Is The New $232 Million Ethereum EOS Token mostly hype?
The new EOS token that Jeff Berwick is promoting as an Etherum Killer, upon careful examination, appears to be mostly hype, and not a very sound investment. Jeff Berwick seems to have really great advice sometimes, and then other times, it seems like he just bases his decisions and advice on friendship or the biggest payoff or maybe he is just gung ho about it, so I am not sure if he actually checked into this, or is just taking Dan Larimer's word at face value, or is naive, or who knows, but it doesn't really matter. Like Jeff has said before, don't believe him and don't believe anyone, check into things yourself and make your decisions based on the facts you find, not the people speaking them, because people can make mistakes or even lie.
Here are some possible problems with EOS; you decide:
1. This EOS token is just an Ethereum sub-token
That in itself is not a direct indicator of no value, as there are many sub-token coins being put out that do have a backing in value. For those unfamiliar with how Ethereum sub-tokens/coins are made, they are just made using the Ethereum contract mechanism ( a contract is a simple program) , most likely using code written in the Solidity language. The 1 billion EOS tokens that were created could have been made simply like this, using Solidity code:
eos_tokens=1000000000;
In fact, there is an example program on how to make your own Ethereum sub-coin token right on the Ethereum website, so feel free to give it a try and make your own:
https://www.ethereum.org/token
You can use the online Solidity program editor:
https://remix.ethereum.org/#version=soljson-v0.4.13+commit.fb4cb1a.js
That's all it would take, no mining needed. And now they are selling these things at a rate of about 125 EOS to 1 ETH... because they want ETH, ETH has the value, at least right now.
2. This Ethereum ERC20 EOS token is not in any way connected to any future EOS platform tokens that will run on any future blockchain s
The http://eos.io/faq.html says that the tokens you buy now may be included in any future block chains that use the EOS platform, but that would be based on the people who start any of the future blockchains. The tokens, themselves don't have any rights, uses, purpose, attributes, etc., etc. ... (read more in the attached image from their website):
3. There can be multiple EOS blockchains created, and block.one, the company issuing these Ethereum ERC20 EOS tokens will not configure or launch or have control over any of them
This doesn't seem so bad, as it requires 15% of EOS ERC20 token holders to approve of transfer to one or more blockchains. But what if there are 10 blockchains or even worse, the software doesn't work as promised and there are no blockchains? The company getting your ETH, block.one, won't have any control over it, and there is no guarantee that you will receive any other cryptographic or digital assets, now or in the future; and if people are trading in those future real EOS platfrom tokens, how much will your Ethereum EOS ERC20 token be worth then?
They make sure to state this again in a bold printed note on the white paper, that you are not getting any of the not-yet-in-existence EOS blockchain tokens, as those blockchains don't exist:
4. The Technical White Paper has a huge disclaimer at the top.
The white paper sounds awesome, as it has amazing features, if they can pull it off. However, the disclaimer at the top of the white paper says that they don't guarantee any of it working or that any of it is even accurate... maybe the lawyers at block.one don't trust Dan? With that disclaimer at the top, this becomes more of a Brown Paper:
In conclusion:
Comparing this to other Ethereum sub-tokens like TenX, EOS appears to fall way way short. They promise nothing, they tell you up front it is worthless (except what you can sell it to someone else for), and they don't even stand behind their own white paper. I know Dan was saying he didn't want to jump the gun on releasing the software, but I think they jumped the gun on collecting money for it. Comparing to TenX again, TenX had a product BEFORE they did their fund collecting; and at least they are very transparent about what they are doing, posting YouTube videos daily on progress, and hiring and the like, slack channels, etc... where has the $232 million gone that EOS has raised? Plus, TenX has a clear statement on how their token holders will make money. EOS says they don't owe anyone anything right in their Faq, so where is the incentive to complete this, since they have all the money already?
I would love to hear all of your thoughts on this. Personally, I'm going to hold off on this EOS ERC20 subtoken, and wait for the real ones, if they ever come into existence. If they do come into existence, they may not be called EOS, they may be called multiple other things, just like many coins have used the Bitcoin software to make their own coins; and who is to say that Bitcoin and Ethereum couldn't just use any knowledge gained here to improve those existing blockchains?
Thanks for reading!
I have done a bit of research into this as it looks quite interesting and I found the following (similar to you bit with a couple of differences):
Overall I think it looks really promising IF it comes off. $2 bil is quite a valuation for something we haven't seen, based quite heavily on one or two key individuals.
On reflection, I think Ill buy in but at a lower level to what I was originally intending. This is one of the few alts I have seen that has real possibilities (although there is not much to see at present). Lots of possible upside and with current valuations, it has limited downsides.
The presale is a bit of a blind auction, so you could end up paying cents per token or hundreds of dollars. Not sure whether to buy in via that or via an exchange yet!
Well I think you have a few things confused; the EOS token does exist. As for EOS not existing, you are talking about the EOS blockchain and Dan releasing it, as if it is going to be one blockchain, which it is not! It is going to be multiple block chains using the EOS software, and Dan having no control over it, this is according to the Faq on the eos.io website... there may not even be any block chains running it... if Dan ever does release this code, one downside is that EOS tokens are not guaranteed to be worth anything on those chains... those real EOS coins will be the currency, not the EOS investment ERC20 ETH subtokens they are selling now. A second downside is that what Dan is proposing is MORE complexity to the chain, being able to write full programs... this is a problem, as look at what happened last week with the $40 million Parity contract flaw... it was just a small little error, but someone was able to exploit it and drain all the tokens out of everyone using that Solidity code for their contracts. If EOS allows even more complexity of programs, guaranteed, there will be ever more loopholes in those type contracts... the more flexibility, the more things that can go wrong.
I am fully aware of what exists and what is promised! I agree the website is confusing as basically, these tokens may be nothing more than for show!! Even if they are the tokens taken forward by the blockchain/s a valuation of just under 2 billion at this stage is madness!
I can make a token like EOS in about 20 min. I just don't have the money to pay exchanges to host it. is there testnet fast and flex. well empty streets are quick to drive. You know what else is fast and flex, Rinkeby ethereum's testnet. Testnet can do alot without users. You like whitepapers, well lets sit down and make one up. EOS is just an ETH token sitting on the ETH blockchain, talking about killing the mouth that feeds it. Riding on the back of its mothers. ETH has udates as well ETH isnt going to be what it tis today. You thinK EOS is fork proof? Guess again. its just a token with a testnet, stilling on its mother's blockchain with a whitepaper.
Guess the idea is to always do your own research.
yep, nicely done
Your articles should get more attention...
After watching the video of the interview I read the YouTube comments and some of the people were asking the same questions.
I think EOS is a fantastic idea (if it ever comes to life). But I also don't invest into the subtoken.
Thanks for the vote of sanity. Yes, unfortunately Steem articles don't rise to the top based on content, but that is getting into the flaws of the Steem incentive system; it is curated by those with Steem power, not by those who value content, but more value how much Steem power they can get with an upvote.