[vazamb]

I am a happy user of Telegram but I don't think re-inventing ethereum with a small team of developers is a great idea. But then again, using existing tech gives you fewer opportunities for cash grabs...

[jakebasile]

Me too. Telegram is my main and preferred messaging service. I am worried this is going to ruin the service by changing focus. I guess there's still Wire.

[donquichotte]

Strange decision indeed, they could use one of the existing technologies like Ripple or Stellar.

[samat]

We are talking about people who rolled their own crypto and their own binary protocol for messenger app in 201*, after all.

[eitland]

So far they've even got away with it.

I don't pretend it is secure and listening to HN I've been halfway expecting a huge flaw to show up but so far, -nothing.

[Snackchez]

I might be wrong, but no one other than banks (if that) can use ripple.

I'm not clear on stellar.

[__john]

nah, anyone can buy Ripple and have a Ripple wallet. Only thing you can't do is mine Ripple.

[eitland]

AFAIK Ripple is pre-mined ("minted") and the creator(s) controls >50% of it.

[romanovcode]

The problem is that Ripple is bought via Bitcoin.

Tinfoil in me says that bank created Ripple just to get easy Bitcoin.