Category: Future

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Blog Bitcoin Future Security

2025-09-02: Bitcoin vs. Big Tech: Who Has More Computing Power?

When most people think of Bitcoin, they picture digital money, speculation, or blockchain technology. But there’s another aspect that often gets overlooked: the massive computing power that keeps the Bitcoin network running. By now, this power even surpasses the capacities of the largest technology companies in the world.

⚙️ What Does “Computing Power” Mean in the Bitcoin Network?

Behind the scenes of the Bitcoin system, millions of specialized computers – called “miners” – are working nonstop. They continuously solve small mathematical puzzles. By doing this, they secure the Bitcoin blockchain and make sure no one can fake or manipulate transactions.

The speed at which these tasks are solved is called the hashrate. Think of it like the RPM of a huge engine: the faster it runs, the more work gets done.

📈 The Current State – A Superlative

In September 2025, the Bitcoin network reaches over 1005 exahashes per second. That’s a number almost beyond imagination. To put it into perspective:

  • 🔢 The network performs trillions upon trillions of calculations every single second.
  • 🖥️ Even the fastest supercomputer in the world looks tiny in comparison – it only manages a fraction of this output.
🏢 How It Compares to the Tech Giants’ Data Centers

Big cloud providers like Amazon (AWS), Google (Cloud), and Microsoft (Azure) also run enormous data centers. These house millions of servers that power almost everything we use online: search engines, streaming, cloud storage, artificial intelligence, and much more.

But even if you add up all their raw capacity, they don’t come close to the sheer processing force of the Bitcoin network. With one major difference:

  • ⚡ Bitcoin miners can only perform one type of task – solving their cryptographic puzzles.
  • 🌐 Data centers from Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are versatile. They can handle countless different tasks and form the backbone of today’s digital world.
🔒 Why So Much Power?

This enormous computing power isn’t for show – it’s for security. The higher the hashrate, the harder it becomes for attackers to manipulate the blockchain. In other words: the stronger the engine, the tougher the system.

⚡ Electricity Use – Wasteful or Worth It?

Headlines often claim that “Bitcoin wastes energy.” But this argument misses the bigger picture:

  1. ✅ Energy always has a purpose.
    Bitcoin uses electricity to maintain a secure, global, decentralized financial network. That’s not waste – that’s the cost of security and independence.
  2. 🏦 Compare it to the banking sector.
    Traditional finance consumes massive amounts of energy:
    • Bank branches, office buildings, ATMs, and data centers
    • Millions of employees, worldwide logistics, transport, and infrastructure
      Studies suggest that the global banking system consumes far more energy than the Bitcoin network – but this rarely makes the headlines.
  3. 🌱 Bitcoin is becoming more efficient.
    Miners actively seek out cheap or surplus electricity: hydro power during oversupply, unused wind and solar energy, or natural gas that would otherwise be flared. In this way, the network can even help put renewable energy to better use.

So the real question isn’t “Does Bitcoin use energy?” but rather: What value does society get in return for that energy?

🏁 Conclusion

The Bitcoin network is likely the largest decentralized computing system in the world. With its enormous strength, it outpaces even the combined capacities of the biggest tech companies – at least if you measure raw calculations.

But it’s important to understand the difference:

  • 💪 Bitcoin miners are like millions of elite athletes, each trained to perform just one move perfectly.
  • 🤹 Data centers from Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are more like decathletes – not always as extreme in a single discipline, but highly versatile across many.

And when it comes to energy, Bitcoin does consume a lot – but so does the existing financial system, often much more. Instead of framing it as “waste,” we should ask what value a secure, independent, and global digital currency brings to the table.

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Blog Bitcoin Finance Future Security

2025-08-26: Bitcoin: Are Banks Becoming Obsolete in the Future?

ince its introduction in 2009, Bitcoin has often been described as the “money of the future.” Unlike traditional currencies, Bitcoin is not issued by governments or managed by banks, but instead runs on a decentralized computer network. This makes it unique: money that anyone in the world can use without relying on a bank in between.

Bitcoin is more than just a new form of digital money – it represents a completely new financial system, one that could fundamentally transform the role of banks.

