#Trustless

[ethiack]

CRYPTOPIA: Bitcoin, Blockchains and The Future of the Internet - FULL DOCUMENTARY | Torsten Hoffmann

Cryptopia: Bitcoin, Blockchains and the Future of the Internet takes a deep dive into the crypto ecosystem and blockchain technology to discover the good, the bad and the ugly of this controversial industry, its major narratives, conflicts and the major players behind it. Can we really trust them to build this trustless cyber utopia or are their projects just as unfairly distributed and easily manipulated as our current financial systems and tech platforms?

[shortstorytournament]

Pre-Tournament: Ken Liu Brackets

THE TRUSTLESS (2018) (link)

Smart contracts and cryptocurrency: funny how both the rich and the poor have come to rely on them.

ARC (2012) (link) - tw: death

"Lena Auzenne's oldest son was born when she was sixteen. A hundred years later, she gave birth to her youngest daughter."

[islaytonlost]

Three's a crowd

For a prompt by @madmaxou. This is a four part series. First Part, Second Part, Fourth Part

This Chapter contains: Hospitals, amnesia, siblingly saddy sad.

Disclamer: I am no professional in writing OSDD. Please do not use my fanfic to shape your views on the real world.

The newbie had kept insisting his name was Drew until the hospital staff started using that name. Much to the annoyance of Al and Fendi. Worse, he was rejecting any visits from anyone from work. Especially Lucy. 

They’d located his family, well Flora. She was the only one not off on an adventure in America. Drew said he’d talk to her. That she could help him. 

“Uhm, last time I saw you your name wasn’t Drew though. Even when we first met.”

“No, I'm like Alfendi’s guard, I protect him. When people turn nasty I protect him and then I leave. I’m out now so I need to protect him but I don’t know where the danger is!”

“Am I the danger?” Flora asks.

“No! You’re my sister and my friend! You’re my only friend right now.”

Flora smiles at him, so very brightly, “That’s so nice of you! So you want me to help you find the danger?”

“Yes!” 

“Oh, okay,” she folds her hands in her lap, “look Alfendi hasn’t spoken to me in a while I don’t know a lot.”

I told you we should have written. Al sighs, we really messed this up.

Oh right, after everyone turned their backs on us we should have written! It was her job to contact us!

They both pause for a second. 

I think we forgot to send her a christmas card before Forbodium and then after, when we got it, we never wrote back because I was scared she’d react like everyone else.  Al admits.

So like Hershal Layton we forgot her.

Yeah.

Fendi began making anguished noises, noises Drew was either ignoring or completely oblivious to. 

Flora finished summarising what she knew about him being shunned and the mystery room, “I tried writing but you never wrote back, I assumed you were busy. I didn't know there were more than one of you.”

“Do you think there’s someone else like me?” Drew leans forward, “someone who isn’t Alfendi? Someone who helps him like I do?”

“Yeah! Maybe. I really don’t know.”

“I’m sorry I, well he, never responded to your letters.”

“No it’s fine I heard some stuff from Katrielle. Lucy sent her letters.”

“Katrielle is my sister and Lucy is my coworker.”

“Could you talk to Lucy?”

“No she’s my coworker, last time I trusted one of those he shot me.”

Ohhh so that’s where Forbodium went. Fendi interjects.

Wait, the memories we’re missing go somewhere? Fendi, I don’t remember before Hershal.

I do, not all of it but I do. We’re screwed.

“I think he was using me for something, I don’t fully know it’s all foggy but I can’t trust her.”

Flora’s silent for a full minute, “I’ll talk to her, I’ll talk to all your coworkers and I’ll make sure none of them hurt you.”

“No! It could be dangerous. I may have to protect Alfendi but I want to protect you too!”

“But I’m older.”

“You buffoon, being older means nothing, I’m stronger.”

Flora smirks slightly, “alright! I’ll arm wrestle you for it.”

“Arm skills don’t work well against a knife, or a gun.”

“You’re just worried I’ll win,” she teases.

Drew couldn’t help but smile, “fine, you’re on.”

Flora won, of course she won, in her spare time she went on secret adventures. Ones that involved a lot of climbing and Alfendi/Drew had been stabbed.

“Please, be careful. They’re dangerous! You’re the only person I can trust. I can’t do this alone!”

Flora smiled but there was something sad in her eyes, “okay before I leave how about a story.”

He snorts, “I’m not a kid.”

“Do you know how the Professor adopted me?”

“No.”

Flora sat on the bed, with her brother, giving him a soft smile she began, “well my father was a great inventor and he knew my mum was going to die. So he tried to make her into a robot, in fact he made a whole village of robots just to look after me. I grew up around clockwork people, all obsessed with puzzles.”

“Like Hershel.”

“That’s probably why he came, yes,” she chuckled, “but he didn't know they were clockwork, no one did. Now, I know it’s different, very different from your childhood,” she reaches out for his hand and gives it a squeeze, “but I grew up around people I could trust and it’s a good thing. I trust the people around me.”

“No! You don’t understand they tried to kill me!”

“I don’t understand, not really but I have been kidnapped, twice. I know you cant trust everyone Drew but you know something? Most of the time you can. Don’t go following anyone into a dark alleyway and people aren’t always what they seem but if I hadn’t trusted Luke and the Professor I wouldn't be here. If we hadn't trusted you when-”

“Don’t talk about it,” his voice was stern, “please, don’t talk about when I was adopted.”

