Crypto con

First, let me say that I find crypto to be, well, confusing.  Sure, its decentralized money.  But when you talk to someone who supposedly knows about it, you get a confusing bit of jargon, coupled with a sense of it being important and you wouldn't want to miss out on it!

Then along comes T-rump and he says he wants to create a "strategic crypto reserve" which is weird for two reasons: its a decentralized non-government type of thing, so a government having invested in it makes little sense.  

But the second reason is maybe a little more disturbing.  He picked several types of crypto currencies to be included.  Some are the bigger ones that you might expect.  But a few are smaller and don't make any sense.  Until you take a look behind the curtain and see that there are people involved with these currencies, who are allied with him or are donors to him.  So he's including them as a favor in a way.

And here's the reality of creating a strategic reserve: the government will be transferring OUR tax dollars to the owners of these crypto companies.  People who support him will be taking our money, because T-rump said so.  I got issues with that.

And then there's this rare "moment of honesty" from someone high up in one of crypto companies.  In an interview, he was calling crypto a form of gambling.  An investor is hoping for something good to happen.  

Meanwhile, there are several crypto companies that advertise themselves in a way that is adjacent to gambling - though they are careful never to call themselves that for fear of running afoul of the law.  But make no mistake they are offering the same allure as putting money on a sporting event.  Its wild.

And then there are the sports leagues that see an opportunity to get into the crypto game.  They see an opportunity to "engage with fans" and have them be able to purchase something affiliated with the team AND to be able to use that currency to make in-game wagers.  

So.... maybe I do actually understand crypto.  Its a way for some unknown entity, or perhaps one that is known - like your favorite team - to put their hand in your pocket and take some of your money.  Under the guise of "you wouldn't want to miss out!"