🔗 How the System Works

At the core of Bitcoin lies the blockchain: a public, immutable ledger that records every transaction. Unlike banks, which maintain their own closed databases, this ledger is open to all. Thousands of computers worldwide – called “nodes” – validate and confirm each transaction using cryptography.

✔ Every transaction is transparent and verifiable
✔ Manipulation is virtually impossible
✔ No one can block transfers or freeze accounts

In short: everyone becomes their own bank. 🏦

🚀 Where Bitcoin Shows Advantages

1. Faster and Cheaper Payments

International bank transfers often take several days and come with high fees. With Bitcoin, money can be sent worldwide within minutes – regardless of borders, bank holidays, or business hours.

Example: In 🇸🇻 El Salvador, Bitcoin became the world’s first official legal tender in 2021. Citizens saved millions in remittance fees. However, since January 29, 2025, the mandatory acceptance rule has been repealed: Bitcoin may still be used voluntarily, but it is no longer legal tender.

2. Inflation Protection Through Scarcity

Bitcoin’s supply is limited to 21 million coins. This scarcity protects against inflation, as no authority can “print” more of it.

Example: In countries suffering from high inflation 📉 such as Venezuela or Turkey, people increasingly use Bitcoin as a store of value to protect their savings.

3. Financial Inclusion

More than 1.4 billion people worldwide remain unbanked. With Bitcoin, all they need is a smartphone 📱 and internet access to participate in the global financial system – to save, receive, and send money.

Example: In Nigeria and Kenya, Bitcoin adoption is booming as young entrepreneurs use it to receive international payments when traditional banks are costly or restrictive.

4. Independence and Freedom

Banks can reject transactions or freeze accounts. In the Bitcoin network, this is impossible. Anyone can send or receive money at any time, without needing approval.

5. Integration Into the Global Economy

Bitcoin is no longer a niche phenomenon – major companies are adopting it:

  • 🚗 Tesla invested about $1.5 billion in Bitcoin in 2021. In 2022, the company sold roughly 75% of its holdings, but as of Q2 2025 still holds about 11,509 BTC, worth around $1.2–1.24 billion.
  • 💳 PayPal allows millions of users to buy, hold, and spend Bitcoin
  • 🏦 Even major banks such as JPMorgan now offer Bitcoin-related services

🌍 A Glimpse Into the Future

If Bitcoin adoption continues, the financial world could look very different:

  • 💸 Payments would be instant, global, and peer-to-peer
  • 🔐 Savings would be kept in secure digital wallets instead of bank accounts
  • 📊 Loans and investments could run through decentralized finance platforms (DeFi), eliminating banks as middlemen
  • 🌐 Equal access for all: anyone, anywhere, can take part in the financial system

In this scenario, banks would no longer serve as gatekeepers. Instead, they might evolve into service providers, offering security, advice, or integration between traditional and digital finance.

✨ Conclusion

Bitcoin is far more than a digital currency. It is a tool for financial self-determination and a step toward a more open, decentralized economy. Examples from El Salvador, inflation-stricken nations, and large companies like Tesla and PayPal show that Bitcoin is already reshaping the financial world.

The future may hold a financial system that belongs to everyone – while banks adapt to entirely new roles. 🌍

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Blog Anonymity Future OpenSource Security

2025-07-06: Freedom first – and security follows naturally: Why IT must embrace openness

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my many years working in IT, it’s this: freedom is the foundation of everything we consider secure and trustworthy. Especially in technology, I constantly see how freedom is often sacrificed for the illusion of greater security. But in reality, it’s quite the opposite: freedom is what truly enables real security in the first place.

You might be wondering what exactly I mean by that. Allow me to explain.

Freedom means control — and that means security

When I speak of freedom in the context of IT, I primarily mean the freedom to decide for yourself what happens with your data. The freedom to use software as you see fit, fully aware of what it does behind the scenes.
The opposite of this is closed systems where you simply have to trust that a vendor is doing things right — without ever being able to verify it.

✅ Open Source software gives you this freedom back. Anyone can look at the source code and audit it. There are no hidden functions, no secret backdoors.
Encryption ensures that your data remains yours alone, accessible only to those you explicitly authorize — and to no one else.

So it becomes clear: freedom isn’t a risk here; it’s your strongest safeguard. As a user or business, you retain control. And from that, true security follows automatically.

