Coinpot Bitcoin Faucet Update (5/9/2019) — Up ~$700 in 18 Months

This is a follow up to the original article: How Much Can You Make on Coinpot in 1 Year?

It’s been almost 18 months since I wrote that article. The goal was to see if bitcoin faucets were a viable way to earn free bitcoin. I, like many others, was skeptical. Free bitcoin? There must be a catch. So I started my little experiment with a skeptical eye. Specifically, I wanted to see how much you could make on Coinpot in 1 year.

 

With my model I surmised that I could look forward to a minimum of $900. Of course I had no way of knowing that bitcoin would be attacked from every angle in 2018. As a result, the price of bitcoin dropped significantly, but it’s worth noting that it never dropped below the price of an ounce of gold. Gold — the world’s most precious metal.

So, here we are, almost 18 months in and I’m up roughly $700. Did I make the $900 mark? No. But, $700 isn’t bad for what I was told was a “scam bitcoin faucet”. I kept waiting for something to happen to the site throughout the year. I kept waiting for my account to get hacked. I kept waiting for the site to change the rules. It never happened. Everything has been easy. All withdrawals have been made.

Round of applause for those of you holding it down over there at Coinpot.

And, the beautiful thing is that we’re coming out of a market bottom in bitcoin. It is my belief that we are currently on the front end of a bull market. Bitcoin has taken a beating over the past year, but I still think it will be the world’s reserve currency. I still think it could reach $4 million or more in 10 years.

(For more on why I still love Bitcoin read: Why Am I Still In Love With Bitcoin in 2019?)

Okay, so I’m a believer in bitcoin faucets. I especially like the fact that anyone (beginner to advanced) can start making bitcoin with these faucets and there’s no risk because you’re earning bitcoin as opposed to buying it. 

Now what? Now, that I know what works and what doesn’t, I’m going to research other bitcoin faucet programs. I’m also going to see if there are other ways to earn bitcoin risk-free.

Why Am I Still In Love With Bitcoin in 2019?

There are many reasons to like bitcoin. For a list of the financial reasons, read my article entitled: Bitcoin Valuation: $4 Million - | Seeking Alpha


It was in this article that I first announced my belief that bitcoin's value could easily reach $4 million. First, yes, I still think $4 million is possible. In fact, I think it's more possible than ever, because the banking cartel has thrown everything it can at bitcoin and it's still thriving. We also have applications like Abra that make it possible for bitcoin to become the world's reserve currency (more on the mechanics of that in a later post. Abra discusses it on their website as well).

Moving on to the point of this post, however, is that I love the fact that bitcoin can't be controlled. That lack of controller-ship appeals to me as a way to dis-empower the power structure. I liken it to the pride I'd feel for a son or daughter that became a revolutionary. Indeed, if bitcoin were a person, the power structure would have put him on a modern day cross. Perhaps bitcoin and Assange could share the same cell. I digress. Back to the point...

Bitcoin can't be controlled by banks, government or anyone else. It is a truly decentralized form of exchange that requires the approval of everyone that owns it to be controlled.

This is not a theory. This kind of technology is here. Bitcoin is the embodiment of that technology and it's in its 9th year. It's held up to attack after attack. And, if it could be controlled, they would have figured out a way to do it by now. 

Today, Bitcoin stands at well over the price of gold. For all those pessimists, even when bitcoin dropped to its lowest levels over the latest pullback, it never dropped below the price of gold. Gold, the world's most valuable and precious metal.

So, bitcoin's viability has been tested and it has passed every one of their tests. What next?

What's Next: Bankers Civil War

From Asia to North America to Europe, quantitative easing and ample reserves are the new black. Which is to say, it's all the rage. Nation states hate inflation, but they love quantitative easing, which is a bit like saying I hate food, but I love to eat. It's schizophrenic. The schizophrenia is brought about by extreme inner conflict between greed and power. Some bankers see quantitative easing and the IOER scheme as the last big grab, others see it as a hedge against an inevitable foe called inflation. I'll cover more on the growing civil war within the banking industry in a later post.

My point is that the Federal Reserve's clear loss of control over the fed funds rate and the plan to make quantitative easing a permanent program have created a surge in bitcoin in recent months. It all started around March 20 -- the day the Fed announced the FOMC decision to keep rates steady. That's also the day the fed funds rate started outpacing the IOER. Some folks didn't like that decision and now we have a civil war within the banking industry.

