This post is split in two parts - the 1st part is an Update about my Activity as Witness and the 2nd is about my Thoughts as Witness about the SBD-Peg
1.) Witness Update
4 days ago, I published my Witness Introduction and the feedback I received was amazing!
I went from Witness Rank #165 to #115 in the last few days - about which I am super grateful!
Even though I sadly missed my very first block due to a silly copy-paste mistake - I can now proudly say that Block Nr. 2 and 3 were successfully witnessed.
N°2
N°3
I was fairly angry on myself after my mistake - since I'm somewhat of a perfectionist. But in the end - it happened and I learned from it.
Nevertheless, the node and price-feed are both running very smooth.
500 SP Delegation
I have also delegated 5 x 100 SP (for a month) to new german speaking Users, who are either already involved in developing with/for Steem or are interested in it - with the goal to give them enough bandwith, so they don't run into any problems.
2.) My Thoughts about the SBD-Peg
TL;DR: I am against enforcing the peg through a reverse conversion, but for the future a stable SBD is important.
I had a very strong opinion against the forced SBD-Peg to 1$ in the beginning, and while I still believe that now is not the right time to enforce it, it is still crucial for the success of Steem to talk and think about this deeply.
Pegged SBD? In the future, but not right now
The biggest reason to create a pegged SBD right now would be to give people an alternative to Tether (besides Bitshares CNY & USD and other alternatives). And it makes sense - the FUD against Tether is strong.
I don't want to repeat all the details about why a pegged SBD is valuable, since so many Witnesses have already talked about it - but in the end, it results in one thing:
A pegged Asset is valuable because it gives security and usability.
A pegged SBD can be used:
1.) as a storage of value which gives security for the volatile crypto market
2.) as an Asset for business cases. It is easier to say: something costs 1$ than to say something can cost 1 SBD or 10 SBD depending on the SBD Market-Price.
For me and I guess the majority of Users the 1st case is the most important one. Especially with all the drama about Tether.
However - while a pegged SBD will be very benefitial for the plattform / blockchain - it hurts the Users, who are making a lot more profit right now, using Steem, than they would if SBD would be pegged.
A pegged SBD would be good for the blockchain, but not for it Users
I'm in Steem for the long run. I believe that Steem will have an incredible future and that's why I want to support decisions that improve the blockchain.
And my personal believe right now is, that the blockchain - with all its amazing Projects on top (,
,
,
,
,
and more - is made by its Users, and not the blockchain.
Steem is valuable because of its Users and Projects
Steem has many benefits over other blockchains and while this is def. a big reason, that for example decided to build utopian on Steem.
The main reason is what it is today, is due to the work that
and the whole Busy team put into
. Which was then forked and customised by
and afterwards improved and features added by
,
and other great steemians including me.
What I'm trying to say with this is:
Steem is a Blockchain. Steem is not Steemit. Steem is more. And all these amazing projects that are build ontop of Steem are made by Users - who receive value and payment mainly through STEEM & SBD.
Pegging the SBD and thus reducing the Payments drastically (at least times 3) would hurt those people the most - who are one of the big reasons why Steem is so valuable.
I actually prefer on keeping and rewarding our current Users, who are actively working on improving Steem - instead of doing everything we can to attract as many people as possible.
Yes, pegging the SBD might increase the value of Steem over time. But it will drastically f*ck those people who are working on Steem.
I don't take this decision lightly, because I know of the risks that volatile coins besides Tether & Co. have - but the currently high SBD value gives many people the Motivation they need, to work actively on improving Steem.