A Bitcoin Primer
Momentum Public Relations
Blog: March 26 2018
Some of us know a little, some of us know a lot, but most of us haven’t got the foggiest notion of what a Bitcoin or a cryptocurrency is.
If you follow the news, you will have noted that media coverage is increasing. On Thursday March 15th, CNBC reported that the value of global cryptocurrencies fell from US$372.9 billion to US$310.4 billion. According to Digital Trends there are 1,300 cryptocurrencies in existence. Among them are Dash, Ethereum, Litecoin and Plasma.
Investing in them may be a dangerous gamble, even Venezuela has floated a cryptocurrency, the Petro. Financial Post columnist Diane Francis has ranked them on a par with the Bre-X scandal, Canadian Tire money and has advised investors to avoid them like the plague.
The reason for the recent fall in value was mainly twofold, the threat of increasing regulation and the actions of the trustee for Mt Gox a bankrupt Japanese bitcoin clearing house, who flooded the market with bitcoins in an attempt to pay off creditors.
The slide in value was also pushed along by the news that first Facebook in January and then Google in March banned advertising for cyptocurrencies, wallets and ICOs. Highly volatile, the value of bitcoins fell from US$20,000 in 2017 to US$8,219 a bitcoin on March 15th.
Cryptocurrencies are a digital currency. They aren’t backed by any national bank or regulated by any government or financial regulatory agency. Their only value is what you think it is and that may end up being nothing at all or a great deal.
Bitcoins are generated by solving complex mathematical puzzles. A process which makes seeing any real value in them difficult. It is a process which consumes a great deal of electricity. Wallets are applications that store cryptocurrencies on your computer and ICOs are Initial Coin Offerings which take place when a new cryptocurrency is launched.
Along with last week’s fall in cryptocurrency value, other recent news headlines include Plattsburg, New York’s decision to stop selling cheap electricity to bitcoin miners because they have driven the cost of electricity up for other residents and the arrival of a bitcoin mining operation in Sherbrooke, Quebec where Sherbrooke Hydro offers cheap electricity.
Quebec-based Bitfarm says that its Sherbrooke operation will employ up to 250 people. The company has operations in several communities in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. Bitfarm is reportedly spending $250 million to set up its Sherbrooke operation.
Bitcoin miners from as far afield as China have been reported as eyeing Quebec because of its comparatively cheap electrical rates.
All of this was topped by the announcement by Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard that bitcoin miners were not welcome in the province because they didn’t provide any added value for Quebec. Quebec may even decide to deter bitcoin operations by increasing the amount Hydro Quebec charges them for electricity.
It appears that while we were napping and concentrating on real stocks with real products and real business plans that the business of cryptocurrencies has become the object of intense speculation.
American financial regulators have allowed the trading of bitcoin futures. There is even a company, HashChain, trading on the TSXV and OTCQB that along with being an active bitcoin miner, offers tax software targeted at the fast and exciting world of cryptocurrency.
By their very nature cryptocurrencies are shadowy and elusive. Murky because we don’t really know who bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto is, or if he actually ever existed. Nakamoto has said via internet posts that he lived in Japan but the internet server he used was a free one located in Germany.
Even the name is a little confusing. Merriam Webster defines crypto as a “person who adheres or belongs secretly to a party, sect or other group.” The word was coined in 1946 and most commonly used in a compound form, crypto-communist, crypto-fascist, etc.
Crypto in cryptocurrency, instead refers to the fact that transactions on a cryptocurrency network are encrypted, safe and secure.
In 2008 Nakamoto posted a paper on the creation of a cryptocurrency on a cryptographers message board. During 2009 he launched bitcoin. By 2010 Nakamoto had handed bitcoin over to another developer, Gavin Andreson who had helped develop bitcoin technology. Nakamoto stopped posting on bitcoin forums in 2010 and hasn’t been heard of since.
The benefits of a cryptocurrency or rather, the technology behind it could be very large. Blockchain technology promises to make transactions faster and ensure privacy. Bitcoin was initially developed during the 2008 banking crash and subsequent recession.
Some supporters see cryptocurrencies as a cure all for economic woes because cryptocurrencies are not state regulated. Because they are not regulated they can’t be used to provide economic stimulation that in turn devalues currency. Others believe they can eliminate credit card fraud, provide a financial safe haven for people living in war zones and the ability to provide people without bank accounts a safe way to transfer money.
While most of these are laudable desires, the true value in cryptocurrencies probably lies in the development of blockchain technology that allows cryptocurrencies to make fast, safe and easy transactions.
Cryptocurrencies had been dreamed of and worked on since the 1990s but Nakamoto was the first to solve the basic problem which had held development back, how to prevent people from simply cutting and pasting their digital currency again and again. This is called the double spend.
To put it a little more simply, he developed a system that would prevent digital currency fraud. He did this by creating a central registry or ledger that would be maintained by members of the bitcoin community in a variety of locations. Because every ledger entry is checked against other nodes in the network fraud becomes impossible.
