ianforbes
Ian Forbes

ianforbes.xyz

Notes on prosperity in the information age.
Interested in economics and the built environment.

Public Key

npub1ruwjw9s5r2q3y4m73s7n02fluvg0643tar2pzxevpkqah4f367pqzhk3pg

NIP-05 Address

ianforbes@iris.to

NIP-57 Address

ianforbes@getalby.com

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsp78f8zc2p4qgj2algc0fh4yl7xy8a2c4734q3rvkqmqwm65ca0qsaeezah

Author Public Key

npub1ruwjw9s5r2q3y4m73s7n02fluvg0643tar2pzxevpkqah4f367pqzhk3pg

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Last Notes

2024-11-10 09:26:24

GM
Starting the day with deadlifts

2024-10-28 10:39:51

GM ☕
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.

2024-10-11 19:07:19

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Stablecoins dude... Super centralised though, just black list an address with the token contract and rekt ☠️

2024-09-11 19:12:17

Good day of phys today: speedy run in the park + evening yoga

2024-09-05 15:07:00

J. Paul Getty on r̵e̵a̵l̵ ̵e̵s̵t̵a̵t̵e bitcoin
"Almost every American family has its tales of fabulous real estate opportunities that were missed or ignored by one or another of its members at some time in the past.
“Forty years ago, my grandfather turned down a chance to buy 1000 acres of land at $10 per acre. Today, that land is worth $30,000 an acre...”
“I could have bought an empty lot at the south of end of Main Street for $740 in 1932. Last week, that same lot sold for $20,000...”
“We sold our house for $5000 just before World War Two. Now the land on which the house stood is alone worth more than ten times that amount…”
Such stories are to be heard whenever real estate crops up as a subject for discussion."

2024-08-26 06:36:03

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Airports...😬

2024-08-23 08:13:31

~16k DAUs, ~40k WAUs
Nostr is niche (for now)

2024-08-23 08:08:53

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Slickest slides so far 👏

2024-07-20 12:07:16

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Survived the bear where others blew up, a good sign. Co-founder Mauricio always well received at conferences. Heard some interesting discussion on future of mortgages in our btc future.

2024-07-13 12:29:35

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Ledn

2024-06-16 18:02:55

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✅

2024-06-16 09:50:46

Touching grass in the South Downs this weekend. Some beautiful spots in blighty when the sun comes out.
https://m.primal.net/Imkx.jpg

2024-06-12 20:28:59

Spotted a clip from the documentary "Four Horsemen" on the timeline today.
I remember watching it as an undergrad student almost 10 years ago, very formative looking back.
"Human beings go mad in crowds and come to their senses slowly and individually. History is littered with examples of people who threw off the yoke of oppression to adopt radical change, only to end up with popular new rules that maintain the status quo. To really understand something is to be liberated from it. Dedicating oneself to a great cause, taking responsibility, and gaining self-knowledge is the essence of being human. A predatory capitalist's truest enemy, and humanity's greatest ally, is the self-educated individual who has read, understood, delays their gratification, and walks around with their eyes wide open."
The full doc is still available on YouTube and well worth a watch .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fbvquHSPJU

2024-05-19 19:35:28

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Gnarly typo, no ragrets

2024-05-19 19:24:19

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Good one to consider: How much does each extra year of stacking add to the bag in % terms? Thinking BTC not fiat here.

2024-05-19 19:21:48

Eveyone has their own dance with this paradox.
A - Live for today, be present in the eternal now.
B - Save for tomorrow, hold something back, give future you a leg up.
#nevent1q…8tz5

2024-05-17 19:58:17

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1K1KluGKPwu0NmVDrSDz1o

2024-05-09 18:28:17

How long has the tokenisation narrative got left?
Whether it's with real estate, gold or stablecoins, tokenisation is a buzz word for securitisation (but a less efficient version...)
Great 10 minute summary 🔥
#note1m9l…zf8t

2024-04-20 07:45:36

One for the 'blockchain technology' enthusiasts...
Architect Cedric Price's famous provocation from 1966:
"Technology is the answer, but what was the question?"
https://m.primal.net/Hxka.png

2024-03-07 17:14:50

Looking forward to digging in to the new version.
Greg's site is an absolute treasure trove for anyone studying the technical side of Bitcoin.
#nevent1q…0na9

