s a really good reason to hold it.”

What makes Ethereum a good settlement layer compared to other blockchains? Bitcoin’s security is widely renowned, I point out. Alon scoffs:

“Bitcoin has zero capabilities of smart contracting, and so developers basically hacked ways to secure things on Bitcoin. Ethereum has smart contracts, so a lot of those types of use cases simply became contracts on Ethereum. What I’m saying is somewhere in that direction. I believe that the Ethereum validator set has superpowers. It’s the largest, most diverse, and decentralized validator set on earth.

Those validators know how to run high-performance software for a very long time. It has on-chain entities with performance and all of that, plus you see a lot more off-chain components responsible for very significant application services, and so on. If you can have all of those services run using validators on Ethereum and paying them rewards, then you have this stream of revenue and rewards going back to ETH holders.”

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, oh my!

Alon doesn’t miss a chance to share his views on Bitcoin as legacy tech, but what are his thoughts on Solana, which seems to be the institutional investors’ favorite toy? He replies that Ethereum’s “last good competitors” were EOS, but they failed because “their founders did other things.” He says Solana is “basically what EOS should have been if they’d had serious founders,” but:

“In terms of technical capabilities, Solana is taking way more trade-offs than Ethereum. It’s not technically as sound as Ethereum, especially from the decentralization, censorship-resistant, and stability point of view. Nonetheless, they’re doing a lot of other really good work, interacting with developers, promoting themselves, communicating why Solana, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Ethereum needs to take some of that into what they’re doing.”

I mention the POV I’ve heard that Ethereum should never have switched to Proof of Stake. Given the nature of Alon’s business, I’m not surprised when he immediately shuts that down. He interjects:

“It was one of the best decisions. The amount of resources required today to maintain Bitcoin is crazy. It’s crazy. It’s like saying, let’s continue having coal-powered plants and cars and not switch to gasoline or electric. Why? Because coal is very robust. Fine, but it’s not a really good answer to anything. There are a lot of things that are robust. It doesn’t mean you don’t need to change technology. I don’t think Bitcoin will ever change to Proof of Stake because Bitcoin is stuck in the past in terms of advancement in technology… Of course, we should have switched. There’s no doubt about it.”

Keepin’ it based

Besides alerting everyone to the problems Ethereum faces, what else is Alon doing to turn the Ethereum ship around? He corrects me:

“Look, there is a challenge here. It’s not a problem. It’s not systemic. It’s a challenge we need to tackle because times have changed, and we have competition.”

What are the based applications that SSV is pioneering?

“Based applications are the name for types of services, protocols, and applications that run on Ethereum validators. It’s basically SSV 2.0. We coined the term based apps. They’re applications that are based in their security on Ethereum validators. That’s why they’re called based.

It’s a type of decentralized application that runs on Ethereum validators and gets functionality and security from them. It can be oracles or bridges, data availability, zk-proofs, AI agents, or whatever type of application you have that is run in a distributed way. Instead of reinventing the wheel and building your own validator set, you can simply tap into the Ethereum and get much better security, much cheaper, and also really connect to Ethereum in a much better way.”

Where do based applications fit into the broader security landscape, and how do they stack up against, say, Eigenlayer? He explains:

“Eigenlayer is similar in the sense that it provides security. The main difference is, Eigenlayer uses capital. We’re using validators from Ethereum. So, in Eigenlayer, you take a bunch of capital, you lock it into a smart contract, and then you have bonded operators. The problem with that is that it’s not scalable, and it’s very expensive because capital is very expensive.

What we decided to do is to go and use the validators themselves, which are 95% cheaper and provide properties that capital doesn’t because they directly represent a portion of the value of Ethereum.”

Suddenly, it’s all starting to make sense. Based applications benefit from the superior level of security the base layer provides, and Ethereum receives compensation, instead of the value being extracted. What’s more, it’s “around 95% cheaper,” Alon says.

