In this issue:
- Jock Language Developer Preview
- Arthur Hayes on the PvP Crypto Market
- Virtual Power Plants and Civilization's Growing Attack Surface
- "Art Deco Übermensch"
Jock Language Developer Preview
We're excited to share an early developer preview of Jock—a friendly, practical programming language that compiles natively to Nock.
Jock is not actually short for "Javascript for Nock," but that phrase captures the spirit of the project—to create an approachable, general-purpose language for the Nock ecosystem.
The language takes inspiration from Swift and Hoon. While still a work in progress, the preview includes example scripts and a unit test runner.
We intend to develop Jock into a fully standalone language that integrates seamlessly with the NockApp application framework, the Nock zkVM, and Nockchain. As an early preview, expect a few rough edges. The language is not yet feature-complete or fully specified.
We're releasing this preview because we want feedback from Nock developers. Play around with Jock and let us know what you think! File issues on Github, reach out on X, or hit reply to one of these emails.
PvP
Arthur Hayes argues that the current crypto market cycle is characterized by a "player vs. player" (PvP) mentality, where venture capitalists benefit at the expense of retail investors.
An analysis of 103 projects listed in 2024 demonstrates that new tokens have generally underperformed, regardless of their exchange listing. Listing on large centralized exchanges in no way guarantees token price increases. Instead, he argues that crypto projects should:
- Focus on creating genuine value for users
- Ensure early users and holders benefit from project success
- Consider smaller seed rounds
- Reduce launch valuations by 40-50%
- Avoid paying high listing fees to centralized exchanges
Virtualization: The Growing Attack Surface of Modern Civilization
Virtual power plants (VPPs) are software-based networks of decentralized energy resources coordinated to function as a single power plant, offering benefits like load balancing and grid stabilization. They include:
- Renewable sources (rooftop solar, small wind turbines)
- Battery storage systems
- Smart meters and inverters
- EV charging stations
- Demand response systems
However, virtualization tends to multiply cybersecurity vulnerabilities, as complex networked systems become impossible to audit, and connected devices increase attack vectors. Consider that the management system of a New York City building was hacked through one of its vending machines, causing $350M in damages.
A report from Lloyd's of London estimates that a severe cyberattack on the US power grid could cause economic losses between $243 billion and $1 trillion.
As virtualization increases, so too does the payoff for provably secure civilizational infrastructure.
"Art Deco Übermensch"
We've been admiring the work of Fen de Villiers, a fine art sculptor known for his monumental works in bronze and stone.
Originally from Scotland, he pursued his passion for sculpture in Antwerp, Belgium, where he studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts.
His work is influenced by early Modernist movements such as Futurism. Someone in the group chat called it "Art Deco Übermensch."
There is a heroic quality to the work, a celebration of human potential and the indomitable will.
