David Gerard (author) explained

David Gerard
Birth Place:Perth, Western Australia[1]
Birth Date: 1967-02-19[2]
Spouse:Rose Gerard
Occupation:IT systems administrator

David Gerard (born 1966/67) is an Australian IT systems administrator,[3] finance author and Wikipedia administrator, best known as a cryptocurrency sceptic and commentator on cryptocurrencies, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and related blockchain technologies.[4] He is the author of the cryptocurrency books Attack of the 50-foot Blockchain (2017),[5] and Libra Shrugged (2020).[6]

Criticism of cryptocurrency

Gerard has expressed sceptical views on cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and blockchain technologies.[7]

Advocacy

In 2018, Gerard was consulted by the Treasury Select Committee in the Parliament of the United Kingdom during its inquiry into crypto-assets,[8] and his evidence was cited in the committee's final report.[9] His works have been cited in various academic papers and journals on cryptocurrencies and related blockchain technologies.[10]

In 2022, Gerard was interviewed on both 60 Minutes Australia about the dangers of cryptocurrencies and the bursting of the cryptocurrency bubble[11] [12] and on CNN Business about the dangers of the bubble in non-fungible tokens in the United States.[13] Gerard is interviewed in the 2021 Canadian documentary film , about the collapse of Canadian cryptocurrency firm, QuadrigaCX, in 2018 and 2019.[14]

Gerard's stance against cryptocurrencies has attracted the ire of parts of the cryptocurrency community, including being labelled as "the most intellectually dishonest man in the crypto universe".[15] [16] Gerard has won public support from prominent financial commentators, such as in 2021 when US investor Mike Burry changed his Twitter image to a quote from Attack of the 50-foot Blockchain: "NFTs exist so that the crypto grifters can have a new kind of magic bean to sell for actual money, and pretend they're not selling magic beans."[17] [18]

Books

In 2017, Gerard released his first book, Attack of the 50-foot Blockchain,[19] which criticises cryptocurrency for, among other reasons, its energy cost and the high number of exchange hacks. Gerard details technological issues with the infrastructure of blockchain applications, including smart contracts, which he describes as neither smart nor legal contracts. Parts of the book are dedicated to debunking claims made by cryptocurrency advocates; for example, he provides evidence that bitcoin has not dispensed with the malfeasance present in traditional banks and markets or helped people rise out of poverty.

Sue Halpern described the book in The New York Review of Books as "a sober riposte to all the upbeat forecasts about cryptocurrency".[20] Martin Walker of the London School of Economics Business Review called the book "the first real, 'no holds barred', attack on the whole bitcoin/cryptocurrency/blockchain movement".[21] Regarding the cryptocurrency bubble, the BBC said, "Attack of the 50 Foot Blockchain is a very convincing takedown of the whole phenomenon."[22] In the American Book Review, Aaron Jaffe recommended it alongside David Golumbia's Politics of Bitcoin: Software as Right-Wing Extremism.[23]

In 2020, Gerard released his second book, Libra Shrugged.[24] The book explores Facebook's aborted attempt to create Libra, a cryptocurrency, and discussed reactions to it from central banks.[25]

Wikipedia editing

Gerard has been active as a Wikipedia volunteer since the encyclopedia's early days,[26] and is one of the administrators on the project.[27] At various times he has volunteered and acted as a spokesman for Wikipedia[28] for various news media outlets, including appearing on Newsnight,[29] speaking with BBC News,[30] and others.[31] [32] [33]