“That’s very significant because security is the most expensive component of a decentralized service, and based applications are very aligned with Ethereum because, as I said before, it comes from the point of creating more value back to the holders, so it has that additional dimension… We need to present a way forward, which I think is by prioritizing a way to attract more value back to the token.”

I wish him luck, and we conclude the interview. Despite dunking on Ethereum with as much frequency as Alon badmouthes Bitcoin, I can’t imagine the crypto space without it, and I’d be sorry to see it unravel. The bright side? When you’re ~60% off your all-time highs, the only way you can go is up.

Mentioned in this article
]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/ethereum-at-a-crossroads-ssv-founder-alon-muroch-on-the-dangerous-divergence-affecting-cryptos-number-2-coin/feed/ 0 42212 Warren Buffett's Resounding Message to Wall Street, Delivered Over a Number of Years, Couldn't Be Clearer. And It May Change the Way You Invest Right Now. https://earlybirdsinvest.com/warren-buffetts-resounding-message-to-wall-street-delivered-over-a-number-of-years-couldnt-be-clearer-and-it-may-change-the-way-you-invest-right-now/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/warren-buffetts-resounding-message-to-wall-street-delivered-over-a-number-of-years-couldnt-be-clearer-and-it-may-change-the-way-you-invest-right-now/#respond Sun, 30 Mar 2025 23:46:22 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/warren-buffetts-resounding-message-to-wall-street-delivered-over-a-number-of-years-couldnt-be-clearer-and-it-may-change-the-way-you-invest-right-now/

Investors look to Warren Buffett for guidance because he’s proven he can weather any market storm. That’s even earned him the nickname the Oracle of Omaha (his hometown), as over time, he’s generally made just the right moves at just the right time. A recent example: Buffett sold positions in S&P 500 index funds in the fourth quarter, locking in gains before the benchmark went on to decline.

This top investor doesn’t look into a crystal ball when planning his moves, but instead considers key elements like valuation. And the index’s shift into one of its most expensive periods ever may have helped prompt him to hit the “sell” button on the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF and SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust in the quarter.

Of course, Buffett isn’t one to stand up and comment on the situation with each market movement. But over the years, the billionaire has offered many thoughts on his strategy, the market, and investing in general. For example, we know he appreciates quality companies trading for reasonable prices; we also know he doesn’t go for trends, and favors holding stocks for the long term.

Over the years, Buffett has repeated one particular idea several times, in different ways. This resounding message to Wall Street couldn’t be clearer, and it may change the way you see the market and invest right now. Let’s listen in.

Warren Buffett is seen at an event.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

A changing investing environment

First, though, let’s take a quick look at the recent investing environment. Stocks soared over the past two years on optimism about a lower-interest-rate environment ahead, and the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to transform how work is done. Lower rates offer companies an easier path to growth — and AI has been seen as a technology that could unlock efficiency, cost savings, and more for companies.

All of this drove stocks to one of their most expensive levels ever as measured by the S&P 500 Shiller CAPE ratio, a metric that considers stock price and earnings over a 10-year period to adjust for shifts in the economy. It reached a level of 35, something it’s only done twice before since the S&P 500 launched as a 500-company index in the 1950s.

S&P 500 Shiller CAPE Ratio Chart

S&P 500 Shiller CAPE Ratio data by YCharts.

However, stocks have recently retreated on concerns that President Donald Trump’s tariffs on imports will hurt companies’ earnings and the general economy. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both slipped into correction territory earlier this month, though the S&P 500 has since exited the correction zone.

Two key Buffett quotes

Now let’s turn to Buffett’s message to Wall Street, one that he’s repeated over the years. Two quotes in particular express it:

“The best chance to deploy capital is when things are going down,” he once said. And, in a letter to shareholders in the 1980s, Buffett wrote that he and his team at Berkshire Hathaway aim to “be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful.”