Edward Snowden, Julian Assange — and what that means for your IT

Edward Snowden revealed to the world just how deeply governments can invade our privacy when no one is watching. He warned us that surveillance and secrecy come at the expense of our freedom — and ultimately undermine our security as well.

Julian Assange, through WikiLeaks, exposed abuses of power that would have remained hidden otherwise. He made sure misconduct came to light. Both, in their own way, demonstrated that without transparency, there can be no freedom. And without freedom, there is no genuine security.

This is not merely a political debate. It directly affects your IT systems every single day. Because the more you rely on closed platforms, the less you know about what’s happening behind the scenes. And the more you depend on mere promises, instead of verifiable facts.

How I, as an IT service provider, turn freedom into a security strategy

This is why I’ve made it a point in my work as an IT service provider to rely consistently on freedom software. That means:

  • I recommend open-source solutions, developed and reviewed by diverse communities.
  • I implement strong encryption so your data truly belongs to you.
  • ✅ I rely on open standards that won’t lock you into a single vendor’s ecosystem.

This not only protects your privacy but also makes your systems more robust overall. Because flaws are detected and fixed more quickly. Because if needed, you can always switch providers or adapt the software without having to overhaul your entire business infrastructure.

In this way, freedom becomes the very foundation of your security — not its opponent.

✉️ My invitation to you

I invite you to take this thought with you:
Freedom first — and security will follow naturally.

Let’s work together to ensure your IT is set up so that you can act confidently and securely, not just today, but well into the future. For you as an individual, for your company, and for a digital world where we all get to keep our freedom.

If you’d like, I’d be glad to show you exactly what this could look like for your specific situation. Please feel free to reach out to me.

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Finance Anonymity Bitcoin Blog Future Security

2025-06-24: Digital Euro: Progress at the Expense of Freedom & Privacy?

The European Central Bank is actively working on the introduction of the digital euro – a state-issued digital currency designed to complement the existing payment system. While this move is presented as modern and innovative, it’s important to pause and ask a fundamental question: What impact will the digital euro have on our freedom, our privacy – and our ability to choose how we pay?

Cash – Tangible Freedom in Your Pocket

Cash is more than just a payment method. It represents personal freedom, built-in privacy, and one of the last ways to make purchases without leaving a digital trail. With cash, you decide when, where, and how you spend your money – without oversight or restrictions.

And yet, cash is increasingly being marginalized. Discussions about limits on cash payments, withdrawal restrictions, or even calls for its gradual phase-out are becoming more common. This is concerning, because cash serves as a safeguard against surveillance and financial overreach.

What Is the Digital Euro – and What’s the Issue?

The digital euro would be a legal tender in digital form – issued directly by the central bank. Unlike cash, it would not be anonymous, but instead technically traceable by design. Transactions could be tracked, monitored in real time, and even influenced or restricted.

Centralized digital currencies make it technically possible to:

  • ❌ limit spending (by amount, category, or time),
  • ✔️ block or pre-approve transactions,
  • ⏳ apply expiration dates or negative interest rates.

While such features might seem practical in certain scenarios, they also open the door to significant interference in individual financial autonomy. This isn’t about criticizing institutions, but rather about preserving a healthy balance between innovation and civil liberties.

₿ Bitcoin – Digital Sovereignty Without Central Control

In contrast, Bitcoin operates on a fundamentally different principle. It is a decentralized digital monetary system, not controlled by any government or corporation. Transactions are verified by a global network, not a central authority.

Privacy by structure: With Bitcoin, you don’t need a bank account, approval, or to share personal data to send or receive payments. When used correctly, Bitcoin offers a high degree of financial privacy, much like cash – but in a digital, global form.

✅ Why Bitcoin Makes Sense
  • Decentralized by design: No central authority, no censorship.
  • Globally accessible: Anyone with an internet connection can use it.
  • Private in practice: No personal information required.
  • Inflation-proof: Bitcoin’s supply is capped at 21 million.
  • Independent: No third party can freeze or limit your assets.

Bitcoin isn’t just a digital currency – it’s a tool for freedom and financial independence in the digital age.

Conclusion: Payment Freedom – Offline and Online

Whether paying with coins at a store or sending a transaction from your phone – you should always be free to choose the payment method that suits you. The digital euro may offer certain conveniences, but it must never replace or restrict access to cash or alternatives like Bitcoin.

