• jet@hackertalks.com
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    1 month ago

    We have a fight about Taler every few weeks.

    I’ll summarize:

    Positives

    • Centralized, no bad people doing bad things
    • Fast, because its centralized
    • Doesn’t use proof of work, because its centralized
    • No currency conversion, because its centralized it can stay in Fiat

    Cons

    • Centralized, if the central authority thinks you or your business is bad your shit out of luck
    • Discoverable, the Central authority has all the information to deconstruct all activity (yes they do, no really, they do)
    • Not actually private
    • A solution looking for a problem

    Fight amongst yourselves repeating the above points.

    If you care about privacy you will use Monero, if you care about centralization you will use whatever your local bank transfer system is.

    • poVoq@slrpnk.net
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      1 month ago

      Taler is not centralised. I think you are thinking of CBDC?

      Taler could be described as semi-centralized at best. You are free to chose your exchange and you can easily use multiple the same time. It really isn’t that different to crypto-currencies in that regard if you consider the need of fiat exchanges for real world use there as well.

      • jet@hackertalks.com
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        1 month ago

        Sure, I agree with that…

        Taler is like a decentralized protocol where every transaction has to be tied to a fully KYCed CEX. (Know your customer, central exchange/bank).

        • poVoq@slrpnk.net
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          1 month ago

          That’s not quite how Taler works. Yes, the exchange will know when you generate Taker tokens from fiat, but that is similar to going to an ATM and getting cash. Afterwards the exchange has no means to track what you spend the tokens on.

    • FaceDeer@fedia.io
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      1 month ago

      I should note, there are cryptocurrencies that also don’t use proof of work. Ethereum, the second-largest, switched away from proof of work two and a half years ago.