加密大幻象暴露：比特幣的空洞承諾揭開面紗

Zeke Faux 的《Number Go Up》和 Michael Lewis 的《Going Infinite》兩本新書深入探討了加密貨幣的世界，揭露了它們的空虛和背後的憤世嫉俗的動機。 《Going Infinite》聚焦於 FTX 加密貨幣交易所創始人 Sam Bankman-Fried 的興衰，而《Number Go Up》則調查「穩定幣」Tether 創始人 Giancarlo Devasini 的不正當交易。這兩本書都揭示了加密貨幣背後的犯罪活動和毫無意義，引發了人們對它們為何繼續吸引如此多富有和有影響力的個人的疑問。

The Grand Crypto Illusion: Unveiling the Hollow Promise of Bitcoin

偉大的加密幻象：揭開比特幣空洞的承諾

A Comprehensive Examination of the Crypto Currency Enigma

加密貨幣之謎的全面考察

Introduction

介紹

The realm of cryptocurrencies, exemplified by Bitcoin, has captivated the financial world, leaving seasoned experts perplexed and questioning the rationale behind its escalating value. The frenzy resembles a gold rush devoid of any tangible asset. Jamie Dimon, the esteemed CEO of JP Morgan, succinctly characterized Bitcoin as "a hyped-up fraud" in 2023.

以比特幣為代表的加密貨幣領域已經吸引了金融界的目光，讓經驗豐富的專家感到困惑，並質疑其價值不斷上漲背後的理由。這種狂熱就像一場沒有任何有形資產的淘金熱。受人尊敬的摩根大通執行長 Jamie Dimon 在 2023 年簡潔地將比特幣描述為「大肆炒作的詐欺行為」。

Despite Dimon's scathing assessment, there remain staunch believers who perceive cryptocurrencies as a form of financial alchemy. They employ obscure jargon, such as blockchain, digital currency, and crypto investments, leaving the uninitiated utterly bewildered.

儘管戴蒙的評價很嚴厲，但仍有堅定的信徒將加密貨幣視為一種金融煉金術。他們使用區塊鏈、數位貨幣和加密投資等晦澀難懂的術語，讓外行人完全摸不著頭緒。

Exposing the Crypto Illusion: Two Incisive Books

揭露加密貨幣幻想：兩本精闢的書

Two pivotal books published in late 2023 have shed light on the true nature of cryptocurrencies, revealing them to be an empty financial charade. Zeke Faux's "Number Go Up" delves into the murky depths of the cryptocurrency world, while Michael Lewis's "Going Infinite" chronicles the meteoric rise and precipitous fall of Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the erstwhile billionaire founder of the FTX crypto exchange, who currently languishes in a federal prison after being convicted of fraud.

2023 年底出版的兩本重要書籍揭示了加密貨幣的真實本質，揭示了它們只是一場空洞的金融遊戲。 Zeke Faux 的《Number Go Up》深入探討了加密貨幣世界的黑暗深處，而Michael Lewis 的《Going Infinite》則記錄了FTX 加密貨幣交易所前億萬富翁創始人Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) 的迅速崛起和急劇下跌，因詐欺罪被定罪後，目前在聯邦監獄中備受煎熬。

SBF: The Epitome of Crypto Cynicism

SBF：加密貨幣憤世嫉俗的縮影

SBF may appear as an exceptionally cynical individual, recklessly gambling away billions of his customers' funds. However, as both books elucidate, cynicism permeates the entire crypto project. Its proponents extol the virtues of a currency free from government and central bank oversight, yet they struggle to articulate its actual functionality or practical utility. This profound disconnect is telling. As Lewis astutely observes in a footnote: "What is curious is how elusive Bitcoin is, as a thing to understand... You nod along and think you are getting it but then wake up the next morning needing to hear the explanation all over again."

SBF 可能看起來是一個極其憤世嫉俗的人，不計後果地輸掉了客戶數十億的資金。然而，正如這兩本書所闡明的那樣，憤世嫉俗的情緒瀰漫在整個加密項目中。它的支持者讚揚不受政府和央行監管的貨幣的優點，但他們很難闡明其實際功能或實際效用。這種深刻的脫節很能說明問題。正如劉易斯在腳註中敏銳地觀察到的那樣：「令人好奇的是，作為一種需要理解的東西，比特幣是多麼難以捉摸……你點頭同意，認為你明白了，但第二天早上醒來，需要再次聽到解釋」。

Going Infinite: A Flawed Yet Revealing Account

走向無限：一個有缺陷但有啟發性的敘述

Lewis's "Going Infinite" is not without its shortcomings. The author's extensive time spent with Bankman-Fried and FTX has drawn criticism from Faux, who accuses Lewis of developing an uncomfortably close relationship with SBF. In a review for the LA Times, Faux contends that "the author's questions were so fawning they seemed inappropriate for a journalist."

路易斯的《走向無限》並非沒有缺點。作者與 Bankman-Fried 和 FTX 相處的時間很長，引起了 Faux 的批評，Faux 指責 Lewis 與 SBF 建立了令人不安的密切關係。在《洛杉磯時報》的一篇評論中，福克斯認為「作者的問題過於諂媚，似乎不適合記者」。

Nonetheless, one of the most compelling aspects of "Going Infinite" is its intimate portrayal of Bankman-Fried's brief moment of glory. A mere year ago, the world's elite flocked to his feet. Lewis was present when Tony Blair and Bill Clinton graced the stage with SBF at an FTX conference in the Bahamas in April 2022. The crypto wunderkind cut an eccentric figure, sporting cargo shorts and tube socks, while the impeccably dressed former world leaders listened intently to his every word. Anna Wintour, the former editor of Vogue, envisioned Bankman-Fried's billions bankrolling the prestigious Met Gala. Lewis vividly depicts Bankman-Fried petulantly playing computer games while Wintour made her sales pitch.