Cash must remain a free, anonymous means of payment. And Bitcoin offers its digital counterpart – independent, global, and privacy-respecting.

Want to learn more about Bitcoin – as an individual or for your business?

As an IT service provider and expert, I support private clients and businesses in understanding, using, and integrating Bitcoin safely and effectively.

✔️ Feel free to contact me – for a future of digital freedom and self-determination.

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Blog Anonymity Bitcoin Future Messenger OpenSource Security

2025-05-26: Open Source Software: Digital Freedom

Open source software is no longer a niche topic – it forms the backbone of our digital world. Many people are unaware of this, but the majority of computers around the globe already rely on open source technologies. In particular, the internet runs heavily on open source: most web servers operate using the Linux operating system, and countless services and applications – from web browsers to content management systems – are built on open source foundations.

? What Does Open Source Mean?

Open source means that a software’s source code is publicly accessible, modifiable, and free to use. This transparency not only fosters trust but also enables global, collaborative development. Control does not rest with a single company or state – it lies with the community. This prevents users from being locked into expensive subscription models or becoming dependent on individual vendors – a scenario that’s increasingly common with proprietary software.

This issue is strikingly portrayed in the latest season of the series Black Mirror (Season 7, Episode 1): A woman receives a medical chip implant after having a brain tumor removed. The twist? The chip is permanently connected to the provider’s cloud – all data and functionality are processed externally, with nothing stored locally. Without an active subscription, the chip stops working. The software operates on a tiered licensing model with steadily rising costs. Eventually, the woman’s family can no longer afford the increasingly expensive subscription levels – leading to catastrophic consequences.

This dystopian scenario highlights how dangerous it can be when essential technologies are fully controlled by a central provider. It creates a total dependency – both technically and financially. Open source offers a radical alternative: transparent, decentralized, user-controlled, and free.

? Freedom Through Technology

Open source is an expression of digital self-determination. Those who use free software decide for themselves what runs on their devices, what data is shared, and which functions are enabled. This independence is more than just a technical detail – it’s a political statement in an age of digital surveillance, data exploitation, and monopolization.

A particularly powerful example of open source as a vehicle for independence is Bitcoin. Here too, the entire source code is publicly available, every transaction is verifiable, and the system itself is not centrally controlled. The idea of freedom, transparency, and decentralization is central – and would not be possible without open source.

? Security Through Encryption

In an age of widespread digital surveillance, protecting private communication is essential. Open source plays a crucial role here: only with publicly accessible source code can users verify whether a tool is truly secure. Encryption tools such as PGP for email or decentralized messengers like Matrix (with clients like Element) are vital for maintaining privacy and shielding digital conversations from prying eyes.

? A Call to Support Open Source

The benefits of open source are overwhelming: transparency, security, independence, and innovation. But none of this happens automatically. The development and maintenance of free software is often done voluntarily or underfunded. That’s why it’s essential that we not only use open source but actively support it – by contributing to development, reporting bugs, or donating to projects that benefit us all.

Here is a short list of the most famous open source programs:

1. LibreOffice
Free and powerful office suite – alternative to Microsoft Office
? https://www.libreoffice.org/

2. GIMP
Free image editor – comparable to Adobe Photoshop
? https://www.gimp.org/

3. Mozilla Firefox
Secure and fast open-source web browser
? https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/

4. Thunderbird
Email client with calendar and chat support
? https://www.thunderbird.net/

5. VLC Media Player
Versatile media player that supports nearly all formats
? https://www.videolan.org/vlc/

6. Audacity
Audio recording and editing software
? https://www.audacityteam.org/

7. Krita
Professional painting and illustration tool for artists
? https://krita.org/

8. Inkscape
Vector graphics editor – similar to Adobe Illustrator
? https://inkscape.org/

9. KeePassXC
Secure and cross-platform password manager
? https://keepassxc.org/

10. Shotcut
Free, open-source video editor with wide format support
? https://shotcut.org/

✅ Conclusion

In the digital age, open source is not a luxury – it’s a necessity. There is hardly a more powerful tool for freedom, self-determination, and privacy protection. Those who want a free society must also support free software. It’s up to all of us to promote open source – for a digital world that liberates, not controls.