That's why bitcoin has surged in recent months. It is a condemnation of the lack of control, a condemnation of gross negligence and irresponsibility.

And, every time a nation or group has a disagreement with their government, bitcoin will be there, arms held wide.

Bitcoin gives the world all kinds of reasons to love it.

We now have a viable alternative to reckless economic behavior, a new heavy weight has stepped into the ring to fight for us. Not just for North America, but for every group in the world. Bitcoin is, and is currently in the process of becoming, the world's reserve currency.

With this comes the end to monetary corruption. With this comes a sort of transparency and freedom that this country's forefathers could only dream about.

Bitcoin does not solve all of our problems, but it gives us the ability to be free. What we earn will truly be our own. Bitcoin can't be confiscated, it can't be burned, it can't be deducted from, it can't be turned against us or taken down. It has no language, nationality, color, religion or creed and it has come, like a savior, to save us from ourselves. (Jesus was a revolutionary too)

If you're looking for a place to get started with bitcoin investments, take a look at Abra. Read what they're about and how they differ from the competition. If bitcoin does become the reserve currency of the world, it will be in large part due to the work Abra's doing.

A Quick Review of Vice's Show Outliers, Ep. 1: "Have You Ever Wanted To Drop Out Of Capitalism?"

In a series called "Outliers", VICE "explores worlds beyond the economic mainstream, meeting people who’ve chosen unusual and sometimes radical relationships to money, commerce and capitalism."

The first episode showcases a cluster of communes. In exchange for a 40 hr work week, workers get everything from health care to food taken care of. They even get a little stipend. This isn't what I think of when I think of a world where labor is valued more than capital, because ultimately, if these people decide not to work a 40 hour week they don't eat. And, as you will see if you watch the video, they are all still partially injected into the system anyway.

What I like about the episode is that it provides an example of a unique economic model without defining it. It puts it into context without judgement, and the role of "definer" is left to the audience. This isn't easy to do, and it's done well. 

Bottom-line: Great episode. I also like the idea of a hybrid commune. Ideas like this are what make me proud to be American, but why not keep the mindset, AND play the game. That is, get paid, get capital and let your capital make your income so you can spend your days at the commune?

It IS possible to think like a capitalist without buying into a 'winner take all' belief system. It's one thing to know the rules, it's another to believe those rules are your limit.

I look forward to the reviewing the next episode of Outliers on VICE.

Blockchain Vs. Bitcoin Vs. Cryptocurrency: Dr. Ben Goertzel explains blockchain to Joe Rogan

If you're still curious about the difference between blockchain, bitcoin and crypto, here's a great explanation by Dr. Ben Goertzel.

Cryptocurrency Cheat Sheet (Top 50 Cryptos With Description)

celanbryant.com

Why is it bad when a company buys-back its own stock? They become ZOMBIES, The "Walking Dead" of Wall Street

What happens to companies that buy back their own stock with debt? They become Zombies. The situation gets even worse when companies buy back stock in periods of rising interest rates and at a time when stocks are trading at all time highs.

So, why is it bad when a company buys back its own stock? Here's the answer: EPS is a measure of company performance. It is calculated:

Net Income / Shares Outstanding


Stock prices tend to go up when a positive earnings per share (EPS)  is announced, and down when negative EPS is announced. CEOs and CFOs know this and will do everything they can to "windowdress", especially to disguise a bad year or quarter.

When a company buys its own stock it reduces the number of shares outstanding and increases EPS even though the company made no additional net income. This is how a company can lose money and still have a growing EPS. They will tell you they are doing it as a way to reward the shareholders, which is true as long as the company is cash rich like Intel or Apple, but most companies are borrowing money to finance stock buy-backs, and they are doing it at a time when shares are selling at their highest multiple in years. These companies are referred to as Zombies, they are the walking dead. I did not make this term up. Read more about the rise of the Zombie firm here.

So what? 

What does this mean if you're an investor?

 It means you need to focus on companies with earnings, not earnings per share. If a company isn't making a profit (read: net income goes down), but the EPS is still going up, it's a red flag because this can only happen one way -- if the company bought back shares. It's a super red flag if debt is going up at the same time and the company is using the debt to purchase shares (read: shares outstanding is going down). You don't want to own these companies. These are great short opportunities.

What does this mean if you're a consumer?

