Question from a reader:
Bitcoin
"I'm planning to invest in Bitcoin, not sure whether to buy the 'old' Bitcoin or the new Bitcoin Cash. Which one, do you think, will go mainstream?"
This is a smart question.
When it comes to getting consumers to mass-adopt your platform, the Facebook vs. Google Plus battle should have taught us that the world just isn't big enough for two platforms that offer consumers the exact same thing.
Did you ever see Superman III?
Remember the scene in the scrapyard, when Superman makes a clone of himself and the two copies fight to the death?
The world cannot have two Supermans, so the good Superman strangles the evil Superman until he disappears and there's just one left.
The exact same thing is happening with Bitcoin Core and Bitcoin Cash. 
The "old" Bitcoin made a new copy of itself, and pretty soon we're going to see the two of them fight it out until the death. And when the vanquished has disappeared, the other will proceed to take Bitcoin into the mainstream.
Which one will win?
Right now it's difficult to tell.
Because both have their strengths and weaknesses.
Bitcoin Cash
Cash?
– is more scalable, but it's not as secure, at least not right now anyway. (The issue is with something called "transactional malleability". I'll talk more about this another day.
For now, just know that it allows for fraud.)
Bitcoin (AKA Bitcoin Core) – doesn't have this "transactional malleability" flaw, and is backed by a mature team of developers. However, most of these same developers are philosophically against making the changes required for Bitcoin to go mainstream – although this could change over the next few months.
So, let's say you want to invest in one of these platforms early, ride the wave as it goes mainstream, and make some serious money – what should you do?
Don't wait around and watch from the outside.
BUY NOW!!
Because as soon as it becomes obvious to the lay observer that one of them is a winner, it will be too late. You will have missed your chance.
What you need is inside knowledge about where each platform is headed, what challenges they face, and what they're doing to solve them.
Then, when a significant development happens that tips the balance in favor of either Bitcoin Core or Bitcoin Cash – you'll be one of the first to recognize that it's a game-changer.
What are your thoughts on the necessity of full nodes on the network?
Running a full node is the only way you can use Bitcoin in a trustless way. You will know for sure that all the rules of Bitcoin are being followed, for example that no bitcoins are spent not belonging to the owner, that no coins were spent twice, that no inflation happens outside of the schedule and that all the rules needed to make the system work (e.g. difficulty) are followed. Full nodes are currently the most private way to use Bitcoin, with no nobody else learning which bitcoin addresses belong to you. Full nodes are the most secure way to use Bitcoin, they do not suffer from many attacks that affect lightweight wallets.
With the implementation of Segwit, isn't it implied that less and less people will be running full nodes as the Blockchain size increases? Only for miners would it be necessary to run the entire chain so in the long-term doesn't Segwit decrease security
mining farms seem to not care. This is a risk users take every day with their blockchain(s) unless they mine to protect their vested interest in the program.
Thanks for sharing!!! Today was a great day for BTC!!!
Here is a gif that I made for the Segwit countdown, I hope you enjoy!... https://steemit.com/bitcoin/@cryptophasia/segwit-is-activate
cool!