“Okay, I’m just saying, trusting you is the best thing we could have done and now, I still trust people. I trust them all the time. I trust them not to run me over when I cross the road, I trust them not to steal my luggage when I get on the train and leave it in the baggage area.”

“That’s different! There are witnesses.”

Flora holds back a chuckle, he was deadly serious after all, “so I’ll talk to them near witnesses.”

“I can't trust your judgement now, you’re too trusting.”

“We can both talk to them near witnesses.”

“What if they follow me back? What if they wait until there are no witnesses? Justin did.”

Flora hesitates, “Drew, you’re scared. Please, you have to trust someone or you’ll be like this forever. I’ll protect you, can you trust that?”

“Yes, but I’m telling you, one of them is out to get me! Just like Justin was! I know he isn’t the only one!”

[kntxt]

Printing Money Creates TRUST in Society? 🧐🤡

Stupidity should be called out for what it is. What this clown is saying makes absolutely no sense.

A game that cannot be cheated (Bitcoin) REQUIRES you to be honest and to play according to the rules, creating trust within society. A game that can be cheated (fiat) WILL BE cheated, lies will be made up to justify the cheating, rules will be bent, creating distrust within society.

“The root problem with conventional currency is all the trust that's required to make it work. The central bank must be trusted not to debase the currency, but the history of fiat currencies is full of breaches of that trust.”

― Satoshi Nakamoto

“Remember, when you are dead, you do not know you are dead. It is only painful for others. The same applies when you are stupid.” ― Ricky Gervais

[adjoint-law]

Trusted Third Party Georg, who is an oracle providing perfect information about meta²¹-aggregator quality at near-zero cost, is single handedly the reason that zero-trust free markets are optimal value generation

(his nemesis is Eeby Deeby, Regulatory Ombudsman)

Has anyone here ever used a travel agent to plan a trip? Any advice

[mokeymokey]

Hm yeah I think it's true in some respect that communities are not built "on" love but personal relationsships are still like surely an important binding substance right. Idk. Like a properly coherent community is like a basket or something. You don't need every part of the weave to be like bound to every other part but you need some binding in some places otherwise you don't really have a community you just have a trustless amoral game theory puzzle in institutional form lol. Maybe it depends

[blueengland-ocposting]

BLUE?: Let's make this quick. BLUE?: Thanks for voting in another round of my tournament. BLUE?: Here's the bracket.

BLUE?: Now, I need to prepare. BLUE?: Goodbye.

COPY-CAT: Are we ready? MED-KIT: Yeah, I think we are. RAD: yyyeahh!!!!! COPY: ^_^; RAD: domnt be mervous!.. RAD: we can o this!! MED-KIT: Save our friends! COPY-CAT: Save the day.

[The lights shut down.]

MED-KIT: Huh? COPY: (0_0) BLUE?: 1, 2...

[The lights turn back on. The winners have all changed.]

TECH / MORALITY / SICK / EXPERIMENT

CYBERCAT: That was strange! CYBERCAT: Hey, why's that slug in that large vat? MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: Get here, you need treatment! RADIATION OVERLOAD: sto;!! RADIATION OVERLOAD: we gontta save thne day! THE REBORN: =_= CYBERCAT: Hey, guys! CYBERCAT: We need to stop arguing and figure this out! MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: I'll take you to peices you bucket of bolts! CYBERCAT: Okay, that was just rude... MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: You can't take me on! CYBERCAT: I definitely could. MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: No you couldn't!! RADIATION OVERLOAD: guys stop fignting! BLUE?: Switch.

[The lights shut down again, before coming back on. The winners have changed.]

EXPERIMENT / TECH / MORALITY / SICK

THE LONER: who keeps turnng the light s off? DATA DOCTOR: I dunno, but it's making me dizzy... SILENT WARRIOR: ô_ó

[THE FUSED crashes into THE LONER.]

THE FUSED: Oof, sorry! THE LONER: dont tiuch me. THE LONER: domnt even be near me!... SILENT WARRIOR: ō_ō THE FUSED: Woah! I said sorry! THE FUSED: Please don't point that thing at me... SILENT WARRIOR: -_-;

[THE LONER walked over to DATA DOCTOR.]

DATA DOCTOR: Hello! THE LONER: AUGhm DATA DOCTOR: Do you need anything? THE LONER: .........no....... DATA DOCTOR: Well I'll always be here if you need anything. BLUE?: Switch.

[The lights go out. The winners are changed yet again.]

SICK / EXPERIMENT / TECH / MORALITY

THE HITMAN: Hmpf... COPY-COPY-CAT: Huh? THE HITMAN: Have you seen this person?

[THE HITMAN hands him a photo of BlueEngland.]

