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Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . A NOVEL PROPOSAL OF CAPTAIN NEMO’S here CHAPTER II: A NOVEL PROPOSAL OF CAPTAIN NEMO’S On the 28th of February, when at noon the came to the surface of the sea, in 9° 4′ N. lat., there was land in sight about eight miles to westward. The first thing I noticed was a range of mountains about two thousand feet high, the shapes of which were most capricious. On taking the bearings, I knew that we were nearing the island of Ceylon, the pearl which hangs from the lobe of the Indian Peninsula. Nautilus Captain Nemo and his second appeared at this moment. The Captain glanced at the map. Then turning to me, said: “The Island of Ceylon, noted for its pearl-fisheries. Would you like to visit one of them, M. Aronnax?” “Certainly, Captain.” “Well, the thing is easy. Though, if we see the fisheries, we shall not see the fishermen. The annual exportation has not yet begun. Never mind, I will give orders to make for the Gulf of Manaar, where we shall arrive in the night.” The Captain said something to his second, who immediately went out. Soon the returned to her native element, and the manometer showed that she was about thirty feet deep. Nautilus “Well, sir,” said Captain Nemo, “you and your companions shall visit the Bank of Manaar, and if by chance some fisherman should be there, we shall see him at work.” “Agreed, Captain!” “By the bye, M. Aronnax you are not afraid of sharks?” “Sharks!” exclaimed I. This question seemed a very hard one. “Well?” continued Captain Nemo. “I admit, Captain, that I am not yet very familiar with that kind of fish.” “We are accustomed to them,” replied Captain Nemo, “and in time you will be too. However, we shall be armed, and on the road we may be able to hunt some of the tribe. It is interesting. So, till to-morrow, sir, and early.” This said in a careless tone, Captain Nemo left the saloon. Now, if you were invited to hunt the bear in the mountains of Switzerland, what would you say? “Very well! to-morrow we will go and hunt the bear.” If you were asked to hunt the lion in the plains of Atlas, or the tiger in the Indian jungles, what would you say? “Ha! ha! it seems we are going to hunt the tiger or the lion!” But when you are invited to hunt the shark in its natural element, you would perhaps reflect before accepting the invitation. As for myself, I passed my hand over my forehead, on which stood large drops of cold perspiration. “Let us reflect,” said I, “and take our time. Hunting otters in submarine forests, as we did in the Island of Crespo, will pass; but going up and down at the bottom of the sea, where one is almost certain to meet sharks, is quite another thing! I know well that in certain countries, particularly in the Andaman Islands, the negroes never hesitate to attack them with a dagger in one hand and a running noose in the other; but I also know that few who affront those creatures ever return alive. However, I am not a negro, and if I were I think a little hesitation in this case would not be ill-timed.” At this moment Conseil and the Canadian entered, quite composed, and even joyous. They knew not what awaited them. “Faith, sir,” said Ned Land, “your Captain Nemo—the devil take him!—has just made us a very pleasant offer.” “Ah!” said I, “you know?” “If agreeable to you, sir,” interrupted Conseil, “the commander of the has invited us to visit the magnificent Ceylon fisheries to-morrow, in your company; he did it kindly, and behaved like a real gentleman.” Nautilus “He said nothing more?” “Nothing more, sir, except that he had already spoken to you of this little walk.” “Sir,” said Conseil, “would you give us some details of the pearl fishery?” “As to the fishing itself,” I asked, “or the incidents, which?” “On the fishing,” replied the Canadian; “before entering upon the ground, it is as well to know something about it.” “Very well; sit down, my friends, and I will teach you.” Ned and Conseil seated themselves on an ottoman, and the first thing the Canadian asked was: “Sir, what is a pearl?” “My worthy Ned,” I answered, “to the poet, a pearl is a tear of the sea; to the Orientals, it is a drop of dew solidified; to the ladies, it is a jewel of an oblong shape, of a brilliancy of mother-of-pearl substance, which they wear on their fingers, their necks, or their ears; for the chemist it is a mixture of phosphate and carbonate of lime, with a little gelatine; and lastly, for naturalists, it is simply a morbid secretion of the organ that produces the mother-of-pearl amongst certain bivalves.” “Branch of molluscs,” said Conseil. “Precisely so, my learned Conseil; and, amongst these testacea the earshell, the tridacnae, the turbots, in a word, all those which secrete mother-of-pearl, that is, the blue, bluish, violet, or white substance which lines the interior of their shells, are capable of producing pearls.” “Mussels too?” asked the Canadian. “Yes, mussels of certain waters in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Saxony, Bohemia, and France.” “Good! For the future I shall pay attention,” replied the Canadian. “But,” I continued, “the particular mollusc which secretes the pearl is the pearl-oyster, the meleagrina margaritiferct, that precious pintadine. The pearl is nothing but a nacreous formation, deposited in a globular form, either adhering to the oyster shell, or buried in the folds of the creature. On the shell it is fast; in the flesh it is loose; but always has for a kernel a small hard substance, may be a barren egg, may be a grain of sand, around which the pearly matter deposits itself year after year successively, and by thin concentric layers.” “Are many pearls found in the same oyster?” asked Conseil. “Yes, my boy. Some are a perfect casket. One oyster has been mentioned, though I allow myself to doubt it, as having contained no less than a hundred and fifty sharks.” “A hundred and fifty sharks!” exclaimed Ned Land. “Did I say sharks?” said I hurriedly. “I meant to say a hundred and fifty pearls. Sharks would not be sense.” “Certainly not,” said Conseil; “but will you tell us now by what means they extract these pearls?” “They proceed in various ways. When they adhere to the shell, the fishermen often pull them off with pincers; but the most common way is to lay the oysters on mats of the seaweed which covers the banks. Thus they die in the open air; and at the end of ten days they are in a forward state of decomposition. They are then plunged into large reservoirs of sea-water; then they are opened and washed.” “The price of these pearls varies according to their size?” asked Conseil. “Not only according to their size,” I answered, “but also according to their shape, their water (that is, their colour), and their lustre: that is, that bright and diapered sparkle which makes them so charming to the eye. The most beautiful are called virgin pearls, or paragons. They are formed alone in the tissue of the mollusc, are white, often opaque, and sometimes have the transparency of an opal; they are generally round or oval. The round are made into bracelets, the oval into pendants, and, being more precious, are sold singly. Those adhering to the shell of the oyster are more irregular in shape, and are sold by weight. Lastly, in a lower order are classed those small pearls known under the name of seed-pearls; they are sold by measure, and are especially used in embroidery for church ornaments.” “But,” said Conseil, “is this pearl-fishery dangerous?” “No,” I answered, quickly; “particularly if certain precautions are taken.” “What does one risk in such a calling?” said Ned Land, “the swallowing of some mouthfuls of sea-water?” “As you say, Ned. By the bye,” said I, trying to take Captain Nemo’s careless tone, “are you afraid of sharks, brave Ned?” “I!” replied the Canadian; “a harpooner by profession? It is my trade to make light of them.” “But,” said I, “it is not a question of fishing for them with an iron-swivel, hoisting them into the vessel, cutting off their tails with a blow of a chopper, ripping them up, and throwing their heart into the sea!” “Then, it is a question of——” “Precisely.” “In the water?” “In the water.” “Faith, with a good harpoon! You know, sir, these sharks are ill-fashioned beasts. They turn on their bellies to seize you, and in that time——” Ned Land had a way of saying “seize” which made my blood run cold. “Well, and you, Conseil, what do you think of sharks?” “Me!” said Conseil. “I will be frank, sir.” “So much the better,” thought I. “If you, sir, mean to face the sharks, I do not see why your faithful servant should not face them with you.” About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Jules Verne (1994). Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved October 2022 https://www.gutenberg.org/files/164/164-h/164-h.htm This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

