As in my previous articles, each word is based on my own interpretations of the Byteball branding and parallel sources. So, the Byteball team or other references shouldn't be perceived as responsible for my potentially wrong assertions. Obviously, this article is not an investment advice but an attempt to analyze the Byteball branding through the unconventional prism of metaphysics. Nevertheless, I precise that the Byteball branding will appear only as a watermark.

Serendipity strategy

Before to start seriously this article, I'd like to mention that it has been inspired by the mysterious Suirelav comment on Reddit about the Serendipity Strategy. I could speculate about what the Byteball team is preparing us for next months but I will be probably far away of the truth. So, I prefer to talk about some curiosities or coincidences related to the Byteball branding and its communication strategy I noticed because it suits well with the term serendipity. Obviously, points I will mention below require an open mind because faith and fate concepts are not accessible to all minds. I confess that this article aim is to influence positively the collective unconsciousness of all the Byteball community, the cryptocurrency community and, indirectly, the humankind.

A universal matrix

In my opinion, we are living in a universal-sized cellular automaton. We are just patterns repeating themselves cyclically in function of some very simple rules predetermined by an invisible hand. I let you name this hand as you wish. Because we are ourselves a part of this automaton, we can't understand how it really works. Fortunately, through time and space, some mind-patterns were able to look beyond this immersive reality to discover where these automaton rules lead our humankind. Consciously or unconsciously, these receptive minds warned humankind about its collective fate with messages. Sometimes, these asynchronous messages are only relevant to assist other specific mind-patterns and by consequence they defy time and space.

Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself. ― Morpheus

The byte duality

In computer science terminology, the byte is a unit which consist in a tuple of eight bits. For clarity, I precise that a bit is the basic unit in computer science and a tuple of bits is just a value encoded in base 2 or binary system.

Historically, English characters were encoded with a single byte grouped into the ASCII table. The original ASCII table allows scientists and engineers to represent until 128 symbols. Since that, the ASCII table has been extended to use a byte 4-tuple grouped into the Unicode standard. This standard allows scientist and engineers to represent any humankind symbol inclusively emojis.

In computer science literature, when the term byte is ambiguous, it's recommended to use the term octet which means exactly the same thing.

Funny point, in French computer science terminology, we use the term octet instead of the term byte. And when ambiguity occurs, we alternate with the term byte. It's the eternal French-English duality, they drive on the left-side as many former English subjects or allies, we drive on right-side as most of the world.

By consequence, the Byteball brand could have been branded Octetball without losing anything in terms of meaning.

Throughout human history, we have been dependent on machines to survive. Fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony. ― Morpheus

The octal system

In base 8, more commonly called the octal numeral system, digits goes from 0 to 7 like in base 2, or binary numeral system, digits goes from 0 to 1. Each time you want express a bigger value than the numeral system allows, you have to add a digit on the left. Let me quickly illustrate that with the binary system.

0 in base 10 = 0 in base 2

1 in base 10 = 1 in base 2

2 in base 10 = 10 in base 2

3 in base 10 = 11 in base 2

4 in base 10 = 100 in base 2

It's the same logic whatever the numeral system you could use. So, in base 8, we translate the digit 8 as 10.

The Matrix is a system ― Morpheus

The 8's message

So, as I stated above, a byte is a tuple of eight bits. I will now restrict abusively this concept to the idea of the natural number 8. Even if we could argue infinitely about this natural number, I will again limit myself to some of its well-known secrets.

First one, the digit 8 is not only important in computer science, it's a very important symbol in all religions around the world.

In Hinduism, it's the number of wealth and abundance

In Buddhism, it's the number of Dharmacakra's spokes

In Judaism, it's the number of days before the baby boy circumcision

In Christianity, it's the number of the resurrection

In Islam, it's the number of angels carrying the throne of Allah in heaven

And I apologize to the religious people to not mention their own religion, but I have to limit myself. In plus, I'm not the proper person to spoke about religions even if I have my own very personal faith without following a religious movement.

Secondly, the digit 8 has many positive meanings in several cultural systems. In Asian cultures, the digit 8 is considered as a lucky or holy number meaning wealth, prosperity and other positive symbols. For instance, the official opening of 2008 Olympic games happened on 08/08/08 at 8:08:08 p.m. local time in Beijing. Once again, I'm not the most appropriate person to speak about cultural systems that I don't know even if I hope to discover them in the future.

Thirdly, the digit 8 is an important reference in many scientific branches.

For instance, in astronomy, since Pluto has been retrograded, the solar system has 8 planets.

In physics, the digit 8 is called a magic number and as many people know, Anton Churyumov, the Byteball founder, has a Physics PhD. As I mentioned in the article Byteball : A pizza for two generals, in the absolute (macro), the Byteball DAG model forms a simple straight chain but locally (micro) it's chaotic and unpredictable. Guess in which physics domain the magic number applies : in nuclear physics.

Last example, in chemistry, the oxygen atomic number is 8. You'll think It's useless. Well, we'll see that later.

So is this the same Oracle who made the prophecy? ― Neo

The 8-ball

In cryptocurrency world, many people like to mention the game theory. The game theory is a very complex field of Mathematics which tries to explain interactions of individuals (players) choices which are conscient of these interactions. It's always funny to read allegedly cryptocurrency experts talk about it like if they understood it when most brilliant minds of the world restrict themselves to one domain of applications. Myself, with my computer science knowledge, I can barely understand all implications of this theory in my field while I'm passionate about metaheuristics.

