SmartGold01 Merit Source Application

Introduction

I want to use this opportunity to thank Theymos for giving our local board, Naija, a moderator in the person of Igebotz. This shows that Theymos listens to the yearnings of the forum members and also appreciate the contribution of the Nigerian community to this forum. However, it has become necessary to seek additional merit source for the Nigerian board. The reason for this request is not far-fetched; There have been a sharp decline in the merit/per post in the Nigerian board compared to other local boards with lower posts per month as well as lower number of users and such local boards have more merit sources even with highly merit allocation per months. In the past, there were external users supporting the Nigerian local board but such activities have stopped thereby stalling the merit circulation in the Nigerian board. I indeed feel bad when I see merit deserving posts yet I can not merit same to encourage more qualify engagements in the local board.

As can be seen from below charts, percentage of merited posts decreased from 21.2% to 14.17% for the Nigerian board whereas there are no such decline for other local boards and some are over 30% of merited posts.

Source from monthly local board data analysis. Thank you @Rikafip for the compilation, I truly appreciate you for that!

For the same window, the number of user and number of posts both grew for the Nigerian users with less merits being distributed as shown below:

A little background of SmartGold01

SmartGold01 is a passionate Bitcoiner, a legendary member of this wonderful forum, a mother of two wonderful kids whose love for Bitcoin and this forum have never reduced despite the immense family demands for my time and attention. If you visit my house, you will not need to ask question if I love Bitcoin because the BTC signs are strategically engraved in my house as I showed just one part in my dinning in this post [BTC POP] another way to show people you are a Bitcoiner is to live by example].

Why SmartGold01 is ideal for merit source consideration

A little run down of my merit distribution will easily show that I spend over 90% of my merit distribution in the Nigerian local board because I have been an active member who constantly look out for good post to merit.
I hosted a contest [Guess correctly and win $50 To Celebrate Christmas/new year] to promote activities and engagement in the Nigerian community, an annual event that attracted many users even beyond the Nigerian local board. Through this event, many merits were distributed and we had fun engaging in such activities in the Nigerian board.
A lot of the Nigerian users have benefited from me in the form of teaching them about Bitcoin and this forum free of charge both in person and by virtual means.

I was nominated as Miss Bitcointalk for the last forum award and a great number of the Nigerian community, over 90%, voted for me which shows they appreciate my contribution to the Nigerian community.

Finally, females are low in terms of merit sources as well as being members of this community. If I am considered for merit source, it will go a long way to motivate other women here to have a sense of belonging and also aspire for greater heights in the forum. It will also balance the gender inequality in both the Nigerian local boards and the forum in general.

I have high confidence that Theymos and the entire forum administration, will give this application a consideration given their passion to protect, promote and see everyone carried along in the forum.
Here are some of the posts I consider merit deserving but due to lack of merits, I could not merit them:

Quote from: Nangiconference on April 17, 2025, 08:11:09 AM
My country people all these Ponzi scheme don too do us something, make we shine our eye o. This current cbex Mata shake the county and the second in the country after MMM. So many other Ponzi scheme don come and go but this one pretend to be genuine thereby deceiving and gathering members. All other Ponzi schemes wey don come before MMM and after MMM no reach this one. this one na second in rank to MMM. Them collect up to 1.3trillion from Nigeria for this kind hard economy.
Around last week, there users begin they complain say dem no fit make withdrawals again, until this week wey dem come wipe money from the wallets of their users. The Mata no come end o, dem come instruct their members say make dem make extra payment into their account for verification to enable them for withdraw and any body wey for pay this one for pay tire because when u pay them go demand more till Ur eye open.
But shall, our ogbonge EFCC don assure us say their hand already they on desk to track and recover our money but make we give them time say around march them be don warn us say make we Dy alert for all there Ponzi schemes. Currently now them don Dy communicate with Interpol concerning the issue. So make we relax our money no fit go like that.
This one wey EFCC enter this Mata, hmm, the lost too much. Abeg effcc do something. Even if na for everybody to contribute some percentage give them after the successful work e for still good too.