COPY-COPY-CAT: I- uh, yeah! I did! COPY-COPY-CAT: A while ago though. They're somewhere around here! THE HITMAN: Very helpful. RADBOT: Hello! THE HITMAN: Have you seen this person? RADBOT: Yes! RADBOT: ....I forgot where... THE HITMAN: ... THE HITMAN: Thank you for your help. RADBOT: Yay! >>‿<<

OTHER SIDE: I don't get it... DIAMOND: Get what? OTHER SIDE: Why you do this. DIAMOND: It's fun! DIAMOND: Why do you think I recover everyone? DIAMOND: It'd get boring. OTHER SIDE: Yeah, sure. OTHER SIDE: Why don't you ever finish me off though? DIAMOND: It's fun seeing you get worse. OTHER SIDE: ... THE HITMAN: Have either of you seen this person? DIAMOND: Nah. OTHER SIDE: ... THE HITMAN: Okay. BLUE?: Switch.

[The lights go out again, the winners are changed again.]

MORALITY / SICK / EXPERIMENT / TECH

TRUSTLESS CAT: Hello there friend! THE AGENT: What do you want? TRUSTLESS CAT: Just a short chat. THE AGENT: I don't have the time.

[TRUSTLESS CAT takes out a knife from his bag.]

TRUSTLESS CAT: Well that's just too bad...

[STAFF OF WILL slams into him, stopping his action.]

TRUSTLESS CAT: Ugh, stupid-

[Another slam.]

STAFF OF WILL: o_o [No harm will come to anyone while I am here.] TRUSTLESS CAT: Yeah? TRUSTLESS CAT: Let's fight!

THE AGENT: Sigh. MERGED ANON: whts hppening? THE AGENT: I don't know. MERGED ANON: It looks like a fight. THE AGENT: You look like you've seen better days. MERGED ANON: Yeah, we have. MERGED ANON: I have no idea how this happened... THE AGENT: It's Blue. THE AGENT: Or whatever's inside him. THE AGENT: We need to stop it. MERGED ANON: yueh!!! lets sotp it!! THE AGENT: Great. THE AGENT: We need a plan. THE AGENT: Gather anyone who's willing to help. MERGED ANON: got it mmam! MERGED ANON: salout! BLUE?: Hmpf. BLUE?: Gonna need to slow them down at least... BLUE?: Haywire.

[shieldherostuffs]

Naofumi being a witch before he was sommoned

YES, finally an excuse to share my Horror-ish Witch Naofumi AU (+ TheRuFumi) that's been hiding away on my discord!

Naofumi is a With without a cove, living on his own in a haunted and cursed forest where most others would quickly be driven mad or die, unless they take drastic measures.

Naofumi did so. He's too curious and hungry for knowledge for his and everyone else's good, that he was cast out for how little care of the consequences of practicing the cursed and forbidden crafts.

So, he went to the only place that could only assist and further his research on the forbidden crafts. If he learned more, maybe people would properly know why they were forbidden crafts, and maybe he could prevent many of the accidents that could happen when doing the crafts without the full knowledge.

Good thing he's not usually afraid of committing various horrors for his experiments and research.

Hell, two of the experiments that probably should've killed him ended with something vastly different.

He now has a demonic girlfriend living in his shadow, and an eldritch horror boyfriend living inside his body, whose real form is that of a cloud of pure smokey fog of darkness dripping with blood, and countless crimson red eyes.

Some of the other experiments didn't have the same positive results, though.

The skin of his hands are now stained a permanent inky black for trying to deal with Fae and Octafolk blood at the same time for a potion. His eyes will forever cry tears of pure ink, already having left prominent black marks on his face from the first time when his eyes stung like a thousand fires, for trying to mix merfolk's pearl tears with the scales of an undead dragon. His whole left leg, and left arm up to the elbow is pure wood and plants, though they function like normal human limbs, for trying to enchant the remains of a dryad with the use of the fur of a celestial fox's tail and a zombie's flesh. The plant parts withers and becomes black at his wrist. And, he has little nubs of premature horns on the sides of his head, hidden by his hair, for trying to perform magic on the horns of a haunted and cursed ram. His skin is littered with shatter-like lines shifting between dark gray and silver, from when he summoned L'Arc and Therese.

However, his dear L'Arc and Therese always try to assist and provide what they can for his experiments, and take away any residual darkness from the experiments, strengthening them, and in exchange lengthen and share their life force with Naofumi, letting him live much longer than the average human.

———

Being summoned to another world was not what Naofumi expected to happen when he'd gone on one of his rare outings outside the forest. He'd been wanting new books to fill how new shelves for a while, and had gone to a faraway bookstore to look.

He's picked up a book with a peculiar sense of magic around it, and had a few moments appeared in a different place, books completely gone from his grasp, standing inside a magic circle with three other people, surrounded by mages in identical robes.

And, there was a Shield stuck to his arm.

Before Therese and L'Arc could come out, Naofumi rubbed his knuckled across the knobs of his lower spine, through his clothes, a signal to both of them to stay hidden, and that he's alright.

As he followed the other three who'd been summoned alongside him, all wearing different and strange clothing, and the head mage, he tried to examine the Shield on his arm. Focusing on it, he could feel immense, different powers coming from it. Interesting.

As they arrived in the throne room, Naofumi noticed the scornful, distasteful, and trustless snarls and glares sent only his way. He was now glad he'd chosen to wear his veiled hat and gloves. If they already disliked him just from being there, he wasn't about to give the more reasons to hate him.