A NOVEL PROPOSAL OF CAPTAIN NEMO’S

Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . CAPTAIN NEMO’S THUNDERBOLT here CHAPTER XXI: CAPTAIN NEMO’S THUNDERBOLT We looked at the edge of the forest without rising, my hand stopping in the action of putting it to my mouth, Ned Land’s completing its office. “Stones do not fall from the sky,” remarked Conseil, “or they would merit the name aerolites.” A second stone, carefully aimed, that made a savoury pigeon’s leg fall from Conseil’s hand, gave still more weight to his observation. We all three arose, shouldered our guns, and were ready to reply to any attack. “Are they apes?” cried Ned Land. “Very nearly—they are savages.” “To the boat!” I said, hurrying to the sea. It was indeed necessary to beat a retreat, for about twenty natives armed with bows and slings appeared on the skirts of a copse that masked the horizon to the right, hardly a hundred steps from us. Our boat was moored about sixty feet from us. The savages approached us, not running, but making hostile demonstrations. Stones and arrows fell thickly. Ned Land had not wished to leave his provisions; and, in spite of his imminent danger, his pig on one side and kangaroos on the other, he went tolerably fast. In two minutes we were on the shore. To load the boat with provisions and arms, to push it out to sea, and ship the oars, was the work of an instant. We had not gone two cable-lengths, when a hundred savages, howling and gesticulating, entered the water up to their waists. I watched to see if their apparition would attract some men from the on to the platform. But no. The enormous machine, lying off, was absolutely deserted. Nautilus Twenty minutes later we were on board. The panels were open. After making the boat fast, we entered into the interior of the . Nautilus I descended to the drawing-room, from whence I heard some chords. Captain Nemo was there, bending over his organ, and plunged in a musical ecstasy. “Captain!” He did not hear me. “Captain!” I said, touching his hand. He shuddered, and, turning round, said, “Ah! it is you, Professor? Well, have you had a good hunt, have you botanised successfully?” “Yes Captain; but we have unfortunately brought a troop of bipeds, whose vicinity troubles me.” “What bipeds?” “Savages.” “Savages!” he echoed, ironically. “So you are astonished, Professor, at having set foot on a strange land and finding savages? Savages! where are there not any? Besides, are they worse than others, these whom you call savages?” “But Captain——” “How many have you counted?” “A hundred at least.” “M. Aronnax,” replied Captain Nemo, placing his fingers on the organ stops, “when all the natives of Papua are assembled on this shore, the will have nothing to fear from their attacks.” Nautilus The Captain’s fingers were then running over the keys of the instrument, and I remarked that he touched only the black keys, which gave his melodies an essentially Scotch character. Soon he had forgotten my presence, and had plunged into a reverie that I did not disturb. I went up again on to the platform: night had already fallen; for, in this low latitude, the sun sets rapidly and without twilight. I could only see the island indistinctly; but the numerous fires, lighted on the beach, showed that the natives did not think of leaving it. I was alone for several hours, sometimes thinking of the natives—but without any dread of them, for the imperturbable confidence of the Captain was catching—sometimes forgetting them to admire the splendours of the night in the tropics. My remembrances went to France in the train of those zodiacal stars that would shine in some hours’ time. The moon shone in the midst of the constellations of the zenith. The night slipped away without any mischance, the islanders frightened no doubt at the sight of a monster aground in the bay. The panels were open, and would have offered an easy access to the interior of the . Nautilus At six o’clock in the morning of the 8th January I went up on to the platform. The dawn was breaking. The island soon showed itself through the dissipating fogs, first the shore, then the summits. The natives were there, more numerous than on the day before—five or six hundred perhaps—some of them, profiting by the low water, had come on to the coral, at less than two cable-lengths from the . I distinguished them easily; they were true Papuans, with athletic figures, men of good race, large high foreheads, large, but not broad and flat, and white teeth. Their woolly hair, with a reddish tinge, showed off on their black shining bodies like those of the Nubians. From the lobes of their ears, cut and distended, hung chaplets of bones. Most of these savages were naked. Amongst them, I remarked some women, dressed from the hips to knees in quite a crinoline of herbs, that sustained a vegetable waistband. Some chiefs had ornamented their necks with a crescent and collars of glass beads, red and white; nearly all were armed with bows, arrows, and shields and carried on their shoulders a sort of net containing those round stones which they cast from their slings with great skill. One of these chiefs, rather near to the , examined it attentively. He was, perhaps, a “mado” of high rank, for he was draped in a mat of banana-leaves, notched round the edges, and set off with brilliant colours. Nautilus Nautilus I could easily have knocked down this native, who was within a short length; but I thought that it was better to wait for real hostile demonstrations. Between Europeans and savages, it is proper for the Europeans to parry sharply, not to attack. During low water the natives roamed about near the , but were not troublesome; I heard them frequently repeat the word “Assai,” and by their gestures I understood that they invited me to go on land, an invitation that I declined. Nautilus So that, on that day, the boat did not push off, to the great displeasure of Master Land, who could not complete his provisions. This adroit Canadian employed his time in preparing the viands and meat that he had brought off the island. As for the savages, they returned to the shore about eleven o’clock in the morning, as soon as the coral tops began to disappear under the rising tide; but I saw their numbers had increased considerably on the shore. Probably they came from the neighbouring islands, or very likely from Papua. However, I had not seen a single native canoe. Having nothing better to do, I thought of dragging these beautiful limpid waters, under which I saw a profusion of shells, zoophytes, and marine plants. Moreover, it was the last day that the would pass in these parts, if it float in open sea the next day, according to Captain Nemo’s promise. Nautilus I therefore called Conseil, who brought me a little light drag, very like those for the oyster fishery. Now to work! For two hours we fished unceasingly, but without bringing up any rarities. The drag was filled with midas-ears, harps, melames, and particularly the most beautiful hammers I have ever seen. We also brought up some sea-slugs, pearl-oysters, and a dozen little turtles that were reserved for the pantry on board. But just when I expected it least, I put my hand on a wonder, I might say a natural deformity, very rarely met with. Conseil was just dragging, and his net came up filled with divers ordinary shells, when, all at once, he saw me plunge my arm quickly into the net, to draw out a shell, and heard me utter a cry. “What is the matter, sir?” he asked in surprise. “Has master been bitten?” “No, my boy; but I would willingly have given a finger for my discovery.” “What discovery?” “This shell,” I said, holding up the object of my triumph. “It is simply an olive porphyry, genus olive, order of the pectinibranchidæ, class of gasteropods, sub-class mollusca.” “Yes, Conseil; but, instead of being rolled from right to left, this olive turns from left to right.” “Is it possible?” “Yes, my boy; it is a left shell.” Shells are all right-handed, with rare exceptions; and, when by chance their spiral is left, amateurs are ready to pay their weight in gold. Conseil and I were absorbed in the contemplation of our treasure, and I was promising myself to enrich the museum with it, when a stone unfortunately thrown by a native struck against, and broke, the precious object in Conseil’s hand. I uttered a cry of despair! Conseil took up his gun, and aimed at a savage who was poising his sling at ten yards from him. I would have stopped him, but his blow took effect and broke the bracelet of amulets which encircled the arm of the savage. Conseil seized his gun “Conseil!” cried I. “Conseil!” “Well, sir! do you not see that the cannibal has commenced the attack?” “A shell is not worth the life of a man,” said I. “Ah! the scoundrel!” cried Conseil; “I would rather he had broken my shoulder!” Conseil was in earnest, but I was not of his opinion. However, the situation had changed some minutes before, and we had not perceived. A score of canoes surrounded the . These canoes, scooped out of the trunk of a tree, long, narrow, well adapted for speed, were balanced by means of a long bamboo pole, which floated on the water. They were managed by skilful, half-naked paddlers, and I watched their advance with some uneasiness. It was evident that these Papuans had already had dealings with the Europeans and knew their ships. But this long iron cylinder anchored in the bay, without masts or chimneys, what could they think of it? Nothing good, for at first they kept at a respectful distance. However, seeing it motionless, by degrees they took courage, and sought to familiarise themselves with it. Now this familiarity was precisely what it was necessary to avoid. Our arms, which were noiseless, could only produce a moderate effect on the savages, who have little respect for aught but blustering things. The thunderbolt without the reverberations of thunder would frighten man but little, though the danger lies in the lightning, not in the noise. Nautilus At this moment the canoes approached the , and a shower of arrows alighted on her. Nautilus I went down to the saloon, but found no one there. I ventured to knock at the door that opened into the Captain’s room. “Come in,” was the answer. I entered, and found Captain Nemo deep in algebraical calculations of and other quantities. x “I am disturbing you,” said I, for courtesy’s sake. “That is true, M. Aronnax,” replied the Captain; “but I think you have serious reasons for wishing to see me?” “Very grave ones; the natives are surrounding us in their canoes, and in a few minutes we shall certainly be attacked by many hundreds of savages.” “Ah!” said Captain Nemo quietly, “they are come with their canoes?” “Yes, sir.” “Well, sir, we must close the hatches.” “Exactly, and I came to say to you——” “Nothing can be more simple,” said Captain Nemo. And, pressing an electric button, he transmitted an order to the ship’s crew. “It is all done, sir,” said he, after some moments. “The pinnace is ready, and the hatches are closed. You do not fear, I imagine, that these gentlemen could stave in walls on which the balls of your frigate have had no effect?” “No, Captain; but a danger still exists.” “What is that, sir?” “It is that to-morrow, at about this hour, we must open the hatches to renew the air of the . Now, if, at this moment, the Papuans should occupy the platform, I do not see how you could prevent them from entering.” Nautilus “Then, sir, you suppose that they will board us?” “I am certain of it.” “Well, sir, let them come. I see no reason for hindering them. After all, these Papuans are poor creatures, and I am unwilling that my visit to the island should cost the life of a single one of these wretches.” Upon that I was going away; But Captain Nemo detained me, and asked me to sit down by him. He questioned me with interest about our excursions on shore, and our hunting; and seemed not to understand the craving for meat that possessed the Canadian. Then the conversation turned on various subjects, and, without being more communicative, Captain Nemo showed himself more amiable. Amongst other things, we happened to speak of the situation of the , run aground in exactly the same spot in this strait where Dumont d’Urville was nearly lost. Apropos of this: Nautilus “This D’Urville was one of your great sailors,” said the Captain to me, “one of your most intelligent navigators. He is the Captain Cook of you Frenchmen. Unfortunate man of science, after having braved the icebergs of the South Pole, the coral reefs of Oceania, the cannibals of the Pacific, to perish miserably in a railway train! If this energetic man could have reflected during the last moments of his life, what must have been uppermost in his last thoughts, do you suppose?” So speaking, Captain Nemo seemed moved, and his emotion gave me a better opinion of him. Then, chart in hand, we reviewed the travels of the French navigator, his voyages of circumnavigation, his double detention at the South Pole, which led to the discovery of Adelaide and Louis Philippe, and fixing the hydrographical bearings of the principal islands of Oceania. “That which your D’Urville has done on the surface of the seas,” said Captain Nemo, “that have I done under them, and more easily, more completely than he. The Astrolabe and the Zelee, incessantly tossed about by the hurricane, could not be worth the , quiet repository of labour that she is, truly motionless in the midst of the waters. Nautilus “To-morrow,” added the Captain, rising, “to-morrow, at twenty minutes to three p.m., the shall float, and leave the Strait of Torres uninjured.” Nautilus Having curtly pronounced these words, Captain Nemo bowed slightly. This was to dismiss me, and I went back to my room. There I found Conseil, who wished to know the result of my interview with the Captain. “My boy,” said I, “when I feigned to believe that his was threatened by the natives of Papua, the Captain answered me very sarcastically. I have but one thing to say to you: Have confidence in him, and go to sleep in peace.” Nautilus “Have you no need of my services, sir?” “No, my friend. What is Ned Land doing?” “If you will excuse me, sir,” answered Conseil, “friend Ned is busy making a kangaroo-pie which will be a marvel.” I remained alone and went to bed, but slept indifferently. I heard the noise of the savages, who stamped on the platform, uttering deafening cries. The night passed thus, without disturbing the ordinary repose of the crew. The presence of these cannibals affected them no more than the soldiers of a masked battery care for the ants that crawl over its front. At six in the morning I rose. The hatches had not been opened. The inner air was not renewed, but the reservoirs, filled ready for any emergency, were now resorted to, and discharged several cubic feet of oxygen into the exhausted atmosphere of the . Nautilus I worked in my room till noon, without having seen Captain Nemo, even for an instant. On board no preparations for departure were visible. I waited still some time, then went into the large saloon. The clock marked half-past two. In ten minutes it would be high-tide: and, if Captain Nemo had not made a rash promise, the would be immediately detached. If not, many months would pass ere she could leave her bed of coral. Nautilus However, some warning vibrations began to be felt in the vessel. I heard the keel grating against the rough calcareous bottom of the coral reef. At five-and-twenty minutes to three, Captain Nemo appeared in the saloon. “We are going to start,” said he. “Ah!” replied I. “I have given the order to open the hatches.” “And the Papuans?” “The Papuans?” answered Captain Nemo, slightly shrugging his shoulders. “Will they not come inside the ” Nautilus? “How?” “Only by leaping over the hatches you have opened.” “M. Aronnax,” quietly answered Captain Nemo, “they will not enter the hatches of the in that way, even if they were open.” Nautilus I looked at the Captain. “You do not understand?” said he. “Hardly.” “Well, come and you will see.” I directed my steps towards the central staircase. There Ned Land and Conseil were slyly watching some of the ship’s crew, who were opening the hatches, while cries of rage and fearful vociferations resounded outside. The port lids were pulled down outside. Twenty horrible faces appeared. But the first native who placed his hand on the stair-rail, struck from behind by some invisible force, I know not what, fled, uttering the most fearful cries and making the wildest contortions. Ten of his companions followed him. They met with the same fate. Conseil was in ecstasy. Ned Land, carried away by his violent instincts, rushed on to the staircase. But the moment he seized the rail with both hands, he, in his turn, was overthrown. “I am struck by a thunderbolt,” cried he, with an oath. This explained all. It was no rail; but a metallic cable charged with electricity from the deck communicating with the platform. Whoever touched it felt a powerful shock—and this shock would have been mortal if Captain Nemo had discharged into the conductor the whole force of the current. It might truly be said that between his assailants and himself he had stretched a network of electricity which none could pass with impunity. Meanwhile, the exasperated Papuans had beaten a retreat paralysed with terror. As for us, half laughing, we consoled and rubbed the unfortunate Ned Land, who swore like one possessed. But at this moment the , raised by the last waves of the tide, quitted her coral bed exactly at the fortieth minute fixed by the Captain. Her screw swept the waters slowly and majestically. Her speed increased gradually, and, sailing on the surface of the ocean, she quitted safe and sound the dangerous passes of the Straits of Torres. Nautilus About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Jules Verne (1994). Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved October 2022 https://www.gutenberg.org/files/164/164-h/164-h.htm This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

CAPTAIN NEMO’S THUNDERBOLT

Image Source: H2020 FET projects in nanotechnologies Nano network is a novel information and communication technology, which is based on the communication of nano-scale devices. does not merely refer to the reduction in transmitter and receiver size, but it’s the communication protocols between these nanodevices that are novel. Nano network Traditional wired and wireless networking paradigms use electromagnetic signals as a transmission medium. Whereas, nanonetworks utilize to send and receive messages between nanomachines. message encoded molecules The Nanosize Conundrum Computer science has always been used to solve real-world problems. The progress in computing machines can be marked with an increase in computational power and a reduction in the size of the machines. Nanotechnology has made the manufacturing of computing machines possible that are even smaller than human hair and can only be seen under a microscope. These devices are called nanodevices or nanomachines. are capable of solving real-world problems more efficiently as compared to their macro size counterparts. Nanomachines When the computing devices are downscaled to nano size, they grow in number and can work more efficiently together as compared to a single big machine. Image Source: Research gate The network of nanodevices is analogous to the swarm of bees. One bee is weak and only perform simple chores. But when these bees encounter an attack, they quickly mobilize to form a swarm and attack the predator jointly. Similarly,  nanomachines are resource-constrained devices in terms of computation and power due to their minute size. The full potential of these devices can be explored by interconnecting them into the form of a network. A nano network will aid in overcoming the constraints of a single nanodevice by allowing it to coordinate, share, and fuse information with other devices in the network. There are several promising applications of nanonetworks that can provide solutions in the biomedical, industrial, environmental, and military fields. Nano network applications Nanonetworks applications are unlimited and are used extensively in almost every field. These are classified into the following broad groups. Biomedical applications of nanonetworks Image Source: Medium The size of nanodevices makes them feasible for several biomedical and health monitoring applications including diagnostics, treatment, and prevention of diseases. Another advancement in the field of healthcare is the nanomachine being deployed inside the human body which can remotely be controlled from the nanoscale and over the internet by an external user (healthcare provider). In the diagnostics area nano-sensors, nanophotonics and nano cameras are playing a vital role in the early detection of biological and environmental contaminants in the body. Connecting the human body with macro-scale devices and networks for data collection is not feasible as 1) the high-frequency electromagnetic waves can interfere with the normal functioning of the body and 2) large devices connected to the body will hinder the mobility of the patient. Thanks to nanotechnology the size of machines is so small that these can be injected into the bloodstream or even swallowed. Don't worry! these machines are non-invasive and made from biocompatible and biodegradable materials.  Following are some of the potential biomedical applications: Immune system support Medical implants Drug delivery systems Continuous Health monitoring Correcting genetic disorders Nanomedicine Industrial applications of nanonetworks Nanodevices are showing potential in a number of industrial and consumer good applications.  Interconnected nanomachines are used by the video gaming industry for increased thrill and realistic gaming experience. Micro-electromechanical System (MEMS) aims at developing small scale systems e-g Lab-on-a-chip (LOC). A LOC is typically a few micrometers to millimeters in size. It provides the functionality of transporting molecules from one location to another, mixing different types of molecules, and separating specific kinds of molecules from a mixture. Some other industrial and consumer goods applications are listed below Food and water quality control Functionalized materials and fabrics Sports and video gaming Cosmetics Military Applications of nanonetworks Nanotechnology also has several applications in the military field. Dense deployment of nanonetworks in large areas helps in monitoring and actuation of the battlefield while soldier performance can be monitored by deploying nano-networks in the human body. Nanodevices such as imperceptible nano cameras, ultrasonic nano phones, and biological nano-sensors are devices that show potential in battlefield monitoring and actuation. Environmental Applications of Nanodevices Image Source: Agriculture News The bio-inspired nature of nanotechnology makes it feasible to detect and sense contaminated materials found in nature. The problem of handling and dumping garbage is increasing around the world; this problem can be dealt with by a biodegradation process that uses nano-networks. Animals and biodiversity control process can be realized with nanonetworks using pheromones. This results in interaction with certain animals and also to control their presence in particular areas. Nanonetworks can also be used to monitor air, thus controlling air pollution and nano filters can be developed to improve air quality and remove harmful materials from the air. ARCHITECTURE OF NANONETWORKS Nano network is comprised of several nano-scale devices such as nano transmitter, nano receiver, nano router, and other specialized nanodevices to perform exclusive tasks like sensing, actuation, monitoring, and control. The composition of nanonetworks depends upon the prospective application requirements. For example, a biomedical application like nano surgeries might need specialized nanodevices like nanorobots along with essential components of the nano network. Nano transmitters, nano receivers, and nano routers are the essential components of nanonetwork, however, a nanonetwork might not necessarily contain all of the below-mentioned nanodevices. Following is a detailed classification of nanomachines that can be part of nanonetworks according to application requirements. Nano Transmitters Nano transmitters are specialized nanomachines that are capable of sending encoded message molecules into the nano network environment. Information molecules can be sent into the environment by two types of nano transmitters, pre-encoded nano transmitters, and generic nano transmitters. Pre-encoded nano transmitters have encoded molecules stored in their compartment at the time of fabrication. Nanosystems that can be used as pre-encoded nano transmitters are artificially synthesized cells, genetically engineered biological cells, or artificial cells. For example, lipid-based liposomes (i.e., molecule carrying enclosure) and polymer-based nanospheres and nanocapsules can be used as nano transmitters. Generic nano transmitters mimic natural cells such as bacteriophage, viruses, etc. Unlike pre-encoded nano transmitters, the message molecule is synthesized inside the nano transmitter according to the trigger signal. has been done by University of Cambridge researchers. A detailed review of physical design options for nano transmitters Nano Receiver A nano receiver detects the transmitted signal from the environment, further processes it, and produces an output signal in response. Same as nano transmitters, nano receivers take up the molecule from the environment, process it via a predefined biochemical algorithm that decodes the signal. The decoded signal is then used to initiate an appropriate response in the environment e-g, stopping, initiating drug delivery sessions, synthesize or release some molecules, internal reconfiguration, or other biochemical reactions. Nano Sensor A nanosensor is a simple nanodevice that senses the environment to detect the presence of biological components or changes in environmental conditions like light, pH level, temperature. Nanosensors can coordinate the changes in the environment with other nanodevices, which may work as a trigger signal to initiate an appropriate response. Nano Robot Nanorobots are nanodevices that have actuation capabilities in addition to the sensing ability. Nanorobot consists of sensors, actuators, information processing unit, memory unit, and power unit that make nanorobots a powerful device. Nanorobots can manipulate the surrounding environment by performing actuation functionalities like precise delivery of therapeutic molecules to diseased cells. Nano controller Nano controllers are specialized nanodevices that are used to monitor and control other devices in the nano network. Their tasks may include monitoring the drug release process to make sure that a controlled amount of drug is released or to initiate/stop a process in the nano network. Nano Router Nano routers are more sophisticated nanodevices in terms of power, storage, and computation capacity. They are in charge of aggregating and processing information coming from various nanodevices in the network. Nanotechnology will let us build computers that are incredibly powerful. We'll have more power in the volume of a sugar cube than exists in the entire world today - Ralph Merkle

Beyond The Nanosize Conundrum: A Deep Dive into Nano Networks and its Many Applications

In the of this series, we highlighted the history, industries and major use cases involved in the NexOS evolution. This article will explore the crucial factors and fundamental intricacies of the technical foundation and frameworks bringing this innovation to fruition. first article Instead of relying on generic technology ill-suited for blockchain’s specific characteristics, Nexus manages to interoperate with the current internet infrastructure while offering the seed of an alternative future. The Nexus Operating System (NexOS) and Protocol (NP) each rely on several key components thoughtfully interwoven to work in harmony. The Lower Level Library (LLL) represents a major part of the puzzle. Referred to as a ‘template library’ written in C++, it consists of database, cryptographic, and protocol templates for use throughout the (graphic below). These base templates are inherited in higher level programming languages, allowing accessibility through a HTTP JSON based API (layer five). software stack Another way of thinking about it follows: instead of an environment enabling any possible computation such as blockchains, templates deep within the software enable the most important aspects of cryptographically-secured value transfer, and the higher layers build upon those templates. The register-based virtual machine of Nexus (accounts, tokens, NFTs, and names all come from registers) is built from the templates provided by Lower Level Database (LLD). Turing complete Split into three sections, the LLL provides base classes focusing on cryptographic, protocol and database functions. These are referred to as LLC, LLP and LLD (Lower Level….Crypto, Protocol, and Database). Each branch provides a foundation for different aspects of the protocol; they are not separate and often interrelate. For instance, all cryptographic functions originate from the LLC, but always are in demand for various databases and protocols which live in the LLD and LLP respectively. This core functionality must be linked with the under-development NexOS, but other advantages such as the consensus mechanisms provide a decentralized and trustless  computation on  the registers. An OS enables Nexus to integrate this distributed, virtualized, and authenticated basis of truth closer to a machine's hardware resources, significantly enhancing integrity, confidentiality, and overall security in general. Simultaneously this design is aimed at fulfilling various IoT requirements including device interoperability, abstracted frameworks available as an API, authenticated user activity and energy efficiency. Operating System Design - Microkernel Vs Monolithic Kernel Kernels are the closest software to your computer’s hardware, often referred to as Ring 0. They allocate and regulate applications with the necessary physical resources while maintaining strong isolation characteristics between processes.Most applications run in a unprivileged “user mode” rather than the privileged “kernel mode” which gives access directly to the hardware(5). Kernel design and management represents a key feature distinguishing operating systems. Monolithic Kernel Many types of kernels exist, but most consumer OSs tend toward what's called monolithic kernels. Monolithics use the kernel for all system operations such as memory handling, file operations, drivers and thread scheduling. This monolithic structure keeps operations quick by not requiring IPC (Inter-Process Communication), however has limitations such as poor fault tolerance (if a driver crashes, your kernel and thus computer will crash too). The historic Windows Blue Screen of Death in early Windows computers highlights the sensitivity of monolithic kernels, as one minor mistake can cause full system failure. Microkernel Microkernels embody a modular design focusing on fault tolerance and footprint minimization. Since a primary goal of kernels is to shield the hardware space, microkernels avoid running unnecessary code in the privileged space when it could be offloaded to the user mode (unprivileged). The increased fault tolerance and modularity can come at the cost of latency, especially in interactions with non-kernel components, but the security and code simplicity helps make up for the loss. ( ) 1 The Foundation: seL4 Nexus has finally settled upon the seL4 (secure L4) microkernel as a foundation for NexOS. The seL4 microkernel branches from the L4 family of microkernels. This family has enjoyed significant commercial success (including billions in mobile phone sales) and adoption in critical systems around the world ( ). 2 Released in 2009 by the , seL4 focuses on critical systems such as military applications such as drones and satellites. Its core innovation comes from the guarantees in isolation properties between applications and unique approaches to kernel resource management. Specifically, seL4 led the world of operating systems by becoming the first formally verified general purpose microkernel (proofs are limited to only a few instruction sets such as ARM). Trustworthy Systems group Formal verification involves transforming a code’s specification into mathematical abstractions, then constructing proofs to “prove” that the implementation follows the specification ( ). Some describe formal verification as proving that bugs can’t occur, but this is imprecise, especially in complex systems where unknown inputs exist. 3 For consumer applications which may be designed for other operating systems, seL4 runs a hypervisor which allows the virtualization of another OS (windows linux, etc.), however a consumer level use implementation of the NexOS won't occur until IoT use cases exhibit success. Overall, SeL4 provides Nexus developers an extremely stable, proven and innovative microkernel to serve as the cornerstone for NexOS. NexOS This type of design can only be pursued because of the opportunities the distributed ledger provides. Listed below, three main innovations illustrate this novel security infrastructure. The first two relate to traditional components of operating systems, however the third, software defined routers, entails a much larger conversation about physical networks, which we will uncover in the final article. Runtime memory and binary verification (e.g. buffer overflow, etc.)File integrity via (e.g. malware, event log manipulation, etc.)Software-defined routers (e.g. spoofing, , surveillance, etc.) merkle trees route poisoning Runtime memory provides the temporary storage necessary for processing binary instructions. Operating systems create memory to process code and reclaims that memory once the process is finished. Binary verification refers to the ability to check that the binaries (0s and 1s comprising code) match a referential source. With NexOS, all executable code must be authenticated either by the source developer or by the user running the application. To explain, let's look at installing a module on the existing Nexus desktop wallet. The hash of the binary you're installing has to match the hash listed on the github repo. The green check mark signifies that the hashes match: To make sure it's understood, the image above just shows the pattern the team will extend to the operating system, not an image of its use. In NexOS, instead of matching with github repo as shown above, the hash will have to match with the one stored in the developers Signature Chain.  Every single runtime instruction will be authenticated with additional checksums. The team decided to approach File System integrity by utilizing merkle trees. Instead of hashing the entire file and storing that for authentication, merkle trees allow hashing of subsets of files, so changes to one part won't require rehashing of the entire file. Creating a new file requires a user's confirmation, generating a new merkle root that can be stored in a special object register, on the blockchain, that points to the data itself. NexOS significantly improves the root of trust with a distributed ledger, mitigating the inherent risk of Certificate Authorities (CA), 3rd- and similar . This and the other authentication features remove the ability for many common attack vectors like trojans, injections and similar techniques. NexOS will not be impenetrable, social engineering and similar threats will continue to be a challenge. Although, the design aims to significantly diminish the developmental mistakes, backdoors and related issues that lead to most incidents involving security and privacy compromises. party back doors vulnerabilities We hope you enjoyed the article! The third and final installment of this series will be published next week. Roadmap What is Nexus? What are the features of Tritium? Technical Guides Whitepapers Nexus Github

NexOS, Internet of Things (IoT), And Beyond: Part II

Understanding the inspiration and history behind Nexus helps convey the current vision. This is the first of three articles covering pertinent aspects of Nexus’ history in which the context is set for the burgeoning NexOS (Nexus Operating System), and its innovative security principles are introduced. Excessive ambition stands as a valid criticism of Nexus’s technical designs and goals. Nevertheless, that energy provides the necessary impetus to pursue an alternative future. Refusing to follow the trendy designs of Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLTs), Nexus paved its own path, every passing day affirming these decisions instead of rebuking them. Specifically, the attention to multiple consensus channels, layer one , and simple creates a unified foundation to expand upon. These fundamental infrastructural elements are often left to the second layer in other highly valued projects, potentially including . scalability decentralized identity (DID) Application Programming Interface (API) inheritable risks and vulnerabilities For those new to Nexus, one of the aspiring goals revolves around enabling an infrastructure of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites and ground station mesh network, secured by the Nexus , powering an alternative internet. Three-Dimensional Chain (3DC) Source: https://www.endurosat.com/about/?v=7516fd43adaa Colin’s father, Jim Cantrell, was a co-founder of SpaceX and Vector, a small-load rocket launch company. Nexus and Vector collaborated on a proprietary virtualization software, Galactic Sky, which aimed to provide compute management capabilities to LEO satellites. Unfortunatley, Vector deteriorated in dramatic fashion, Lockheed Martin acquired Galactic Sky in the , and the tokenized satellite vision was set on the backburner. bankruptcy aftermath Though this was a major temporary setback, which was justifiably upsetting to many members of the Nexus community, in retrospect it may have been a blessing in disguise. Determined to not let disappointment deter him, Colin renewed his focus on the foundational elements of the 3DC, which allowed him to bring his vision of a Nexus operating system to life. Fortunately, the team also continued to investigate and explore alternative approaches to the tokenized satellite and mesh network design. Several key breakthroughs are reviving these plans, including Jim Cantrell's successful launch of , a space transportation company aiming to "make space commerce commonplace." In addition, the design of a Global Positioning System (GPS) based stateless routing system enabled through the , ledger and variable-frequency phased-array antennas is underway. The new and improved satellite design will create practical value through embedded devices such as IoT and CubeSats. Phantom Lower Level Library (LLL) Early successes in development of GPS-based stateless routing system, coupled with advancements in communications technology, provides a new hope for the Nexus team and community. However, for Colin this is an opportunity to finally bring the secure operating system to fruition. A Bastion for the Internet of Things (IoT) and Beyond NexOS will allow computers to interact with the Nexus Protocol (NP) in a deeper manner than previously possible. The Lower Level Library (LLL) provides the basis for the entire NP, explaining how it arrived at the initial temporary name of LLL-OS. . Inheritance of the distributed database, ledger and protocols from Nexus constitute a form of distributed virtualization. Besides security properties, other desirable features emerge such as offline identity verification and roaming device synchronization. Nexus integrates verification into the NexOS by interweaving consensus throughout the user and kernel spaces. It leverages Signature Chains (SigChains) and the ledger to authenticate the file system, runtime memory and any change to the state of the kernel Source: http://www.beechamresearch.com/article.aspx?id=41 Reading in detail about SigChains helps conceptualize the NexOS. But In short, SigChains serve as a built-in identity and access scheme. A SigChain represents an individual node, controls accounts, tokens, assets (Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs), and access to several cryptographic tools enforcing the “authenticated” environment. In general, enforcing distributed ledger compliance throughout the NexOS aids in discerning malicious code which “allows the kernel to know itself” - Colin Cantrell (9). IoT devices using NexOS leverage SigChains for device-level Identification and managing network connections. (LISP) enables Nexus devices to engage with multiple virtual networks simultaneously, (IP/NP) while maintaining session, by separating identity from location. LISP represents a networking innovation that the Nexus team believes will play a crucial role in the internet's evolution. Location Identifier Separation Protocol Many IoT devices are being rushed to market with little consideration for security implications. Hasty designs and corners cut play a big part, but so far few standards have proven effective in this field. Even just the thought of being spied on by a makes our temperature rise! Nest thermostat Source: http://www.thelowdownblog.com/2014/07/hacking-googles-nest-thermostat-and.html Using deterministic hardware identifications for device-level authentications (e.g. ) with a cryptographic identity based on SigChains, is an innovative security control mechanism for the IoT industry. The Nexus community aims to provide robust open standards to promote a stable transition into the IoT-dominated world. At first the NexOS will only target IoT use cases, but a consumer version for desktops, tablets and mobile will eventually follow. International Mobile Equipment Identity - IMEI By binding devices to Nexus, a whole new class of potential applications emerges. Environmental, industrial, and consumer IoT use cases increasingly define life experience in the twenty-first century, and the NexOS positions the Nexus community for success in this rapidly changing world. Additionally, many potential (below) supported by the Nexus blockchain are relevant to IoT and could be enhanced by incorporating NexOS as a core component. use cases Thanks for reading! The second part of this series offers details on the design rationale for the NexOS, while the third focuses on the relationships with the GPS based stateless routing system, tokenized satellites and mesh networks. Roadmap What is Nexus? What are the features of Tritium? Technical Guides Whitepapers Nexus Github Previously published at https://www.publish0x.com/nexus-blockchain-technical-articles/nexos-the-nexus-operating-system-a-bastion-for-internet-of-t-xdrowrl

NexOS, Internet of Things (IoT), And Beyond: Part I

An alternate ecosystem for blockchain startups Image from Morpheus Wallet: https://morpheuswallet.com has been the King Kong of blockchain development projects thus far, mainly because of its token protocol, which made it ridiculously easy to launch your own cryptocurrency token. As a result of all of this activity, the Ethereum ecosystem has flourished, and Ethereum has established itself as the #2 cryptocurrency in the world. Ethereum ERC-20 The smart contract concept that Ethereum has pioneered is here to stay, but now there are many other blockchain systems aiming to challenge its dominance. Those competitors include , , , and . Cardano Stellar EOS NEO We’re going to focus our attention on NEO’s NEP-5 token protocol, which offers an attractive alternative to ERC-20. NEP-5 Tokens Defined NEP stands for “NEO Enhancement Protocol” and NEP-5 is simply an enhancement added to NEO last year that allows NEO to support cryptocurrency tokens in much the same way that Ethereum does. In fact, it is clear in the NEO Github notes for NEP-5 that ERC-20 and ERC-223 standards were the primary models when the NEP-5 protocol was designed. Thus, when people refer to NEP-5 tokens, they simply mean that they are tokens that are running on the NEO platform, per the NEP-5 protocol in NEO. A NEP-5 token must be stored/managed via a NEO-compatible wallet, because it is part of the NEO ecosystem. This is exactly how things are with ERC-20 Ethereum tokens, as well. NEO vs. Ethereum So, if NEP-5 tokens are very similar to ERC-20 tokens in purpose and function, why chose them over their Ethereum counterparts, which are much more established in the marketplace? The biggest reasons are: : NEO currently supports 1,000 transactions per second (compared to Ethereum’s 15 per second). In addition, there are currently no transaction fees for NEO, while all Ethereum transactions do carry a fee, which can be significant. Transaction costs and speed : if you are a developer creating your own blockchain-based application, NEO supports many common programming languages, while Ethereum uses its own proprietary language (Solidity). Development Flexibility : The cryptographic models for most blockchain platforms will not be secure once quantum computers become a reality. That means that quantum computers could decrypt the private keys of crypto accounts. NEO, however, is already quantum computer resistant. Ethereum is not. Quantum Computer Proof : When blockchain platforms make major changes to improve their systems, those changes need to be agreed upon by its “stakeholders” via a consensus model. Ethereum’s consensus model has led to one major fork (Ethereum Classic) already. NEO’s Delegated Byzantine Fault Tolerant (dBFT) model prevents forks/splits and should lead to a more stable overall upgrade path for the future. Better Consensus Model Why Choose NEO for a Token Sale My own project, , just completed a token sale on NEO (using a NEP-5 token), but we initially started off as an Ethereum project. We were very far down the path of being an ERC-20 token- having already developed our token sale smart contract on Ethereum- before we made the difficult decision to switch over to NEO. Narrative And we did so for all of the reasons listed above- faster, much cheaper transactions, more flexible development environment, and more future-ready. The decision was still difficult, however, because the tools and ecosystem surrounding Ethereum are much deeper and more proven. And, to be sure, launching a token sale on NEO is not nearly as easy from a development standpoint, primarily because there are relatively few examples. When we did our token sale smart contract, we were able to use some templates developed by the (a NEO development group), but there was little in the way of experienced projects/developers that could assist us. In fact, we were the first NEO project to conduct a token sale using “verified mode”, which ensures that user contributions only go through if all requirements have been met. This protects the token sale contributors and saves the project from having to issue too many refunds. City of Zion The other thing we discovered while conducting our token sale is that the NEO community is very tight-knit and eager to help. We received assistance from many NEO developers as we ran into problems creating our token sale smart contract, but we also gave back to the community when we identified/solved problems. Because the number of NEO projects is still very small, especially compared to Ethereum, you can have a very large impact on the NEO ecosystem. The Cons So far, we’ve talked about the many advantages of NEO, but let’s also talk about some of the downsides, compared to Ethereum, if you are looking to launch a new project. The biggest downside is that the development community is MUCH smaller. The resources at your disposal are minuscule, compared to Ethereum, because there simply have not been that many projects running on NEO so far (though that is getting better each month). The other big downside for a NEO project is that the number of cryptocurrency exchanges that support NEP-5 tokens is very small. If you have a project on Ethereum, there are plenty of exchanges where you can list your token. You can pretty much be guaranteed that your token will have a liquid marketplace from Day One. Because there are only a handful of crypto exchanges that support NEP-5, you will likely have to pay more to get your token listed. The good news though is that that number of NEP-5 friendly exchanges is increasing… and some very good decentralized NEO exchange options are appearing- (already live) and (coming later this year). Established (centralized) exchanges that support NEP-5 tokens include: , , and . Switcheo NEX Kucoin Gate.io Binance Finally, to actually launch your token on NEO, you have to pay significant fees to NEO. It costs 490 GAS to launch a smart contract on NEO. For us, that was nearly $50,000 at the time of our token sale. With the recent pullback of crypto prices, it’s much cheaper at the moment, but still a significant expense that you just don’t have with Ethereum. (As an aside, I actually see this smart contact deployment fee as a positive for NEO projects. It deters frivolous projects… which is a huge problem on Ethereum. Most of the NEO projects that have launched have been very high quality IMO.) How To Store NEP-5 Tokens There are a number of quality wallets for storing NEO and NEP-5 tokens, including , , (mobile-only), and . All of these support NEP-5 tokens and are very easy to use. NeonWallet Neotracker O3 MorpheusWallet I always recommend using hardware appliances to secure your crypto accounts, and supports NEO and NEP-5 tokens. You can use your Ledger in conjunction with Neon and MorpheusWallet. Ledger Nano To transfer NEP-5 tokens, you technically need 1 drop of GAS (GAS is the transactional token for NEO) in your account, but that fee is actually refunded back to you when your transaction completes. One drop of gas is equal to 0.00000001 GAS, so we are talking about a VERY small amount. Also, if you have any NEO on you account, you will automatically earn GAS. Why Consumers May Prefer NEO-Based Tokens One reason consumers may take interest in NEO-based projects is that if you own NEO you automatically earn NEOGas (GAS), the transactional token of NEO. By simply holding NEO in your wallet, you can claim GAS tokens, which accrue based on the overall balance of NEO in your account. Currently, transactions on NEO are free, but that may change in the future. If it does, the fact that you can earn GAS automatically to cover transaction fees is a nice perk. And, as stated earlier, this can help you cover your “1 drop of GAS” requirement when sending NEP-5 tokens, as well. The bottom line for consumers is that using NEP-5 tokens in transactions carries no cost; whereas, in Ethereum, ERC-20 tokens always require a fee, paid in Ethereum. Transactions overall are much faster than with Ethereum, where network bottlenecks are quite common and can result in long processing delays. Just as with Ethereum, you can track transactions using a NEO blockchain browser like or . Neotracker Neoscan A sample transaction from Neoscan- 2 NEO being sent from one account to another. The average block time (when a group of transactions are “settled” on the blockchain) for NEO is a little more than 20 seconds currently, which means that there is very little waiting around to confirm that a particular transaction went through. The China Question Some people refer to NEO as the “Ethereum of China”. While it’s true that NEO was created by Chinese developers, it’s not a project that is limited to China by any means. And thus, even though China has had an up-and-down relationship with cryptocurrencies in general, there is no reason to think this has any impact on NEO as a platform. NEO is truly worldwide in scope now, a top-10 blockchain project based on cryptocurrency market cap. The NEP-5 Landscape The NEP-5 protocol was introduced in 2017, but the uptake by quality projects has been impressive. Some of the earliest NEP-5 projects were and , both of which had token sales late in 2017 and early in 2018 and have already achieved market valuations over $100 million, even though they are very early in their development plans. Red Pulse Deepbrain Chain We have seen an increasing number of new NEP-5 projects come to market in the first quarter of 2018, including , , , , , , , , and our own project, . TheKey Moonlight Thor Trinity Switcheo Qlink NEX Concerge.io Narrative And of course, the well publicized project is also a NEP-5 token. Ontology Summary While I expect the vast majority of new blockchain projects to continue to be launched on Ethereum due its overall market dominance and the established resources available, NEO actually has many advantages that new projects should consider and fully evaluate before making a decision. It’s getting easier to launch projects and conduct token sales on NEO, thanks to the pioneering efforts of the City of Zion and the NEP-5 projects listed above. NEP-5 tokens can be stored in a NEO wallet, just like ERC-20 tokens are stored in Ethereum wallets, yet they are in many ways easier to transact with due to the speed and low transaction costs. And you can store NEP-5 tokens securely, as well, through the Ledger hardware appliance. The fact that NEO developers must pay a significant fee to deploy a smart contract should also give consumers more confidence that the project is not being released “on the fly”. If you have a new blockchain project, I’d highly recommend considering the many advantages of NEO. At Narrative, we’re building the content economy, flipping the script on traditional social media by giving users true autonomy and transparency and returning 85% of all revenue to active participants in the network. Check us out at: Website: https://www.narrative.network White Paper: https://assets.narrative.network/documents/narrative-network.pdf Community: https://community.narrative.network Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/narrative_hq Telegram: https://t.me/narrativenetwork

NEP-5: NEO’s Answer to Ethereum ERC-20 Tokens

The was the first quadcopter I fell in love with. However, in spite of the common belief, I dare to think it isn’t really for indoors or suitable for a beginner due to it’s speed, agility and crazy yaw rate. One should rather take that bad boy outside, so the obvious next step would be adding FPV equipment to it. H8 Mini I’ve seen many videos on YouTube of people simply on the H8 and flying around right after; so I got myself a camera and tried to do the same. For some reason, this has never worked for me well. I had to apply too much throttle even to take off and the quad didn’t seem to be struggling with the extra weight though, controlling it wasn’t easy. I even removed the prop guards and the camera case, the trouble with the control remained. At this point I have to mention that I use my Devo 7E transmitter to control the H8 Mini, to which I have added a and flashed with . sticking an AIO camera FX797T 3-in-1 RF module DeviationTX And so it turned out that I needed to upgrade the motors, but the stock frame wasn’t sufficient to do so. Fortunately I bumped into the extension kit by . H8CF101 Out of the Box Innovations The frame kit is made specifically for the H8 Mini, but I’m pretty sure it could fit boards for many other toy drones as well. It supports 8520 motor size (for which I recommend the by , because those motors deliver massive power) and up to 65mm props, the frame feels like cleverly designed. It is very easy to assemble and the result is aesthetically really pleasing. I especially like the motor protection caps, which are made of some kind of rubber material. You need to use something like double-sided tape to mount the PCB on the frame. The manual for the H8CF101 advises to use double-sided tape also to mount the camera on the frame, but I’ve found that a little piece of rubber band can do better, because it lets you adjust the camera position more easily. There is enough space underneath the center rod to wrap a band around the camera. Sidewinder 8520 Spintech Motors H8CF101 assembled, camera mounted using rubber band The camera originally came with a Y-cable, which allowed to connect the camera and the quad to the same power source. While it seemed like a good idea, it soon turned out the excess wiring may easily cause problems in flight, because it could get hit by the propellers. The power is connected to the camera with really tiny solder joints, so I wanted to find a way to get rid of the extra wires without having to cut or replace them. This is because I’m not comfortable with very tiny soldering jobs. Luckily I discovered two solder pads on the H8 Mini board labelled B+ and B- and the power input pads are also labelled B+ and B-. H8 blue board with extra battery out pads (B+ and B-) I tested these pads and they were what I thought they were: output for the battery voltage. So I soldered two pieces of wire on them with the same type of connector the camera power cable had. Then I just wrapped the rest of the camera wires around the camera and this way I could remove about 6cm of needless wire. This is how the camera power connection looks like: Camera connector and wiring One of the problems I could not solve as of yet, is the USB programming connection. It is widely known that the H8 Mini (both the green and blue boards) can be flashed with custom firmware (please take a look at for more info). Flashing is pretty useful, because it gives you things like acro mode, among others, like PID tuning and telemetry. A permanent connector is necessary, since every time you need to change some software settings, you need to reflash the firmware. So the connector I used for flashing prevented me from assembling the frame properly, mainly because I put it on the side where the camera mount piece of the frame supposed to be. Silverware Wiki Servo connector soldered for USB programming I’m yet to figure out what type of connector I should use instead of the servo connector, because it’s obviously too big to fit. I need something smaller, but then I will also need some sort of adapter as the USB programmer has pin headers and I will still be needing a servo connector on the USB side. The other problem is with vibrations in leveling mode. Once the quad takes off and gets airborne it begins to shake. Seems like a PID mistuning problem to me. However this does not occur when I switch to acro mode. This is also something I’m yet to inspect. It partially ties to the other problem, because changing settings means reflashing, to reflash I need a connector, but with the current type of connector I cannot assemble the frame. I will update this article once I’ve figured this out. I’m not affiliated with or sponsored by the maker of any of the products mentioned in this article. I’m just a happy user, so I wrote this independently.

Nanosized FPV racing drone from H8 Mini

Nanosai Mem Ops (Java): Memory Manager/Allocator for High Resilient and Low Latency Distributed…

In a recent announcement, Nexo, a prominent player in the cryptocurrency and financial services sector, launched its most significant reward campaign to date. The company marks its sixth anniversary with a $12 million Token Airdrop, designed to engage both new and existing users through a series of incentivized actions on their platform. Nexo's token hunt, aptly named Nexonomics, offers participants the chance to collect points through various activities such as top-ups, earning interest, engaging in crypto-backed credit, and trading both spot and futures. The campaign, which commenced on May 8, 2024, will allow users to convert these points into NEXO tokens by July 10, 2024, provided they adhere to the campaign’s terms and conditions. https://twitter.com/Nexo/status/1788193353219121594?embedable=true Participants earn points by utilizing Nexo's diverse financial products. However, certain actions like withdrawing cryptocurrency from their Nexo account reduce their point total—a strategic move to encourage platform loyalty and sustained engagement. For example, withdrawing BTC deducts 0.001 points for each dollar value withdrawn, subtly incentivizing users to keep their assets within the ecosystem. Understanding Multipliers The hunt incorporates several multipliers to boost point earnings: Weekly Multiplier: Rewards early participants with higher multipliers in the first weeks.


Loyalty Multiplier: Offers enhanced multipliers for users who maintain high tiers within Nexo’s loyalty program.


New User Multiplier: Provides a significant point increase for first-time funders during the campaign. These multipliers can exponentially increase the points earned, effectively making strategic participation highly rewarding. Nexo outlines different strategies for users at various experience levels: Beginners can focus on simple actions like buying crypto and swapping to NEXO tokens.
Intermediate users might engage in more complex strategies involving fixed terms and using Nexo’s card services.
Advanced participants might explore leveraging their assets through tools like the Nexo Booster or engaging in futures trading. While the campaign presents significant earning opportunities, it also carries risks, particularly from market volatility and the complexities of investment strategies that might expose users to financial losses. Additionally, the stringent rules around point collection and token claims necessitate a thorough understanding of the terms involved. This campaign could potentially increase platform activity and user retention, contributing positively to Nexo's operational metrics. In such campaigns, the fine balance between enticing rewards and the risks associated with crypto investments becomes pivotal. As always, participants are encouraged to engage with a full understanding of the terms and an awareness of the inherent risks involved in crypto trading and investment. Don’t forget to like and share the story! Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR. In a recent announcement , Nexo, a prominent player in the cryptocurrency and financial services sector, launched its most significant reward campaign to date. The company marks its sixth anniversary with a $12 million Token Airdrop, designed to engage both new and existing users through a series of incentivized actions on their platform. announcement Nexo's token hunt, aptly named Nexonomics, offers participants the chance to collect points through various activities such as top-ups, earning interest, engaging in crypto-backed credit, and trading both spot and futures. The campaign, which commenced on May 8, 2024, will allow users to convert these points into NEXO tokens by July 10, 2024, provided they adhere to the campaign’s terms and conditions. https://twitter.com/Nexo/status/1788193353219121594?embedable=true https://twitter.com/Nexo/status/1788193353219121594?embedable=true Participants earn points by utilizing Nexo's diverse financial products. However, certain actions like withdrawing cryptocurrency from their Nexo account reduce their point total—a strategic move to encourage platform loyalty and sustained engagement. For example, withdrawing BTC deducts 0.001 points for each dollar value withdrawn, subtly incentivizing users to keep their assets within the ecosystem. Understanding Multipliers Understanding Multipliers The hunt incorporates several multipliers to boost point earnings: Weekly Multiplier: Rewards early participants with higher multipliers in the first weeks. Loyalty Multiplier: Offers enhanced multipliers for users who maintain high tiers within Nexo’s loyalty program. New User Multiplier: Provides a significant point increase for first-time funders during the campaign. Weekly Multiplier: Rewards early participants with higher multipliers in the first weeks. Weekly Multiplier : Rewards early participants with higher multipliers in the first weeks. Weekly Multiplier Loyalty Multiplier: Offers enhanced multipliers for users who maintain high tiers within Nexo’s loyalty program. Loyalty Multiplier : Offers enhanced multipliers for users who maintain high tiers within Nexo’s loyalty program. Loyalty Multiplier New User Multiplier: Provides a significant point increase for first-time funders during the campaign. New User Multiplier : Provides a significant point increase for first-time funders during the campaign. New User Multiplier These multipliers can exponentially increase the points earned, effectively making strategic participation highly rewarding. Nexo outlines different strategies for users at various experience levels: Beginners can focus on simple actions like buying crypto and swapping to NEXO tokens. Intermediate users might engage in more complex strategies involving fixed terms and using Nexo’s card services. Advanced participants might explore leveraging their assets through tools like the Nexo Booster or engaging in futures trading. Beginners can focus on simple actions like buying crypto and swapping to NEXO tokens. Intermediate users might engage in more complex strategies involving fixed terms and using Nexo’s card services. Advanced participants might explore leveraging their assets through tools like the Nexo Booster or engaging in futures trading. While the campaign presents significant earning opportunities, it also carries risks, particularly from market volatility and the complexities of investment strategies that might expose users to financial losses. Additionally, the stringent rules around point collection and token claims necessitate a thorough understanding of the terms involved. This campaign could potentially increase platform activity and user retention, contributing positively to Nexo's operational metrics. In such campaigns, the fine balance between enticing rewards and the risks associated with crypto investments becomes pivotal. As always, participants are encouraged to engage with a full understanding of the terms and an awareness of the inherent risks involved in crypto trading and investment. Don’t forget to like and share the story! Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR. Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program . HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR. Vested Interest Disclosure: business blogging program business blogging program

Nexo Celebrates 6th Birthday with $12 Million Token Airdrop

Nexo $12 মিলিয়ন টোকেন এয়ারড্রপের সাথে 6 তম জন্মদিন উদযাপন করে৷

Nexo feiert 6. Geburtstag mit Token-Airdrop im Wert von 12 Millionen US-Dollar

Nexo celebra su sexto cumpleaños con un lanzamiento aéreo de tokens de 12 millones de dólares

Nexo célèbre son 6e anniversaire avec un largage de jetons de 12 millions de dollars

नेक्सो ने 12 मिलियन डॉलर के टोकन एयरड्रॉप के साथ 6वां जन्मदिन मनाया

Nexo が 1,200 万ドルのトークン エアドロップで 6 周年を祝う

Nexo, 1,200만 달러 규모의 토큰 에어드롭으로 6번째 생일 축하

Nexo comemora 6º aniversário com lançamento aéreo de token de US$ 12 milhões

Nexo отмечает 6-й день рождения раздачей токенов на 12 миллионов долларов

Nexo, 6. Yaşını 12 Milyon Dolarlık Token Airdrop ile Kutluyor

Nexo kỷ niệm sinh nhật lần thứ 6 với đợt airdrop token trị giá 12 triệu đô la

Nexo 举行 6 岁生日庆祝活动，并发放价值 1200 万美元的代币空投

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Learn Multithreading in Python Like A Pro Using These 30 Questions

Recently Bulgaria has become a member of Schengen zone. It’s also known for its low tax rates compared to other EU countries, which opens up great opportunities to become a permanent resident or doing business and conducting legal economic activities in the country. Such low personal income tax rates as in Bulgaria (10%) are also available in Andorra (10%), Romania (10%) and Hungary (9%). Headline corporate income tax in Bulgaria is also 10%. Under certain circumstances, this rate may be applied to cryptocurrencies on a company's balance sheet, but until MiCA finally comes into force Bulgaria is likely to remain uncertain about the regulation of cryptocurrencies, but is unlikely to ban them.  In 2014, the local tax office passed a ruling according to which profits from the sale of cryptocurrencies are subject to a 10% tax rate. Last but not least - Bulgaria is a good place for tourist vacations at the sea. It also has relatively low cost of living and real estate prices compared to other popular destinations. How to get residence permit in Bulgaria for digital nomads? Actually in the past, most remote workers obtained a residence permit in Bulgaria through opening a trade representative office of a foreign company. In fact, it was enough just to have a legal entity abroad and having passed the legal formalities one could count on obtaining a residence permit for all founders of the representative office (up to four people per company). However, now the procedure will be considerably toughened and the requirements for the turnover of the representative office will be 250,000 euros per year. Another alternative is to register as a self-employed person, it will be necessary to prove two years of work experience and knowledge of Bulgarian language at the level of B1 - to pass an exam in local institutions.  Other possible ways are described below. Residence permit for students. Foreigners enrolled as full-time students in a higher education institution in the Republic of Bulgaria may obtain a long-term residence permit for a period of up to one year. This will require a certificate of enrollment in the Republic of Bulgaria and proof of payment of the enrollment fee. Residence permit for pensioners. It is necessary to prove the fact of receiving a pension and the availability of financial means for living in the country (a little more than 3000 euros in the account). Employment in a local company. For this purpose, it is necessary to get a job in a Bulgarian company. By the way, social payments or taxes from the salary over and above the income tax in Bulgaria is 24%. Residence permit for self-employed. It will be necessary to confirm the work experience for two years and, knowledge of the Bulgarian language at the level of B1 - pass the exam in local institutions. Perhaps it is not as difficult as it seems. Investment activity. One of the most attractive options is to invest a capital of at least 250.000 euros in a business in Bulgaria, provided that you own at least 50% of the shares of the company. A mandatory condition is the creation of ten full-time jobs for Bulgarian citizens. If you do not want to register as a self-employed person and pass the Bulgarian language exam, you can apply for a residence permit by study or employment in a local company. Also if you will be moving as a whole company, you can relocate your employees. A pensioner's visa is suitable for persons of retirement age. Before you can apply for a residence permit, you must first enter the country on a national D visa. The documents for this visa are submitted to the Bulgarian consulate. The grounds for issuance of the D visa depend on the chosen category of residence permit. Depending on the chosen category, the residence permit, as a rule, includes such items: A copy of the passport; Proof of source of income. Health insurance valid on the territory of Bulgaria; Certificate of no criminal record; Confirmation of sufficient financial means for the period of residence; Proof of availability of housing for residence in Bulgaria; The application for a residence permit is processed on average within two weeks from the moment of its submission. After 5 years from the moment of obtaining a temporary residence permit in Bulgaria and provided that the holder of the status has been absent from the country for no more than 30 months, it is possible to apply for a permanent residence permit in Bulgaria. Bulgarian citizenship by roots and naturalization You can apply for Bulgarian citizenship by naturalization after 5 years of residence in the country. By the way, this option is especially convenient for those who will receive residence permit under the investment program. For the investor and his family is not required to confirm knowledge of the state language, as well as to renounce native citizenship. There is also an opportunity to obtain a passport of this country in the presence of Bulgarian relatives. A foreign citizen who at least one of his parents or grandparents was Bulgarian by nationality has the right to apply for Bulgarian residence permit and citizenship. What about crypto regulation? There is still no separate legislation in Bulgaria that defines and regulates cryptocurrencies and the licensing of these activities. But there are certain rules on taxation and transactions with crypto. Back in 2014, the local tax service was one of the first in the world to adopt a resolution according to which the profit from the sale of cryptocurrencies is subject to a tax rate of 10%. By the way, the basic income tax rate for legal entities in Bulgaria is also 10%. Under certain circumstances, this rate can be applied to cryptocurrencies on a company's balance sheet. Despite the lack of licensing to cryptocurrency companies in Bulgaria apply standard AML rules, the same as to other financial activities and, according to the law firm operations with crypto for legal entities are legal. By the way, this is confirmed by the fact that the country is home to one of the largest European and global crypto exchanges - Nexo. Gofaizen Sherle Nexo: real case of crypto business with Bulgarian origin Nexo is one of the top European cryptocurrency companies. For those who have a residence permit in Europe, Nexo can quite easily issue a crypto card with no fees. And this company has Bulgarian origins, Nexo's co-founders are Antoni Trenchev and Kosta Kantchev. Bulgaria can be a place, which provides innovation in the field of blockchain. From public sources we can conclude that the company at least had  an office in Sofia - it was a place there that a raid was carried out as part of the investigation initiated by the Bulgarian prosecutor's office against the exchange in early 2023. The prosecutor's office later dropped the investigation and acknowledged that the exchange had not violated the country's laws. Nexo representatives also call this investigation the politically-motivated operation of Bulgarian authorities and demand that it be recognized in court. However, currently the company is developing its operations in other jurisdictions, including Dubai, where it recently received preliminary approval from local regulator VARA. The Nexo case is important because it shows that a successful company with roots in Bulgaria faced certain difficulties when operating in the country - so the regulation of cryptocurrencies in Bulgaria needs to be improved. In general, although there is likely to be uncertainty about the regulation of cryptocurrencies in Bulgaria until MiCA (European-wide laws regulating cryptocurrencies) finally comes into force. However, Bulgaria still compares favorably with some European countries in that it has a low tax rate and operates crypto ATMs. So for individual relocation Bulgaria is definitely suitable, especially now - when the country has entered the Schengen zone from April 1, 2024 together with Romania. Conclusion Any country has its disadvantages. Such disadvantages are relevant for Bulgaria: High unemployment and low wages. It is one of the poorest countries in the EU. Possible increase in taxes and tightening of crypto regulation in the future. The country will soon enter the euro zone. By entering the Schengen Bulgaria can become a bridge for its new residents to move and relocate to the European Union. Low tax rates, one of the lowest cost of living in the EU, good climate - all these are unconditional advantages of this country. So far there are few options for nomads to obtain residence permits here - it is easiest to move as a whole company or get a study residence permit. But as they say, people living in Bulgaria, now the prices are even lower than in Serbia, which has recently become a popular place for relocation. If you interested in crypto regulation, you can watch global crypto regulation rating and get updates on my . here Telegram channel

Is Bulgaria a Good Option for Crypto Nomads?

The Bitcoin halving is slated for sometime around April 19th, 2024. As you might have heard, it follows the Bitcoin supply equation; which is a geometric series terminating after 32 divisions or halvings. In April 2024, we shall have the 4th halving, taking us from 6.25 to 3.125 mined per 10 minutes. BTC The last satoshi shall be mined 32 * 4 years from 2009, which shall be the year 2137. Below is a curve I made in MS Excel modeling the Bitcoin supply equation; Interestingly, however, 3 other equations look like the Bitcoin halving. One equation is behind the most profitable options trading algorithm in the world, one is behind the most powerful energy resource in the world, and one is behind the ability to find the energy in any physical system. More on these below: 1. The Black-Scholes equation The Black-Scholes equation is behind most of the profitable options trading in the world, including Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) which can be traded like regular options. Multinational companies like BlackRock, which manages trillions of dollars in assets, recently launched a successful product for its investors. Bitcoin ETF Notice the term at the end, Assume an equilibrium situation with: Let the constant number be 5. Thus, we have: Let r be 2 and model as, When graphed, this behaves like the Bitcoin halving, as seen below. Here are similar graphs from other people’s research. 2. The Radioactive Decay equation Radioactivity is the spontaneous decay of heavy, unstable atomic nuclei to form stable nuclei. It is the power behind nuclear fission, the most powerful energy resource on the planet. Interestingly, while radioactivity is so good at releasing gargantuan amounts of energy, Bitcoin is good at absorbing it. But even more, both the Bitcoin halving and the radioactive decay process are exponential functions whose graphs grow in the same way. Consider the radioactive decay equation; The formula is easy enough to be taught to 17-year-olds studying A-level mathematics in High Schools. Now, represents the amount left. If this was Bitcoin, would be the bitcoins left to be mined. A A How about if we track the amount decayed, just like the bitcoins already mined? Easy enough. Subtract from thus; A A_0, Which we can see is similar to what we had before with the Black-Scholes equation. Taking A_0 = 5 and λ = 2, it is the same deal with us modelling y = 5 (1 - e^(-2x) ), hence a similar graph. 3. The Hamiltonian The Hamiltonian, of a mechanical system is defined as the amount of energy contained in the system. H While Bitcoin might be a digital computational system, from what Alan Turing describes in his thesis on a Universal Turing Machine, we can represent any computational system as a mechanical system. Therefore, Bitcoin can be represented as a mechanical computational system. Not that we have the resources to do it on earth. By further extension, classical mechanics can be described in terms of quantum mechanics, hence Bitcoin is a quantum-mechanical computational system. Thus, Bitcoin has a Hamiltonian unknown to us, that can describe its minimum workings absent external complexities and fluctuations in the number of users and miners joining and leaving the network. At the nanoscale, where Bitcoin’s digital dance of the halving resides, the simplest Hamiltonian is the quantum Hamiltonian, represented by hat{H} below. We can see this Hamiltonian operator is part of Schrödinger’s wave equation, fundamental to relating the Hamiltonian with the state of a quantum system at time ; t Notice the term: which is similar to: above. Using Euler’s formula, The introduction of the imaginary component has thrown us off the beaten path of a nice exponential leveling off like the Bitcoin supply equation.  We instead get a circle  with an angle given by and radius R = 1. i Ht Now let radius R = 1, and take |r| e^(-iθ) to be the common ratio of a geometric series with r being a complex number, |r| < 1 and first term a = 1. The resulting geometric series; can be modeled as a Fourier series hence the graphic below with r = 0.5,  a = 1 forming a circle of radius R = 4/3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Complex_geometric_series_animation.ogv?embedable=true#filelinks But what if radius R = 1, as we want? What would common ratio r be? First, we need to know that for the general form of a geometric progression; + + + + + … a ar ar^2 ar^3 ar^4 the sum to n terms, for |r| < 1. The sum to n terms then converges to a unique value as n to infinity. This is because r^n to 0. tends tends Hence, we can summarise as below; Note: Because Bitcoin's supply is capped at 21,000,000 it moves in a circle! This via circularity leveraging its monetary transactions velocity, V, in Irving Fischer's equation → MV = PT *** More wonders From the following are related to the Bitcoin halving; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometric_series The expansion of the universe, where the common ratio r is defined by Hubble's constant. The decay of radioactive carbon-14 atoms, where the common ratio r is defined by the half-life of carbon-14. Last but not least, One of my Hackernoon post’s viewership statistics.

The Mathematical Mysteries of Bitcoin's Halving

বিটকয়েনের অর্ধেক হওয়ার গাণিতিক রহস্য

Die mathematischen Geheimnisse der Bitcoin-Halbierung

Los misterios matemáticos de la reducción a la mitad de Bitcoin

Les mystères mathématiques de la réduction de moitié du Bitcoin

बिटकॉइन को आधा करने का गणितीय रहस्य

ビットコインの半減期の数学的謎

비트코인 반감기의 수학적 미스터리

Os mistérios matemáticos da redução do Bitcoin pela metade

Математические тайны халвинга биткойна

Bitcoin Yarılanmasının Matematiksel Gizemleri

Những bí ẩn toán học về việc giảm một nửa Bitcoin

比特币减半的数学之谜

Bitcoin is a fire breathing Dragon, A Quantum Computer, an Ice King. Fire makes the economy go round, and Ice brings on necessary winters that reset the planet for the next crop. The hotter the bitcoin, the more secure The colder the qubit, the more pure Exponentially they run in unique directions. Exponentially they become ever more useful. Humanity is lucky to have Bitcoin and Quantum Technologies. I am lucky that these two are destined for marriage. Converging at the nanoscale to create me, and you, an infinity stone. Circa 2100 Circa 2100 CE, it will be the 22nd century. Nobody knows what will happen then. But I know two things, quantum computational technologies will be more mature, and Bitcoin will also be more mature. They shall no longer be teenagers; they shall be wise sages then. Powerful sages. The maturity will come in many forms. For Bitcoin, a lot more people will be orange-pilled. When the US Dollar Debt balloons to a nice $100 trillion, you can be sure illions of people will be Bitcoiners. B It is incredible. If any country on earth spent , its economy would soon be in hyperinflationary hell, to collapse not even a year later. But if that country is the USA, via the Federal Reserve, it enjoys a wide swimming pool thanks to global reserve currency status. $1 trillion dollars of debt every 100 days But that is not all. The US Dollar also enjoys a ‘ ’ in the form of investments flowing in from outside the USA or its US Dollar.  I mean, most Bitcoiners are Americans, so Bitcoin is keeping the US Dollar afloat! Dollar Milkshake Let that sink in. *** So, circa 2100, the US Dollar still rules the Iron Throne. It keeps growing big and strong from all the milkshakes it enjoys, and then there is the one provided by Artificial Intelligence, feeding on our internet data. At $100 trillion in debt, subways in New York City are now rags, woke-ism is at an all-time high (ATH) and millions of American people choose to “identify” as young, rich, and very beautiful. In Africa, the oil is nearly gone, but the poverty still stinks. The energy transition is still mostly a theoretical idea, alternations between mild heat waves and raging rainstorms visit everyone who lives in the tropics. The Cold War between Russia and the USA, started in 1947, still goes on. Occasionally becoming hot every other while, to the detriment of other people. This is a ystopia. D At least burgers are still cheap (they contain insects now), and many AI data servers have been relocated to the moon to allow human beings some peace and quiet. These servers would be buzzing all over the place like bees (that don’t make honey). Unsurprisingly, Bitcoiners have decided they need another freedom technology on their hands. Bitcoin is being milked by AI, for AI ensures taxes are paid in lossy inflationary dollars. Nobody still thinks the bubble will burst. Maybe the can be kicked as far into the future as our imaginations allow us. can Bitcoiners learn about quantum computing big time. And underground start-ups are started. Quantum Hacking the World’s Problems A Short Story It is Monday 15th March, 2100. Finally, the password-cracking monster is created. Call it QKraken. The scientist responsible for this works for a pretty huge company under the ground, off books, and off signals. Code name - Q After cranking in parallel universes for 8 hours, the QC spits out the key to one of Satoshi's earliest wallet addresses. There they are - 50BTC. 500 million dollars. He almost pees his pants. "Should I call HQ?" HQ is sleeping. Nobody works past midnight or this early on a Monday. It won’t be rewarded (damned ballooning taxes). So, 8 hours of work on Monday, in the 22nd century, is enough work as it is. "Should I freaking spend some??" He tries to think, but it is not happening. SHA256 and RSA are now toast! His team can finally crack open decades of secrets shored up by millions of people, over the course of decades! Jesus. This is nuclear! Q tries to think but it is not happening. Computing game theoretic analyses that would make a supercomputer freeze out, he falls asleep at the computer. And he has this strange dream: It is Judgement Day, like in the Terminator movies. Someone, perhaps the Russians, get tired of the monolithic power wielded by the US Dollar and its huge AI dogs, so one of them presses the button. Or is it the Joker from the Batman movies? The countdown is started, and nobody is around who remembers how to press the kill switch. This is it. This is the Great Filter. Fate is going to reset the clock. Take human civilization back to the Stone Age. The nukes fall fast and in the thousands. Nothing can stop them. In a few minutes, their parabolic trajectories will be through. Then, hell will engulf the earth. They all fall harmlessly to the ground. Like dead weights. Why, what happened? … “Q” He wakes up. A little frightened. “You fell asleep at your desk, are you alright?” “Yes…yes, I’m alright” - wiping slight drool from his mouth. Vivian looks at him with pitiful eyes. Q isn’t sure if he even cracked SHA256. He wants to check again, but he is too tired. Did he stop a nuclear fallout? Did he destroy encryption? He decides to go out and check. Forgetting he could just turn on his phone and check if WhatsApp is no longer encrypted. He gets into the street. It is a usual Monday morning. Nothing unusual. He needs a break. He goes home. There is yet enough time to save the world. Of that, he feels sure. *** Shor-GPT In a good world, people will want Shor-GPT (a spin-off of ChatGPT). For they are accruing massive amounts of files and accounts whose passwords they never remember. *** Being a Bitcoiner who loves quantum computers, is like being a nuclear scientist who loves world peace. At the surface, it is impossible. Then you dig a little deeper and behold, only nuclear power shall cure energy poverty and the cycles of currency inflation rooted in playing the economy like a fiddle (because more useful energy, not more money, creates value in an economy). If anything, we should perfect playing the atom like a fiddle, not fellow humanity. It is kind of the same thing with quantum computers. Yeah yeah, Shor’s algorithm might “one day” hack Bitcoin’s encryption algorithms. Until you realize quantum computers are too at the moment. busy kicking their own butts . Like Spot But given that Shor’s algorithm (with its logarithmic speed) is stronger than noble quantum algorithms like Grover’s search which could be used for Bitcoin mining (using only quadratic speed), then the reality of hacking encryption is something we need to find good and profitable uses for else it will remain simply destructive. The first thing is the need, and the second is the cost. Even today, encryption can be hacked at many levels if you have a need and can provide the cost. Say you lose the password to your laptop, hacking it is a good thing. Say you lose the password to your phone with $50 million worth of BTC; hacking it is a good thing. You don’t care if the process will use a CPU or a QPU or a prayer; you want to open the phone. This is ethical hacking. Like crime, unethical hacking spreads when social structures become oppressive to their citizens. Massive debt burdens - like $100 trillion - are oppressive. So the drug use, the crime, and the unethical hacking will only get worse. Whether it be with classical, quantum, or social hacking technologies. The shabbiness will get worse, and our only hope is to take up laptops and build classical, quantum, social code. If somebody doesn’t want nefarious characters who build selfish quantum hacking tech, then they should not frustrate plus oppress their poor parents while these characters are still children. So flip it on its head, and it is a glorious revolution. Hacking, once again, becomes discovery. It is discovery. We hack away rocks and find gold, oil, and fossilized dinosaur bones. Hacking is breaking new ground. Adult humans become alike little children, breaking open their toys to see what makes them tick. So that they can buidl even better toys. (Aside - This is why I destroyed many of my childhood toy cars). “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” - Matthew 18:3 (Holy Bible) Heaven, Utopia, awaits us if we change our ways. Awaits us if we acknowledge that ice and fire, Bitcoin and Quantum Computers, are no enemies. They are two great creatures with great use cases. And we need to tame them both. Or they will tame us.

A Tale of Ice and Fire

I am speaking again with Elitsa Taskova to discuss how Dual Investment stands apart from traditional cryptocurrency investment strategies, emphasizing its structure and potential impacts on earnings. Additionally, we'll address the broader implications of such a product in the evolving landscape of investments. cryptocurrency We'll also look at the potential role of Dual Investment in diversifying an investment portfolio and examine how investor sentiment might influence the application of Dual Investment strategies. Can you explain the concept of Dual Investment and how it works within Nexo's platform? Dual Investment is a product that blends investment and trading strategies. It allows users to buy or sell a crypto asset, like BTC or ETH, at a predetermined price on a specific date. What makes it unique is that while users wait for their strategy to be executed, they earn an enhanced daily yield on their investment. Users have two strategic options: 'Buy Low' or 'Sell High'. They can set up their trade to buy a cryptocurrency at a price that is lower than the current market value or sell it at a higher price. The decision is based on the user's analysis and market expectations. The user's chosen strategy involves selecting a Target Price, Settlement Date, and Interest Rate. Depending on market movements and whether the target price is met by the settlement date, the selected asset will be either bought with USDT or sold for USDT. This way, Dual Investment allows users to benefit from market movements while earning yield. How does Dual Investment differ from traditional investment strategies in the cryptocurrency market? Dual Investment in cryptocurrency differs from traditional investment strategies in several distinct ways. Firstly, Dual Investment provides enhanced earnings. Users earn at higher interest rates, unaffected by market volatility, while waiting for their strategy to be executed. This aspect of earning consistent, enhanced returns significantly differs from the usual earnings in traditional crypto investments. Another key difference is the absence of fees in Dual Investment. Users can engage in these strategies without the burden of additional costs, which is a notable advantage over many traditional investment platforms where various fees can impact overall returns. In what ways does Dual Investment reflect the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency investments? Effectively, this product reflects the crypto industry’s movement from more individual services to structured, complex products that can complement various client strategies. This innovative venture marks and is spurred by crypto’s maturation into services and offerings more akin to those in traditional finance but with added adaptability. Could you elaborate on the 'Buy Low' and 'Sell High' strategies within the Dual Investment framework? Absolutely! Let's simplify the explanation. The Buy Low Strategy is designed for those anticipating a decrease in BTC or ETH prices. Users must have enough USDT in their accounts and choose a Target Price lower than the current market price and a future Settlement Date. At this stage, they'll see the potential yield higher than not using Dual Investment. If the price of BTC/ETH drops to or below the Target Price by the Settlement Date, USDT is converted into BTC/ETH. No trade happens if the price doesn't drop, but users still earn yield. On the other hand, the Sell High Strategy suits users expecting BTC or ETH prices to rise. They need BTC or ETH in their accounts and set a higher Target Price and a future Settlement Date. The yield from Dual Investment is displayed here. If the price of BTC/ETH rises above the Target Price by the Settlement Date, the crypto is sold. If not, no sale occurs, but yield is still accumulated. The key point is that both strategies offer the chance to earn yield, regardless of whether the market moves as predicted. What measures are in place to protect users from significant market volatility when using Dual Investment? While ensuring their investments do not put them at risk is a client's sole responsibility, we employ several measures to safeguard users and help educate them about the potential outcomes of using Dual Investment. Firstly, users must pass a quiz, ensuring they understand the product before trading. This is crucial for making informed decisions in a volatile market. We also stress the importance of being well-informed. Users are encouraged to review detailed product information in the ‘Savings Hub’  and in the Knowledge Center on the Nexo platform. The 'Potential Returns' section under trade details also helps users project potential returns in various scenarios, helping them strategically plan for any outcome. This feature further allows users to make informed decisions before subscribing, helping to navigate the unpredictability of the crypto market. How can investors integrate Dual Investment into a diversified investment portfolio? Investors can integrate Dual Investment into a diversified portfolio as a strategic tool to balance high-yield potential with risk management. Investors can leverage market movements to enhance their portfolio's performance by choosing Buy Low or Sell High strategies. The flexibility to earn interest in different scenarios, whether the target price is met or not, adds a layer of yield generation. This product fits well as a component of a broader investment strategy, providing both potential market gains and consistent returns, diversifying an investor's portfolio's risk and reward profile in the dynamic cryptocurrency market. What role does investor sentiment play in the cryptocurrency market, and how should this influence Dual Investment strategies? Whenever there is a strong market sentiment in either direction, Dual Investment is a great way to utilize this conviction to earn more interest while executing your strategy.

Decoding Dual Investment: A New Approach in Crypto Trading

In this interview, we speak with Elitsa Taskova, the Chief Product Officer at Nexo. We'll discuss various aspects of cryptocurrency taxation, outlining individual investor's and institutions' challenges in this evolving landscape. We'll also explore the psychology behind cashback incentives in fintech, comparing them to other financial rewards. Please introduce yourself and tell us what you do. I'm Elitsa Taskova, Chief Product Officer at Nexo. My role is to steer the company's 360-degree product suite. I have over eight years of professional experience in software project management within some of Europe's leading internet-native and payment businesses, so I'm no stranger to trends in the ever-evolving fintech industry. As a Cognitive Science graduate, I am fascinated by technology's impact on our lives, and I take inspiration for my work from humanity's never-ending push to expand boundaries. I believe blockchain technology can transform every aspect of human life. Can you describe the current landscape of cryptocurrency taxation and the challenges it presents to individual investors and institutions? The landscape presents unique challenges in taxation for both individual investors and institutions. While crypto has democratized financial participation, it hasn't necessarily equipped users with the skills to manage their financial responsibilities, particularly in tax reporting. In places like the U.S., where tax reporting is already complex, adding crypto assets adds another layer of difficulty. cryptocurrency This complexity is not just limited to the U.S.; in various jurisdictions such as smaller and emerging economies, people are unprepared to report earnings outside of more regular sources of income, and the average person has less access to an accountant than in the United States, making the starting point for crypto tax reporting even harder. The result is a reluctance to liquidate crypto assets, hesitation to engage with the crypto market, frequent errors in tax reporting, and a pervasive distrust between crypto participants and tax authorities. Despite improvements over time, this gap in understanding and trust continues to be a significant source of anxiety, especially for smaller investors in the crypto space. What trends or changes in the crypto market have increased the demand for robust crypto tax reporting tools? The demand for robust crypto tax reporting tools has surged due to several key trends in the crypto market. Firstly, the policy shift by neobanks, which began collecting tax information, has closed avenues previously used to obscure crypto income. This change significantly impacted the way users handle their crypto finances. Secondly, the wider adoption of cryptocurrencies has brought a larger group of people into the fold, many inexperienced in managing and reporting crypto-related taxes. Thirdly, there's been a noticeable increase in regulatory scrutiny over the past year, highlighting the importance of legal and responsible crypto use, including proper taxation. This regulatory attention underscores that cryptocurrencies are no longer peripheral financial instruments but are becoming mainstream. The central role of crypto taxation in discussions and policies reflects this move towards the mainstream, marking a significant shift in how cryptocurrencies are perceived and managed in the broader financial landscape. Can you walk us through how the Nexo-Koinly integration works from a user's perspective? We've made the integration quick and easy to use. All a client has to do is click on the Koinly button at the top of their "Transactions" section. Then, they receive a pop-up informing them that an account with Koinly will be created, and Nexo will share their name, email address, and transaction history. It is very important for us that our clients are aware of what information we share with our partners before proceeding. If the user decides to proceed, an account is created in Koinly, and the system redirects them to the Koinly website. Koinly pulls the transaction history from Nexo and imports it into the account – it is seamless, so clients don't need to do anything. The client can generate tax reports from there through the new Koinly account. All reports are jurisdiction-specific (and we've got clients in 200+ jurisdictions), so our users can always generate the exact report they need. What impact do you foresee this collaboration's overall tax compliance among crypto investors? The collaboration between Nexo and Koinly aims to improve crypto investors' tax compliance significantly. Simplifying processes often increase usage; this integration does that for tax reporting. Historically, a segment of crypto users preferred not to cash out their assets, opting for solutions like Nexo's Instant Crypto Credit Lines for liquidity and we expect users to continue to opt for it. But with tax reporting made easier, we're proud to be making the option to cash out on your crypto easier and less daunting. Furthermore, accurate and timely submission of tax forms is desperately needed to streamline public sector processes for crypto, enhancing public trust in the industry. This integration serves as a tool for simplification and a bridge between the crypto community and regulatory bodies. By automating this aspect of financial management, we foresee a notable boost in the institutional trust towards the cryptocurrency sector and its participants. What steps are Nexo and Koinly taking to educate users about the importance of crypto tax compliance? Mainly engaging in educational initiatives to emphasize the importance of crypto tax compliance. Firstly, we're collaborating on detailed "How to" articles with video materials and walkthroughs to guide users through our joint integration. These resources aim to make the integration process as clear and user-friendly as possible. Both Nexo and Koinly representatives will address the most popular queries, ensuring we respond to both our perceptions of client needs and the actual issues they face. This direct engagement is key in educating our users and addressing their concerns regarding crypto tax compliance. How do you see the demand for crypto tax solutions evolving? I'm an optimist and a strong believer in blockchain and crypto solutions, so I can only say that I think demand will grow with adoption. If we want jurisdictions to trust crypto users and accept this industry as a full-fledged part of the financial sector, they have to. From here, the next step in addressing the complexities of crypto taxation would be for governments to work with crypto companies and their tax partners. This would minimize end-user fees and greatly simplify the process for all parties involved (governments, consumers, crypto companies, crypto tax reporting intermediaries). Could you explain the basic psychology behind cashback incentives and how they tend to influence consumer spending habits? How do they compare with other financial incentives, such as discounts or loyalty points, in influencing consumer behavior? Cashback acts as a reward mechanism, especially effective in fintech and crypto industries, where it doubles as a savings tool. When consumers use cashback incentives, they save money on purchases through cashback while spending, enhancing the appeal of transactions. The impact here is twofold. Firstly, consumers feel they are getting more value for their money, as cashback effectively reduces the net cost of purchases. This perception of getting a deal increases the likelihood of further spending. Secondly, unlike direct discounts, cashback is credited into the consumer's account, subtly encouraging reinvestment or reuse within the same ecosystem and fostering ongoing engagement. However, cashback is a more short-term strategy. Our focus goes beyond this into more sustainable mechanisms like our loyalty program and Earn Crypto Interest product that provides longer-term wealth growth for our customers. This approach incentivizes immediate spending and aligns with long-term financial goals, resonating more deeply with consumers. How does the Nexo Card integrate cryptocurrency and traditional currency transactions? Can users seamlessly switch between the two? Yes, absolutely! It all works with a simple toggle in the app between Credit Mode and Debit Mode and by adjusting what spending priority you would like to have for all the assets in your account. When using Credit Mode, the client effectively uses Nexo's Instant Crypto Credit Lines. The required amount of crypto in their account is collateralized, and our systems automatically send the relevant amount of whichever traditional currency is requested to the client's desired bank account. In Debit mode, the mechanism is slightly different. When a client spends EURx, USDx, GBPx, BTC, ETH, or any other cryptocurrency, we instantly sell the needed balance of the relevant currency. Now, this sum reaches the merchant in whichever traditional currency is being spent. Swapping between these two modes can take a single tap and is instant. Clients can make one transaction using Credit mode and another in Debit mode a second apart if they wish. The same goes for switching between spending crypto and spending fiat in Debit Mode. Clients can adjust their spending priority on the go to spend BTC with one transaction and then revert to spending their euro-based balance in their next transaction moments later. How does the Nexo Card promote financial inclusivity, for example, in regions with limited access to traditional banking? While the Nexo Card is currently available only in the European Economic Area, we are working on showing its true potential through our planned product expansion soon. Here's why: First, our card could help with currency stability and conversion. It allows users to hold their funds in cryptocurrencies, which can be more stable than local currencies in some emerging markets. When making transactions, the crypto is converted to the local currency in real-time, providing a hedge against local currency volatility. This would be especially useful in countries like Argentina and Turkey, which we are looking into. Secondly, the Nexo Card is also handy in places with economic and political instability. Cryptocurrencies and crypto cards are considered a safer alternative in countries facing economic challenges or political instability. This is especially relevant in regions where political decisions might affect traditional financial systems. For instance, in Nov. 2023, Argentina raised taxes on USD purchases destined for savings or made with bank cards. The crypto card is a great alternative in such cases. In countries with strict capital controls, the card offers a way to circumvent these restrictions. For instance, Argentinians cannot buy more than $200 p.m. But with a tool like the Nexo Card, individuals can make international payments and access funds more freely and for the sums they want/need than through traditional banking systems. This is why we're looking to expand into regions beyond Europe regarding our card.

