Damus

Recent Notes

Ben Eng profile picture
Those gloating that Bitcoin works as designed in defeating the BIP-110 fork should be careful if Mechanic is correct about miner centralization. It would only show that Bitcoin suffers from a fatal flaw that was revealed by the majority chain yesterday.

If true, the winners would be the ultimate losers. Victory assures defeat, because it would reveal that Bitcoin in that form (vulnerable to centralized control) cannot serve as the ultimate sound money.

Ben Eng profile picture
Doesn't this Coldcard exploit present a huge entrepreneurial opportunity for an independent auditor to certify wallets? That would be a valuable service to the Bitcoin community.

Ben Eng profile picture
safety results from strengthening defenses in the face of danger. no danger, no safety is developed. that's why holding back danger is not safety. indeed, non-exposure or naivety to danger is how we remain vulnerable.

Ben Eng profile picture
I bought a Trezor Safe-5 Bitcoin-only hardware wallet on 11/21/2025 to self-custody.

It continues to sit on my desk perfectly shrink wrapped and unopened.

This Cold Card debacle gives me pause. Has procrastination given me the necessary perspective to move forward with less newbie ignorance about how to do it correctly? Tripping over that exactly problem of generating weak keys is precisely my fear. Losing or disclosing my keys and associated funds is another fear.

halalmoney · 69w
One man’s Gross Domestic Product is another’s aggregation of productive economic activity and government waste.