October 27, 2017

Blockchain Is the New Pets.com

Here’s the latest from the world of internet bubble-osity:

Bloomberg provides the details:

A British company that has been investing in internet and information businesses is having its best day on record.

On-line Plc jumped as much as 394 percent on Friday after announcing plans to change its name to On-line Blockchain Plc….“Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies are a new and exciting area we have been working on for some time,” the Essex-based company said in a statement on Thursday. “We feel the time is right to re-name the company to reflect these developments, where we believe the future growth will be in our sector.” The shares pared gains after the company published a follow-up release on Friday, cautioning investors that the development of its blockchain product is still at an early stage.

Ah yes, early stages indeed. Here’s what the company said this morning:

As announced yesterday, the Company has worked as an incubator and investor in internet and information businesses and the Company has been investigating the development of potential applications and customer markets. In particular, the Company has focused on information technology where On-line’s links with ADVFN provide an opportunity to develop a Blockchain-based product to support financial website users’ ratings of information contributors using token-based applications.

Shareholders should note that the while the Company has identified an initial product, the Company’s development of a Block-chain product is still at an early stage of investigation and development, and its current plans envisage that the first application will only be tested early in 2018.

Roger that. But it dampened enthusiasm only a bit:

From Thusday to the close of Friday, the stock tripled in value because it’s “investigating” an extension of its product line that would use “token-based applications” to help web commenters on financial boards more reliably rate “information contributors” (i.e., fellow commenters).

This is just one report from the world of penny stocks. It probably doesn’t mean anything. But for those of us of a certain age who used to work in the tech industry, it brings back memories.

WE CAME UP SHORT.

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WE CAME UP SHORT.

We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

So we urgently need this specific ask, what you're reading right now, to start bringing in more donations than it ever has. The reality, for these next few months and next few years, is that we have to start finding ways to grow our online supporter base in a big way—and we're optimistic we can keep making real headway by being real with you about this.

Because the bottom line: Corporations and powerful people with deep pockets will never sustain the type of journalism Mother Jones exists to do. The only investors who won’t let independent, investigative journalism down are the people who actually care about its future—you.

And we hope you might consider pitching in before moving on to whatever it is you're about to do next. We really need to see if we'll be able to raise more with this real estate on a daily basis than we have been, so we're hoping to see a promising start.

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