Sergei Sergienko

12 September 2024 12:36

🏦 Interesting piece by WSJ on Tether. While Bitcoin grabs most of the spotlight, USDT is creating what the Journal calls "a parallel economy." Based in the British Virgin Islands, it facilitates cross-border transactions, serving as a bypass for US sanctions. It’s also helping less savory activities.

But let’s be real: Tether’s influence is massive—$190 billion flows through it daily, almost as much as Visa. And despite its enormous profit last year, $6.2 billion, the company operates with minimal oversight.

Tether claims to work with law enforcement and is enhancing its transaction monitoring, but the scope of its impact is impressive. And a bit concerning.

Sergei Sergienko

10 September 2024 11:02

📱 Apple's latest updates were pretty much what I expected—AI is everywhere, and that’s exciting because AI rocks!

The dedicated photo button on the iPhone 16 and reducing the number of cameras are smart moves. It was starting to get a bit ridiculous with all those lenses. Sometimes, less is more.

Sergei Sergienko

09 September 2024 10:49

🌍 Traveling opens up the mind, and business travel is a whole new level of inspiration. I’ve found that some of my best ideas come while I’m at airports or on planes, reflecting after networking events or partnership meetings.

I also noticed that every country has its own unique approach to business, and there’s always something new to learn if you keep your eyes open.

Sergei Sergienko

07 September 2024 11:38

🚻 I was thinking about how Web3 is still a 'boys’ club'. Apparently, only 13% of startups have female founders, and just 10% of teams have a decent mix of men and women.

From what I’ve seen working in the space, having more women involved is a game-changer. Maybe that's exactly what we're missing? More creative women energy to shake things up and push the industry forward.

Sergei Sergienko

05 September 2024 17:13

🤑 Greed has powered many new initiatives in the crypto space, but not in a good way. Remember the Squid Game token? It launched with a ton of hype, riding on the popularity of the show. The founders made big money almost instantly, but then the project vanished, leaving investors with nothing.

👎 That’s not just bad business—it’s harmful to the entire industry. Projects like these are a stain on the crypto world. They create hype, exploit people's trust, and then disappear. I have zero tolerance for that.

Sure, making money is great, but not at the cost of integrity. The only way forward is to build projects that offer real value and stand the test of time. Quick cash grabs hurt everyone and damage the reputation of the entire ecosystem.

Sergei Sergienko

04 September 2024 10:43

🇧🇷 It's interesting to see how Brazil's decision to uphold the ban on Twitter has shaken things up. I can see both sides of the argument here—freedom of expression vs the spread of disinformation. There's surerly a deeper tension between tech companies and governments on content regulation.

What’s happening in Brazil feels like a broader trend we’re seeing all over the place: governments trying to take a stronger hand in moderating what’s allowed online, especially when it involves politics.

Meanwhile, we see how quickly users find and embrace alternatives. Yet another reminder of how quickly we can adapt.

Sergei Sergienko

03 September 2024 11:10

🤖 Lately, I’ve noticed something odd with AI tools like ChatGPT—they seem to be getting dumber. I’ve been using it for brainstorming, post editing, and some other tasks, but it’s clearly losing its edge.

🤷‍♂️ Sometimes, ChatGPT struggles to understand the simplest tasks and the answers are getting less reliable.

I stumbled across an article that confirmed my confusion: these generative AI tools aren’t as smart as we think, and they’re getting worse over time, recycling the same low-quality content. The author pointed out that as AI continues to rely on poor-quality data and content generated by other models, it’s bound to lead to even more errors and “model collapse.” Basically, Garbage In, Garbage Out.

💡 If companies are really hoping to replace knowledge workers with general-purpose AI chatbots, they’re in for a rude awakening.

Sergei Sergienko

31 August 2024 18:06

📉 Toncoin may be taking a hit after recent events isn’t the end of the world. The crypto space has seen its fair share of drama, and judging by its history, TON is surerly no stranger to a challenge.

