Cryptocurrency
Blockchain technology, digital currencies, DeFi, and crypto markets
Ethereum: The Decentralized Smart-Contract Blockchain Behind DeFi and NFTs
Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain whose defining feature is programmable smart contracts: code that runs exactly as written on a global network with no central operator. Conceived by Vitalik Buterin and launched in July 2015, it introduced a general-purpose computing layer on top of a blockchain, where its native cryptocurrency Ether (ETH) pays for computation. In September 2022 the network switched from energy-hungry mining to proof-of-stake, and it now anchors most decentralized finance, NFTs, stablecoins, and a growing stack of layer-2 scaling networks.
RandomX: Monero's CPU-Optimized Mining Algorithm That Resists ASICs and GPUs
RandomX is Monero's proof-of-work algorithm that executes randomly generated programs in a virtual machine, making CPU mining competitive by resisting ASIC and GPU optimization.
Building a Polymarket CLOB Client in Elixir: Architecture and Cryptography
{{Polymarket}}'s {{CLOB}} uses a two-layer auth scheme — {{EIP-712}} wallet signatures (L1) to mint API credentials, then {{HMAC-SHA256}} headers (L2) per request — plus per-order {{EIP-712}} signatures for non-custodial settlement on {{Polygon}}. No {{Elixir}} client exists as of May 2026, but {{signet}}, {{ex_eip712}} and {{eip712}} provide the cryptographic primitives needed to build one.
Monero (XMR): The Privacy-Focused Cryptocurrency Mineable on CPUs
Monero (XMR) is a privacy-focused cryptocurrency where transactions are private by default — sender, receiver, and amount are all hidden using ring signatures, stealth addresses, and RingCT. Unlike Bitcoin, Monero uses the RandomX mining algorithm specifically designed for CPU efficiency and ASIC resistance, meaning standard computer processors can participate in mining competitively. This CPU-friendliness is why Monero is the default choice for mining on old phones and repurposed hardware.
Cryptocurrency Mining on Old Android Phones: Monero and Verus Coin Guide
Old Android phones can mine cryptocurrency using sideloaded apps: Crypex (mines Monero via RandomX, pays out in BTC/USDT/fiat) and Verus Miner (mines Verus coin natively, better suited to ARM processors). Both require APKs from outside Google Play. Verus runs cooler and more efficiently on phone hardware. Battery management is critical — remove batteries or use smart plugs to prevent thermal swelling. Returns are minimal but it repurposes idle hardware.
Solo Bitcoin Mining as Lottery: Bitaxe Gamma 601 Setup and Economics
The Bitaxe Gamma 601 enables solo Bitcoin mining as a ~110 EUR/year lottery ticket with ~1:15,000 annual odds of finding a block worth 380-450k EUR.
The Bear Case Against Bitcoin: Failing the Three Tests of Money
A bearish argument that Bitcoin fails all three classical tests of money — as a medium of exchange (500K transactions/day vs Visa's 65K/second), as a store of value (20%+ monthly swings, 80% drawdowns), and as a unit of account (nothing is priced in Bitcoin). The argument frames Bitcoin's price as entirely supported by greater fool dynamics, using El Salvador's legal tender experiment (98% continued using traditional remittances) as the definitive real-world test case.