My point isn't to talk about game theory but about the 8-Ball or the American pool as we say in French. Experts have probably understood where I want to go, but let me explain that to novices. The 8-ball is a very popular pool game all around the world. It's played on a pool table with six pockets, a cue and 16 balls (a white ball, a black ball and two sets of 7 colored balls; striped and solid balls). A player has to pocket its 7 balls (striped or solid) in any table pockets and finally, to win, the black ball.

The black ball or the 8-ball has a very specific name : the money ball

You have the look of a man who accepts what he sees because he is expecting to wake up. Ironically, this is not far from the truth. ― Morpheus

A consensus

Money is a very abstract concept. This concept seems to have been created to ease trades between human groups. Through time, the money concept took several forms.

Theories say that first human exchanges were based on barter systems unfortunately these systems were inefficient and often unfair. Then humankind decides to use an abstract system that we name money today. Once again, theories say the first monetary system was shells-based or any other object easily available on nature.

Then, as humankind domesticated its environment, it noticed that some materials were more or less scarce on Earth and/or had unique physical peculiarities. It's the case of silver, gold or some precious rocks like diamonds. Quickly, these materials became object of cults. Who controlled these materials became Gods-like or more decently kings more or less powerful based on their wealth reserves. Inevitably, these wealthes created jealousies and automatically foolish wars to accaparate it while it was only raw materials.

Even today, the humankind is destroying itself and destroying the Earth to take control of these raw materials which are more important than ever due to modern technologies. And fiat money regimes with their no-value paper/coins or their Excel-money don't solve this greediness and selfishness. Worst, fiat regimes are always inventing lies or insane ideologies to force people to kill each other's to accaparate the wealth of neighbors.

These regimes pay people with their fiat money or basically with emptiness. While the empty money is a standard and a widely accepted financial concept, it remains an ontological curiosity, whose meaning and usefulness could be debated by philosophers and logicians until the end of times.

Nevertheless, humankind has to open eyes to avoid more useless sadness and desolation. We have to cooperate and share resources to avoid the destruction of our world and start the conquest of star skies. Humankind has to reborn as a unique specie to accomplish its fate.

We don't know who struck first, us or them. ― Morpheus

Phoenix

Everybody in cryptocurrency community has probably seen the 1988 Economist cover : the phoenix resurrecting from a bunch of dollars in fire. This phoenix has a chain with a big golden coin. Inside the coin, we can see the number 10, the mathematical symbol of emptiness and the 2018 date. Many people say it's a prophecy.

As I stated above, the Byteball DAG model forms, in the absolute, a simple chain. The digit 8 is translated as 10 in the octal numeral system. Money is a pure abstraction of emptiness and has no intrinsic value except which one we decide to give to this ontological concept. Eventually, fire needs oxygen to burn which is represented by the atomic number 8.

Could it be the magic Internet money or is it a mythological prophecy ?

I do not see coincidence, I see providence. I see purpose. ― Morpheus

The red pill

In cryptocurrency community, many uses a Matrix movie's metaphor to illustrate why the world should choose their favorite virtual coin. They advise us, consciously or by mimetism, to choose the red pill instead of the blue pill. As we can see in the Matrix movie, it will have catastrophic consequences to the hero who's a humankind's metaphor.

Conscientiously or by ignorance, they decide to ignore consequences of mining industry and try to justify that cryptocurrency incentives will solve all human technological problems and even defy the physical laws. They are just selfish, ignorant and want to form a new aristocratic-class to dominate humankind as enlightened tyrants but it's just a faded dream. Sometimes, they try to look honorable giving to charity but none of them confess that these charitable acts have for only aim to diminish their taxes.

Worst, none of them explains to people, maybe due to a lack of knowledge, what is the algorithmic complexity of their favorite virtual coin. Myself, I will not explain it here because I metaphorized that in my article Byteball : A Pizza For Two Generals.

Their hope is an endless racing, and we can't win except if we consider self-destruction as a victory.

This is your last chance. After this there is no turning back. You take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe… whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in wonderland; and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. ― Morpheus

Matrix Reloaded

As I stated in the article Byteball : An Unstoppable Financial Revolution, the world is addicted to debt through the fractional reserves' system. This imperfect system allowed humankind to experiment its biggest economic expansion of all the time and, subsequently, an impressive revolution in terms of life-expentancy, achievements and knowledge (healthcare, electricity, architecture, telecommunications, computer science, space exploration, etc.). Unfortunately, this imperfect system created a lot of injustices and inequalities due to primal self-preservation instincts engraved by a far away past within the humankind collective conscience. And now, this system is close to collapse.

And don't worry about the vase ― Matrix Oracle

Conclusion

The Byteball platform can help to correct the fractional reserves' system imperfections and allow humankind to continue its astonishing fate through a succession of trials and errors. The humankind has to choose the blue pill for the sake of future and by divine providence it will choose the blue pill. I have no doubt. And I could have add more astonishing symbols but I think it's enough to make you think.

As soon as you step outside that door. You'll start feeling better. You'll remember you don't believe in any of this fate crap. You're in control of your own life, remember? ― Matrix Oracle

Byteball white paper : https://byteball.org/Byteball.pdf

Cellular automaton : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellular_automaton

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

Octet : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octet_(computing)

Octal system : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octal

digit 8 : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8

Eight-ball : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight-ball