[arcticbull]

> judging a cryptocurrency projects usefulness on cryptokitties is like judging a front end frameworks usefulness on “TODO MVP”

If you sold one of your TODO notes for $170,000 [1] frankly I think that'd be a fair judgement to make.

> substitute crypto kitties with something more real, like say a government starts to issue ownership information for cars (pink slips in the US i think? idk exactly) on the blockchain... there’s live, traceable ownership information, duties can be calculated and applied automatically, and traded on a platform like this. this is an asset that has real value because it exists in the real world; it’s not the bit of paper that has value, it’s the significance that it constitutes ownership of an asset

You know you can do that with a database right? Literally, a database. Like we have today. That's how it works today. You're trying to introduce complexity and inefficiency into the US government. It's like trying to sell ice blocks in the arctic, but somehow dramatically less efficient.

I already trust the government to allow me to drive my car. Why on earth does this need to be decentralized? It's the definition of centralized. A vehicle registration reflects the governments acknowledgement that you own that vehicle and are allowed to drive it at the governments discretion. If they revoke it your blockchain entry will be totally worthless and just out of sync with reality. The value is created by the government.

[1] https://ethereumworldnews.com/worlds-expensive-cryptokitty-6...

[rickycook]

> If you sold one of your TODO notes for $170,000 frankly I think that'd be a fair judgement to make.

Other than the fact that people spend stupid money on stupid things [1], I'm not sure what your point is

> You know you can do that with a database right? Literally, a database

Yes, and this is a generic solution that applies to any kind of asset, and then software like 0x can plug in to trade said assets. Generic cases are always more complex than specific cases

> trying to introduce complexity and inefficiency into the US government

Well actually I'm trying to do nothing of the sort: As I said, it was an example of asset trading of something with intrinsic value, and not a valid use-case

> I already trust the government to allow me to drive my car. Why on earth does this need to be decentralized?

It has nothing to do with trusting the government, or driving a car. It has to do with transferring ownership information of an asset with intrinsic value between 2 parties, ensuring payment without relying on (possibly expensive) escrow

You seem to be conflating a number of examples that I made to explain specific points to be a proposition of things that should actually be done

[1] https://mentalfloss.com/article/54308/9-most-pointlessly-exp...

[arcticbull]

> It has nothing to do with trusting the government, or driving a car. It has to do with transferring ownership information of an asset with intrinsic value between 2 parties, ensuring payment without relying on (possibly expensive) escrow

The government is the entity that recognizes the change of ownership, it's not something you can do without their approval. Your change of ownership is being filed with the government and is available at their discretion - they can choose to block it. Car registration isn't for your benefit. If you require the government's approval you may as well store it in their database. I just saved you a blockchain :)

[rickycook]

And yet again you've missed the point... So I don't understand how the ownership and transfer of ownership of vehicles works in the US (where, BTW, I do not live, and have no need to understand).

Let me say it again so it's really obvious:

It has to do with transferring ownership information of an asset with intrinsic value.

Stop arguing the specifics of the admittedly flawed example that I came up with between starting to type, and ending typing the sentence.

[arcticbull]

I respect that may have been a poor example, but I think you’re missing my point, which is that the information on the blockchain isn’t relevant if it’s not in sync with state off the blockchain, doubly so when not backed by law.

Ok your car is registered on the blockchain and you fail to pay your bills. Now it belongs to your lender. Well, the blockchain says one thing but the lenders tow truck says another. So what good is it? Blockchain technology does not address this critical component which is the faith that reality reflects the consensus on chain.

The reason the only thing that has any traction at all is cryptocurrency is that the entire concept is encapsulated on chain. The second the chain becomes a record of the real world it falls over because the world won’t change to reflect the blockchain and the blockchain won’t change to reflect the world. Only cryptocurrencies have intrinsic value captured on chain, and I am being generous when I say value.