 It means companies will be competing for your dollar more than ever. These are hard times for local retailers who must compete against online retailers as well. They also don't have our undivided attention like they did 20 years ago. Which is to say the new entertainment model (Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc) allows most of us to opt-out of watching commercials. Now, retailers are looking for ways to get back in your head. Enter rewards or cash back programs. These programs have become better at reaching a wider audience than a traditional ad or commercial. Not only has the number of programs increased, but the percentage of cash going back to the customer is growing. This will come back to the retailer in one of two ways: 1) it will grow foot traffic at the expense of pricing or 2) it will create  write-offs. Write-offs can be pushed to the next quarter or year and they allow a company to drastically reduce prices in the current quarter. Either way, look forward to heavy discounts this holiday season to increase foot traffic.

Can Blockchain Automate The Middleman For Freelancers

More than a force of change on the business world, freelancers are becoming a competitive advantage because they:

1. are highly flexible,
2. get paid by the task; and,
3. have a high degree of autonomy.

Strategically, freelancers also give employers: the ability to tap into talent outside the local geographic area, the flexibility to cover short-term skill gaps, the luxury of lower overhead and the myriad benefits that go along with increased operational agility.

 

The Middleman

The advantages of hiring freelancers are clear, but the process of finding freelancers can be tedious, frustrating and expensive. Enter the middleman or third-party. Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr are popular, but tend to struggle with a common set of problems to include inconsistent work quality and payment issues.

In addition to these challenges, third-parties also charge fees. Some charge a flat rate fee on all transactions, while others charge variable rates. For example, Upwork charges 20% for up to $500, 10% for up to $10,000, and 5% for over $10,000 per client. Fiverr charges 20% flat. This doesn't include fees on payment options like credit cards, PayPal or bank transfers.

Is it possible to automate this middleman and payment function? Yes, and the name of the technology helping companies do so is called blockchain.

 

Blockchain Automates the Middleman 

Blockchain is the new middleman. It  helps to facilitate the connection between you and the freelancer by serving as a dual-staking system or escrow service. The technology offers companies and freelancers the ability to trust and verify without the need for intermediaries. Once the contractual conditions have been fulfilled, payment is automatically authorized. The set of conditions surrounding the agreement is referred to as a 'smart contract'. No middleman or trust agent is needed because the blockchain is the broker.

Blockchain applications also provide benefits for the freelancer including faster payments,  lower fees, easier access, and contractual incentives like staking. Staking helps freelancers solve the age old "chicken or the egg problem" when starting on a  new platform. A reputation is required to get new gigs, but you need gigs to establish a reputation. With Serve, Instead of having to build a reputation, you can buy your reputation by purchasing a "stake". This form of tokenized reputation encourages  everyone to act ethically because everyone has some "skin in the game".

Most third party platforms are flawed since the middleman charges fees and controls how the connections are made. Blockchain powered with technology has the ability to automate the middleman function giving you all the benefits of hiring a freelancer without the headache.

The future is powered by blockchain.

The Rules of The Simulation & Neuroscience: The Relationship Between You And The Controller

As a general warning to my readers, this article is very different from what I normally write about, but I don't think it's possible to separate belief system from everyday life if you want to live well. And, based on new discoveries in quantum science, separating the two may even be hindering progress in everything we do, especially if we 'believe' the path toward progress is a difficult one. In such a case, we could be the creators of our own hell. Of course the opposite may also be true, which should make this article worth reading.

What Do I Believe? We Are Living In A Simulation

I believe that we create our own reality. I believe we can do this because we live in a simulation. This may seem like science fiction, but there's a dearth of scientific (repeatable) evidence out there that says otherwise.  One of my favorite discussions on the topic is the 2016 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Is the Universe a Simulation?(see below)

Let's assume we're both on the same page and we both believe we are living in a simulation. Now what? The next step is to figure out the rules of the simulation so we can get the most out of this life.

The Relationship Between Newtonian & Quantum Physics

We know the physical rules of the world are based in Newtonian physics: an action or cause creates the effect or reaction.

We also know the rules of the world are based in Quantum physics, the study of matter at the atomic level. At this level, however, the laws are reversed. At the quantum level the action or cause follows the effect or reaction. Again, this is provable, peer-reviewed, repeatable science.

We know a lot about impacting reality on the Newtonian level, but what about the quantum level? What is the quantum level? Why is it there? Who is there?

In the following video, Dr. Joe talks about these questions. Specifically, he discusses the relationship between you and your "self" (the person playing the game). He gives a few ideas on ways you can tap into your infinite self using the laws of quantum physics.

