Statement on Skycoin Blog

Skywire Mainnet - Public Testing Announcement

Mon, 04 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Work on Skycoin began in 2011 with the merging of three separate projects that aimed to improve upon the design and implementation of Bitcoin. The Skycoin developers identified several major philosophical design issues that they saw as obstacles to global use of cryptocurrency as a censorship-resistant payment system.

Skywire, the decentralized internet protocol and mesh network, was created as a solution to answer many of these problems.

Skywire Mainnet is here for developers to test and help build with us.

After about ten months of intensive testing on a network of nearly 10,000 nodes spanning the globe, we are happy to announce that the developer version of Skywire’s mainnet is launching today!

Understanding the Skycoin Supply and Distribution

Thu, 25 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Understanding Supply

Skycoin has a total supply of 100 million coins created in the genesis block. Currently the circulating supply is at 7.278.040 SKY (~7,2%).

75 million coins (75%) are timelocked (hardcoded in skycoin.go scroll down to bottom) and 25 million coins are currently unlocked.

The remaining supply of immediately distributable Skycoin in this moment comes down to 17.721.960 million coins (~17,7%). These coins will be used to further the growth of the skycoin project as well as to incentivize the Skywire meshnet.

How to Buy Skycoin

Wed, 03 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Intructive Guide on How to Purchase Skycoin

We have received a lot of messages asking for explicit directions on how to purchase Skycoin, so we are making this blog post to outline the process.

You can purchase through a direct-buy service:

You can purchase on the exchanges Binance or LBank:

To purchase on these two exchanges, you will need to buy Bitcoin. You can purchase Bitcoin at https://www.coinbase.com/, https://gemini.com/, https://www.bitstamp.net/, or other verified exchanges.

How to Secure Your Skycoin Wallet

Wed, 03 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Instructive guide on how to safely store your Skycoin

We are currently working diligently to provide encryption functionality to the wallet. You can view our progress on this issue here: https://github.com/skycoin/skycoin/issues/479. While we are doing so, we would like to provide some clarity on the best ways to safely store your Skycoin. You can download the Mac, Linux, and Windows versions of the Skycoin wallet from https://www.skycoin.com/downloads/. After doing so, you will be presented with the option to create a new wallet once you open the application. Click the make new wallet button. You will then be presented with a specific string of words, your seed, that you will need to safely store your Skycoin. This string of words will allow you to access the funds in that specific wallet address at any time, regardless of whether the Skycoin wallet is downloaded on your computer. Write down this string of words in multiple places. After writing it down, store the piece of paper or notebook in a safe where only you can access it. If anyone is able to find your private seed, they will be able to load your wallet and send your Skycoin anywhere as they please. For maximum security, after writing down the seed you can either delete your Skycoin wallet file from your computer, or manually encrypt it. To delete your Skycoin wallet file from your computer, you will need to use the command line to remove the .wlt files. On Mac OS computers, the Skycoin folder will be located at /Users/yourUsernameHere/.skycoin. On Windows computers, \Users\yourUsername.skycoin. To access this folder, you will need to use your command line. To open your command line on Mac OS, hit command+space and search “Terminal” and hit enter. Now you are at the command line. To navigate to the skycoin folder, you will need to use this command

Solar Bankers is One Example of a Company Adopting the Revolutionary Skycoin Blockchain

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Better speed, better security, better privacy – Skycoin offers all these advantages through its open-source platform. The innovative technology that powers Skycoin is available to all. Today, more and more companies are taking note of Skycoin’s benefits and using it to build their businesses.

One example is Solar Bankers, a revolutionary new energy company. Solar Bankers is using the power of blockchain to decentralize the energy sector. With Solar Bankers, users can generate solar electricity at their homes through high-tech, patented solar devices. Once the energy is collected, users can trade it directly with their neighbors using SunChain and its currency, SunCoin.

Fiber: Blockchain’s Real Future

Thu, 14 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Bitcoin was supposed to usher in a new economy built on decentralized blockchain technology – but it didn’t. And it can’t. Bitcoin has major technical flaws that prevent it from ever achieving its original goals. Built on faulty concepts and manipulated to the point of corruption, this cryptocurrency is incapable of creating the new world its users hoped for.

Skycoin developers realized that Bitcoin was destined to fail, and set out to create a solution. The result is Fiber, a third-generation blockchain platform that delivers speed, security, privacy, and a true decentralized blockchain network. Consensus on Fiber is determined by the community rather than by a few individuals. It’s a technically superior platform that fixes Bitcoin’s issues and paves the way for blockchain’s better future.

Skycoin: Security for Next-Generation Cryptocurrency

Wed, 13 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

In 2011, the Skycoin team launched a major research project to correct flaws inherent in Bitcoin. We redesigned Bitcoin from the ground up to create a next-generation cryptocurrency that was faster, more usable, and more secure than any previous coin. The result is Skycoin: the next step in cryptocurrency evolution.