This message is particularly interesting right now, amid market declines. You may be asking yourself whether now is really a good time to buy stocks — as stocks and indexes slip, investing may seem scary. What if you buy a stock today and it falls even more tomorrow?

But Buffett tells us that times like these are actually the best moments to get in on the market. Why is this? Because as stocks fall, so do their valuations. As a result, some of the recently beaten-down players will offer you wonderful opportunities. This is the time to “be greedy … when others are fearful.”

Cheap tech stocks

For example, well-established technology stocks with bright future prospects — such as Nvidia (NVDA -1.51%) and Meta Platforms (META -4.22%) — have seen their shares drop into bargain territory. Today, Nvidia trades for 25 times forward earnings estimates, and Meta for 24. These could be fantastic buys for growth investors.

And even if the stock you buy today falls further in the coming days, that’s OK. When you hold on for the long term — and that’s the best way to invest — near-term fluctuations won’t crush your returns.

So now you may be wondering if Buffett, too, has been buying stocks in recent days. The billionaire was a net seller of stocks last year as the market soared, but it’s too early to know what moves he’s been making since the start of 2025. We’ll have to wait for his 13F filing in May for that information.

That said, he isn’t known for making rash decisions or jumping into something on a whim — so we may not see a sharp turnaround, with Buffett scooping up stocks like hotcakes. His words don’t mean that he piles into stocks during every market downturn. They just mean that during these times, he expects to find more opportunities to get in on quality stocks at the right price than he would in soaring markets.

All of this may ease your mind as you watch the indexes fluctuate these days. Buffett’s words may inspire you to seize this moment, and instead of fleeing the market, to look for smart buys that may boost your portfolio over time.

Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors.

Adria Cimino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway, Meta Platforms, Nvidia, and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/warren-buffetts-resounding-message-to-wall-street-delivered-over-a-number-of-years-couldnt-be-clearer-and-it-may-change-the-way-you-invest-right-now/feed/ 0 28119 Arthur Hayes Says Bitcoin Primed To Skyrocket to a ‘Numerically Interesting Number’ Before Market Hits Top https://earlybirdsinvest.com/arthur-hayes-says-bitcoin-primed-to-skyrocket-to-a-numerically-interesting-number-before-market-hits-top/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/arthur-hayes-says-bitcoin-primed-to-skyrocket-to-a-numerically-interesting-number-before-market-hits-top/#respond Sat, 29 Mar 2025 11:54:18 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/arthur-hayes-says-bitcoin-primed-to-skyrocket-to-a-numerically-interesting-number-before-market-hits-top/

BitMEX founder Arthur Hayes says that Bitcoin (BTC) will likely hit a massive value before the current market cycle peaks.

In a new interview with Master Ventures founder Kyle Chasse, Hayes says that Bitcoin is likely to print a series of rallies this cycle amid an expansion of the monetary supply.

“I think Bitcoin is going to hit a numerically interesting number. Now, obviously, I put a $1 million Bitcoin out there. I hope it hits a $1 million, but maybe it’s like $666,000 or $500,000 or $250,000 – some round number that in the human mind is significant for some arbitrary reason. We are going to hit that level and then we’re going to expect insane things out of the pace of fiat money creation. And at that point, it’s probably time to sell everything.”

Hayes also believes that Bitcoin has moved away from its halving-based four-year cycle and instead its price action is driven by the level of fiat liquidity sloshing around the markets.

Bitcoin’s halving is an event that slashes the BTC miner reward in half, triggering an imbalance between supply and demand that has previously coincided with rallies.

“I think that the four-year Bitcoin halving cycle and sort of the miner profitability and how that swings over time made a lot more sense in terms of a market cycle when Bitcoin was a much smaller asset class…

But now that Bitcoin and crypto are a bona fide asset class, they are talked about in every major financial network in the world, every central bank has an opinion on it, whether it’s good or whether it’s bad, you have the leader of the empire of the US talking about Bitcoin and policies…

Now I think Bitcoin has transitioned from this sort of technological digital bare asset into the best smoke alarm for fiat liquidity that we have globally. Previously, that role was held by gold. Gold and Bitcoin have some different properties that make them react a little differently to things. And now I think we have a 24/7 market. Anyone with an internet connection can access it, and it’s really just driven [by] fiat liquidity.”

