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It was formerly understood that Tether was not backed 1:1.

My people in the space now believe that they have made up the hole thanks to juicy interest rates (where Tether keeps all the yield).


How is that possible? They were thought to have less than half of the dollars they’re supposed to be holding!


Banks have like 10% or even less the dollars that they are supposed to be holding, but still are doing all fine.

Personally I don't think these tether conspiracy theories were ever true. Maybe they aren't 1:1 backed, but they have always been financially well off enough to keep the company running. And after the interest rates went up, they are probably making a killing. Typical bank has minimal reserves compared to them, and everyone is fine with that.


Banks have extreme requirements on that ratio though, and have been regulated to death (for good reason) for a hundred years


> Banks have like 10% or even less…

That’s completely untrue, and Tether isn’t a bank.


Yeah, banks hold much less than 10%, as of 2020 the reserve requirement is 0%.


Reserve requirements are completely different from capital requirements. US banks are required to hold about $108 in assets for every $100 they hold in deposits, and their actual holdings are typically in the range of around $110 to $115 in assets per $100 of deposits. Central bank reserves are one type of asset that commercial banks can hold; a 0% reserve requirement just means that commercial banks can hold all of that ~$108 in other assets if they choose to.

In contrast, Tether has historically admitted to having as little as $100.20 in assets per $100 in liabilities [0], with a significant fraction of it in crypto and other assets that effectively wouldn't even count toward banks' capital requirements. It has probably dropped below $100 in assets per $100 in liabilities - i.e., been insolvent - at some point, and even taking its latest audit [1] at face value, it has far less capital than would be needed for a bank with the same asset profile in the US or other developed countries.

[0] https://assets.ctfassets.net/vyse88cgwfbl/1np5dpcwuHrWJ4AgUg...

[1] https://assets.ctfassets.net/vyse88cgwfbl/6h4YWqZOXbwtBaPtYg...


Stay classy Impossible Foods


I see all these comments about the trash and hate on Twitter, and I just wish that I could show them how I use it, and how wonderful a source of intellectual stimulation it can be.

My feed is highly curated. 1) I mute all political words. Nothing good comes from these discussions. I also mute things that just don't contribute to my peace of mind (a recent addition being "basecamp")

2) I block users who put out garbage content or try to stir things up

3) I use lists that I view on TweetDeck, so I can have lists based on my different interests (i.e. investing, entrepreneurs, interesting people, philosophy, etc)

Using this it becomes a dream feed. I get stimulating content, great discussions, and interesting ideas. On top of that I've actually made some solid friends from the network over the years, some in-person ones as well.


Have you ever considered that all this labor isn't worth it to a casual user? It's quite obvious, the surface Twitter experience is hostile and trashy. You've sequestered yourself into a bubble you think is fine, ok, but what incentive is there for anyone else to do the same?


Nice, just for the record, do you plan to spend $3/month on Twitter Blue?



how do you like investing.io?


A more educated view without the clickbait title: http://suppversity.blogspot.com/2018/10/survival-of-fittest-...


I’ve experimented with adaptogens for about a decade now, and they have become my favorite supplement type in terms or positive noticeable benefits to my life.

I’m mobile now or I’d look up studies to post, but I’d recommend checking out pubmed on some of the more common adaptogens. I specifically am a fan of ashwagandha (the KSM-66 standardized extract), Rhodiola (again, standardized) and finally Holy Basil. But there are quite a bit more that fall into the category, some being more for mental benefits and others more physical. For example the mushroom Cordyceps is generally thought of as an adaptogen that has exercise endurance boosting effects, while ashwagandha is usually thought of more for stress management and brain boosting effects.

I’m usually not a fan of “all-in-one” type products, but I’ve been taking this adaptogen complex for months with noticeable effects. https://www.amazon.com/ADAPTOTRAX-Superior-Adaptogen-Supplem...

Edit (on desktop now). Just a dusting of some cool studies:

Cordyceps militaris Improves Tolerance to High-Intensity Exercise... - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27408987

Ashwaganhda decreases cortisol and anxiety - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3573577/

Ashwagandha increases muscle strength and recovery - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4658772/

Rhodiola has lots of great stuff about it, but this "systematic review" claims that none of the results really meet scientific standards, so it all might be bogus: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3541197/


Siberian Ginseng is pretty interesting too


I don’t like the data collection either, but it’s impossible to know the untold disasters that it may or may not have prevented.

“Assume that a legislator with courage, influence, intellect, vision, and perseverance manages to enact a law that goes into universal effect and employment on September 10, 2001; it imposes the continuously locked bulletproof doors in every cockpit (at high costs to the struggling airlines)-just in case terrorists decide to use planes to attack the World Trade Center in New York City. I know this is lunacy, but it is just a thought experiment... The legislation is not a popular measure among the airline personnel, as it complicates their lives. But it would certainly have prevented 9/11.

The person who imposed locks on cockpit doors gets no statues in public squares, not so much as a quick mention of his contribution in his obituary. "Joe Smith, who helped avoid the disaster of 9/11, died of complications of liver disease." Seeing how superfluous his measure was, and how it squandered resources, the public, with great help from airline pilots, might well boot him out of office.”

-Quote from Taleb


> I don’t like the data collection either, but it’s impossible to know the untold disasters that it may or may not have prevented.

This is probably the most irresponsible and reckless statement a citizen of free of oppresion country can say.

Follow me here; taking your reasoning further here is my honest statement: i can bet my chopped off head that if we would have installed cameras and microphones in every single room in every single american househould, we would have avoid “intold disasters” that i can guarantee you, including but not limited to: burglaries, kidnappings, abductions, ilegal arms/drugs dealings, prostitutions, child trafficking and domestic abuse. At least! I really guarantee you that! Push the switch and count saved lives in tens of thausands!

I would rather live without my head than in such military orwellian state! Those who want temporary safety by giving away freedom.. so did one smart man said.


>it’s impossible to know the untold disasters that it may or may not have prevented.

We do know, however, the type of disasters that mass data collection has created in the past.

IBM's mass data processing technology was crucial to the operational efficiency of the Holocaust.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_and_the_Holocaust


It is not impossible to know, at least partially. The Intercept has been publishing batches of their internal newsletters which includes examples of success stories.


I personally always recommend Seneca as the perfect starting point, but I did receive immense value from the modern book “A Guide To The Good Life”.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0040JHNQG (I prefer the Audible version though)


Adding to this, include the “supporting pdf” that comes with so many audiobooks inside the app instead of having to download on desktop through the actual Audible website.


Clay please email me as well T@Moat.vc


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