Skycoin’s design philosophy is built on the idea that a simple, usable system provides the best security for its users. By creating a decentralized network that’s optimized for usability, Skycoin protects against attack and encourages transparency. Skycoin introduces a new cryptographic primitive called a public broadcast channel. It also uses Obelisk, a novel consensus algorithm implementation that solves issues arising from Bitcoin’s Proof-of-Work and mining processes. Skycoin security features include:

The Net Neutrality Rollback and How Skycoin Can Defeat It

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

In 2015, the FCC instituted net neutrality rules classifying the internet as a public utility. This prevented internet service providers (ISPs) from prioritizing certain websites over others and encouraged a free and open internet where all businesses and individuals could thrive.

Now, under Trump-appointed FCC chairman Ajit Pai, a vote to slash net neutrality protections is looming. Pai was nominated for a second five-year term on October 2 despite widespread outcry over his agenda. Petitions with tens of thousands of signatures were powerless to prevent this outcome. With Pai in charge, it’s only a matter of time before net neutrality is dismantled.

Why We Built Skycoin

Wed, 29 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Satoshi envisioned Bitcoin as a decentralized digital currency. Blockchain networks were intended to democratize finance, eliminating corporate control and spreading power among users. However, Bitcoin and related currencies have become centralized due to their reliance on Proof of Work (PoW) and Proof of Stake (PoS) algorithms, as well as their use of mining to create coins. This centralization defeats the original purpose of digital currencies.

We created the Skycoin blockchain to correct these flaws. The Skycoin blockchain uses a novel consensus algorithm to replace PoW and PoS. It also fixes security problems associated with other blockchain networks and decouples coin creation from the mining process. The result is a fully decentralized cryptocurrency that fulfills Satoshi’s original vision.

Skycoin BBS: Social Media for You

Wed, 15 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Summary:

On corporate social media, you’re the product. A company controls your data. They sell it to advertisers and store it on their servers. Once you make a post, it’s theirs – forever. You have no control over privacy, technology, or even your own identity. Why should we settle for that?

It’s time for a social media revolution. Skycoin is bringing social media back to you, the user. We’re excited to announce the alpha launch of Skycoin BBS: the first distributed social media platform in the Skycoin ecosystem.

Segwit2x and Bitcoin’s Consensus Problem - Why Skycoin is Superior

Sun, 12 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000

On Wednesday, Bitcoin developers suspended plans to introduce the controversial software update Segwit2x. The 2x update would have increased the size of each block from 1 MB to 2 MB, doubling Bitcoin’s transaction capacity. Segwit2x had been planned for several months and was set to go into effect around November 16th.

It’s evident that Bitcoin has a scalability problem. Segwit2x was intended to solve that problem by increasing block size. With larger blocks, transactions could flow faster and the currency would be able to handle continued growth.

State of the Crypto Market and Development Updates

Sat, 14 Oct 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Q&A

There is no mention of a re-working of the whitepapers. Should this not be a priority so that your marketing that has started has reference material. This is a technical coin and so the documentation needs to be up to date.

Skycoin Wallet v0.20.2 Released

Fri, 13 Oct 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Download Skycoin Wallet v0.20.2

This release fixes many of the issues with the previous wallet and has a new UI. While this UI is an improvement over v0.19’s, it is only a placeholder until v0.21 or v0.22.

Most important changes:

Shows the correct wallet balance always.
Fixes corrupted blockchain database cache file.
No performance issues. UI is responsive.
Timelocked coin distribution.

Full changelog

Skycoin Distribution Plan

Mon, 09 Oct 2017 00:00:00 +0000

This is an official announcement regarding how the SKY distribution will be handled from now on.

Skycoin’s distribution has had a history of being unclear and handled different ways.

At present, there’s no ICO. In the near future, there will be a limited ongoing OTC, handled by software.

The OTC will be accessible from the wallet and from the website.

The OTC will have a total cap, a daily cap, and an adjustable price.

Project Focus Update

Wed, 04 Oct 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Mobile Wallet

The Skycoin mobile wallet is done.

https://play.google.com/apps/testing/net.skycoin.mobile

Branding, Design

We are revamping the content pages for the Skycoin website

We have a new logo now.

Bounty program has been up for a month. If anyone wants to make Skycoin videos, check the bounty program in telegram.

Skycoin Branding Kit

Skywire

Skywire is working but is getting a rewrite, to use the skycoin/net networking library.

The dashboard for cluster management (node manager) and global network dashboard is currently under development.

Skycoin Team

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0000

This is a brief overview of the Skycoin team as of September 28, 2017.

Marketing

Michael Terpin (Coinovate, CoinAgenda, BitAngels) and are advisors to the project and assisting with marketing.

A handful of others are focused on various aspects of communications, marketing and content production.

Development/Research/Management

Synth is the architect and project figurehead. He has a background in mathematics and cryptography.

Telegram: @haltingstate

Steve is a developer and now project manager. He wrote most of the original Skycoin software in 2013–2014.

Five Pillars of Skycoin

Wed, 27 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0000

The Skycoin project is a hermetically contained software/application platform, that operates in parallel to and on top of but independently of the existing internet.