Bitcoin is trading for $84,152 at time of writing, down 3.7% in the last 24 hours.

 

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Featured Image: Shutterstock/TadashiArt/Natalia Siiatovskaia

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/arthur-hayes-says-bitcoin-primed-to-skyrocket-to-a-numerically-interesting-number-before-market-hits-top/feed/ 0 27853 Bitcoin Number Of Sellers Drops To A Minimum At Current Levels – Time For BTC To ‘Move On’ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-number-of-sellers-drops-to-a-minimum-at-current-levels-time-for-btc-to-move-on/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-number-of-sellers-drops-to-a-minimum-at-current-levels-time-for-btc-to-move-on/#respond Wed, 19 Feb 2025 04:54:46 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-number-of-sellers-drops-to-a-minimum-at-current-levels-time-for-btc-to-move-on/

Bitcoin’s short-term price direction remains uncertain, as analysts and investors are divided on whether BTC will break into a new all-time high (ATH) or face selling pressure into lower prices. The price has been trapped in a narrow range for the past twelve days, holding above $94K and below the $100K mark, with neither bulls nor bears able to take full control of the market.

This period of sideways trading has created speculation about an imminent major move, as Bitcoin continues to consolidate within these key levels. CryptoQuant data reveals that at the current levels, the number of sellers willing to sell at a loss has dropped to a minimum, a signal that market participants are holding their BTC instead of panic-selling. Historically, such conditions indicate that price volatility is on the horizon, as supply remains tight while demand is expected to increase.

With sentiment split between a breakout or a deeper correction, traders closely watch the $100K resistance and the $94K support to determine the next big move. If BTC pushes above the $100K mark, a rally into price discovery could follow. However, a breakdown below $94K could trigger further selling pressure.

Bitcoin Metrics Suggest A Big Move Is Coming

Bitcoin’s price action has remained stagnant over the past two weeks, trading within a narrow range between $94K and $100K. However, a positive outlook suggests that BTC is gearing up for a massive move into new all-time highs (ATH). Analysts speculate that this recent consolidation phase is the calm before the storm, setting the stage for the next major breakout.

Despite short-term uncertainty, Bitcoin remains structurally bullish, holding above key support levels and maintaining its long-term uptrend. While investors are divided on whether BTC will break higher or face another correction, on-chain data hints at a tightening supply.

CryptoQuant analyst Axel Adler shared an analysis on X suggesting that at the current levels, the number of sellers willing to sell at a loss has dropped to a minimum. This indicates that holders are refusing to part with their BTC, signaling confidence in higher prices ahead. Adler adds that, at this stage, there’s nothing to do but wait for BTC’s next move—suggesting that a breakout or breakdown is imminent.

Bitcoin Short-Term Holder PnL | Source: Axel Adler on X
Bitcoin Short-Term Holder PnL | Source: Axel Adler on X

With market conditions tightening and volatility expected to return soon, this week will be crucial in determining Bitcoin’s short-term direction. If BTC pushes above $100K, a massive rally into price discovery could follow. However, if it breaks below $94K, further selling pressure may emerge.

BTC Consolidates Above Key Demand

Bitcoin is trading at $95,600, maintaining a sideways trend for nearly two weeks, fluctuating between $94K and $100K. This narrow range has led to uncertainty, as neither bulls nor bears have taken control of the price action.

BTC testing liquidity below $100K | Source: BTCUSDT chart on TradingView
BTC testing liquidity below $100K | Source: BTCUSDT chart on TradingView

The $95K level remains a critical support, serving as a key demand zone where buyers have consistently stepped in to prevent further downside. Holding above this level would signal strength and create an opportunity for BTC to test higher supply levels. However, bulls face a major challenge, as they must reclaim $98K and eventually push above $100K to confirm a breakout into new highs.

