CryptOsint Weekly Newsletter: November 12, 2019 View this email in your browser Thanks for tuning into another CryptOsint! We’ve got a good one this week. I talked about using crypto to crowdfund with the developer behind HKmap.live, an app which helps pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong track the location of police and protestors. It was refreshing to highlight cryptocurrencies being used for a worthy cause as opposed to, you know, terrorist and criminal use. I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did.



Want more Q&As? Let me know! Feedback, suggestions, and questions can be sent to brenna@bellingcat.com. Hong Kong Protesters Go Crypto As pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong rage on, so does the need for protestors to find censorship resistant ways of funding their efforts. Many in the crypto-world have taken a stance on whether or not Hong Kong protestors are using cryptocurrencies: Some argue that protestors are accelerating mainstream adoption, and others are skeptical if they’re using crypto at all. In the midst of all these debates, very few sources have actually solicited the opinion of protestors on the ground. So, I decided to do just that.



A developer for HKmap.live was kind enough to answer some questions I had about the use of cryptocurrencies for crowdfunding resistance movements. They offered great insight into the benefits of fundraising using crypto in Hong Kong and also offered an interesting take on China’s newfound love for blockchain technology.



If HKmap.live sounds familiar, that is probably due to it recently becoming the center of widespread media coverage after Apple banned it from the iOS app store. Many saw the move as Apple taking a hard stance against the Hong Kong protestors in an effort to appease China, where they have a significant financial ties.



The tech company claimed they removed the app because it "facilitates, enables, or encourages an activity that is not legal” however, there is significant evidence that HKmap.live is helping keep Hong Kong citizens more safe. Despite its removal by Apple, HKmap.live is still available on the Google Play Store and in an online version.



Ok, now onto the good stuff.



CryptOsint: What made you decide to start collecting donations via crypto as opposed to other funding methods?



HKmap.live : Injustice in Hong Kong forced us to go anonymous. Crypto’s pseudo-anonymity helped to mitigate risk, thus protecting us and our users. Many people think crypto equals evil, but I don't think this is fair. Undeniably, there are terrible activities funded by bitcoins, but [the same can be said about] cash.



There are organizations fighting for a good cause out there that really need the anonymity and decentralized features crypto offer — HKmap being one of them. Funding for anti-government movements in an oppressive regime is dangerous, after all, as legality is defined by the government.



Our encounter with Apple shows that the Hong Kong government can declare we are violating the law without any evidence of the specific law that we broke nor did they contact me regarding problematic user generated content.



CryptOsint: Typically, groups solicit donations only for bitcoin, maybe also ethereum, but you all have a whole slew of currencies to choose from. Why did you decide to diversify instead of stick with the popular few?



HKmap.live : They all have different features, for example, Monero and Zcash offer a much higher level of anonymity. I am personally a crypto-enthusiast, so it is interesting to receive and learn about different cryptocurrencies.



CryptOsint: Considering all of the news surrounding China and its digital yuan, do you have any thoughts on the Chinese government becoming such big fans of blockchain?



HKmap.live: Blockchain is not all about cryptocurrency and they cannot stop us from using decentralized crypto even if China rollouts one that they can control. I think the problem is China's version of blockchain would very likely be centralized, making it a transparent surveillance tool for the Chinese government. That said, I think any adoption and technological innovation is good for the community.



CryptOsint: Lastly, how would you characterize your experience crowdfunding using crypto? Any challenges you’ve run into along the way?



HKmap.live : Regarding donations, we are so far successful in raising funds for hosting and operational costs. A big thanks to all the donors. We are slowly building up funding for a legal expense reserve and to support other projects related to Hong Kong protests.



I would definitely recommend other organizations offer a crypto funding arm. Privacy is a fundamental human right and offering crypto donations not only protects your privacy, but also that of the donors. A major obstacle is the difficulty to obtain crypto in Hong Kong and many other countries, and this can be relieved by increased adoption.



Crypto also enables international donations, has the benefit of low transaction cost, and an almost instant transfer so more money can be put into the project immediately. There [are] many crypto-accepted service providers, try to use them instead of cashing out crypto to fiat currency. This Past Week in Crypto A huge thank you to the folks over at HKmap.live for taking the time to share their experience using crypto! I hope you all learned a lot. I know I sure did. Now, onto the important news of the week: In my new favorite longform bitcoin piece, Vanity Fair’s Mark Seal dives into the crazy world of Iceland’s biggest bitcoin heist. The tale involves the Nordic equivalent to Ocean’s 11, an anonymous crime boss named Mr. X, and a surprising public show of support for the crypto-villains. It’s has the twists and turns of a crime novel coupled with a fascinating glimpse into the burgeoning (and little talked about) crypto-culture in Iceland. You’re missing out if you don’t take the time to read this one. [Mark Seal // Vanity Fair] Alex Gladstein perfectly encapsulates all of the thoughts I was trying to bring together in last week’s newsletter on China’s digital currency in his recent op-ed with Bitcoin Magazine. Gladstein doesn’t hold back on his suspicion of the Chinese government’s interest in blockchain tech and expertly outlines the detrimental human rights impact China’s involvement could have. [Alex Gladstein // Bitcoin Magazine]

Coca-Cola’s going on the blockchain! Or at least some of its supply chain is. Decrypt reports that the soda giant is hoping to speed up aspects of its logistics network that usually take months to days. If this goes well, other manufacturing giants may follow suit. [Will Heasman // Decrypt] The trial of a OneCoin lawyer involved in the crypto scam began last week, according to BBC News. Haven’t heard of OneCoin? Well, it’s not just another ICO scam. It involves the cheating of millions AND a fraudulent figurehead backed by the mafia. Don’t believe me? Well then check out the BBC’s new podcast “The Missing Cryptoqueen” which unpacks the whole OneCoin saga. [BBC]

It’s become a widely known fact that the crypto-market is currently filled with more speculative traders than users looking to purchase everyday goods. But, what we often forget is how the market is therefore monopolized by traders, or “whales”, who own massive amounts of cryptocurrencies and have a disproportionate impact on various currencies’ worth. So much so, that some researchers are proporting that a single Bitcoin whale triggered a massive price hike in 2017. Read more here. [Mike Orcutt // MIT Technology Review]

As idyllic as the blockchain sounds in practice, the technology has quite a few problems: scalability, energy-consumption, and processing speed to name a few. Wired profiled a group of researchers working to resolve these issues and make the theoretical vision of blockchain a reality. [Gregory Barber // Wired]