Instead of outright planning with L'Arc and Therese, Naofumi met with them in his dreams, where Therese showed that she'd managed to keep the book that summoned Naofumi, for him to read through and study.

Later, Naofumi would discover that while his affinity for magic is about the same as before, his skills and affinity for potions and enchantments have become drastically higher, and he's ready to take full advantage.

———

After the whole thing at the castle, and turning down any party members, Naofumi wanders into the forest, and the first thing he does is start finding and comparing the herbs and plants in the book he bought with the ones he finds in the forest, and keeping as many as he can. He gets even more excited when he learns of the Plant Shield Series, which lets him grow and level up the plants with magic.

So excited, that he doesn't notice the balloon monster clinging to him until L'Arc's distorted voice whispers it inside his ear.

Inconspicuously, he feeds them to his shadow, and discovers that L'Arc and Therese are both defaulted to his party members, letting him gain the EXP they do as well. Seems like he doesn't even need to hire party members anyway.

——

The next morning, he's dragged to the castle and his hood ripped off, leaving him for everyone to see. They stare is shock and horror at his face and hands, the only parts revealed.

He's called a monster, thrown around, and accused of things he did not commit.

He may delve in the dark and forbidden, the dead and haunted, but he does have morals, alright? Even he wouldn't take anyone against their will, plus, L'Arc and Therese can satisfy his needs in ways no human or demi-human ever could.

——

He ignores the stares and glares as he walks the streets, face hidden by his veiled hat once again.

In the evening, Naofumi goes walking through the dark streets, having changed into a sleeve-less cloak with a large hood and a high collar to conceal his face.

He follows the feeling of darkness and despair, and ends up in a slave tent filled with people with various degrees of different animal features, some more human- or beast-looking.

In the end, he leaves the tent with directions and advice for the best dark magic and curse masters and sellers, and a sick slave in tow.

With a few simple potions, of which Naofumi knows the recipes back to front now, Raphtalia is fully healed. The first few days, they don't converse much, other than Naofumi getting gear, clothes, and food for Raphtalia, and holding her when her night terrors appear. A simple spell to ward off nightmares seem to help a bit.

Then, Naofumi tells her he would like for her to help him as the Shield Hero. If she doesn't want to, she doesn't have to, and he will set her free. But, if she wishes to, he will teach and protect her from whatever may wish to harm them. But, she must become prepared for many horrors ahead.

In the end, she accepts, and that evening by the fire is spent teaching Raphtalia to read and recognize a few regular plants.

As they progress, Naofumi teaches her more and more, and she tries to soak the knowledge like a sponge, though sometimes she doesn't understand.

After the fight with the dog monster in the mines, where Naofumi let Therese take down the monster with one swipe of her jewelled hand, Naofumi decides to introduce Raphtalia to his two otherworldly lovers.

Therese easily slithers out of his shadow, merging from the darkness into her beautiful and horrifying form of flesh and jewels mixed together into her being, strong and indestructible, and yet beautiful and lovely.

Naofumi turns his back to Raphtalia as L'Arc's form crawls its way up his body and through his throat, out his mouth, accompanied by black goo (Naofumi has yet to identify it as anything by to help L'Arc leave his body) as a few ink tears escape his eyes, drawing the lines on his face darker again. Once he's finally out, L'Arc dons his human forms, and Therese as well. Though, there's simply still something distinctly non-human about them.

Raphtalia is terrified at first, hiding beneath his cloak, before he explain them to her, that they're there bonded to him, to keep him and those under him safe at all costs. Slowly, she warms up to them, but she'll never get used to how L'Arc leaves and enters Naofumi's body through his mouth.

She isn't allowed to see their real forms, as it would simply be too much for any mortal not bonded to them to comprehend. She would go mad if she saw them.

Later, when they get Filo (before the first wave, Naofumi always wanted a familiar), she is much less scared, and keep talking about how they have some 'Funny Energy' around them, that she thinks tickles when she gets close.

As they fight the first Wave, Naofumi lets L'Arc and Therese pose as his party members to help fight. They all gain many levels then.

———

At some point, Naofuim also curses Myne and the King with some minor inconvenience curses, that to nobility and royalty have been known to absolutely humiliate them.

———

When meeting and fighting Glass, she's wary of the Shield Hero calling himself a Witch. In her world, witches are known to make any demi-human they deem useful their slave.

But, Naofumi shuts that down, telling her that he doesn't commit any kind of bonding or binding without the other party's consent.

With their powers and warped morals, the two some to respect each other, even when fighting to kill.

———

When Naofumi finally gets his revenge, the trial again Myne and the King, when they're forced to kneel before him in front of countless people, Bitch is forced to do so by her slave crest. But, Trash refuses to kneel before someone who won't even show his face. He will not kneel unless he's sure that he's kneeling for the actual Shield Hero and not some imposter.

Before the Queen can shout again, Naofumi rips off his veiled hat, leaving his face bare for everyone to see the black tear lines running down his cheeks, and the gray and silver crack crawling up from his neck.

"How do you know that I'm the Shield Hero, even after seeing my face? The only people I've shown my real face to before today, is my party." Naofumi says

He was getting tired of wearing that hat everywhere he went with a risk of seeing people.

He does not mind if these people fear him now. If they didn't already, they really should've.