The most common way is to imagine yourself as the person you need to be in order to be the person who does the things you want to do. That sentence takes a bit of unraveling, but here's an example of an exercise that will help.

Before you get up in the morning, transform yourself into the person you want to be in your mind. Walk the way they walk, talk the way they talk. Do the things they do throughout the day. Try to live out the entire day of the person you want to be before you get up in the morning. Don't let yourself get out of bed until you are that person.
 

Why and how does this exercise work: neuroscience

Studies show that what you imagine to be happening is actually happening as far as your brain is concerned. Let that sink in for a moment. For example, scientists have shown that if a person imagines eating, if they imagine the entire process and all its sensations as clearly as they can, they will have less appetite for more food afterwards, just as if they've actually eaten. It doesn't stop at mental suggestion. Another study found that just thinking about exercise can build muscle. This puts a different spin on the practice of prayer and meditation.

It is possible to live out the experience you want to have in your mind. If you're really good at this, if you have a vivid imagination, you can imagine whoever you want to be. Masters of this practice can effect change in real-time. And, if we are infinite beings having a finite experience on earth, it would seem that it's the infinite being that operates on the quantum level and the finite being that operates on the physical level. We are both. In other words, if this is a great big simulation, you are the player in a Newtonian world, and your infinite soul is the controller in the Quantum world. You can communicate with the controller with your thoughts. Emotions amplify your thoughts.

Why Is It So Hard To Think About The Life You Want

It should be easy to concentrate on what you want, but it isn't. We are not wired (quite literally) to think that way. In fact, when in survival mode we are wired to think about all the bad things that can happen. Murphy's Law even tells us to expect the worst in order to prepare for the worst, but in a world where thoughts create reality, this way of thinking can be a living state of hell. The person who follows Murphy's Law is in a state of perpetual survival at their own hand.

What happens when you start meditating or praying every morning on who you want to be? As soon as you start to see yourself through the eyes of both you and the "self", it will change the way you view everything.

Suddenly you become more aware of everything around you. You'll start to notice things that weren't there before. Clutter will need to be cleaned, disorganized spaces will need to be organized. You'll start to question actions that don't lead you to where you want to be. You'll break out of your old programming as you create new programming.

Quantum physics tells us that the more you are able to feel that bliss experience in your mind, the more you can expect for it to manifest in your 'reality'. And, when it does, your mind will reward you with the revelation that it can happen again.


Enjoy the game and please share!

Coinpot Faucet Calculator - Update

I’ve had a lot of people ask for an update to my original article. Instead of updating the original chart, I wanted to provide you with a calculator for you to use/share/edit. It’s available in GoogleDocs here: Coinpot Faucet Calculator.

The model is very simplistic, but gives you an idea for what you can earn in one year. It then gives you the ability to see how much that would be if prices go up by the end of the year. Finally, it provides a way to see how much the crypto made from one year using Coinpot will be worth based on growth rates like the ones we’ve seen over the past 10 years. (Click here for a snapshot of historical prices from 2013. Bitcoin is up over 4000% while Litecoin is up over 1000%.)

The spreadsheet provides a calculator for each faucet based on current claim rates. The final spreadsheet is a chart (shown below). It provides a summary of all three calculators.

Keep in mind, the calculator only looks at one year. It also does not include the mystery bonus, offer bonus or mining bonus. I wanted to err on the side of extreme caution, so each calculator only assumes one claim per day.

The base rate assumes no referrals, 1 claim per day and an average of 50% loyalty. The mid rate assumes 100 referrals, 1 claim per day and an average of 75% loyalty. The max rate assumes 500 referrals, 1 claim per day and an average of 100% loyalty. Note, the max rate is not a maximum. It is only used as a max case. Theoretically, there are no limits.

I can personally attest to the mid case. I have around 80 active referrals and only make one claim per day. I’m on track to make more than $235, but that’s because the values above don’t include the mystery bonus or Coinpot tokens, which add up. On average, I get around 3000 tokens per day. Again, I wanted to be very conservative here so those tokens are not included.

You can play with a number of scenarios around loyalty and referrals. While I don’t want to dissuade anyone from doing this, I think referral activity is critical. This way, even if you can’t make daily claims, you’ll still have a growing Coinpot. If you don’t get referrals, this isn’t going to payoff. So, I’ve created a contest for the best referral idea.