2024-03-01 17:25:30

The #bitcoin network is hovering at around a $1 trillion valuation.
Lesser appreciated, it's also settled $1+ trillion per month on-chain over the last three months.
https://m.primal.net/Hgef.png

2024-03-01 17:21:47

The UK has the world's oldest fiat currency, London has long historical roots as a financial hub.
With #bitcoin and the future of money, discourse in the UK mainstream is painfully far behind.
Maybe the value of Bitcoin surpassing GBP's monetary base will help move things along?
https://m.primal.net/Hgee.png

2024-03-01 17:20:43

November 2021 - the last time 1 BTC changed hands for £50k.
The Bank of England base rate was 0.1%. (absurd)
BTCGBP is now back at £50k, the base rate is at 5.25% (5150% higher).
Fiat currencies are like measuring tapes that change length each time you use them.
https://m.primal.net/Hgec.png

2024-01-15 15:21:32

Cheap currencies are the root cause of the UK's property bubble.
Relatively scarce compared to currency, property has become the world's largest store of wealth ($330T).
As a superior store of value, #Bitcoin will be more disruptive than new tax policy.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/michael-gove-calls-for-tax-on-homebuyers-from-abroad-fr87dgwbn

2023-12-30 19:36:32

"Suffolk councils propose higher tax premiums for empty houses"
Using housing as a speculative store of value has peaked.
As awareness around empty housing and buy-to-leave grows, expect more debate + political pressure for a crackdown.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-67842076

2023-12-30 19:36:12

New DCA strategy for 2024 onwards / a higher fee environment.
Allocate weekly or monthly to a spot BTC ETF in a tax-advantaged account like an ISA.
Realise £ gains tax-free once a year on January 3rd (proof of keys day) and self-custody the #bitcoin in one on-chain transaction.

2023-10-24 20:33:49

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https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/oct/21/cracked-tiles-wonky-gutters-leaning-walls-why-are-britains-new-houses-so-rubbish

2023-10-24 20:33:03

Bitcoiners are speculating about the future of #BitcoinUrbanism - how might sound money impact human action in the built environment?
Olly's article highlights many symptoms of high-time preference from the UK's big 'housebuilders' - is this what #FiatUrbanism looks like?
https://twitter.com/ollywainwright/status/1715655218510155799

2023-10-23 09:09:50

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@npub157a…855k it's quite a quick read.
I'm familiar, but I haven't actually read the book yet! Thanks for the reminder.

2023-10-23 07:34:31

Neat framework for understanding "The Sovereign Individual" themes over the next decade.
Acquire (greed), Defend (fear), Bond (belonging), Learn (curiosity), Feel (escape)
cc @npub1cf3…x7gk
https://philjbonello.substack.com/p/the-sovereign-individual-investment

2023-10-10 18:57:57

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You can lead a horse to water...

2023-09-23 20:18:30

What year did real estate peak in real terms?

2023-08-28 21:00:40

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The next test will have the reward era marked on the side, and the two comparisons will be the prices in the previous two reward eras.
Eg. June 2023 (IV) compared with June 2019 (III) and June 2015 (II) for effect.

2023-08-26 17:21:34

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I've been thinking about a variation on that one:
"change the money, change the world"

2023-08-26 15:06:48

🏡 June 2023 #bitcoin House Price Index: The average #propertyprice is now 12.88 BTC in the #UK 🇬🇧. Priced in BTC, UK #HousePrices rose 14.9% between June 2022 and June 2023, but fell 62.0% over the last 4 years.
http://btchpi.uk
https://m.primal.net/HJuG.png

2023-08-26 15:03:27

Created another BTC HPI test but with 1 year and 4 year comparison.

2023-08-25 22:50:02

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👍

2023-08-20 15:15:20

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💯 so much emphasis on functionality in fiat work. Working harder and harder, competing to be more efficient and 'productive'. Vitality being squeezed out.
Like you say, so little time to stand back, stand still, and question why.
h/t Lukas Hauser for the painting.
https://cdn.nostr.build/i/5807cb3cc7206b26746cbf6e426a5672a4f65d3982cb4c8a64a7c4d0fcc435e9.jpg

2023-08-20 14:41:32

In the agricultural age the wealthiest people owned farms.🌾
In the industrial age; factories and production lines. 🏭
In the information age, the wealthiest people have powerful ideas which spread at the speed of light. 💡

2023-08-20 13:04:11

People thriving in the information age aren't doing so because they're better with tech.
They're thriving because they are better at letting go of the way things were done in the industrial age.
Maybe they were never attached to these ideas in the first place (Gen Z).
Gen Y are really caught in the middle, following the boomer playbook at their own peril.

