What Trump calls the worst deal ever negotiated, and has identified for more than a decade as Exhibit A in the case against American loserdom, has now become the pattern of his own Iran policy — Obama's policy. I explain today in @tabletmag tabletmag.com/sections/news/…

@ethereum Day 6 Gas Fees Explained: Why Does Ethereum Charge You to Use It? Have you ever paid for transportation during rush hour? Maybe you have noticed that getting a ride across town on a quiet Sunday afternoon costs less than trying to get one during peak traffic. More people. More demand. Higher prices. Ethereum works in a surprisingly similar way. One of the first things newcomers notice when using Ethereum is something called "gas fees." And almost immediately, they ask: "Why do I have to pay extra just to use Ethereum?" It's a fair question. To understand gas fees, you first need to understand that Ethereum isn't operated by a single company. There isn't an "Ethereum headquarters" with employees processing transactions. Instead, Ethereum runs on thousands of computers around the world. These computers work together to validate transactions, execute smart contracts, and keep the network secure. That work requires resources. Computing power. Storage. Electricity. Time. Gas fees are simply the payments users make to compensate the network for processing their transactions. Think of gas fees like paying a delivery service. The more complicated the delivery, the more work involved. The more people trying to use the service at the same time, the higher the cost may become. Sending ETH to someone? Small amount of work. Interacting with a complex decentralized application? More work. Heavy network traffic? Potentially higher fees. This is why gas fees can fluctuate. When millions of users are trying to use Ethereum simultaneously, they compete for limited processing capacity. Those willing to pay higher fees often have their transactions processed more quickly. Now, here's something important: Gas fees do NOT go to Ethereum itself. Remember, Ethereum isn't a company. The fees help reward participants who secure and maintain the network. Without incentives, fewer people would help operate Ethereum. And without those participants, the network couldn't function reliably. Of course, high gas fees have been one of Ethereum's biggest challenges. The community recognizes this. That's why ongoing improvements and Layer 2 solutions are being developed to make transactions faster and more affordable. Gas fees aren't random charges designed to frustrate users. They are part of the system that keeps Ethereum decentralized, secure, and operational. Don't forget, Gas fees are transaction costs paid by users to compensate the network for processing transactions and executing smart contracts. The busier the network becomes, the more expensive those fees can sometimes be. Remember this always: Gas fees aren't the price of Ethereum. They are the cost of using Ethereum. Raji.

Gm Crypto Antusiasme Getting to Know @RetiumChain Better: A Blockchain Built Entirely on a 100% Independent Codebase and Featuring Its Own Architecture. It’s no secret that most modern blockchains today are built on the concept of probability. Take Bitcoin, for instance, which still prioritizes hashing through Proof of Work, while the majority of Proof of Stake networks I’m aware of still use validator selection methods that involve elements of chance, rotation, or specific random mechanisms. To address this issue and avoid uncertainty or luck in determining “who is authorized to process transactions,” Retium’s approach emphasizes a network structure built on deterministic mathematical logic. This allows the network structure to be independently calculated and verified by anyone. Retium also stands out as a blockchain with a logic-based architecture, featuring a mesh validator network and a multi-vector network structure. The goal is clear: Retium is a Layer-1 blockchain created as a solution to the fundamental limitations of traditional blockchains, such as: • Blockchain congestion/bottlenecks due to linearity • A single pool vulnerable to spam attacks • Concentration of power in the hands of validators • Volatile transaction fees • Scaling challenges With Retium’s key components, such as: 1. Validator Mesh Architecture 2. Multi-Level Role-Based Verification 3. Deterministic Logic Path 4. Multi-Vector Block Structure 5. Logic-Weighted Transaction Fee Each component aims to pioneer the creation of a network that is far more predictable, fair, and easier to scale compared to older blockchain models. Built on a strong foundation, the network structure is based on Prime Number Mathematics. The Whitepaper states, "Each block position is determined by prime factorization and mathematical relationships." To elaborate, Instead of a block being considered the "next block" in a linear chain: Block A -> Block B -> Block C Behind the scenes, Retium establishes a block’s identity based on mathematically verifiable and reproducible relationships. Conceptual practice: • Tick /1 introduces Prime P₁ • Tick /2 introduces Prime P₂ • Tick /3 introduces Prime P₃ From these points, the combination of primes triggers the generation of valid block identities and relationships. Underlying this is the fact that every composite number has a distinct/unique prime factorization (Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic), which fully enables a block’s position to be easily verified through the same mathematical rules by all network nodes. The uniqueness of prime factorization is also the most fundamental principle in modern number theory. Meanwhile, traditional blockchain mechanisms often require several elements: - Validator selection - Leader election - Randomness source - Lottery mechanism However, such systems actually open the door to new issues: - MEV - Manipulation - Uncertainty in transaction order - Front-running - Specific/favored validators This is why Retium uses a block structure based on deterministic mathematical rules, eliminating the need to trust third parties, as every node can compute the same result. In most deterministic blockchain systems, this ensures that all participants produce identical outputs when given the same inputs. Every node can compute the same result. The key advantage is a reduced reliance on the aforementioned random mechanisms.

GenLayer is being used to solve a problem in the prediction and outcome markets: Price feeds can tell you things like “what is the price of ETH?” But they cannot reliably decide real-world events like: Who won a game or Whether an event happened 🧵

Most people think blockchain performance is about speed. But markets don't actually reward speed. They reward certainty. In many blockchain environments, a piece of information is only valuable if it arrives before a specific deadline. A few milliseconds can determine whether a validator earns a reward, a builder wins an auction, or an opportunity disappears entirely. That's why average latency isn't the real problem. The real problem is unpredictability. When participants can't reliably predict when data will arrive, they compensate by overbuilding infrastructure, sending redundant messages, and relying on geographic advantages. The result is a system where success often depends on network positioning rather than efficiency. This is where @get_optimum changes the equation. By making data delivery more consistent and predictable, Optimum isn't just improving network performance. It's reducing uncertainty across the entire market. The goal isn't simply to move information faster. It's to ensure information arrives when it matters most. In blockchain economies, predictable delivery creates value, reduces risk, and levels the playing field. Speed is important. But consistency is what markets can truly price.