Personal life

Gerard lives in Greater London with his wife and child.[34] [35]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: . Gerard, a London-based journalist from Perth .. . Cryptocurrency has its fans — and its detractors . James . Salmon . 13 April 2022 . 10 June 2023 . 10 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230610221832/https://thewest.com.au/business/insider/insider-magazine-cryptocurrency-has-its-fans-and-its-detractors-c-6234295 . live .
  2. davidgerard. 9331051722. 19 February 2010 . Happy Fuckin' Birthday To Me. Mayor of my bed on FourSquare..
  3. Web site: . Beyond Bitcoin: Inside the insane world of altcoin cryptocurrencies . 13 April 2021 . 8 June 2023 . Daniel . Van Boom . 9 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230309074456/https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/crypto/features/beyond-bitcoin-the-wild-world-of-altcoin-cryptocurrency-trading/ . live .
  4. Web site: 17 January 2023 . Don't be fooled: Crypto is going up because of market manipulation . 30 May 2023 . Mashable . en . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530030829/https://mashable.com/article/crypto-prices-up-market-manipulation-bitcoin . live .
  5. Edelman . Gilad . Welcome to the Zombie Cryptocalypse . en-US . Wired . 30 May 2023 . 1059-1028 . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530030827/https://www.wired.com/story/bitcoin-ethereum-price-cryptocalypse-david-gerard/ . live .
  6. Silverman . Jacob . Shure . Natalie . Pareene . Alex . 20 April 2021 . Cryptocurrencies Are the Next Frontier for the Surveillance State . The New Republic . 30 May 2023 . 0028-6583 . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530030827/https://newrepublic.com/article/161894/bitcoin-digital-wallet-currency-surveillance . live .
  7. Web site: . Over a million are owed money by failed crypto exchange . 16 November 2022 . 8 June 2023 . Shiona . McCallum . Chris . Vallance . 9 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609102413/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63624894 . live .
  8. Web site: . Researchers, journalists and businesses questioned on blockchain uses . 23 June 2022 . 8 June 2023 . 9 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609093800/https://committees.parliament.uk/work/6780/blockchain/news/171666/researchers-journalists-and-businesses-questioned-on-blockchain-uses/ . live .
  9. Web site: . 2Blockchain and crypto-assets: advantages and limitations . 19 September 2018 . 8 June 2023 . 9 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609094234/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmtreasy/910/91005.htm#footnote-162 . live .
  10. Web site: davidgerard.co.uk . Academic papers: Attack of the 50-Foot Blockchain . 2023 . 8 June 2023 . 8 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230608093804/https://davidgerard.co.uk/blockchain/press-coverage/ . live .
  11. Web site: . 'You can't get rich for free': Expert predicts crypto crash is only going to get worse . Lauren . McWilliams . 2022 . 8 June 2023 . 10 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230610101202/https://9now.nine.com.au/60-minutes/crypto-prices-expert-predicts-crash-is-only-going-to-get-worse/54fd9c01-710b-4b25-a78d-98f0efbca622 . live .
  12. Web site: . Crypto expert says mum-and-dad investors are going to get 'absolutely wrecked' . Frank . Chung . 6 June 2022 . 8 June 2023.
  13. Web site: . No one seems to want NFTs anymore. Here's why . Jon . Sarlin . 4 September 2022 . 8 June 2023 . 10 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230610110853/https://edition.cnn.com/videos/business/2022/09/01/nightcap-nft-bust-clip-orig-mb.cnn . live .
  14. Web site: . Dead Man's Switch: a crypto mystery . 20 December 2021 . 10 June 2023 . 28 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221228103826/https://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/dead-man-s-switch-a-crypto-mystery-1.6293016 . live .
  15. Web site: Decrypt . "Bitcoin is an apocalyptic death cult" — Curry with David Gerard . Ben . Munster . 8 April 2019 . 8 June 2023 . 9 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609105056/https://decrypt.co/6234/curry-with-david-gerard . live .
  16. Web site: Decrypt . Do "no-coiners" gate-keep Crypto Wikipedia? . Ben . Munster . 22 January 2020 . 10 June 2023 . 9 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609190513/https://decrypt.co/17371/we-found-the-no-coiner-troll-guarding-wikipedia/ . live .
  17. Web site: . 'Big Short' investor Michael Burry shares quote slamming NFTs as 'magic beans' sold by 'crypto grifters' . Graig . Graziosi . 16 March 2021 . 10 June 2023 . 9 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609190511/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/big-short-michael-burry-nfts-b1818132.html . live .
