Gm. I finally downloaded Signal. Are Signal stories really necessary?

FRESH POWDER

Looking at three funds that recently topped up their coffers.

PRIVACY

Twitter is Adopting Signal Encryption Protocol

Security researcher Jane Manchun Wong tweeted that she found code references of the Signal Protocol inside Twitter's iOS app.

It looks like Twitter is officially adopting the Signal Protocol for encrypted DMs.

According to a tweet from Elon later that day, it looks like Wong was right on the money. Encrypted DMs are coming to Twitter.

Who cares?

Signal is a cross-platform encrypted messaging service built on an open-source protocol called the Signal Protocol. Everyone startup founders to my fricking grandpa uses it.

"Most everything you see happening online is actually downstream of a handful of private Signal group chats," tweeted founder Antonio Garcia Martinez.

Now, with the integration of the Signal Protocol into Twitter, Twitter's DMs will be safe and secure. Hopefully, this means Twitter can capture some of the value going on in these private Signal group chats — or at least keep users on the app for longer.

The History of Twitter & Encryption

I had no clue about this, but Twitter previously tried doing encrypted DMs in 2017.

Apparently, the project got kickstarted after Edward Snowden tweeted at Jack Dorsey.

ES: One more ask, @Jack: how about secret, burn-after-reading DMs? Even if E2E encryption won't work by default in all clients, give us a start!

JD: Reasonable and something we'll think about.

Well, Dorsey is out. Elon and encryption are in.

NETWORK STATES

Sanctum: The Chillest Network State on Earth

If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “I wish I could live like Lenny Kravitz”, then today is your lucky day.

That is because Sanctum is building a decentralized startup society of interconnected eco-villages across the globe.

Lavish Living

When you first hear “interconnected ecovillages across the globe”, you probably think Sanctum is like a hostel chain.

This could not be further from the truth.

Sanctum’s ecovillages are, in a word, elite:

• Gyms

• Pools

• Spas

• Schools

• Health centers

• Permaculture

• Jungle

From looking at the concept art, this is most definitely a place I wouldn’t mind living in.

The first Sanctum will be in Yucatan, Mexico, with more to follow soon after.

Decentralized Societies

The other thing that separates Sanctum from something like a hostel or Airbnb is its focus on society.

Sanctum doesn’t want to be just a place where people temporarily live. It wants to be a real-life manifestation of the network state.

For those unaware, the network state is the idea first posited by Balaji Srinivasan that technology enables the creation of communities and societies outside of the typical nation-state framework.

In Sanctum’s view, the network state is necessary in a world where the state is increasingly infringing on individual rights with developments like the social credit system, CBDCs, and facial recognition surveillance.

And they are not the only ones who believe so, as network state startups are becoming increasingly popular. Praxis is building a decentralized city. Afropolitan is building a digital nation. It is clear the network state has caught the eye of builders.

Maybe one day we’ll all be citizens of a decentralized society of lavish eco-villages. I know I wouldn’t complain.

QUICK HITS

Seed Round

Stat: 10,000: The amount of “poor performers” that Google is preparing to lay off.

Story we’re watching: 100 UK companies have signed up for a four-day week with no loss of pay. AKA, the reverse Elon Twitter method.

Rabbit hole: Fintech’s Steroid Era (Workweek)

WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON

• There was a record $9.12 billion in e-commerce sales on Black Friday, the first it’s ever breached $9 billion.

• Netflix’s new ad-supported tier is resulting in some shows being cut from Netflix. As a huge Attack on Titan fan, this is a painful loss.

• Art made with AI won at a Colorado state fair. Looking at the art, it’s hard to believe an AI created it.

• Crypto exchange Binance has committed $2 billion toward an “industry recovery fund”. Think Marshall Plan, but for crypto.

MONDAY MUSIC

Artist: Childish Gambino (Spotify)

Playlist: F*ck Up Some Commas Radio (Spotify)

Song: DNA by Kendrick Lamar (Spotify)

LAYOFFS TRACKER

Notable layoffs this week

Rapyd: 90 people (10%)

Lemon Cash: 100 people (38%)

Ribbon: 170 people (85%)

FOUNDERS CORNER

The best resources we came across this weekend that will help you become a better founder, builder, or investor.

🛠 Angel investor Cyril Grislain gives his thoughts on startup restructuring in a recession.

📕 Paul Graham gives his thoughts on the need to read and write well

😂 Here's the meme generator I use to make memes. It's 2022 and memes = marketing.