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BT Young Scientist - qCrypt

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Comments

  • #32
    Bacchus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,812 ✭✭✭Bacchus


    1137HB wrote: »
    You are all talking pure ****e mainly because you're jealous. He's already on Forbes 30 under 30 list and he's only 18. Future millionaire in the making.

    You ok hun?

    1) That's fantastic that he's made that list. Well done to him. I don't think anyone here has begrudged him success despite your claim that "we're all jealous".
    2) Doesn't change the fact that his qCrypt library/algorithm is not well understood, has attracted no independent analysis (so his claims around security are completely unverified), and (most telling) there is no sign of it in the NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization process. So... I think all the questions about his algorithm, how it came about, what security it actually provides, etc. are all still valid and reasonable to raise.

    I've said before that for a 16 year old to operating at this level in crypto is to be applauded, and well done in his success so far. I just don't believe the security claims of this (now closed source... can't find the code anymore) crypto library. I wonder is it the qCrypt library that he's now pursuing, or maybe he's using the branding to creating something new in the same space, or is he moving on to something else completely?

    From the BTYS POV though, there's still questions around the judging process, and how 'independent' is the independent work by students. That's nothing against this guy in particular, it's more of a general comment on BTYS.


  • #33
    ironclaw
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,994 ✭✭✭ironclaw


    1137HB wrote: »
    You are all talking pure ****e mainly because you're jealous. He's already on Forbes 30 under 30 list and he's only 18. Future millionaire in the making.
    Curran, who's still at high school as he manages his small company, says he's expecting $5 million in revenue in 2018

    In case anyone is wondering the company is Muon and ' is a platform for quantum-secure, decentralized, hyper-fast storage allowing you to store, share and access all of your digital data.'

    Link: https://muon.network/

    Previous to this he worked here: https://rubicoin.com/

    I'll happily eat my words but seems like a classic pump and dump that would lure investors looking to jump on the blockchain/quantum wagon. Given the proximity of Muon to Berkley and some of the major US universities, the fact that none of them, at least that I can find, have given any sort of backing to this tech (I'd imagine MIT would be right on that) then I'm calling BS unless something comes up. Their PHD member has more experience in Capital Markets and his background is CS, not math.


  • #34
    Bacchus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,812 ✭✭✭Bacchus


    Agree with everything ironclaw said above. Cheers for sharing the link to this new company btw.

    TBH, it looks like they're working on hype as you suggest by getting on the quantum crypto band wagon. Their one page website is eerily similar to the page used for qCrypt, and is just a series of generic security promises, security related words with "Mu" prepended and other catchy phrases. There does not seem to be any substance to it.

    That's not to diminish the fact that this lad has gone off and set this company up which you know... well done, that's great... but it looks to me like it's good marketing/PR as opposed to having a substantial or novel security product behind it. But look, their timeline says they're a few months away from the first product release (decentralized storage) so... "watch this space".


  • #35
    ironclaw
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,994 ✭✭✭ironclaw


    I should make clear, I do hope I eat my words and munch down some humble pie, it would be awesome for the Irish to lead the charge on this. But every time I see a company like this, I remember some words from Gary Vaynerchuk along the lines of 'If you have an idea, any idea, in New York, just get the train out to the Hamptons and go door to door, eventually, someone will back you'

    A lot of people don't understand how angel investing works. There can be very little fact checking in the race to get in on a unicorn, compounded with machoism and the fear of missing out. The people running most of the high-end startups have no skin in the game and a lump of cash to work with. Getting investment can be surprisingly easy in some sectors. It's the dot-com of the 90s every day in SF. The blockchain buzz is a prime example, take a look at the angel lists and you'll see what I mean.

    Bottom line, it doesn't matter if it doesn't work out as long as it sells to investors who can talk about it and write off the loss if it tanks.


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