2023-08-20 12:52:36

Careers really are old tech. in the information age.
🇺🇸 Department of Labor estimates that a worker entering the labour force today will have ten to fourteen jobs by the time they are thirty-eight.

2023-07-27 20:19:21

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🙏

2023-07-27 20:18:30

Heading to Bristol over the weekend, any BTC spots I should try and check out? Thinking ☕ and 🍺

2023-07-24 18:37:43

RIP Twitter

2023-06-02 10:12:30

BTC adoption feedback loops
https://i.imgur.com/Rcsjgob.jpg

2023-05-30 06:24:47

GM
🚲
https://i.imgur.com/mHg1Inh.jpg

2023-05-29 10:45:34

☕📝

2023-05-27 18:51:46

Seeing a building project under construction as a bitcoiner...
What were interest rates when it was on the drawing board?
What will they be when it completes? 🤷‍♂️
The fiat standard is madness.
https://i.imgur.com/fxqxbJM.jpg

2023-05-24 17:08:53

How Brits can save time and money on P2P #Bitcoin trades in 2023. 🇬🇧
Which tools give you access to more peers with better offers?
___________________
Why trade P2P? 🤝
P2P trading provides privacy benefits over centralised exchanges.
As the risks with the KYC process become better understood, P2P platforms are set to grow.
Further exchange bans from banks will also boost adoption (see
StarlingBank)
___________________
Where to start?
Peach, HodlHodl, Bisq, and RoboSats are well-known P2P platforms.
Peach and HodlHodl are particularly easy for new P2P traders.
That said, finding peers in the UK is often a waiting game. ⏰
Order books are thin, and trade premiums can be high. 🫰
___________________
Enter Revolut, a multicurrency neobank with excellent exchange rates. 🏦
It's simple and free to deposit GBP 💷 via Faster Payment bank transfers or a debit card.
The option to swap from GBP 💷 to EUR 💶 instantly (with no fees) opens up BTCEUR offers on P2P platforms.
___________________
Regardless of which P2P platform you browse:
• BTCEUR order books are deeper.
• Lower trade premiums are available.
It's no surprise, there's a total population of ~67 million with Sterling 💷 compared to ~340 million people with the Euro 💶. (5x)
___________________
As an example, check out Hodl Hodl earlier this month as a buyer:
💷 Faster Payments (GBP)
• 2 offers, best price £24,973 (€28,181) / BTC
💶 Revolut (EUR)
• 12 offers, best price €26,290 (£23,320) / BTC
___________________
Trading #Bitcoin P2P is sure to become a more popular option in the future.
For now, with more offers and lower premiums, BTCEUR order books are better than BTCGBP.
Try using Revolut as an easy way to find more peers on your favourite P2P platform: https://revolut.ngih.net/c/4243721/1471631/9626
___________________
For peers who aren't in a hurry, consider posting some trade offers in GBP to improve order books for other Brits. 🇬🇧
To compare order books for all four platforms mentioned, check out the full article here: https://ianforbes.ghost.io/p2p-btc-for-brits/
___________________
https://www.paymentscardsandmobile.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/revolut_share_graphic-600x315.png

2023-05-22 10:19:17

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⚡on robosats, coming to bisq too

2023-05-22 09:44:45

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Stack sats
Stack books

2023-05-22 09:44:27

Sad to hear about Bottlepay ☠️
It was a slick app for Brits 🇬🇧

2023-05-12 19:35:38

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Wen address to zap ⚡️?

2023-05-12 19:35:08

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https://i.imgur.com/Oa5SWpS.jpg

2023-05-12 19:33:09

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🤝

2023-05-12 19:32:26

Check out Unhook for a zen YouTube experience, no clickbait in sight.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/unhook-remove-youtube-rec/khncfooichmfjbepaaaebmommgaepoid

2023-05-10 18:41:55

Sending notes from Snort on the Umbrel.
Actions backing up nicely on the private relay.
👌🏻

2023-05-10 18:37:19

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Have you got a Revolut account? Seems to be a good option for 💶 generally, you'll even get some brits on there too.