With a solid community actively supporting the network and its CEO, there’s a good chance it’ll bounce back.

🎯 Sure, the market’s down now, but that’s part of the ride. What really counts is how TON handles this rough patch. I think this could actually set the stage for a stronger comeback.

Sergei Sergienko

29 August 2024 17:16

🔐 Keeping your privacy intact in today’s reality feels like trying to stay dry in a rainstorm—you might not avoid every drop, but it’s worth holding onto an umbrella.

That’s why I’m a fan of tools that respect privacy without making a fuss about it. For example, I’ve been using Proton Mail for ages and never been disappointed. It offers features like end-to-end encryption and doesn’t track your data.

And, you surely don’t need to confirm your phone number to open an account. Those are the emails you can send in peace.

☝️ It’s not paranoia; it’s about having a space where you can communicate freely without someone looking over your shoulder. It’s also less about hiding secrets and more about preserving that little slice of autonomy in a world that seems determined to take it away.

📸 Dayne Topkin on Unsplash

Sergei Sergienko

27 August 2024 11:35

😅 Another day, another headline that makes you go, “Seriously?” This time, a survey says men in crypto are less attractive than anime fans.

Guess we’ll have to settle for being the smart, tech-savvy ones—because apparently, flashy costumes are still slightly better.

Sergei Sergienko

25 August 2024 10:46

🤷‍♂️ I hate to say it but if your job is to catch criminals and you can't succeed because you don't have access to their chats, the issue lies in your methods. Not in the messenger they use.

Sergei Sergienko

24 August 2024 17:15

🧪 The Bitcoin experiment in El Salvador has been making headlines for some time now, but has the country benefited from it?

Since making BTC legal tender in 2021, tourism has seen a boost, and ambitious projects like Bitcoin City were put on display.
Yet, despite all the hype, most locals still prefer using USD. And the broader economic impact remains murky.

The government’s continued Bitcoin purchases make me wonder if this is a progressive vision or a risky gamble.

I’m still pretty skeptical about how they’re handling it, and not sure whether this is a model for other developing nations to follow.

Sergei Sergienko

22 August 2024 13:10

🕵 Here’s a story that raises more questions than there are answers. Victims of a crypto heist are suing Binance, claiming their stolen funds were funneled through the platform to hide the theft.

According to the story, the thieves used Binance as a laundering hub, making it harder to trace the stolen crypto.

What’s curious is that the victims seemed to only contact Binance ‘years after the theft’, initially reaching out only to the original wallet provider. Binance usually takes action when given clear evidence, but this step was missed.

🤔 So, how would Binance know that the funds were stolen (unless reported) if the victims’ wallets were not previously flagged?

Sergei Sergienko

20 August 2024 10:42

🏆 Official salaries in crypto are a massive win for the industry. This move validates digital currencies as legitimate forms of payment, elevating their role from speculative assets to everyday financial tools.

Why else is good? Legal recognition of crypto salaries can reduce reliance on traditional banking systems, streamline cross-border transactions, and foster financial inclusion.

For countries dealing with high inflation, having salaries in crypto could offer a more stable alternative to devaluing local currencies. In areas lacking banking infrastructure, crypto can provide access to financial services where traditional systems fall short.

☝️ It’s all about creating practical, real-world applications.

Sergei Sergienko

19 August 2024 15:03

⛏️ We’ve hit a major milestone—94% of all Bitcoin that will ever exist has already been mined. Out of the 21 million Bitcoin, only about 1.26 million are left. To put it simply, we’re getting close to the final stretch.

As we inch closer to that 21 million cap, the scarcity only grows, making Bitcoin an even stronger hedge against all the money printing that’s happening globally.

With fewer new Bitcoins entering the market and demand likely to keep rising, I think we’re in for some fun times ahead.

Sergei Sergienko

11 September 2024 15:51

🍓 We don’t have all the details on Strawberry yet, but what we do know is exciting. The new OpenAI model promises to handle complex, multi-step problems with a focus on text.

