It can be debated when the starting gun was fired in the sprint to secure internet freedom and privacy. As it stands today, we are all running the race whether we like it or not. Glimpses of the finish line occur now and again; sometimes with corporate-run government entities in the lead, and sometimes with The People out front. The idea and spirit of free, anonymous file sharing, banking and storage along with the ability to create as sovereign humans are all on the chopping block moving forward. The idea sold to the public of a free and open internet is an idea of the past as we find ourselves in the age of big data corporate monetization and security agency oversight. The greatest minds of this generation scramble, focused and intentional, towards decentralized solutions and blockchain-based innovations. Of the many noteworthy players in this modern-day, fourth industrial revolution Kim Dotcom's Megaupload and Simon Dixon's Bank to the Future have continued to make their mark. Both have just solidified and announced that they will be joining forces.
Kim Dotcom has made major waves recently on a few fronts. Having more skin in the game than most, Dotcom and his Megaupload plateform were the targets of Hollywood's copyright cartel hatchet-men Chris Dodd (CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America), Joe Biden and a host of major Hollywood studio bosses from Sony, Universal Studios, Walt Disney and others. In 2012 Dotcom's Megaupload file sharing, storage and viewing domains and servers were shutdown by the United States Department of Justice for allegedly operating as an organization dedicated to copyright infringement. At US Federal prosecutor's request, the New Zealand Police raided and arrested Dotcom and three other Megaupload executives using unnecessary excessive force.
Dotcom has been teasing the internet, via his Twitter account, about his upcoming Januray 2017 launch of Megaupload 2.0. According to his messages, the upcoming Megaupload 2.0 "won't know users, files or upload IP's by design." In addition, Dotcom tweeted "Megaupload 2.0 has a notice / takedown system and content owners can monetize their content via Bitcache." Among the endless adaptations and advantages Megaupload 2.0 appears to offer, the platform's greatest leap in innovation will be its association with Bitcache that will serve to link Megaupload 2.0's operation to the blockchain via cryptocurrency mircopayments. At its peak, the original Megaupload boasted 50,000,000 daily users. Expecting perhaps a similar or greater influx for the Megaupload 2.0 release, Dotcom's lofty future goal is to leverage those new Megaupload 2.0 users to create what he coined MegaNet. (which allegedly will utilize mesh networks and user's phone’s unused processing power and storage)
Bank to the Future, the creation of co-founder Simon Dixon, is a global online investment platform that allows qualifying investors to invest in financial innovation including FinTech (Financial Technology) companies, funds and other new alternative financial products. Catapulted to international prominence and success through a perfect storm of solid ideas, innovative outreach/marketing and timely positioning during the FinTech boom, Bank to the Future is a serious player for those looking to rapidly raise investment for disruptive innovations and ideas shaping the FinTech future. To date, the platform has seen over $63 million invested from the likes of over 20,000 professional investors who have enjoyed 460,410 dividends paid out. Bank to the Future has already funded popular innovations such as Factom ($5 million funded), Uphold (over $3 million funded), BitReserve (over $2 million funded), Shapeshift (over $1.9 million funded), UnoCoin (over $1.8 million funded) and many more.
Dotcom's continued legal battle's and recent seizure of funds by the US resulting from his 2012 arrest begs the question if he and his associates can deliver on some major promises moving forward. For a certified villain of Hollywood's copyright cartel, it is fitting that Dotcom is in the running to accomplish a real-life underdog story reminiscent of a Rocky Balboa-like script.