儘管如此，《走向無限》最引人注目的方面之一是它對班克曼-弗里德短暫輝煌時刻的親密描繪。僅僅一年前，世界精英都紛紛拜倒在他的腳下。 2022 年4 月，托尼布萊爾(Tony Blair) 和比爾克林頓(Bill Clinton) 在巴哈馬舉行的FTX 會議上，托尼布萊爾(Tony Blair) 和比爾克林頓(Bill Clinton) 與SBF 一起登上舞台時，路易斯也在場。 這位加密貨幣神童的形象古怪，穿著工裝短褲和筒襪，而穿著無可挑剔的前世界領導人則聚精會神地聆聽他的每一句話。 《Vogue》前編輯安娜溫圖 (Anna Wintour) 設想班克曼弗里德 (Bankman-Fried) 將為著名的 Met Gala 提供數十億美元的資金。路易斯生動地描繪了班克曼·弗里德在溫圖爾推銷產品時脾氣暴躁地玩電腦遊戲的情景。

Number Go Up: Unraveling the Tether Mystery

數字上升：解開繫繩之謎

Faux's "Number Go Up" features Bankman-Fried on its cover, but the central character is Giancarlo Devasini, an enigmatic Italian plastic surgeon who also founded a cryptocurrency called Tether. Tether is purportedly pegged to the US dollar and marketed as a "stablecoin." Like Bankman-Fried, Devasini is a troubling and intriguing figure, albeit more elusive.

Faux 的《Number Go Up》封面是 Bankman-Fried，但主角是 Giancarlo Devasini，一位神秘的意大利整形外科醫生，也創立了一種名為 Tether 的加密貨幣。據稱，Tether 與美元掛鉤，並作為「穩定幣」進行行銷。和班克曼·弗里德一樣，德瓦西尼也是一個令人不安且有趣的人物，儘管更加難以捉摸。

Faux, a US reporter for Bloomberg, dedicates a significant portion of "Number Go Up" to tracing the murky origins of the funds propping up Tether's price. His investigation leads him from the hedonistic heights of superyacht parties to the remote depths of Cambodia, where unsuspecting Westerners are lured into anonymous cash transfers facilitated by cryptocurrencies, only to be exploited by criminal gangs engaged in human trafficking. Faux paints a damning picture of the nefarious activities that sustain and are facilitated by crypto.

Faux 是彭博社的美國記者，他在《Number Go Up》中用了很大一部分時間來追蹤支撐 Tether 價格的資金的不為人知的來源。他的調查將他從超級遊艇派對的享樂主義高度帶到了柬埔寨的偏遠深處，在那裡，毫無戒心的西方人被加密貨幣所吸引，進行匿名現金轉移，結果卻被從事人口販運的犯罪團夥所利用。 Faux 描繪了一幅由加密貨幣維持和促進的邪惡活動的可怕景象。

The El Salvador Experiment: A Dubious Success

薩爾瓦多實驗：一次可疑的成功

Faux relentlessly pursues Devasini, even venturing to El Salvador. In 2021, Nayib Bukele, the authoritarian president of El Salvador, declared Bitcoin an official national currency. With Devasini's assistance, Bukele reportedly plans to construct a "Bitcoin City" powered by a volcano. It remains unclear whether El Salvador's experiment has been a success or a failure, primarily because no public entity tracks the extent of Bitcoin usage or the health of the government's Bitcoin reserves.

福克斯無情地追求德瓦西尼，甚至冒險前往薩爾瓦多。 2021 年，薩爾瓦多獨裁總統納伊布·布克萊 (Nayib Bukele) 宣布比特幣為官方國家貨幣。據報道，在德瓦西尼的幫助下，布克萊計劃建造一座由火山供電的「比特幣城市」。目前尚不清楚薩爾瓦多的實驗是成功還是失敗，主要是因為沒有公共實體追蹤比特幣的使用程度或政府比特幣儲備的健康狀況。

A Consensus on Crypto's Ponzi-Like Nature

關於加密貨幣龐氏騙局本質的共識

Despite their contrasting approaches, Lewis and Faux arrive at the same conclusion: Bitcoin is essentially a mind-boggling Ponzi scheme. However, a crucial question remains unanswered: why does something so evidently pointless continue to allure so many wealthy and influential individuals? Until this enigma is solved, the true nature of the crypto mystery will remain elusive.

儘管方法截然不同，但劉易斯和福克斯得出了相同的結論：比特幣本質上是一個令人難以置信的龐氏騙局。然而，一個關鍵問題仍未得到解答：為什麼如此明顯毫無意義的事情仍然吸引著如此多富有和有影響力的個人？在這個謎團被解決之前，加密貨幣之謎的真正本質仍然難以捉摸。

Conclusion

結論

Henry Williams, a London-based writer, poses a pertinent question that serves as a fitting conclusion: "All in all, the real question goes unasked - namely, why is something so pointless still seducing so many wealthy and powerful people? Until we can answer that, we won't be able to get to the bottom of the great crypto mystery."

倫敦作家亨利威廉斯提出了一個中肯的問題，作為一個恰當的結論：「總而言之，真正的問題沒有被問到——也就是說，為什麼如此毫無意義的事情仍然吸引著如此多的富有和有權勢的人？直到我們能夠回答這個問題，我們將無法揭開這個巨大的加密謎團的真相。”