  18. Web site: . 'Big Short' investor Michael Burry slams NFTs with a quote warning 'crypto grifters' are selling them as 'magic beans' . 16 March 2021 . 10 June 2023 . Theron . Mohamed . 9 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609094141/https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/news/big-short-michael-burry-slams-nft-crypto-grifters-magic-beans-2021-3-1030214014 . live .
  19. Web site: 22 April 2017 . Attack of the 50 Foot Blockchain: The Book . 30 May 2023 . Attack of the 50 Foot Blockchain . en-GB . 8 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230608093815/https://davidgerard.co.uk/blockchain/book/ . live .
  20. News: Halpern . Sue . Bitcoin Mania . en . 30 May 2023 . 0028-7504 . 7 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230307163824/https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2018/01/18/bitcoin-mania/ . live .
  21. Web site: Walker . Martin . 30 October 2017 . Blockchain and bitcoin: In search of a critique . 30 May 2023 . LSE Business Review . 9 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609190517/https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2017/10/30/blockchain-and-bitcoin-in-search-of-a-critique/ . live .
  22. News: 22 December 2017 . Tech Tent: What a year for Bitcoin . en-GB . BBC News . 30 May 2023 . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530030827/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-42454876 . live .
  23. Jaffe . Aaron . 2019 . Reboot Everything . American Book Review . en . 40 . 6 . 15–16 . 10.1353/abr.2019.0094 . 208620206 . 2153-4578.
  24. News: 15 November 2022 . Sam Bankman-Fried was hailed as a crypto wonder child. What happened? . en-GB . The Guardian . 30 May 2023 . 0261-3077 . 4 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230604223321/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/15/ftx-cryptocurrency-sam-bankman-fried . live .
  25. Web site: 15 December 2020 . Central bank digital currency – nine key questions answered . 30 May 2023 . LSE Business Review . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530030832/https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2020/12/15/central-bank-digital-currency-nine-key-questions-answered/ . live .
  26. News: 15 January 2021 . Wikipedia at 20: The encyclopedia in five articles . en-GB . BBC News . 30 May 2023 . 18 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210118140330/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-55667711 . live .
  27. News: Kelly . Jemima . 24 August 2020 . Who's been editing the Ripple CEO's Wikipedia page? . Financial Times . 30 May 2023 . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530030827/https://www.ft.com/content/ed4e3544-22e1-4657-8c71-52055b592a03 . live .
  28. News: Wikipedia child image censored . en-GB . 30 May 2023 . 8 December 2008 . . 9 December 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081209052140/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7770456.stm . live .
  29. Web site: . Kirsty Wark . Kirsty Wark is joined by David Gerard, a Wikipedia Editor, and by Kevin Anderson from the Guardian . Is the philosophy of Wikipedia now dead? . 26 August 2009 . Kirsty . Wark . 8 June 2023 . 9 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609103335/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/8222397.stm . live .
  30. Web site: . Wiki wars: Do Wikipedia's internal tiffs deter newcomers? . Joe . Miller . 6 August 2014 . 8 June 2023 . 9 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609105048/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-28426674.amp . live .
  31. Web site: Smith . Catherine . 18 December 2007 . Wikipedia blocks users in Lehi neighborhood . 30 May 2023 . Deseret News . en . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530030828/https://www.deseret.com/2007/12/18/20059827/wikipedia-blocks-users-in-lehi-neighborhood . live .
  32. Web site: 4 January 2007 . Wikipedia bans posts from Qatar . 30 May 2023 . The Age . en . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530030827/https://www.theage.com.au/technology/wikipedia-bans-posts-from-qatar-20070104-gdp69o.html . live .
  33. Web site: . IDF asks Wikipedia to edit 'Hezbollah' entry to reflect terror designation . Daniel . Sonnenfeld . 9 February 2021 . 9 June 2023 . 10 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230610002129/https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/idf-asks-wikipedia-to-edit-hezbollah-entry-to-reflect-terror-designation-659496 . live .
  34. Web site: 8 July 2017 . About the author . 30 May 2023 . Attack of the 50 Foot Blockchain . en-GB . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530030829/https://davidgerard.co.uk/blockchain/about/ . live .
  35. Web site: Brown . Abram . Inside The Reddit Forum That Wants To See Bitcoin Die . 30 May 2023 . Forbes . en . 25 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230325034553/https://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2021/06/26/reddit-cryptocurrency-bitcoin-social-media/ . live .

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