If BTC fails to break above resistance, the market could continue to experience choppy price action, delaying the next major move. A breakdown below $95K could result in a retest of lower demand zones, with potential downside toward $91K–$93K.

Traders are watching for a decisive move in either direction, as volatility is expected to return. The next few days will be crucial in determining whether BTC can regain bullish momentum or if a deeper correction is on the horizon.

Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-number-of-sellers-drops-to-a-minimum-at-current-levels-time-for-btc-to-move-on/feed/ 0 20431 After the market clash, the number of Sheeva dogs billionaires falls below 1,000, how much do they control? https://earlybirdsinvest.com/after-the-market-clash-the-number-of-sheeva-dogs-billionaires-falls-below-1000-how-much-do-they-control/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/after-the-market-clash-the-number-of-sheeva-dogs-billionaires-falls-below-1000-how-much-do-they-control/#respond Fri, 14 Feb 2025 17:23:19 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/after-the-market-clash-the-number-of-sheeva-dogs-billionaires-falls-below-1000-how-much-do-they-control/

This article is also available in Spanish.

Number of Shiba Inu millionaires It continues to decline as recent market crashes dampen owners’ profits. In particular, the chain data reveals that the total number of Shiba inu billionaires is below 1,000. But they still control a significant portion of the supply of meme coins.

Shibu Millioniol is below 1,000

Next A broader market crash Such a meme coin had a major impact Shiv and Dogea new report reveals that the number of Shiba inu billionaires whose wallets range between $100,000 and $10 million has dropped significantly. There is IntotheBlock, a blockchain analysis company It has been reported This means that the number of addresses holding siv tokens worth $10 million has dropped to 2,470. these Deep Pocket Token Holder It manages shivs worth $3.5 billion in bulk.

Related readings

ITB data that broke this shows that wallets holding between $100,000 and $1 million have plummeted to 1,059 addresses. It emphasizes that for wallets with SHIBs worth between $1 million and $10 million, ITB only has 880.25 addresses remaining. This means that all addresses in SHIB, which exceed $1 million, have a total balance of $2.8 billion.

Earlier this week, 75 addresses held exactly $10 million worth of shiv tokens, with the total network exceeding $13 billion. However, at the time of writing, it has dropped to 74 with a $116.9 billion network. This incredible amount of addresses Shiv Token These investors, often called whales, tend to affect the market when they make big moves.

Furthermore, addresses for this number of selections Controls the supply of large amounts of Shiba Inu. It’s not even close to half the total supply of memecoin, but it’s still a pretty stash that could have an impact Market dynamics.

Recent decline Shiba Inu millionaires This is reflected in past ITB data. Just two weeks ago, it held 93 addresses and over $10 million in shiv tokens, exceeding its current count. Additionally, it holds SHIBs worth between $1 million and $10 million compared to the current 880.25 addresses that hold the same amount.

This significant decline in the number of Shiba inu billionaires, both in high and value SHIB holdings, suggests a change in the market, with owners selling shares held and selling positions to exit It may be. The decline is also due to recent Shiba inu price crash Continuous volatility.

Shiba Inu Price tries to recover

At the time of pressing, the Shiba Inu price is trading at $0.0000165. Despite experiencing a massive market decline, prices have been pushed down by more than 20% Shiba inu is resilientattempts to break through the bearish trend to begin recovery.

Related readings

Over the past week, Shiba Inu has grown by more than 9.8%, reflecting profits of almost half of its 22% loss last month. Based on CoinMarketCap data, Meme Coin is still green, recording a 1% increase. but, Siv’s trading volume It remains relatively low, marking a 41% decrease.

Shiba Inu
SHIB trading for $0.000016 on 1D chart | Source: shibusdt on tradingview.com

Adobe Stock featured images, charts on tradingView.com

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