———

When fighting against Kyo, Naofumi becomes interested in the book his holding, and silently asks Therese to see if she get can it. No one notices when a part of Naofumi's shadow slithers away along the edges of the room to merge with Kyo's.

Moments later, Therese comes up behind Kyo, holding him stuck as she tries getting the book, but it appears to be stuck to him.

After some fighting, Kyo manages to escape, and Naofumi and his party manages to hurry and follow after him and Glass.

Though somehow, whatever Kyo does, it makes Naofumi forcefully get separated from L'Arc and Therese, who both end up with Glass, while Naofumi finds Kizuna.

[unpluggedfinancial]

The Philosophy Behind Bitcoin

Introduction

In the world of finance, few innovations have sparked as much intrigue and debate as Bitcoin. But beyond its role as a digital currency, Bitcoin embodies a profound philosophy that challenges traditional financial systems and proposes a new paradigm for economic freedom. Understanding the philosophy behind Bitcoin is essential to grasp its potential impact on our world.

The Origins of Bitcoin

In 2008, amid the global financial crisis, a mysterious figure known as Satoshi Nakamoto published the Bitcoin whitepaper. This document outlined a revolutionary idea: a decentralized digital currency that operates without the need for a central authority. The financial turmoil of the time, characterized by bank failures and government bailouts, underscored the need for a system that could function independently of traditional financial institutions.

Core Philosophical Principles

Decentralization-Decentralization lies at the heart of Bitcoin’s philosophy. Unlike traditional financial systems that rely on centralized authorities such as banks and governments, Bitcoin operates on a decentralized network of computers (nodes). Each node maintains a copy of the blockchain, Bitcoin's public ledger, ensuring that no single entity has control over the entire network. This decentralization is crucial for maintaining the integrity and security of the system, as it prevents any one party from manipulating the currency or its underlying data.

Trustlessness-Bitcoin's trustless nature is another fundamental principle. In traditional financial systems, trust is placed in intermediaries like banks and payment processors to facilitate transactions. Bitcoin eliminates the need for these intermediaries by using blockchain technology, where transactions are verified by network nodes through cryptography. This system ensures that transactions are secure and reliable without requiring trust in any third party.

Transparency-The transparency of Bitcoin’s blockchain is a key philosophical aspect. Every transaction that has ever occurred on the Bitcoin network is recorded on the blockchain, which is publicly accessible. This transparency allows anyone to verify transactions and ensures accountability. However, while the ledger is public, the identities of the individuals involved in transactions remain pseudonymous, balancing transparency with privacy.

Immutability-Immutability is the concept that once a transaction is recorded on the blockchain, it cannot be altered or deleted. This is achieved through cryptographic hashing and the decentralized nature of the network. Immutability ensures the integrity of the blockchain, making it a reliable and tamper-proof record of transactions. This principle is crucial for maintaining trust in the system, as it prevents fraudulent activities and data corruption.

Financial Sovereignty-Bitcoin empowers individuals by giving them full control over their own money. In traditional financial systems, access to funds can be restricted by banks or governments. Bitcoin, however, allows users to hold and transfer funds without relying on any central authority. This financial sovereignty is particularly valuable in regions with unstable economies or oppressive governments, where individuals may face restrictions on their financial freedom.

The Ideological Spectrum

Bitcoin’s philosophy is deeply rooted in libertarian values, emphasizing personal freedom and minimal government intervention. It also draws inspiration from the cypherpunk movement, a group of activists advocating for privacy-enhancing technologies to promote social and political change. These ideological influences shape Bitcoin's emphasis on decentralization, privacy, and individual empowerment.

Real-World Applications and Challenges

Bitcoin's philosophy extends beyond theory into practical applications. It is used for various purposes, from everyday transactions to a store of value akin to digital gold. However, this revolutionary system also faces challenges. Regulatory issues, scalability concerns, and environmental impact are some of the hurdles that need addressing to realize Bitcoin’s full potential.

Conclusion

The philosophy behind Bitcoin is a radical departure from traditional financial systems. Its principles of decentralization, trustlessness, transparency, immutability, and financial sovereignty offer a new vision for economic freedom and integrity. As Bitcoin continues to evolve, its underlying philosophy will play a crucial role in shaping its future and potentially transforming the global financial landscape.

Call to Action

Explore more about Bitcoin and consider its implications for your own financial freedom. Engage with the community, stay informed, and think critically about the role Bitcoin can play in our economic future. Let’s continue the journey of understanding and embracing the Bitcoin revolution together.

[johnmargaretwrites]

Transforming Industries: The Power of AI-Enhanced Blockchain for Automated Decision-Making

The fusion of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly reshaping industries ranging from finance to healthcare and supply chains. One of the most powerful results of this combination is the emergence of smart contracts—self-executing contracts encoded directly onto a blockchain. When enhanced with AI, these contracts are no longer static; they become intelligent, dynamic, and capable of making real-time decisions based on changing conditions.

This evolving technology landscape has the potential to automate complex decision-making, optimize business processes, and increase efficiency. In particular, decentralized platforms are playing a critical role in enabling this synergy by creating environments where both AI-powered automation and blockchain’s trustless execution can coexist and thrive.

In this blog, we’ll explore how AI and blockchain can work together to automate decision-making, and how a decentralized platform can elevate smart contracts by integrating both of these transformative technologies.

