I was recently the victim of identity theft, crypto ransomware, and a cybercrime. Hackers were able to break havoc onto my digital/personal life by stealing my mobile phone number through illegal SIM porting. I was not the first victim, and unfortunately, I will certainly not be the last. EXTRA PRECAUTION, replacing two-factor authentication (2FA) via SMS with 2FA via 3rd party app + hardware security tokens, and pressuring companies to invest in advancing cryptography are the best ways to minimize the risk of getting hacked.

This is a good faith attempt to democratize access to knowledge and summarize much of my findings after spending 2+ years researching and meeting dozens of teams and investors at the edge of this fast-moving emerging industry. The following is a living document that summarizes my macro understanding and evolving thesis around cryptoassets and blockchain using visualizations, data, and strategic analysis intended as a research tool for entrepreneurs and investors alike.

The following post analyzes trends in the cryptocurrency market, reviews Coinbase’s competitive positioning / business model / risks / prospects, and provides recommendations for the company to capture additional value by leveraging concepts taught in Wharton’s Tech Strategy MBA course.

David Gogel chats with Arthur Hayes, CEO and Co-Founder of BitMEX, aka the Bitcoin Mercantile Exchange, a cryptocurrency-based derivatives exchange based in Hong Kong. They discuss Arthur’s background, the launch of BitMEX, Bitcoin, Ethereum, derivatives trading, exchange business models, regulation, security, initial coin offerings, and the future state of cryptocurrencies. BitMEX handles on average $100 million dollars per day in the total value of products traded. The company is wholly owned by HDR Global Trading Limited, a Republic of Seychelles incorporated entity.