Categories
Blog Artificial Intelligence Future

2025-05-24: How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing the World of Work

? Report: Who Will Be Above or Below AI in the Future?

The world of work is undergoing a profound transformation, largely driven by the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI). One central question is becoming increasingly important: Who will be above AI in the future – and who will be below it?

? The Office Sector in Decline – Administrative Roles Under Pressure

AI systems are already capable of performing simple administrative and routine tasks more efficiently, quickly, and cost-effectively than humans. Initial areas affected include data entry, appointment scheduling, invoice verification, and drafting standardized correspondence. But the trend goes further: More complex tasks such as legal reviews, accounting, and even strategic analysis are increasingly falling within the capabilities of intelligent algorithms.

This development means that office jobs – even those at higher levels – are being gradually replaced or significantly reshaped. What begins with simple tasks will, over time, impact even qualified knowledge-based roles. Companies face the challenge of retraining employees or fundamentally restructuring their organizations.

? Retail in Transition – Automation Displacing Jobs

The impact of automation is also clearly visible in the retail sector. Simple tasks like cashier work – typically performed by checkout staff – are increasingly being replaced by self-checkout systems. Many supermarkets today already require far fewer employees at the checkout.

As a result, customers now perform the payment process themselves, and the remaining staff focus primarily on stocking shelves – a task that is simpler, physically more demanding, and typically lower paid. This trend not only raises questions of fair labor conditions but also underscores the growing need for reskilling and new career paths.

? Skilled Trades and ? IT – The Winners of This Transformation

In contrast, there are professions that are largely resistant to AI-driven automation – most notably skilled trades. Whether carpenter, electrician, painter, or plumber: These jobs require physical presence, craftsmanship, and situational judgment – qualities that machines cannot match anytime soon.

At the same time, IT professions are becoming more valuable than ever. Today’s software developers, system administrators, and digital process designers are in high demand. These roles require not only technical skills but also creativity and problem-solving abilities – things AI alone cannot replicate.

? Germany – A Digital Latecomer

A critical look at Germany reveals that it has fallen behind in IT development over the past 25 years. While Silicon Valley leads the global AI revolution, Germany has invested too little in building its own digital infrastructure and technology ecosystem. Europe as a whole has little independence in this sector.

This is clearly reflected in the MSCI World Index, where the dominant companies are almost exclusively from the USA – Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Meta. European tech companies barely register. This poses not only economic but also geopolitical risks – and highlights the urgency for action.

?‍??‍? Advice for the Next Generation: Choose Skilled Trades or IT

Given these developments, my clear recommendation to young people – and to parents helping their children choose a career – is: Consider a career in the skilled trades or in IT. Both sectors are future-proof, offer strong career development, and in the best-case scenario, can lead to self-employment. Whether as an IT specialist or as a master craftsman with your own business: These fields offer real opportunities in a world increasingly shaped by AI.

? Useful AI Tools for Everyday Work

The practical use of AI is not limited to large corporations. It’s already accessible to small and medium-sized businesses and offers tangible benefits in terms of efficiency and productivity. Here are some current tools that can support everyday work:

  • ChatGPT / GPT-4 – for content creation, brainstorming, virtual assistance, and customer communication
  • Grammarly – for grammar, spelling, and style checking in multiple languages
  • Midjourney / DALL·E – to generate images for marketing, presentations, or visual concepts
  • Notion AI – to organize projects, ideas, and summaries intelligently
  • DeepL Write – for high-quality translations and stylistic improvements
  • Runway / Descript – for automated video editing and podcast production
  • Pictory – creates short social media videos from blog posts or written content
  • Microsoft Copilot / Google Duet AI – AI features directly integrated into Office tools like Word, Excel, and Gmail

These tools are already powerful – and improving rapidly. They offer real competitive advantages for businesses willing to embrace innovation.

? My Offer: Guiding You into the Digital Future

I support businesses in becoming future-ready – by developing digital strategies and introducing AI applications into day-to-day operations. From process analysis to tool selection and employee training, I offer hands-on, practical guidance through the transformation.

Because the right response to the rise of AI isn’t fear – but proactive innovation.

If you’re looking for support in your company’s digital transformation or would like to know which AI tools are best suited to your specific business model, feel free to reach out.