What Are Smart Contracts?

At their core, smart contracts are self-executing agreements with terms and conditions directly written into code. When predefined conditions are met, the contract automatically executes, removing the need for intermediaries like lawyers or notaries. This not only reduces operational costs but also improves security and transparency.

For example, in supply chains, a smart contract could automatically release payment when a shipment is verified as delivered on the blockchain, ensuring a smooth, automated transaction. Whether for transferring assets, executing business logic, or managing complex agreements, smart contracts guarantee that every transaction is secure, immutable, and recorded on the blockchain.

Key Features of Smart Contracts:

Automation: Executes automatically once conditions are met.

Transparency: All transactions are recorded on the blockchain for full visibility.

Security: The cryptographic nature of blockchain ensures tamper-proof contracts.

Decentralization: Operates without intermediaries, directly between parties.

How Does AI Complement Smart Contracts?

While smart contracts automate transactions based on preset conditions, AI adds a layer of intelligence that allows these contracts to adapt and evolve. AI brings the capability to analyze large datasets, learn from historical data, and make real-time decisions based on incoming data, enabling smart contracts to become more flexible and responsive to changing environments.

AI can make smart contracts capable of:

Predicting outcomes based on historical data.

Optimizing decisions in real-time by factoring in external variables like market conditions or user behavior.

Automating adaptive logic that can modify contract terms based on evolving circumstances.

Enhancing security by identifying anomalies and preventing fraudulent actions.

Key Features of AI:

Data-Driven Decision Making: AI processes vast amounts of data to make informed decisions.

Learning and Adaptation: AI improves over time as it learns from new data.

Predictive Capabilities: AI anticipates potential outcomes, adjusting the contract accordingly.

Optimization: AI ensures smart contracts remain efficient, adjusting to new conditions.

Decentralization: Unlocking the Full Potential of Smart Contracts and AI

As AI and blockchain technologies evolve, their integration is unlocking new possibilities for automated decision-making. The key to this integration lies in decentralized platforms that provide the infrastructure necessary to combine both technologies in a secure and scalable way.

Such platforms enable AI models and smart contracts to run in a decentralized, trustless environment, eliminating the need for centralized authorities that could manipulate or control the decision-making process. Decentralization also ensures that both data and decision-making are transparent, auditable, and resistant to tampering or fraud.

One such platform is designed to seamlessly integrate AI with blockchain, offering a solution where businesses can deploy smart contracts that are enhanced by AI-driven automation. This ensures that contracts are more than just static agreements—they become intelligent, adaptable systems that respond to real-time data and dynamically adjust to changing conditions.

How Decentralized Platforms Enhance Smart Contracts with AI

A decentralized platform offers several advantages when it comes to integrating AI with smart contracts. These platforms can:

Scalability and Efficiency: Handle high-speed, low-latency transactions, ensuring that AI-enhanced smart contracts can analyze real-time data and make decisions without delays.

Decentralized AI Execution: Allow AI models to be deployed directly on the blockchain, ensuring the decision-making process remains transparent and secure while avoiding the vulnerabilities of centralized AI providers.

Interoperability: Enable seamless integration with other blockchain networks, data sources, and external AI models, creating a more robust ecosystem where smart contracts can access a wider range of data and interact with diverse systems.

AI-Driven Automation: Enable businesses to create smart contracts that adjust terms in real-time based on inputs like market conditions, user behavior, or data from sensors and IoT devices.

Enhanced Security and Privacy: Blockchain’s inherent security ensures that both the contract and the data it relies on remain tamper-proof, while AI can help identify fraud or unusual behavior in real-time.

Industries Transformed by AI-Powered Smart Contracts

The combination of AI and smart contracts opens up a world of possibilities across a variety of industries:

Decentralized Finance (DeFi): In DeFi, AI-powered smart contracts can predict market trends, optimize lending rates, and adjust collateral requirements automatically based on real-time data. By integrating AI, decentralized platforms can make dynamic adjustments to contracts in response to shifting financial landscapes.

Supply Chain and Logistics: Supply chain management benefits significantly from AI-powered smart contracts. For example, smart contracts can automatically adjust payment terms, notify stakeholders, and trigger alternative actions if a shipment is delayed or rerouted, ensuring smooth operations without human intervention.

Healthcare: AI-enhanced smart contracts in healthcare can validate patient data, process insurance claims, and adjust coverage terms based on real-time medical data. Blockchain guarantees that every action is securely recorded, while AI optimizes decisions and reduces administrative overhead.

Insurance: Insurance providers can use AI to validate claims and automatically adjust premiums or release payments based on real-time inputs from IoT devices. Smart contracts ensure that every step of the process is transparent, secure, and automated.

Real Estate: In real estate, AI can predict market trends and adjust property sale terms dynamically based on factors like interest rates or buyer demand. Smart contracts on a decentralized platform can also handle contingencies (e.g., repairs or inspections) without requiring manual intervention.

The Future of AI and Blockchain Integration

As AI and blockchain continue to advance, their integration will unlock even more intelligent, autonomous systems. Platforms that can seamlessly integrate both technologies will empower businesses to create smarter contracts that not only automate decisions but also improve over time by learning from new data.

