Timing is Right for Catholic Church to Examine Crypto Pros and Cons

The Catholic/Crypto Conference has the Catholic world buzzing with questions about the new crypto technology, and that’s precisely the goal of its creator and host, Matthew Pinto – to take a look and start a conversation. This Kitco News article highlights why the timing is right for Catholics to learn about crypto in a market currently without “rose-colored glasses,” and points to the upcoming event where Catholic leaders and crypto experts alike will come together to share ideas about harnessing its potential. To read the full article, click here.

CFN Live Talks with Matt Pinto on the Emerging World of Crypto and how Catholics Can be at the Forefront of this New Technology

Thirty years ago, words like internet and email represented new and unfamiliar technologies, while today they’ve become commonplace. Many believe the crypto and blockchain revolution is destined to follow in these footsteps. In this interview with Colleen McVey of Catholic Faith Network (CFN), Matthew Pinto shares how the upcoming Catholic/Crypto Conference is designed to help Catholics and the crypto curious gain rudimentary knowledge of this exploding technology, and explore ways it could be used to benefit the Church and world at large. Matt Pinto is the founder of Ascension Press and The Genesis Group, and will host the first-ever conference of its kind in Philadelphia this November.

Walmart Takes Steps into Brave New World of Crypto

Walmart’s Chief Technology Officer recently announced the company’s intentions to include crypto transactions in its digital strategy moving forward, adding that crypto will become “an important part of how customers transact” in the future. The retail giant touted the system’s potential for new revenue streams and praised its ability to allow brands to expand beyond their core customer base. Walmart has already begun implementing blockchain technology to track the origins of produce and products, and is exploring its use with logistics between suppliers and carriers. Click here to read more of what’s in the works.

The power and utility of Web 3.0…and ushering in the “trust” revolution

Web 3.0 reveals its power and utility through decentralization and proof of digital ownership of any property. Web 3.0 juxtaposes against the current tech giants such as Facebook, Google, Twitter and YouTube, who both massively monetize private information and can “cancel” voices at any time. In this segment, conference speaker Darren Chiu explains how Web 3.0 platforms are decentralized and confirm digital ownership—with the individual—of virtually any asset. The secret to Web 3.0 is that the platforms are established and held up by the community themselves. They amplify the “trustless” revolution that blockchain is ushering in, where trust is forged precisely because the code allows you to not have a person or entity over it who has to be trusted.

Catholic Nuns Build New Church with Bitcoin

Combining the Best of the Old with the New

A group of nuns from the order of the Benedictines of Mary are using bitcoin funds to construct a new church in Kansas City, Missouri. While they follow strict church tradition and live a simple, self-sufficient lifestyle from farming onsite, these nuns have successfully adopted the new technology to finance their building project. They’ve done it all without taking on debt, while creating a stately monument designed to last for the ages.

Read more about their unique story here.

State-sided Individualism & Societal Decentralization to Freedom

There is a dearth of association among individuals that can be directly linked to our ever-increasing centralized society. In this preview of his Catholic/Crypto Conference presentation, the Acton Institute’s Michael Mathison Miller cites Alexis de Tocqueville to explain man’s natural rite of association. According to Michael, associations more than mere gatherings; they are functional, autonomous, problem-solving, mutual aid societies.   In the face of increasing commercial and governmental centralization, he says we need social decentralization and a multiplicity of private, functional, and autonomous associations that enable people to flourish and work together to solve problems. Michael also says that if used for good, new technologies like blockchain or decentralized ledger technology will bolster communities and eliminate the breakdown of society. “If the state wants to increase individualism [read: isolation] and it’s in cahoots with large tech companies, it limits the social power of subsidiarity.”

Blockchain 101 – Understanding the Basics of What it is and How it Works

We’ve heard of blockchain, but what exactly is it and how does it work? Don Tapscott unpacks the nuts and bolts of blockchain’s inner workings in conversational terms that make it easy to understand. With relatable comparisons and real life examples that are happening today, Don shows how blockchain technology is not only relevant to our personal lives, but revolutionary in reimagining government, business, and society.

Discover Your Destiny: Why Resting on Sunday Leads to Thriving – Kelly Anderson

Human beings have an unimaginable destiny. In this short segment, Dr. Kelly Anderson explains how we are destined to be “god-like,” sharing in God’s very divine nature and ruling over the cosmos with him in eternity. This is not some New Age concept but historic Christian teaching.

And it is utterly amazing when we think about it! Just as God is bringing about a divine restoration from our broken relationship with him, Sunday sabbath rest is intended to be restorative. In this preview to her conference talk, “Sabbath Rest as a Key to Human Flourishing,” Dr. Anderson explains that God calls us to a weekly sabbath—a break from life’s toils to free us from self-imposed slavery. This call to sabbath requires trust in God and his grace, which he gives freely.

Matthew Pinto joins John Matthew Knowles, President of the Catholic Finance Association, on his podcast/videocast, Faith and Finance Forum.

John and Matt discuss Matt’s journey from the founding of Ascension Press to the establishment of The Genesis Group, a Catholic venture capital/incubator entity. The program focuses on the forthcoming Catholic/Crypto Conference 2022, and how and why Catholics need to be aware of the technological changes upon us with the advent of blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies.