Current state of crypto and SpaceX, and importance of Security!
The Unlisted Youtube clip of SpaceX security breach is attached to the end of this post.
Madness of Crowds
In 1841 Charles Mackay published Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds.
The book included reference to the 17th century Dutch tulip craze during which it was said that certain prized tulip bulbs could fetch the value of several years wages for a craftsman. The point is that bubble talk has been around for a long time.
The current discussion around Bitcoin, and crypto in general has moved away from bubble talk into an assumed evolution of payments technology. The future is code, and the future belongs to software are legitimate arguments that maybe already applies to the present. So can we be certain crypto is not some popular craze (like tulips or Witch Trails were in the past)?
The answer is no, because nothing is certain.
However we do know there is inherent value in some things. Tulips were valued as a collectable. Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are as well. Bitcoin offers a form of 'digital gold' which can be held in reserves as a hedge against future inflation. Like gold, Bitcoin is valued by the price someone else is willing to pay for it.
Inherent usefulness on the other hand should hold some objective value regardless of artistic appreciation or even perceived value.
So here we are, in the age of ever expanding crypto projects that seem to be limitless. Many appear to offer practical and useful things that people want - such as DeFi lending platforms who bring borrowers and lenders together in a trustless and decentralized way. Only time will tell what useful things passed the great filter of mass adoption.
Speaking of the great filter, Elon Musk has often spoken about what a unique opportunity we have to be able to escape Earth's orbit and become multi-planetary. The science has made it possible, but there are no guarantees - as in the past many great civilizations have lost their technology. And the grim reality of an eventual mass extinction even looms (even if we achieve peace and harmony). The sun will at some point expand for example - will we have moved consciousness beyond our planet by that time?
SpaceX Starship is part of that mission to make life multi-planetary. Starting with a sustainable Mars colony. We wish SpaceX well and hope they succeed. Unfortunately there will be people who for ideological reasons won't want to see success. Today I learned about someone who gained access to SpaceX's launch area and got very up close and personal with Starship SN11 before it's test flight. Let's hope some high tech security is possible to ensure the malevolent actors don't sabotage the progress made so far.