re: Bitcoin, Darkcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, et al..
I was listening to a podcast yesterday with one of the Ripple guys. I know almost nothing about Ethereum but I'm assuming its similar to Ripple. That's to say, a massive system that makes it possible to transfer assets globally, be it currency, contracts, whatever.
Here's what I don't get. Why the need for a native Ripple currency inside this system, if the stated purpose is a system to make it safe for transfering BTC, dollars, etc.. What would be the point of the "native" ripple currency? What's the point of "Ethers" in ethereum? What's the point in having 500 different "altcoins"?
Err nope. Ethereum plays a complete different game on a complete new level.
Here please educate yourself:
http://forum.ethereum.org/https://blog.ethereum.org/Of course we don´t need 500 alts. That´s one thing Ethereum is about. A featurless platform instead of many altcoins, everyone with one special feature. An Ethereum you can build everything, and that very easy.