It might be slower (10-20 seconds per query) and pricier, but when it comes to solving tough problems, can we really expect quick solutions?

Sergei Sergienko

09 September 2024 17:00

🤝 Web3 is all about going global, and that’s awesome. But hear me out: you need to play by the local rules.

Think of it like moving to a new country. Complaining about local laws won’t get you far—learning and adapting will.

The same principle applies to business. Every region has its own set of regulations, and getting familiar with them can turn potential hassles into opportunities.

🚀 A crypto project that respects and works with local regulators won’t survive… It’ll thrive.

Sergei Sergienko

08 September 2024 05:29

🇰🇬 I’m in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, right now, and the more I get to know the crypto community, the more impressed I am by how crypto-friendly this country is. They’ve got regulations in place for crypto exchanges and mining, which is pretty forward-thinking for a small country in Central Asia.

A big part of the population works abroad and sends money back home to support their families, and crypto transfers are really handy for that. I can't stop thinking about all the possibilities here—this country has so much potential, and I’m really excited to see what we can do here.

Sergei Sergienko

06 September 2024 13:51

💻 The teams I've led were mostly remote, and they consistently outperformed expectations. I’ve seen the difference firsthand—it's not about how many hours you spend in the office, but the impact you make.

As for pay, it should be tied to your contributions, not the time clocked. The world’s changing fast, and so should we. It’s a shame not everyone’s catching on to that.

Sergei Sergienko

05 September 2024 10:53

Do you own any NFTs? I’ve got a couple of apes, which are pretty awesome and their website is a work of art. But what about the entire NFT market?

According to the latest report, 96% of NFTs are basically done for, and almost half of the holders are in the red. That’s tough, but in a market as wild as this one, it’s not shocking.

Like with many other crypto (and non-crypto) projects, the hype doesn’t always match reality.
Sure, some projects are still holding on, but let’s be honest—most NFTs didn’t stick around long enough to be worth it.

🎨 This might not be the end for NFTs, but it’s definitely a time to rethink our approach. Quick gains are tempting, but creating real value pays off a lot more in the end.

Sergei Sergienko

03 September 2024 17:42

🦥 Also, I see that tools like ChatGPT are making us lazier. Even Googling takes some effort, but Chat confidently answers my questions, so I don’t even bother to double-check the facts. The problem is, it makes a LOT of mistakes.

So, before you take anything at face value, do yourself a favor and double-check your info.

Trust, but verify—or better yet, just verify!

Sergei Sergienko

02 September 2024 14:03

📴 Had an offline Sunday yesterday, which I don’t do nearly as often as I should. Being a Web3 founder means staying online 24/7 is part of the deal, but let’s be real—it’s not exactly a recipe for perfect life-work balance.

So, I unplugged for a bit, and it somehow felt like I was away for a month, not just a day.

Funny how a "digital detox" makes you realize how much noise we’re all swimming in. Maybe I should do this more often... or at least until the next major project needs my undivided attention.

Sergei Sergienko

30 August 2024 13:43

🚀 Elon Musk's win in the Dogecoin lawsuit raises a big question. Can big names like him talk about their crypto preferences?

The court said Musk’s hype was just that—hype, not market manipulation. While his tweets definitely stir things up, proving they directly misled investors is tough.

I believe opinion leaders need to be careful. Their words can really shake up the market, whether they mean to or not. Keeping things transparent and responsible can help keep the crypto space a bit steadier.

Sergei Sergienko

28 August 2024 11:20

💸 Vitalik Buterin’s disclosure of his $140,000 salary from the Ethereum Foundation was pretty cool. As someone deeply involved in Web3 jobs market and fair pay through my projects, I believe that being open about salaries not only builds trust but also sets a standard for accountability.

Also, Buterin’s relatively modest salary, especially in comparison to other high-profile figures, reminds us that transparency and fairness should be at the forefront of any organization.