https://punchng.com/youll-get-your-money-back-efcc-assures-cbex-investors/?amp
Quote from: Moreno233 on Today at 11:01:18 AM
Quote from: Charles-Tim on Today at 07:06:01 AM
Do not be surprised if you do not see the site accessible on May 1. You can see their announcement here on this forum on their service thread: eXch - instant exchange BTC / LN / XMR / LTC / ETH / ERC20

Know that Lazarus group has been a threat to everyone even to sites that have signature campaign on this forum. Remember they were responsible for for Sinbad shutdown and now responsible for the shutdown of eXch. eXch was reported to have been used by Lazarus group in laundering $35 million worth of coins from the $1.4 billion Bybit hack. eXch said only little amount worth of coins is linked to Lazarus group.

Be it linked to the hack or not, or maybe the coin that eXch processed for the hackers is not up to the investigated amount, we just know that Lazarus group is responsible for what that happened.
I feel bad at the measures they have taken against eXch which I consider not fair. If hackers are able to exploit Bybit that is KYC compliant and regulated, the burden should be on Bybit and not other party running their business and have no connection to the hackers. Why not hold Bybit responsible because it is their duty to protect the funds of users in their custody? If someone steels money from the bank and decided to use it to buy biscuit in my shop, they are saying that I will be held responsible for the theft and not the bank that are supposed to protect funds in their custody. I know the authorities are just using this excuse to target privacy once again. They hate anything privacy related because even without eXch and other privacy infrastructure, money laundering, terrorism financing, drug trades and even human trafficking and children ponography still happens and will always happen through the conventional payment system and the same authorities will never go after the payment systems. I feel so bad seeing how everything that represent privacy is being targeted. Theymos indeed did very well to have banned mixers until the fight slows down to protect the forum.
Quote from: Joy- maker on March 26, 2025, 08:32:54 AM
I just say make i read news this morning, along the line I come see one news wey say phishing scam please be careful for reddit.con and I come open an come see as person dey share ehh experience say ehh receive email claiming to be CoinBase from info@info.coinbase.com and the Email title now [Action required] Confirm your info by 2025-02-20 source:
https://www.reddit.com/r/CoinBase/comments/1is20o3/phishing_scam_please_be_careful/
see as ehh dey real like email coming from CoinBase, and they wey the email address dey ehh go make you believe say now from CoinBase, because the email end with CoinBase.com why now fake email from scammers. See CoinBase email address support@coinbase.com.
My advice now try dey confirm any email wey you receive from any exchange or from anything at all before you take action, because scammers get many way to use scam people online.

I can remember back then when I encounter something of this kind which I fell victim, but my own no for crypto now for one platform wey i be dey do small small investment, one day I come receive email wey say make I click to confirm the action say my investment go double in next two hours so as I click an I come wait for 3 hours when I come go back to the platform I no fit access an again till today my money don go no trays.
Quote from: Ruttoshi on April 15, 2025, 08:36:25 AM
Quote from: Davidvictorson on April 14, 2025, 08:53:26 PM
Wetin fit be the possible dangers of doing P2P transactions with only one merchant for these centralized exchanges wey still dey function like ByBit, Remitano and the others? I dey curious because aside say one or two small price difference in kobo, e get any danger? Now, nor be say the transactions dey happen out side of the platform, e fit be say once you don trade with the merchant before and you come like them based on their price and how fast dem dey pay, you decide say anytime you want trade you go contact them to trade but everything go still happen inside the exchange just to dey safe.
I feel say na whoever you trade p2p with for centralized exchange go get your contact wether na once you trade with am or many times. We just dey pray make we no do trade with the wrong people wey go fit bring problem for us later. However, me I like to trade with only one sure merchant wey dey at your service any time even for mid night or when you get emergency trade.