Exploring Cryptocurrency Taxation, Investment Opportunities, Rewards and Cashback Benefits

The future of AI chips is about more than NVIDIA: AMD, Intel, chiplets, upstarts, analog AI, optical computing, and AI chips designed by AI. The interest and investment in AI is skyrocketing, and generative AI is fueling it. Over one-third of CxOs have already embraced GenAI in their operations, with nearly half preparing to invest in it. reportedly What’s powering it all – AI chips – used to receive less attention. Up to the moment, OpenAI’s for a “wildly-ambitious” tech project to boost the world’s chip capacity. Sam Altman claimed he wants to raise up to $7 trillion and sensationalism aside, however, keeping an eye on AI chips means being aware of today’s blockers and tomorrow’s opportunities. Geopolitics According to a , the global AI chip market is expected to reach $89.6 Billion by 2029. The demand for AI chips has increased substantially over time. Growth in AI technology, rising demand for AI chips in consumer electronics, and AI chip innovation all contribute to this forecast. recent study by IMARC Few people have more insights to share on AI hardware than . In an extensive conversation, Pialis shared his insider’s perspective on the AI chip landscape, the transformative rise of chiplets, specialized hardware for training and inference, the future of AI chips and emerging directions like analog and optical computing, and much more. Tony Pialis, CEO and co-founder of Alphawave An AI Leader Behind the Scenes Pialis is a semiconductor serial entrepreneur. He has previously founded and successfully sold two startups: Snowbush Microelectronics and V Semiconductor Inc. V Semiconductor was acquired by Intel in 2012, where Pialis spent a few years as the Vice President of Analog and Mixed-Signal IP. Pialis co-founded AlphaWave in 2017 with the goal of becoming “the next great semiconductor company.” Alphawave went public in 2021 with an impressive market cap of $4.5 billion. The company’s core products include silicon IP, chips, custom silicon, and high-speed interconnect technology tailored for major hyper-scaler customers like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta. Alphawave is an AI leader behind the scenes, powering hyper scalers and founded on a couple of key premises that Pialis laid out. https://pod.co/orchestrate-all-the-things-podcast-connecting-the-dots-with-george-anadiotis/the-future-of-ai-hardware-leaders-dark-horses-and-rising-stars-featuring-tony-pialis-alphawave-ceo-co-founder?embedable=true , the major players in terms of scaling out data centers and computing these days are no longer the Ciscos of the world. It’s transitioned to Hyperscalers – the Googles, Microsofts, Amazons, and Metas. Hyperscalers have internal design capability, and they also build their own servers, networks, data centers, and campuses. First , the major challenge facing AI moving forward is not computing. Pialis’ view is that the ability to design and implement compute is there. The challenge is the connectivity needed to connect the compute in order to process all of the data. This is what AlphaWave is focusing on. Second The Explosion of Specialized AI Hardware While consumer apps like ChatGPT drove the initial hype cycle in 2023, enterprise adoption reports are mixed. However, according to Pialis, the AI semiconductor sector has seen an enormous explosion of investment and new in the second half of 2023 across industries and geographies. design starts Pialis cited major national initiatives around building domestic AI chip capabilities in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Korea, Taiwan and Japan. After years of relying largely on NVIDIA, governments want to foster their own chip industries to reduce strategic dependence on any one vendor. While NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang also says that , it does not seem like this also includes the hardware layer. every country needs Sovereign AI Pialis believes this surging demand is spurring not just startups but also tech giants to develop specialized training and inference hardware. In his view, not every organization could or should develop its own AI model, but that’s bound to change. “Over time, AI will inevitably progress to be something like a utility, where hyperscalers will provide access to all of the compute power, like electricity. I think it will be reasonably priced. Anyone will be able to use this utility to train, develop, optimize and deploy their own models. But there’s going to be a lot of profit taking between now and then, and who knows how long it’ll take to eventually reach that state”, said Pialis. Leaders, Dark Horses, and Rising Stars in the AI Chip Race Few people would disagree that NVIDIA is clearly the dominant force in AI accelerators today, and Pialis shares this view. He sees AMD as a strong second place and praised CEO Lisa Su for her leadership. Others such as Ben Lorica also see . favorable winds for AMD in the GenAI chip market But Pialis cautioned not to underestimate Intel, calling it a dark horse that could still prove highly formidable in this market. More specifically, Pialis spoke highly of . Intel’s Habana acqui-hired division led by David Dahan Having worked at Intel, Pialis has an insider view. Having , and kept track of their , we tend to agree. Dahan helped architect new Intel processors that have showcased performance exceeding NVIDIA’s latest GPUs on key benchmarks. covered Habana, met Dahan MLPerf results But performance is not everything. As Pialis also noted, NVIDIA’s software platform including CUDA gives it a huge advantage in the AI chip segment. The ecosystem effects are strong, as engineers and researchers develop optimized frameworks and models for NVIDIA’s architecture. However, there is potential for alternatives; for example, . Pialis opined that a rule of thumb for AI hardware companies is that for every hardware engineer, they need 2-3 software engineers. So even though there’s a lot of talk about NVIDIA and hardware, the vast majority of the investment actually goes into the software. building upon AMD’s hardware and software stack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYx1rGieDmE&embedable=true This was confirmed by NVIDIA’s Dave Salvator. At the , Salvator said that NVIDIA has twice as many software engineers as hardware engineers. That’s not at all by accident, as he emphasized. last MLPerf results briefing for 2023 However, Pialis sees far more potential for challengers in . The reason is that standards are still emerging in that area. As OctoML’s Luis Ceze , there’s for LLM serving, for portable deployment, and and for multiplexed fined-tuned model inference. Inference, is in fact, a bigger market than training as Pialis noted. the inference accelerator market shared vLLM MLC-LLM LoRAX Punica “There’s so much focus on training, large models and the cost of training. But it’s deployment where we all benefit from, on the inference side. That needs significant scale. That needs a different solution. More chips will inevitably be sold on the inference side than the training side. I’m sure business plans also improve with that increase in volume”, Pialis said. Startups like and are attracting significant funding, and so are companies from countries like the UK, Korea, and China trying to reduce reliance on US firms. As far as hyperscalers go, Pialis sees Amazon and Google as being neck to neck, with Microsoft showing strong momentum, and Meta being behind and rumored to acquire one of the smaller startups. Groq Tenstorrent Join the Orchestrate All the Things Newsletter Stories about how Technology, Data, AI, and Media flow into each other shaping our lives. Analysis, Essays, Interviews, and News. Mid-to-long form, 1-3 times per month. The Chiplet Technological Revolution One of the biggest transformations underway in semiconductors, according to Pialis, is the shift to . Previously, progress meant integrating more and more functionality into a single monolithic chip. But transistor dimensions are now down to ~5 atoms wide, and even tiny defects can ruin a whole chip. chiplets Pialis shared an anecdote from his own experience to highlight this. As he related, when he visited OpenAI at some point, he saw a bunch of engineers on their knees praying in front of servers. Not because they were “ ”, but rather because they didn’t want the model they were training to crash. feeling the AGI Some of us may have first heard about chiplets in the context of the China–US trade war that spills over to technology. Chiplets are a key element in the strategy of both and the . China US For Pialis, “chiplets are another technological revolution to deal with the problem that God has thrown at us.” That may sound like a wild appeal to the supernatural, but it has more to do with the challenges of physics at nanoscale. “When we build transistors, which are the basic building blocks of any integrated circuit, we’re stacking atoms. When you’re stacking atoms, the laws of probability, the laws of averaging, fall apart, because now it’s two atoms rather than hundreds of atoms and electrons. So what you get is defects”, Pialis explained. Chiplets are an innovative solution to this nanoscale physics challenge. Rather than one giant chip, designs are split into smaller Lego-like chiplets that can be connected through advanced packaging. This modularity lets chipmakers avoid throwing out entire devices due to one small flaw. The benefits, Pialis said, are important for both makers and buyers. “Silicon is no longer the foundation of leading edge semiconductors; it’s the package. Silicon is now something that is a component on this packaging. There’s been a lot of talk about semiconductor supply chains. There’s a lot of silicon capacity now. Where there’s still very little to no capacity is on the packaging, specifically for designs built using chiplets”, Pialis noted. Chiplets as Lego Building Blocks However, there is a standout example of an AI hardware company that seems to be successful, despite going the opposite way: Cerebras. Cerebras is known for its wafer-scale hardware. Pialis was positive that Cerebras was going to encounter the same defects as everyone else. The difference with Cerebras is they have redundancy. A wafer is like a panel, Pialis noted. Cerebras doesn’t even cut the panel. What they do is they have software that works around the defects. Fundamentally, they’re using silicon as the foundation rather than packaging. They have multiple chips that are arrayed, but they’re not cut. They just connect on the wafer. It definitely is a different approach. However, Pialis added, there are advantages to cutting things up. Imagine a vendor like Intel is trying to build different units such as a CPU, a GPU, a DPU, or a networking device. By breaking things up into smaller pieces, they become like Lego building blocks. So you can have a processor core chiplet, a PCI Express connectivity chiplet, an Ethernet networking chiplet, a DDR memory I/O chiplet, and a memory I/O chiplet. These chiplets can be mixed and matched in a package to build out an entire product portfolio. Pialis thinks that from a design complexity and upfront investment perspective, that’s a winning formula. Pialis sees massive benefits in chiplets, reducing costs by over 60% and power consumption by 40%. This is a major incentive for hyperscale data centers. While he sees Apple, AMD, and Intel leading in chiplets today, Pialis believes chiplets will soon become essential for any company focused on leading-edge hardware. Join the Orchestrate All the Things Newsletter Stories about how Technology, Data, AI, and Media flow into each other shaping our lives.Analysis, Essays, Interviews, and News. Mid-to-long form, 1-3 times per month. Software and Chiplet Modularity, Composability, Programmability Drawing parallels from the world of software engineering, one can wonder how come the modularity that chiplets bring to the table did not prevail earlier. But in hardware, up to now, the winners were the ones that could integrate into a monolithic device the most. The reason is that this drove down cost, which Pialis noted has created “a maniacal focus on integration.” However, as we now approach the dimensions of a single atom, the manufacturing cost eclipses the cost of integration. But even in software, . excessive modularity can also incur excessive overhead Pialis expects that some hardware vendors may take the chiplet approach too far. If functionality is broken into too many tiny pieces, the cost of integrating all of these becomes limiting. So ultimately, it’ll be a hybrid approach that wins. There are two ways of splitting things up with chiplets. The first way of building chiplets is building a single Lego block, mirroring it over and over with the same functionality, and they just talk to each other. That seems more akin to the “traditional” approach. However, one may wonder how these identical chiplet building blocks can be synthesized. The answer is, again, software. Different packages can be composed for different needs, based on the same chiplet, using the software. For example, multiples of 1, 2, 4, or 8 chiplets. The same silicon, just packaged differently, priced differently, and with different software to leverage the incremental compute and memory bandwidth associated with these devices. The other way of building chiplets is by splitting and cutting, creating Lego blocks for different types of functionality. This creates chiplets like a compute Lego block, a training I/O Lego block, a network I/O Lego block, and so on. Pialis sees more momentum behind this approach, as reusable Lego blocks can accelerate other products too. Analog AI, Optical Computing, and AI-Assisted Hardware Design Chiplets may be the immediate way forward. But at a time when power-hungry digital accelerators like GPUs dominate, Pialis claims there’s more to the future of AI chips. And that involves a radical break with the current paradigm. AI needs massively parallelized arithmetic processing, and binary is the dominant approach for this. Using binary compute, numbers are represented as ones and zeros, and floating point arithmetic is done defining precision and range. In analog arithmetic processing, floating point can be represented via voltages or currents. In theory, that may have infinite precision. In the real world where noise exists, that may yield less precision. But that may well work for applications. Using very small currents keeps things operating at low power. Edge AI https://pod.co/orchestrate-all-the-things-podcast-connecting-the-dots-with-george-anadiotis/the-future-of-ai-hardware-leaders-dark-horses-and-rising-stars-featuring-tony-pialis-alphawave-ceo-co-founder?embedable=true There’s another form of compute that some companies are investing in: optical compute for arithmetic. Optical compute uses the properties of optics to implement what are called (multiply & accumulate functionality) which is the core of any arithmetic unit. This results in even lower power demands. MACs Pialis noted that analog and optical approaches are attracting billions in investment to meet specialized needs around computational scale, energy efficiency, and precision. However, it remains unclear if analog techniques can scale effectively to match digital compute for cutting-edge AI models. There is active debate on this question in the hardware community. Even though these techniques are often dismissed as impractical, Pialis believes the investment will eventually pay off. For example, recently, it was reported that capable of processing computer vision tasks with remarkable speed and energy efficiency. researchers at Tsinghua University have developed the world’s first super all-analog photoelectric chip Finally, there’s also the question of . Pialis said that the most effective hardware designers these days are the best software developers. But if AI models can be trained by leveraging the wealth of their experience, that may bring about a sea change. using AI to help design hardware to power AI While the future of AI chips is unknown, Pialis believes the fundamental principles of engineering are timeless. Hopefully, that translates to something that does not end up draining the world’s energy and resources on the promise of future gains to be made.