The five pillars of the Skycoin project are:

(1) Skycoin, a coin that is better than Bitcoin in every way technically:

Transactions faster than credit card instead of an hour.
Unlimited transaction rate.
No need for miners and block rewards.
Low power usage.
All the problems in the cryptography are fixed (e.g. signature malleability).
A consensus mechanism superior to anything that exists (Obelisk).

(2) Skywire, a mesh network, where you can get coins for forwarding traffic/bandwidth. This is a similar to Tor or BitTorrent, except that you will be paid to run node.

No Coin Distribution Event (ICO) At This Time

Sat, 23 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0000

We are not doing an ICO at this time. The previous distribution event ended August 31, 2017.

Obelisk: The Skycoin Consensus Algorithm

Fri, 08 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0000

The Skycoin blockchain makes use of a novel type of consensus algorithm called “Obelisk” that replaces both Proof of Work (“PoW”) and Proof of Stake (“PoS”).

The aim of the developers of Skycoin was to correct the major security flaws and “centralizing tendencies” associated with blockchain networks in which consensus is based on PoW or PoS algorithms and coin creation is linked to a mining process. Skycoin is therefore trying to create a cryptocurrency that better fulfills Satoshi’s original vision of a fully decentralized digital currency system.

Skycoin Has Nothing To Do With Skynet

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Recentemente ci è stato chiesto a riguardo di altri progetti denominati “Skynet” o “Superskynet”

Skycoin non ha mai usato il nome “Skynet” perché è un cliché e non originale.

Inoltre, siamo contrari a ciò che “skynet”, dal film Terminator rappresenta: la sottomissione dell’umanità alle macchine controllate da pochi.

Il Progetto Skycoin non ha alcuna relazione con i progetti denominati “Skynet”.

Skycoin Overview

Sat, 26 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Skycoin Introduction

Skycoin is based on technology which introduces a new cryptographic primitive known as a public broadcast channel. It also introduces a new consensus algorithm implementation, called Obelisk, which mitigates the commitment problems arising from the Proof-of-Work and mining processes underlying Bitcoin, thus addressing a host of security issues associated with the latter. Obelisk is not a single algorithm, but an implementation employing multiple techniques to deliver specific security guarantees.

Digital Gold

Mon, 14 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Satoshi’s original vision for Bitcoin was revolutionary. A global currency that existed above nations and out of the reach of trusts and inflation, Bitcoin should have rocked the financial world to its core. But the vision failed. Instead of ushering in a new era of decentralization, Bitcoin itself became centralized. Power concentrated into three major mining pools. Transaction speed slowed to hours. Fees skyrocketed to their current $40 level. Today, it’s clear that Bitcoin didn’t deliver on its promise of a decentralized, peer-to-peer digital currency.

Skywire: A Free and Open Internet

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000

The internet gives us the illusion of control. We can socialize, consume, and do business instantly through services provided by Google, Facebook, Apple, and Amazon. Seems convenient, right? It is – until you consider what you’re giving up.

We don’t control our lives online. Large companies and internet service providers (ISPs) collect our data, track our movements, and shape our experiences. Every time we use the internet, we give these companies total power over us. We don’t own our internet lives, they do.

Skycoin Distribution

Tue, 25 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000

The current ICO landscape is dominated by coins that are all image and no substance. Backed by millions of dollars in funding, ICOs for new cryptocurrencies seem to offer tantalizing opportunities to investors. A large ICO is often seen as an indicator of a coin’s potential – hence the buzz surrounding recent ICOs.

However, the buzz isn’t borne out by the facts. With the explosion of pump-and-dump schemes in the cryptocurrency market, it’s becoming clear that most large upfront ICOs are vehicles built to generate quick money. These seemingly attractive coins rest on flimsy, unproven concepts. They’re bare-bones ideas cooked up by profit-hungry developers with little thought to long-term prospects.

Skycoin Launches A Vision for the New Internet

Mon, 24 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Skycoin, a next-generation cryptocurrency with four years of development history, rolls out to the public in July. The Skycoin project seeks to popularize decentralized networking by fixing problems with Bitcoin. Over 80 developers on Github and elsewhere have contributed to the project since 2012.

Skycoin is a fast, secure, and reliable currency for online transactions. It uses a redesigned consensus algorithm that improves on Bitcoin, and is the first algorithm of its type since PeerCoin.

Skycoin Distribution Event - August 2017

Sun, 23 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Skycoin is holding a distribution event on August 8, 2017 beginning at 12:00PM GMT.

Up to 1,000,000 SKY, or 1% of all SKY, will be offered at a price of 0.002BTC/SKY (500SKY/BTC).

The event ends August 31, 2017 12:00PM GMT.

Distribution will be done through the Skycoin website and through a telegram bot on the Skycoin telegram.

This event was originally scheduled for July 24, 2017 but has been rescheduled to August 8, 2017 due to uncertainty in the Bitcoin network during this time period.