E get one time wey Bybit traders dey mumu themselves no dey gree buy your asset but go dey put price there and when you click on their ad, them to say price don change. After been frustrated, I come see one merchant wey buy my asset. Na wetin make me start to trade with only one merchant. The moment I won trade, I don call am for phone to alert am and ASAP, my funds do reflect for my account. Na so I come like to trade with only one person because I trust am and him price dey always dey current.
Quote from: Barikui1 on April 13, 2025, 11:43:04 AM
Quote from: TalkativeCoin on April 12, 2025, 10:23:34 AM
I think that most of them don't realize that something is a Ponzi scheme, it just flies over their head, be it because of ignorance or just lack of knowledge.
I think say you really dy my mind here, na mostly ignorance they drive ponzi scheme forward, but make we know say no be only uninformation, misinformation na another thing wey dy drive am forward because most of this people wey they still invest in ponzi scheme think say na him be the real one depending on wetin them hear.
Then as for the aspect of greed, na that one nai dy pain me pass all, because some people know say na ponzi scheme, but base one say them wan turn millionaire overnight, them go still risk their money thinking to hit and run, most times their money go just hang in the process, then go start to dy complain say hard I know, so this three things wey be misinformation, uninformation or greed na them dy mostly make people to venture into ponzi scheme instead of Bitcoin.
Quote from: Barikui1 on March 24, 2025, 12:36:10 PM
My brother you don do well to carry this particular update come this our local board, you know say, since binance leave the Nigerian market, most people no dy pay attention on wetin dy happen there again, and some security tips wey binance dy mostly share with their customers from time to time, so you don do well.

Then talking about the identical address wey dy mostly look like twin, no be new thing in this crypto industry, this pattern of scamming strategy dy since, that's why I dy pity people wey dy send their crypto asset base on their previous transaction, instead of going to copy the wallet address again from the main source, so in essence of all this is that we should all be very careful in this crypto space, because scammers dy upgrade everyday and if as an individual you no upgrade ur knowledge on security in the business, at some point, you will surely learn through the hard way.
Quote from: asarfiar on March 04, 2025, 06:02:39 AM
I follow these three things for Bitcoin investment, which is a revolutionary step in Bitcoin investment.

Knowledge, patience and courage play a very important role in investing in any cryptocurrency, not just Bitcoin.

Bitcoin is a volatile market, so I guess if we review it with a little importance, we can be successful through these three steps.

Knowledge: In the cryptocurrency world or crypto market, Bitcoin is a topic that is creating a stir in the world. Recently, it is being considered as the center of discussion at all political, economic, and social levels. Therefore, we need to expand our knowledge in such a way that we know about the Bitcoin market type and its technology and invest by understanding the market fluctuations and (volatility) i.e. instability.

Patience: Bitcoin is volatile and the market can fluctuate, investors need to review these issues patiently and prudently. Short-term investments can cause loss of money, so you may have to be patient and make long-term savings decisions. This long-term savings can bring you the right results.

Courage: Investors should move forward with courage without fear of market decline or crisis and make decisions based on accurate information and invest in that light. If you invest wisely without taking excessive risks, you will achievement success with success.

I think that if you follow these steps, there will be no obstacle in preparing yourself for Bitcoin investment. Above all, it is desirable to prepare yourself completely for Bitcoin investment and have a long-term mindset.
Quote from: Futurexxx on April 17, 2025, 10:13:39 AM
Quote from: SmartGold01 on April 16, 2025, 02:34:24 AM
Quote from: promise444c5 on April 15, 2025, 02:51:40 PM
Quote from: SmartGold01 on April 13, 2025, 11:11:41 PM
Borrow money to invest in Bitcoin does that make sense?

Not only Bitcoin but yeah Bitcoin is the case study here, every investment shouldn't be started with a borrowed money especially when you don't have another source to pay back. if you do have another source, that doesn't mean you should borrow to start, learn to start with the little you have then base on the success yield a borrow scheme could could be planned to meet up at some crucial point.
This could be aplied in bitcoin, some dip could brought about it but still not advisable unless there's an assured means to payback (as mentioned already)
Yes that is true.. let say when they start business with the little they have to watch how the market or business gradually increases, it would get to some point that after knowing more about the business knowing how much profits is to come and when you take such amount what duration can you be able to produce back this money. So as you mentioned, having multiple streams of income helps alot and you would regret of taking borrowing money to finance their business or Investment.
I think that you guys are seeing it from the wrong perspective here, when taking a loan to invest in Bitcoin, it's sincerely not a terrible idea only if it's a loan that can be repaid back installmentally either weekly or monthly, and the interest rate is as low as 5% per year why not?

