# Key Points from #hplusroadmap IRC Discussion

• Wei Dai, creator of the Crypto++ Library and potential Bitcoin creator "Satoshi Nakamoto," was influenced by Vernor Vinge's science fiction novel "A Fire Upon the Deep" to develop cryptography as protection against potential posthuman intelligences.

• The channel actively tracked cryptocurrency regulatory developments, with members transcribing a CFTC meeting about Bitcoin derivatives for the DIY H+ wiki, while comparing it unfavorably to Andreas Antonopoulos' testimony to Canadian senators.

• Members shared and discussed scientific research on sleep deprivation therapy for depression (correlating with serum BDNF changes), highlighting the community's interest in cognitive enhancement and mental health interventions.

• The group utilized "paperbot," a specialized tool for retrieving scientific papers via DOI or URL, to access research on topics ranging from the Dirichlet distribution to antibiotic-resistant bacteria and metabolic process models.

• A philosophical discussion emerged about the uneven distribution of technological progress, with participants noting how "space-age cavemen" coexist—some people living with advanced technology while others remain unaware of it.

• The historical Extropians mailing list was referenced as an example of early transhumanist communities that had ambitious ideas but sometimes lacked practical implementation skills to advance their technological visions.