2023-05-09 18:59:31

🥩

2023-05-03 20:09:50

Playing around with Ghostfolio on the umbrel, very slick indeed.
Been on the look out for a new portfolio app ever since blockfolio was acquired by FTX and rugged everybody...
https://getumbrel.github.io/umbrel-apps-gallery/ghostfolio/1.jpg

2023-05-03 14:47:37

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Hopefully clips will be doing the rounds soonish. All bullish no doubt...

2023-05-03 13:25:11

♟️☕

2023-05-02 21:26:04

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First album, so good 👌🏻

2023-05-02 20:53:48

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#[1]

2023-05-02 20:51:33

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Different world to 2008, you'd think time frames would be sped up if anything

2023-05-02 19:01:45

One of the quotes from Tuur's report which really stuck:
"A speculator doesn’t allocate capital in order to grow a business or create something. He simply takes advantage of distortions in the market to increase his personal share of existing wealth. Most speculative opportunities have political roots, taking advantage of distortions created by laws, regulations, taxes, or other government action." - Doug Casey

2023-05-02 10:21:42

Primal looks cool, browse another user's feed and see notes from their perspective.

2023-04-29 22:48:40

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Do you have a WoS address ser for purpose of ⚡

2023-04-29 22:46:32

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Unit of account hasn't clicked yet for the 'orange pillers' as you would call them lol. Still looking for a bottom to buy and a top to sell. There is no top.
Exit the old system, enter the new system.

2023-04-29 12:08:18

#[0]👋

2023-04-29 09:27:56

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☕ en route

2023-04-29 09:27:05

Interviewed a friend of mine earlier in the week about his approach to building wealth over the last 20 years in London. 🇬🇧
Some insights on how a real estate veteran sees BTC: https://ianforbes.ghost.io/rahul-buy-to-let-bitcoin/

2023-04-28 15:49:12

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Collecting receipts on nostr, let's go!

2023-04-28 14:51:24

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💯 a good heuristic is just taking the polar opposite of what's claimed.

2023-04-27 21:41:36

BTCUSD hiding in plain sight in the Evening Standard.
What market cap will it be removed, $2T, $5T?
https://i.ibb.co/WWgZMyM/signal-2023-04-27-22-33-32-513.jpg

2023-04-27 21:29:03

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDiBGO2-A8U

2023-04-27 20:46:44

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Tricky to protect customers from fraud when they're dealing with GBP deposits in a fractional reserve system 🤣

2023-04-26 23:14:59

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Or spend and replace.
Eg. Spend KYC and replace non KYC

2023-04-26 16:43:02

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Great show, worth a watch for the charts. ⚡

2023-04-26 09:23:26

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Hiding in plain sight.
All it takes is a simple question 'how can it be worth $X when the economists say it has no value?'

2023-04-26 07:59:31

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Love that it's displayed everywhere now even by the lamestream media.
Price is what gets people over the line to take ACTION.
Most folk continue to ignore btc until it breaks ATH, then FOMO buy the top, inevitable lol

2023-04-25 22:32:11

Spotted a few wework ads in the wild 🤣
https://i.imgur.com/dbwzLNn.jpg

2023-04-25 20:00:17

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HFSP

2023-04-15 17:51:04

For all your paywall needs: https://12ft.io/

2023-04-15 12:45:31

Saw that Fedi has raised $20+ million in VC. Looks slick but where does the revenue come from with their community custody app / wallet?

2023-02-24 09:01:28

GM 🇬🇧

2023-02-22 10:01:35

https://nostr.build/i/nostr.build_99d2c358f2cdc3defec02be3c40a5ee15e4b78899252b959c97e8976499c433d.png

2023-02-13 09:06:00

☕

2023-02-11 23:25:10

lnbc2100n1p37sgarpp5cgh0s034hz58h78a2cx9aafn3lrjffv7xs9c3pfm8whh3ld730nsdqu2askcmr9wssx7e3q2dshgmmndp5scqzpgxqyz5vqsp5wwedlp5n0df7rdgkvcm23a60j3x8gsq8qnh4rdvq4evtk9qfde5s9qyyssqz7p48u8x93f4en25yagql2wp2gud7l8uv665cv33d3mjv45f8rmx3gp7x0smwrhntn84rg83khwdcg97c6f2hxpwzvda8pn2k43nqecq9zh6rx
Testing, testing 1, 2, 3