 

One final word

A chap recently asked me how to convince people that this isn’t a scam. My answer is: you can’t. But you CAN point out that a scam generally requires you to spend money. Coinpot will never ask you for money. The only thing you are required to give them is an email address.

 

Also, remember that bitcoin is still the world’s fastest growing asset. And, Coinpot is a great way to “get your feet wet” (as one person commented) in the world of cryptocurrency. The learning curve can be steep for some. It’s also a great way to earn bitcoin without having to worry about price fluctuations, providing ID or paying any fees. When the price goes down, the claim is higher. And since I know the price is going back up, it’s an opportunity.

 

Finally, the goal here is not to make a quick buck. You will be disappointed if that’s your goal. This is not a get rich quick scheme. Put simply, this is a great way to earn small amounts of what I believe will be the next reserve currency for the world. It may not be worth much now, but the goal is to hold onto this asset for the long-term (at least 10 years). All you’re risking is your time. Even if you just do it for one year, you’ll always have it and its value will grow over time.

FDIC Chairman's "Living Will" Speech @ Wharton, NY Fed Revises GDP Down, FDIC Publishes Annual Report & Survey Shows Slight Wage Relief

Remarks by Martin J. Gruenberg, Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation “Resolving a Systemically Important Financial Institution: A Progress Report”, The Wharton School University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA


You can learn a great deal by listening to the "public" speeches given by Fed leadership. It's one thing to give testimony on Capital Hill, it's quite another to give a speech in front of people that actually know what you're talking about. In this speech, Gruenberg, the Chairman of the FDIC, discusses the actions taken over the past 10 years to ensure against another "Great Recession".

He discusses the establishment of the Dodd-Frank Act and the authority it gave the FDIC to manage the orderly failure of banks in times of crisis. Among other things, the new authorities gave the FDIC:

        The ability to place the financial firm, including its holding company, into a receivership process;
        An Orderly Liquidation Fund to assure liquidity for the orderly wind down and liquidation of the failed firm;
        Authority to impose a short stay on derivatives contracts; and
        The ability to coordinate with foreign authorities in the case of a firm with global operations.

"The progress has been substantial and I believe not well appreciated," Gruenberg concludes. What hasn't he and his team been appreciated for?


The Evolution of the Living Will Process


As a way to create a framework around an orderly bank liquidation, the FDIC created the living will process. According to Gruenberg, the living will "required both the Federal Reserve and the FDIC to consider the objectives of the process, the standards and the guidance that would need to be provided to the firms to achieve the objectives, and the means of engagement with the firms to assist them in following the guidance". This process required banks to provide a description of the following:

    The firm’s strategy for orderly resolution in bankruptcy during times of financial distress;
    The range of actions the firm proposes to take in resolution; 
    Liquidity and capital needs and resources of the firm;
    A description of the firm’s organizational structure, material entities, interconnections, and interdependencies; and
    The firm’s corporate governance process. 

The only thing that really matters here is liquidity. With the right liquidity and capital resources, any crisis can be avoided or at least pushed off, but for how long?


The truth is, none of these changes would have saved Lehman Brothers or Bear. None of these resolutions would have made AIG confess to creating bad securities. The truth is, everything happened exactly how the banks wanted it to happen. They got a huge bailout, 10 years of free money, and trillions in reserves at the Fed. To top it all off, Dodd-Frank approved a resolution to pay banks for those reserves. Who pays the interest? We do. The American taxpayer. We don't control rates or the amount of reserves held at the Fed, but we have to pay whatever rate the Fed sets on those reserves. Sounds fair. This is why people are gravitating toward Bitcoin and precious metals.

In other news, Nowcast is a forecast of the upcoming GDP announcement. It was updated and revised down to 3.11%. The leading causes are due to a decline in:

•     capacity utilization,
•     industrial production,
•     general business conditions (as reported in a daily brief last week); and,
•     retail sales.

In other words, all things driven by consumer demand are starting to decline, while anything driven by debt (inflation, pricing and housing) are on the rise.

The Empire State Manufacturing Survey/Business Leaders Survey included a supplemental survey on wages, a critical piece of the consumer demand equation. Wages are of key interest because without wages, GDP will continue to fall -- not everyone has access to massive amounts of debt. What does the survey show? Job openings are taking longer to fill, manufacturers are hiring more, and starting pay is going up. Will it be enough to impact earnings? My guess is no. Why? Wall Street doesn't like wage increases.