👏 It’s a practice I strongly advocate for, as it fosters a more equitable and trustworthy environment in the Web3 space.

Sergei Sergienko

26 August 2024 10:11

🚧 As a Web3 founder, I've seen how technology can stretch the boundaries of the rules people have set up. This stretch is often misunderstood.

When digital currencies first appeared, they faced a lot of criticism because, yes, some criminals used them for transactions. But here's the thing: digital currencies offer a new way to handle finance and transactions that can benefit us all.

The presence of misuse doesn’t diminish their potential value. Before crypto, criminals were using cash or complex bank transfers.

⚙️ Technology doesn’t create crime; it just changes the tools.

The same logic applies to Telegram. It was designed to give people a sense of security and privacy in their conversations. Sure, criminals can use it too, but they'll exploit any technology available to them.

🚩 Should we start banning progress because of potential misuse?

Sergei Sergienko

25 August 2024 02:08

📰 If the reports are true, arresting tech founders like Pavel Durov instead of focusing on implementing measures to combat online crime seems like a misstep.

The real issue isn’t the platform itself, but how it’s used. There’s a better way to handle this—regulate and collaborate. If we really want to make the digital world safer, targeting individuals without addressing the underlying problems is far from efficient.

It’s a bizarre situation that makes you wonder what’s really going on behind the scenes.

Sergei Sergienko

23 August 2024 10:16

👾 So, Binance is hiring 1,000 folks this year for compliance and security, and spending over $200 million to stay out of hot water. Smart move, I'd say.

And then there’s McDonald’s, which just had their Insta hacked to shill GrimaceCoin. $700K vanished faster than you can say “Happy Meal.”

Here’s the deal. In our digital world, having top security and compliance experts on your team is a no-brainer. Those are some real MVPs, keeping you safe from the GrimaceCoins of the world. If you can’t hire full-time, at least bring in some consultants who know their stuff.

⚔️ Protect your empire before it’s in the headlines.

Sergei Sergienko

21 August 2024 12:58

💻 ENS, the Web3 username service, just rolled out Basenames, allowing anyone to claim their own base.eth domain. This comes on the heels of ENS’s partnership with GoDaddy, one of the biggest names in domain registration.

The goal of the latter collab was to make sending and receiving crypto as easy as emailing someone by linking GoDaddy domains to ENS-compatible wallets.

To me, this is how Web3 should be making its way into the everyday world, blending old-school internet with the new decentralized era.

🦄 This is what drives Web3 forward—taking familiar concepts and turning them into powerful tools for the future.

Sergei Sergienko

19 August 2024 18:22

₿ About Bitcoin. I've got this friend who’s been talking about crypto investing for ages. Every time we hang out, he’s got some new insight on why Bitcoin is the future or how smart it is to diversify—yet, despite all the talk, he’s never actually pulled the trigger and invested. I’m not sure what’s holding him back, but it’s definitely something.

We were at a mutual friend’s party recently, and he was going on about how he’s still trying to decide which coins to add to his portfolio. Another buddy of ours, who’s already in the game, jumped in mentioning that Bitcoin helped him buy his house. No mortgage—just Bitcoin. You should have seen the look on my friend's face! all.

There’s never a perfect time to invest until you just decide to go for it. But this is definitely not a financial advice.

Sergei Sergienko

18 August 2024 14:09

⛽ Ethereum gas fees always get people talking. Recently, thanks to rollups, fees have mostly been low, except for occasional spikes.

Today, Ethereum gas fees dropped below 1 gwei ($0.05)—the lowest in years.

Honestly, this is how the system is supposed to work. When demand goes up, prices do too. It’s like a concert—when everyone wants tickets, they get more expensive.

Some people think this is a problem, but I see it as proof that Ethereum is doing what it’s meant to do. The network prioritizes big, important transactions when needed.

I believe we’ll see more of these fees being handled by layer 2 solutions, making things easier for regular users.