What Is the Future of AI Chips? Leaders, Dark Horses, and Rising Stars

*** The History of Science Funding The scientist has always been a risky employee in terms of ROI.  They are trying to uncover truths about the universe, and oftentimes, the universe gives them the bird. Because experimenting means risking a lot of money and time on a possibly worthless idea, a scientist is a forever intern, until they make a breakthrough, then they become senior associates. That said, the scientist has been trying to make his own money. With the Alchemists, this was literal. While they invented Chemistry and catalyzed the birth of worldwide gold rushes, turning lead into gold was, alas, a wrong idea believed for centuries. The search consumed the lifetime of one person after another, with only dreams of wealth to get them through. But their tenacity was a testament to their resilience and patience. Patience meant, for the time being, remaining in the employ of someone who could afford the risk of backing science in the past. And that meant a King because they had gold/money collected from taxes. Wizards and fortune tellers didn’t make much sense, and they were comedians come to give the King a jolly time before he went to war. Though, while throwing guts on a wall may be stupid, it was mysterious and if they were right, doubly impressive. And here was this (broke) scientist, insisting that they knew a REAL strategy to help the King win. What was their credibility? Circa 200BC, the scientist is Archimedes and the King is the political head of Syracuse. Being a leader in those times largely meant you needed to win wars and as history had taught Kings the utter uselessness of charlatans, the scientist was given a chance to make his case. Archimedes made his case alright. It that he sunk the ships of the Romans with ingenious cranes and catapults that threw heavy stones. has been recounted Since his time, patronage from Kings, Princes, Bankers and Presidents to scientists has been immense. The scientist is respected, and all great scientists, even Leonardo da Vinci who was mostly fawned over for his impressive artwork, took off some time to design weapons. For weapons help the King win and hence, keep the scientist with a job. Scientists soon became ever more pivotal in war efforts. Especially Physicists and Chemists, who have designed countless forms of military hardware to date. However, the emergence of scientific methods in Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Biology, all riding on the power of statistical analysis and logical inference, quickly made the scientist important in every field of human endeavour. The problem however remained. To get a loan, the scientist usually had to, and still has to, rely on government funding because the government remains the biggest fish able to take on sufficient risk in the financial markets. Hate it all you want, but without credit from the government, be it debt or real money, a lot of scientific work would have stalled. Best example - SpaceX. However, governments and their ability to debase money and finance things on debt, made the world wars last longer to destroy the world much harder. It also led to economic depressions and after the 2008 financial crisis, Satoshi Nakamoto, a genius computer scientist, decided to create Bitcoin – a monetary tool outside the purview of government currency debasement. Birth of a financial model divorced from the King Bitcoin has been controversial from its inception. Of course, Kings and governments hate it. It is cutting into their business. A big part of the private sector also loathes its nature of priding in technological exclusivity, so that six years later, a hard fork was implemented to create Ethereum, a cryptocurrency built to provide extra blockchain services such as smart contracts. Many other hard forks quickly followed from the faithless. However, Bitcoin is still mainstream and has recently become interesting to Big Finance. The Bitcoin ETF proves as much. After 15 years of laughing at a thing that keeps building bigger and better, even the harshest critic will shut up and start listening more intimately. Because they now know they are missing something. Energy scientists are also starting to pay attention, with some claiming that Bitcoin mining may be our . are doing well selling cheaper electricity packages that have been subsidized by Bitcoin mining on the side. fast track to an energy transition Energy engineers But these are late to the party. Computer scientists have been earning well in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Doge for decades. And if any scientist has been comfortably living outside the need to get big budget funding from governments, that has been the computer scientist, from way back in the 20th century. While the field of Computer Science is much younger than Physics, Astronomy, Biology, many computer scientists quickly learned to earn big from private enterprise and individualized work, without begging the Kings and their Big Bankers for a loan. Futuristic Science Funding itself through Bitcoin Bitcoin is money for the people, and science has evolved to also be something done as a public good, on an open source plan, by dedicated people who put in their own time and money to make something good happen. As I mentioned, Computer Scientists now exist on the internet who are eagerly improving the Bitcoin ecosystem using the power of collaboration and their earnest efforts. These mostly come from the land of software development and after getting orange-pilled, decide to stay at Bitcoiner-land and build the Bitcoin ecosystem. However, there has not been much of an on-ramp for other types of scientists and this is the opportunity existing, wide open, for anybody to take. Currently, many a scientist in the Bitcoin world is a computer scientist of the type who builds zero-knowledge proofs, rollups, and more layers of the Bitcoin blockchain. But many more scientific people are needed. To re-iterate, I feel more electrical and power engineering scientists should be at the forefront of how Bitcoin mining equipment can provide electricity access to those without, making investments in clean, stranded energy sources much easier to manage. What better job than to be the electric engineer who designs their own job by bringing electricity to your people? Every university student of electrical engineering, whatever the developing country, should learn about this. Because developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America are struggling with scaling electricity usage from otherwise cheap energy sources, because of the high premiums that locals just cannot pay. The knowledge of using Bitcoin to subsidize electricity access from stranded energy sources should be spread as far and as widely as possible. Now, as an aspiring quantum information scientist, I feel there is also a place for me in the Bitcoin ecosystem. While the public might know how quantum information science threatens to undo the good that Bitcoin has done by potentially hacking it, I find that building quantum-resistant algorithms is far from scratching the surface of quantum capabilities. For example, quantum technologies could provide for Bitcoin nodes, allowing even weak signals to be successfully transmitted and ensure blocks are mined. better signal sensors Quantum computing could help guide better on how Bitcoin infrastructure could be better set up across nations and continents for optimum usage. solutions in logistics Quantum networks could provide better ways to securely. transmit Bitcoin information Some problems in the Bitcoin ecosystem could be (Bounded-error Quantum Polynomial) problems, which are the purview of quantum information science and these should be discovered and worked on using quantum computers. BQP Most importantly, quantum computers will be orders of magnitude better at mining proof-of-work cryptocurrencies than classical computers. When Bitcoin befriends Quantum Mechanics Moore’s law is coming to an end. IBM has already built transistors with only 5 atoms. To get smaller, it becomes harder to manage thermal noise and other nanoscale problems. To manage thermal noise, even more cooling will be done, the way it is done for qubits. Also, a 1-atom transistor is effectively a qubit. This is the quantum realm, and like it or not, more people will study quantum mechanics in the not-too-distant future, and by extension, quantum computing. The classical computing world can only scale by a multiplicity of the same technology, which will consume even more energy. The efficiency gains of quantum technologies like quantum computers will be needed. While , the science of building qubits is ramping upwards and systems are getting more powerful. There might not be an exponential growth in qubits with their own Moore’s law, but a linear growth in qubits leads to exponential computational power. Which kind of is a Moore’s law! I have said quantum computing is very expensive You remember this graph; If approximately 14 billion dollars in 2023 can bring in (logical qubits are the real qubits as manipulated in mathematical theory), by linear extrapolation, $125 billion by 2030 as seen above will bring in 428 logical qubits. 48 logical qubits But 7 years from now, Bitcoin itself might have ballooned to $200,000 per bitcoin which is a $4.2 trillion market cap. By linear extrapolation, $3 trillion is needed in global investments to take us to 10,000 logical qubits. As we can see, Bitcoin alone can pay for it over a 7-year span. Why 10,000 qubits? My Research Project Over the past three months, I have been studying QCourse551-1 which was offered in a collaboration between QWorld and Classiq Technologies. My research project was Project 11 - Bitcoin Mining using Grover’s Search Algorithm. The motivation for my project came from that shows that 10,000 logical qubits alone can do Bitcoin mining faster than any classical system using the same energy consumption. a research paper This is because 10,000 qubits can encode the full double SHA256 hashing process that goes into mining Bitcoin, but since they use Grover’s search algorithm, they effectively achieve quadratic speed-up by square_root(N) where N is the number of elements to check in an unstructured database. ASICs mining for bitcoins also check an unstructured database of random hashes for the nonce value. The question is, which one is faster? Most ASIC miners today are checking terahashes or For example checks 120TH/s. That is 120 million hashes every second. 1 million hashes every second. this miner Can a quantum computer beat that? Of course. square_root( 120 million) = only 10954 checks per second. A 1,095,400 % efficiency increase. And the more the competition, the more the quantum computer tears ahead in the race. The is rocketing upwards of 600 million million hashes per second. This is outputting enough heat to make climate scientists worried sick. But what if we replaced all those clunky ASICs with state-of-the-art QPUs from the year 2032, how many comparative hashes per second would they clock? square_root( 600 million million) = 24 million checks per second. A . current hash rate 2.4 billion % increase in efficiency If the above is not an attractive proposition, I don’t know what is. Bitcoin should fund quantum computing research. It will take a while, but when it happens, it will be glorious. It will be a more canonical event than the Moon landing. In our research, we were checking a much-simplified system with only 8-bit inputs and outputs, modeled on a Grover’s operator working with under 25 qubits. Given our really low hashing power, the advantages of Grover’s search could not be gleamed first hand, and could only be inferred with a relevant complexity analysis of the runs/depth of the Classical computer (my laptop) vs the depth of our Grover’s circuit executed on the Classiq Aer simulator. While it would have been good to model the energetics and the complexity graph of what this means, unfortunately, we ran out of time. However, we had some deliverables to show for our work. Below is what we had including the depth of each circuit. a) The simplified MD5 classical algorithm We modeled a simplified version of the MD5 (a most primitive cousin of SHA256) hashing 95 printable ASCII characters to find the nonce for hex values with difficulty = 1. Note: Our hex values were only 2-digit because we are working with 8-bit values. So our possible difficulty 1 values are only in 16 possibilities i.e. 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 0a, 0b, 0c, 0d, 0e, 0f. 00 is also a difficulty 2 element. Hence the searching/hashing function is called simplified_MD5_8bit_difficulty_1or2. def simplified_MD5_8bit_difficulty_1or2():
    printables_list = '0123456789abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ!"#$%&\'()*+,-./:;<=>?@[\\]^_`{|}~'
    for i in printables_list:
        x2 = ord(i)

        x3 = bin(x2)[2:]

        if len(str(x3))==7:
            x4 = x3+'0'
        if len(str(x3))==6:
            x4 = x3+'00'

        x5 = list(x4)

        a0 = 2*int((x5[0]))
        a1 = int(x5[1])

        b0 = 2*int((x5[2]))
        b1 = int(x5[3])

        c0 = 2*int((x5[4]))
        c1 = int(x5[5])

        d0 = 2*int((x5[6]))
        d1 = int(x5[7])

        a = a0 + a1

        b = b0 + b1

        c = c0 + c1

        d = d0 + d1
    
        a = ((d ^ (b & (c ^ d))) + (c ^ (d & (b ^ c))) + (b ^ c ^ d) + (c ^ (b | ~(d))) + b)
        
        print()

        d1 = d//2
        d0 = d%2
        d = d1*(2**7) + d0*(2**6)

        a1 = a//2
        a0 = a%2
        a = a1*(2**5) + a0*(2**4)

        b1 = b//2
        b0 = b%2
        b = b1*(2**3) + b0*(2**2)

        c1 = c//2
        c0 = c%2
        c = c1*(2**1) + c0*(2**0)

        decimal_result = d + a + b + c
        binary_result = bin(decimal_result)[2:]
        print(binary_result)
        hex_result = hex(decimal_result)
        print(hex_result)

        if hex_result == '0x0':
            difficulty_2.append(hex_result)
            collisions_difficulty_2.append(i)
        if hex_result == ('0x1' or '0x2' or '0x3' or '0x4' or '0x5' or '0x6' or '0x7' or '0x8' or '0x9' or '0xa' or '0xb' or '0xc' or '0xd' or '0xe' or '0xf'):
            difficulty_1.append(hex_result)
            collisions_difficulty_1.append(i)

    print('Difficulty_1 list = ',difficulty_1)
    print('Difficulty_2 list = ',difficulty_2)
    print('Colliding inputs for difficulty 1 = ',collisions_difficulty_1)
    print('Colliding inputs for difficulty 2 = ',collisions_difficulty_2)
    
difficulty_2 = []
difficulty_1 = []     
collisions_difficulty_1 = []
collisions_difficulty_2 = []

import numpy as np
simplified_MD5_8bit_difficulty_1or2() As can be seen, to find the difficulty 1 (and by extension the difficulty 2) elements, we have to reiterate through 40 lines of code (ignoring spaces and printing in the for loop). There are 96 printable ASCII characters to hash and check hence 96 * 40 which gives us a circuit depth of 3840. However, this is run through fast by my laptop. Less than a few seconds. b) The simplified MD5 quantum algorithm We modeled a quantum version of our simplified MD5 algorithm to simulate finding the difficulty 1 nonce values no matter what the input ASCII character to the circuit was. This is possible because all we need is a zero at the beginning of our hex value. Since our hash set was small (only 96 ASCII characters), we tuned the system to ignore the input ASCII value so it is redundant, and to aim to capture all possible zeros given the Arithmetic expression; a == ((d ^ (b & (c ^ d))) + (c ^ (d & (b ^ c))) + (b ^ c ^ d) + (c ^ (b | ~(d))) + b) which is also in the classical Python algorithm. Notice that the 4 functions being added together are derived from the . original MD5 algorithm Since we want difficulty 1 values, we add and to the above function and then synthesize it in the Classiq platform. d = 0 a = 0 (Note: This is a shortcut thanks to the tireless work of the Classiq team. The Python code was also built in the Classiq Python SDK but it had a last-minute glitch. Hence we only have working Python SDK code for the Grover’s operator, but not for the Grover’s operator with a difficulty-1 hash/search, which is what you had to see here ) Hence our input Arithmetic expression is; a == ((d ^ (b & (c ^ d))) + (c ^ (d & (b ^ c))) + (b ^ c ^ d) + (c ^ (b | ~(d))) + b) and d == 0 and    a == 0 The resulting circuit has a depth of only 913 The quantum circuit wins! Endnote While the project time ended, our work is still a work in progress, to continue until we build a functional 10,000 qubit quantum bitcoin miner. Voluntary efforts to support us technically are most welcome. Some of our code is still glitchy and we have only scratched the surface of the Classiq platform’s capabilities. An ingenious software tool that takes away the cumbersome tinkering with gates, as would have been needed for anybody building the same project using Qiskit. Special thanks to Classiq and QWorld for the opportunity. And our mentor - Dr. Eyal Cornfeld, for the guidance. ***

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