Another thing we all need to first of all take out of the picture is having the thought of paying back from your Bitcoin investment.
Before you borrow any money to invest in Bitcoin, you need to have it at the back of your mind that you will be paying it back bit by bit from your paycheck once it comes, because you must have a source of income in the first place before venturing into Bitcoin investment, so what am trying to say is that if the loan repayment plan can be done installmentally and the interest rate is on the lower side, it's a very good loan to take because Bitcoin will always outperform any interest rate attached to the loan on the longer run, especially when you take the loan and buy when the price is low, or their is a dip in the market then.

In our society today their are so many loan out their that can be taken and repaid back installmentally across three to five years interval, so with such types of loan, it would be very beneficial once you have a source of income which you will be using to be paying it back bit by bit for the stipulated time of the loan.
Quote from: IceLincoln on March 18, 2025, 11:03:30 PM
RIVERS STATE CRISIS: STATE OF EMERGENCY:

The President in his address to the Nation today declared State of Emergency in Rivers State. I was Shocked on hearing this cos I’m currently in Rivers State and there’s not been any disruptions of the General Peace and Governance, No Wars or Violent crisis ongoing!.
So why then should there be State of emergency and the President Suspending the Governor and the House of Assembly Members who are also all elected to serve.

When I first heard this news I added an update to @Cossyblacks thread https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5533855.0 but I opened this thread to discuss the ABUSE of our Laws and Constitution.

I got talking with my friend who is a practicing lawyer and he had this to say based on the Law and Constitution;-

1. President has powers to declare state of emergency. S. 305(1)

2.State of emergency doesn't extend to taking over administration of the state, by S. 305 of the constitution.

3.The crisis in Rivers State has not led to the situation provided in S. 305(3) of the constitution

4.Suspending Governors and Lawmakers in a state and appointing a sole administrator is unconstitutional.

In the case of - A.G. Plateau State v. Goni (2007) 16 NWLR (Pt. 1055) 1 Court said:
1. A state of emergency does not justify the removal of elected officials.
2. The court stated further that the President lacks the power to remove a governor or dissolve a state assembly.

So How come now we are hearing this from the President, from where is he getting his Authority?
Where are all the National Law makers, SAN, and Chief Judges and the likes who are supposed to uphold our Constitution?.
Why are they silent?
Are they trying to get Rivers State under their thumb by any means Necessary?.
What is this MESS they’re about to create in Rivers State and Nigeria?.

The Country has become a Colossal Joke since the APC took over now it’s WORSE
Quote from: Promocodeudo on March 29, 2025, 05:25:19 PM
Quote from: Charles-Tim on March 29, 2025, 12:08:39 PM
The reason some people called trading as gambling is because of the risks it has. Trading is very risky to the extent that almost all traders are losing. It is better for some people to avoid trading and be patient and invest in bitcoin when the price has already fallen significantly than to trade and continue to lose. Although, some people are good traders but they are not many.

You're right on the reason why people compare trading to gambling, both activities has similar thing in comon, the risk invyolve in both activities is very high, as a matter of fact there's no assurance that your profit is assured, profit are in both stuffs by chance or will I say luck, yea there's a high possibility of losing in trading and gambling, I think there's no difference between the two, personally I think there's no need of individuals being too quick to make quick money in Bitcoin as such seeing trading as the means to achieve that.

Although people are entitled to their decision on whether to invest in Bitcoin for a long-term or to get involved in trading which we see as a short term investment, your suggestion is very good if buying when the price is down is what will prevent people from trading fine although am an advocate of buying all the time with DCA method without minding the price at any given time or period, I don't know much about trading and I don't think I to even get involved but what I know is that every trader has either lost or will definitely lose so I don't think there's anything like good trader though I stand to be corrected.