Decentralized platforms will play an essential role in this evolution, offering scalable and secure environments where smart contracts and AI can be deployed together to handle increasingly complex, real-time processes across industries.

In the future, AI-powered smart contracts will continue to evolve, becoming more adaptive, self-optimizing, and capable of handling an even broader range of applications. The potential for businesses to automate processes, reduce costs, and increase efficiency is vast, and decentralized platforms are at the heart of this transformation.

[magdaclaire]

claire feels out of control after ladies drink free and can't get the ground back beneath her feet again, constantly feeling like she's running on a hamster wheel, getting nowhere. she talks to magda about it because they always text anyway, and it's easier to talk that way. like how the front seat of a car can be its own confessional, so too can hearted messages and typed out promises. she tells magda about it with both eyes open.

she still doesn't expect it to go anywhere. then she sees magda again. magda, with her trustless childhood, with betrayal thicker behind her teeth than anybody claire's ever met, magda who has no reason to trust her besides the fact that she was there and she always tells the truth. she won't lie to her own people. magda is hers. there's so few things claire gets to claim in this world and magda is the trump card in her back pocket, the best in her deck.

magda loads a gun and hands it to claire, and taking both her hands around claire's to make sure she takes it and kneels before claire, she moves their hands to rest the end of the barrel against her own forehead. claire, who has seen her hands move without her permission before, allows it. magda presses the gun to her head and tells claire i know you wouldn't. and claire, who has seen her hands move without her permission before, flips the safety back on and tosses the gun in the grass a body's length away from where magda kneels in the grass. i couldn't, she says, and they both know she's lying, but magda pulls her to the ground with her anyway, settling claire against her chest to let her sob and sob, to saturate her in the knowledge that she cannot lash her way out of this.

that magda won't let her go just because holding onto claire will make her bleed sometimes. that magda will simply adjust her grip.

they're both covered in grass stains by the time they make it back inside, but for once, jody doesn't have anything to say about the knees of her jeans - maybe because this time, it's spring green, and not the maroon of blood springing eternal, or whatever. either way, she looks at magda with new approval and magda hides behind claire anyway, so often scared of women but trusting claire. trusting claire to take care of her.

[lunarsilkscreen]

Multi-Factor, Layered, Cryptographic System

A few big flaws with crypto are; how large and unwieldy the ledger can get, the centralization of decentralized systems, congestion at the base cryptographic layer, potential loss of a wallet, automation errors, a complete lack of oversight.

Cryptographic Systems are designed to be decentralized, trustless, transactional, and secure.

The problem with this; is as the Crypto environment grew; the need to bypass some of those features became a requirement.

Decentralization gave way to crypto stores and Wallet Vaults, as well as the potential for complete loss of value (despite it being an online thing), and introducing waste to the ledger through these lost "Resources".

Trustless gave way to legal restrictions and disputes, and the formerly decentralized environment was tethered to the world economy.

Transactional gave way to inflation when It became a valued asset that was used for more than secure transactions.

And... Block chain technology has proven to be very insecure and exploitable. With several Bitcoin "Branches" being made after large thefts or errors had occured.

The Automation and Scripting layer of crypto also has potential for "Unchecked Run times" and wasted Network Cycles and Waste of Electric Power.

Needless to say; Crypto no longer serves its original purpose.

Despite all this; Crypto still has great potential. And our Future Internet designs should include protocols specifically to support it.

Separately from other internet traffic, but still, alongside it.

So what can we do with the tech to make it more usable..?

Well, first things first; Crypto has large waste of Power and Internet Bandwidth that needs to be addressed. And I would *suggest* a temporary ban of "Unaccountable Automated Wide-Area Systems".

Automated Wide-Area Systems can be installed on multiple computers over the internet, and because they are "trustless" are often overlooked when they waste resources.

Because of the need for Accountability of these systems on our networks; there are still opportunities for the companies which manage them. However, I disagree with the current idea of oligarchic accountability termed "Proof of Stake". (It will be clear what my suggestion for this will be by the end of the article.)

Because there's a need for these systems to be transactional; we should be wary of how "Automated Transactions" are designed. As large amounts of assets can accidentally trade hands over the span of nanoseconds.

And we still want them to be Decentralized and Secure.

The Ethereum model creates extra cryptographic layers to cover some of the weaknesses in BitCoin, and this actually allows for an illuminated solution to our "Dark Pools" in the finance sector.

And the need to reduce waste on our Electric and Network Infrastructure (especially in the case of climate change) necessitates that we know where every digital asset on such a system is accounted for.

It also means we need a method of "Historical Ledger" disposal; so that we both have long-term records AND reduce the resources required to run a cryptographic system.

Which means we'll need "Data Banks" and "Wallet Custodians". So that nothing is ever lost; while retaining the anonymity the internet provides.

Legal Restrictions here on keeping the privacy of Wallet Owners is very important. We can also *itemize* large wallets, to provide further security and privacy.

These systems can *also* be used to track firearm purchases anonymously. Which will give the tools our ATF needs to track sales, as well as provide the privacy and security that are constantly lobbied by Firearm owners.

I think that covers the *generalized* and *broad* requirements of wide-scale implementation. I figure that Crypto-Enthusiasts may have some input on the matter.