The central registry and bitcoins themselves depend on blockchain technology. Cryptocurrencies are based on the idea of making transactions quicker and simpler by bypassing government control of currency. It does this by storing information across a peer to peer network, a blockchain. This can be better understood if you think of the blockchain as an operating system and bitcoin as the application that runs on it.
Bitcoins and for the most part other cryptocurrencies are generated by what is called mining. This is a computer intensive activity whereby a series of computers are strung together to solve a mathematical puzzle. The first “miner” to solve the problem is rewarded with a set number of bitcoins. The amount of electricity this uses globally is equivalent to all the electricity used by Ireland.
Wired has an excellent guide to bitcoins and cryptocurrencies which you can read by following this link. Next week this blog will explore the reasons behind calls for an intense regulatory regime for cryptocurrencies and some of the reasons why some investors won’t touch them with a ten foot pole.
Hillcrest Offers Clarification on Digital Currency Engagement Agreement
Momentum Public Relations
Press Release: January 29, 2018
Hillcrest Petroleum Ltd. (the ” Company ” or ” Hillcrest “) is pleased to offer a clarification to our news release of January 25 th , 2018, in which the Company announced an engagement agreement with Entoro Capital, LLC (“Entoro”) headquartered in Houston, Texas to undertake a potential digital currency Initial Coin Offering (“ICO”).
The ICO being considered is intended to be an asset-backed energy security coin offering that will utilize the best of breed blockchain technologies for the Canadian energy market and potentially work towards making the Canadian energy sector more innovative.
Hillcrest engaged Entoro as the Company’s agent to provide investment banking, business development and consulting services for potential financing transactions using digital currencies to fund the Company’s business plan, which remains primarily focused on developing oil and gas production in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. The Company believes that an ICO would offer a non-dilutive funding option in addition to other funding options currently available.
ICO and Token Considerations
The Company is not conducting an ICO at this time but may decide to do so in the future. Any ICO would be compliant with relevant securities regulation and require Exchange approvals. If the Company decides to proceed with an ICO, it will determine the terms of such offering, and if such offering may be deemed to be either a security under the Securities Act (British Columbia) or a derivative.
If the ICO is determined to be a security, it will require either a prospectus or an exemption from the prospectus requirement to issue Coins and/or Tokens and to effect trades. The Company may utilize the accredited investors exemption, the offering memorandum exemption or such other exemptions from the prospectus requirement detailed in National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions. There is no assurance that such exemptions will be granted. However, in certain instances the issuance of a Token may be determined to be a derivative if the underlying asset of the Coin is a commodity which is not an investment contract. Until the Company finalizes terms of its ICO, it will be unable to determine for certain if the Token is a security or a derivative.
A Token or Coin issued under an ICO would not give the acquirer equity, other interests or rights in the Company equivalent to a holder of common shares. For example, no rights would be granted to participate in the profits or the distribution of assets of the Company, nor any voting rights in any meeting of the security holders of the Company.
If the Company proceeds with an ICO, it is considered that Tokens and Coins would be issued to investors entitling them to the value attached to a specific amount of oil hydrocarbon produced from Company properties included in the ICO.
The Company only recently established oil production in Canada through its well reactivation program in Saskatchewan and is still in the development planning phase for its Saskatchewan and Alberta properties. An ICO linked to oil and gas production from Hillcrest’s future oil and gas developments will therefore be a speculative investment, with no time frame defined for when commercial production from the Company’s current and future oil and gas properties and projects will commence. Reserves reports from competent 3 rd parties on the Company’s oil and gas assets and potential future acquisitions are not yet available. The Company intends to commission and provide relevant reports for an ICO as appropriate.
If the Company proceeds with an ICO, then cash will be received for Token and Coin issuances. These will be recorded as liabilities in its financial statements, which will require the delivery of hydrocarbons if commercial production is achieved. Hillcrest shareholders should be aware that, depending on the terms of a Token or Coin issuance, Token or Coin holders will be entitled to receive value in hydrocarbons produced from Company properties included in the ICO, if and when commercial production is achieved. After redemptions of hydrocarbons are satisfied, remaining oil and gas production would be available for the Company to sell. The Company does not intend to create our own platform for the trading of any potential Tokens or Coins.
The Company and Entoro will work together to seek funding to back the proposal and to eventually develop the currency program. The Company intends to utilize the expertise of Entoro Capital LLC and their respective contacts in establishing a potential ICO.