[graceojuola]

Omniston on STONfi DEX: A Simpler, Smarter Way to Trade Crypto

In the world of decentralized finance (DeFi), there’s always room for new ideas that simplify trading and make it more secure for users. Omniston, built into the STONfi DEX, is one of those ideas that not only makes trading easier but also more trustworthy and cost-efficient. After diving deep into its mechanics, I can confidently say that Omniston could be the turning point for DeFi, and here's why.

What is Omniston

Think of Omniston as a smarter way to exchange crypto. It’s a decentralized liquidity protocol that connects traders directly to market makers, skipping the middlemen (like traditional liquidity providers or centralized services). The system uses what's called a "Request for Quote" (RFQ) mechanism, meaning when you make a trade request, you’re automatically matched with the best price offered by a market maker. It’s like going to an auction where the best bidder wins, and you get to finalize the deal without any extra steps or delays.

Why Does Omniston Matter

The beauty of Omniston lies in its simplicity and security. Here are some of the main reasons why it’s a game-changer for DeFi:

1. No Deposits, No Worries

In traditional trading systems, you often have to deposit your funds into a third-party service to make a trade. With Omniston, you don’t need to deposit anything in advance. The funds only move when the trade is confirmed, making it feel like you’re using a secure escrow service where everything happens directly between you and the buyer or seller.

2. Trustless Trading

One of the biggest concerns with trading is trust—trust that the platform won’t steal your funds, trust that your trade will go through as expected. Omniston eliminates the need for that kind of trust. The system runs entirely on smart contracts, meaning both parties in the trade are protected and there’s no intermediary that could go rogue. It’s like using a self-checkout at the store: you know everything is secure and handled right in front of you, with no one else getting in the way.

3. No Slippage, No Surprises

In the crypto world, slippage (when the price changes between the time you place an order and when it gets filled) is a real headache. With Omniston’s RFQ system, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting before confirming your trade. There are no last-minute price hikes or unexpected surprises. This brings much-needed transparency to the table and makes trading feel a lot more reliable.

A Better Way to Trade: Unified Liquidity

One of the biggest challenges in DeFi is the fragmentation of liquidity. On many platforms, liquidity pools are scattered, making it harder to get the best prices. Omniston solves this by consolidating liquidity into a single platform. This means that traders have access to a wider range of projects, and developers can tap into a larger user base, all while avoiding the hassle of jumping between multiple platforms to find the best deal. It’s like finding everything you need at one store instead of driving across town to visit several.

Low-Cost, Fast Transactions

Omniston combines the benefits of on-chain transactions with off-chain orders, resulting in faster, more affordable trades. The days of paying hefty transaction fees and waiting for ages to complete a trade are over. This is like upgrading from waiting in long lines to getting your items delivered to your doorstep quickly.

Why Omniston on STONfi DEX Is Such a Big Deal

Integrating Omniston with STONfi DEX takes things to the next level. The two work seamlessly to create a trading experience that’s faster, cheaper, and more secure than ever before. Here’s how it all fits together:

Security and Transparency: All trades are secured by blockchain and confirmed through smart contracts, making them more transparent and trustworthy.

Unified Liquidity: No more hopping between platforms to find the best prices. Everything you need is available in one place.

Low Fees and Faster Trades: Thanks to the combination of on-chain and off-chain systems, your trades are completed quicker and with lower costs.

For traders, developers, and users alike, this is the kind of system that helps move DeFi forward by solving some of the most persistent problems in the space.

Wrapping It Up

Omniston represents a significant step forward for DeFi, and its integration with STONfi DEX makes it even more impactful. By eliminating middlemen, reducing slippage, and consolidating liquidity, Omniston is paving the way for a more efficient, secure, and transparent trading environment.

If you’ve been looking for a solution that brings more stability and confidence to your DeFi experience, Omniston is something you should definitely keep an eye on. It’s not just a small tweak in the system—it’s a big move toward a better future for decentralized finance.

Have you tried Omniston yet? What are your thoughts on this new development in the DeFi space? Let’s discuss in the comments below!

[sparklysweetspolice]

HPO (Hashed Proof of Ownership)

Exciting News!

Get ready for the HPO event happening on November 25!

This event will revolutionize the way we think about digital ownership. Stay tuned for more info! #HPO #STONfi #OwnershipRevolution

What is HPO?

Hashed Proof of Ownership is a novel concept that enables secure, decentralized, and transparent ownership verification.

Say goodbye to centralized databases and hello to a trustless, community-driven ownership ecosystem! #HPO #Decentralized

Benefits of HPO

- Enhanced security

- Increased transparency

- Improved scalability

- Community-driven development

Join the movement and experience the power of decentralized ownership! #HPO #STONfi #Benefits

How to participate?

Mark your calendars for November 25 and get ready to join the HPO event

Stay tuned for more information on participation requirements, rules, and rewards. #HPO #Participate

Community engagement

We want to hear from you!

Share your thoughts, questions, and expectations about the HPO event

Let's build a strong, supportive community together! #HPO #Community

for more into, Check out the @ston_fi social media channels:

X: @ston_fi

Website: ston.fi

Discord: discord.gg/bdmaGV6qUW

Telegram: t.me/stonfidex