In addition to the above, the Company recently announced a private placement offering of $525,000 and will deploy any funds raised in the offering as outlined in previous press releases, i.e. for further development of its previously announced assets and acquisitions and for general working capital purposes. Further, the Company continues to pursue its stated goal to build value through the acquisition and development of oil and gas assets in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
“Hillcrest is excited to be working with Entoro Capital and jointly pursuing an ICO as an alternate form of financing which could result in additional value for the Company” states Hillcrest CEO Don Currie. “The investment community has been extremely supportive of alternate currencies and Hillcrest looks forward to participating in this new and rapidly evolving investment process. The Company intends to use Western Canadian reserves and production as the value basis for an ICO and will be better placed to attract a broader spectrum of investors. An ICO is considered to be a particularly effective funding alternative for Hillcrest as it may provide access to substantial capital funding to deliver value growth from our existing and new Western Canadian oil and gas projects, without exposing existing shareholders to potential dilution through conventional equity funding. Parallel to the Company working with Entoro, management will continue to focus on the well workover program and potential future drilling program announced with Westcore as well as commencing operations on Western Canadian assets, as previously announced. We will inform our shareholders as developments and material events occur.”
For more information on Hillcrest Petroleum Ltd, contact Don Currie toll free at 1-855-609-0006 or visit the Company’s website at www.hillcrestpetroleum.com
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Donald Currie
Chief Executive Officer and Director
For more information on Entoro Capital, contact James C. Row, CFA at 1-713-823-2900 (email:ico@entoro.com ) or visit the Entoro website at www.entoro.com .
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Cautionary Statement Regarding “Forward-Looking” Information
Some of the statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as “expects”, “intends”, “is expected”, “potential”, “suggests” or variations of such words or phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “should”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond the Company’s control. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
- Published in crypto, Hillcrest Petroleum
St-Georges’ Subsidiary ZeU Crypto Networks Signs Letter of Intent to Acquire all Qingdao Tiande Technologies’ Assets
Momentum Public Relations
Press Release: January 15, 2018
St-Georges Eco-Mining Corp. (CSE: SX) (OTC: SXOOF) (FSE: 85G1) announces that its wholly owned subsidiary, ZeU Crypto Networks Inc. (“ZeU “), a private blockchain technology company, has entered into a non-binding letter of intent (“LOI” ) to acquire all of the Blockchain and Smart Contract Technologies assets (the “Transaction” ) of Qingdao Tiande Technologies Inc. (“Tiande “), a Chinese private company.
Pursuant to the terms of the LOI, the proposed consideration for the Transaction is an aggregate amount of CND$150 million payable through the issuance of 150,000,000 common shares (“Shares” ) and 75,000,000 Shares purchase warrants (“Warrants “) in the capital of ZeU. Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one (1) Share at a price of CND$1.00 for a period of three (3) years following the date ZeU completes a transaction pursuant to which its common shares will either be listed on a recognized stock exchange in North America, or will be exchanged for common shares of a reporting issuer listed on a recognized stock exchange in North America.
On January 4, 2018 St-Georges (the “Company”) announced it was granted an exclusive global license to Tiande’s Blockchain and Smart Contract technology for mineral commodity production, trading and tracking. The Company assigned the License to ZeU in consideration of 20,000,000 common shares of ZeU. Whereas St-Georges owned 100% of ZeU with a license specific to the mineral commodity space, upon successful completion of the transaction, St-Georges will share ownership in ZeU, with global application reach.
” We are thrilled to enter into this agreement with Tiande and their world class scientific team. Dr. Tsai has laid out a plan to deploy what many industry experts believe to be a world class Blockchain ecosystem that stands at the threshold of a new, far-reaching technological revolution. The assets being acquired today, from the patents to the commercial and sovereign relationships and the significant human capital, are second to none in the domain. Our Ecosystem is ready to be deployed in this quarter, starting with the SandBox initiative and quickly followed by the BigData suite of solutions. Finally, the biggest and most significant mass application project, The “Internet of Blockchains” (IoB), will be released before the end of 2018. Response to IoB in every meeting with industry specialists has been significant and, in some cases, has triggered discussions into the realm of what was once unimaginable” said Frank Dumas, CEO and President of St-Georges and ZeU.
The Transaction is anticipated to close on or before February 28, 2018 with a definitive purchase agreement being entered into on or before February 5, 2018. The Transaction is subject to the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange and certain conditions pursuant to the terms of the LOI, including the completion of a CND$20 million financing on term acceptable to ZeU and satisfactory due diligence.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
“Frank Dumas”
FRANK DUMAS, PRESIDENT & CEO
About St-Georges
St-Georges is developing new technologies to solve the some of the most common environmental problems in the mining industry.
The Company controls directly or indirectly, through rights of first refusal, all of the active mineral tenures in Iceland. It also explores for nickel on the Julie Nickel Project & for industrial minerals on Quebec’s North Shore and for lithium and rare metals in Northern Quebec and in the Abitibi region. Headquartered in Montreal, St-Georges’ stock is listed on the CSE under the symbol SX, on the US OTC under the Symbol SXOOF and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol 85G1.
For Press Release Inquiries: 514.295.9878 or ceo@stgeorgesplatinum.com
The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release.
- Published in crypto, St-Georges Eco-Mining, Technology