Then & Now: From the Financial Crisis to Blockchain—How John Coates is Redefining Trust, Credit, and Technology

The Financial Crisis as the Catalyst

The 2008 financial crisis was a turning point for the global economy, exposing fundamental flaws in centralized financial systems. Millions of people faced foreclosure as banks tightened credit access, while predatory lending practices kept families trapped in high-interest loans. It was a system designed to favor institutions over individuals, and for John Coates, this was a problem that demanded a solution.

Recognizing the crisis unfolding, Coates worked to develop community-driven credit scores, an innovative approach that allowed individuals to leverage their community’s financial credibility to improve their own standing. This method, known as credit piggybacking, enabled borrowers to reduce mortgage rates and avoid foreclosure—a critical lifeline at a time when traditional lenders were failing the public.

At the same time, another revolution was quietly taking shape: Bitcoin and blockchain technology were born out of the financial crisis, offering a decentralized alternative to banking and finance. Both blockchain and community-driven credit scores stemmed from the same core idea—trust and financial power should reside with the people, not centralized institutions.

Engineering a Better Future: John Coates as an Innovator

Coates’ contributions go far beyond financial reform. He is an inventor and engineer, holding patents in LiFi technology, interferometry, and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) systems. Among his groundbreaking innovations is a FAR-UV LiFi system (Patent: US11700058B2), which merges photon and proton management for cutting-edge applications in wireless communication and sterilization technology.

Beyond hardware innovations, Coates is also at the forefront of AI development. As a core engineer behind Melanie AI (Machine Enhanced Logic and Natural Intelligence Engine), his work integrates AI with decentralized governance to create self-sustaining, transparent systems. His role in Quanta X Technologies further expands his impact, bridging quantum science, AI, and blockchain into unified, real-world applications.

BestDealOn.com: Merging Blockchain & Community-Driven Credit

Building on decades of innovation and advocacy, Coates is now leading the charge with BestDealOn.com—a fully decentralized, community-governed crypto marketplace. This platform merges blockchain’s trustless verification with the community-driven credit scoring model that Coates pioneered during the financial crisis.

How BestDealOn.com Solves Today’s Problems:

• No Centralized Authority: Governance is determined by token holders, not corporations.
• Wallet-Based Credit Scoring (WBSC): Reputation is built on-chain, removing reliance on traditional credit bureaus.
• Low & Transparent Fees: Transactions cost a fraction of traditional marketplaces like Amazon or eBay.
• NFT-Based Advertising System: A revolutionary first-right-of-refusal model allows advertisers to own, trade, and renew ad placements dynamically.

This approach unifies governance tokens, utility tokens, payment tokens, and NFTs into a functional, community-driven marketplace, where users control their financial and commercial future.

The Big Picture: Decentralized Trust is the Future

John Coates has spent his career challenging centralized control—whether in finance, e-commerce, AI, or wireless technology. His work with BestDealOn.com is a natural progression of his lifelong mission: to empower people through decentralized systems that prioritize transparency, security, and fairness.

As blockchain technology continues to evolve, the next phase of innovation will focus on self-governing AI systems, decentralized commerce, and non-traditional credit scoring models—all areas where Coates is already leading the charge.

The future of trust isn’t built on banks or corporations—it’s built by the people, for the people.

Join the Movement

BestDealOn.com represents the next evolution in decentralized finance and commerce. Join us as we build a system that rewards trust, transparency, and community-driven decision-making.

The financial revolution started in 2008. Now, we’re taking it to the next level.

Then & Now: The Evolution of the First-Right-of-Refusal Advertising Marketplace

The Origins of a Decentralized Advertising System

Long before the rise of blockchain and smart contracts, John Coates was already pioneering a marketplace-driven approach to digital advertising. In the early 2000s, BestDealOn.com implemented a First-Right-of-Refusal (FROR) advertising marketplace, built on a MySQL database. This system allowed advertisers to reserve, renew, and trade ad placements dynamically, creating a free-market approach to digital ad space allocation.

At its core, the system worked like a tokenized options market for ad space—before NFTs and smart contracts were even conceptualized in this way. It provided advertisers with the opportunity to lock in premium ad placements with an exclusive right to renew before it went back on the open market.

How It Worked Then: The 2005 Prototype

• Database-Driven Ad Slots: Advertisers could purchase ad space for a given timeframe, recorded in a MySQL system.
• First-Right-of-Refusal (FROR): Before an ad placement expired, the current owner had the option to renew at market rates.
• Marketplace Liquidity: If an advertiser chose not to renew, the ad slot returned to the open market for bidding.
• Pre-NFT Digital Asset Ownership: While these ad placements were not tokenized, the concept of resellable digital assets was already being explored.

This system proved to be an efficient, fair, and scalable way to manage advertising real estate, rewarding early adopters and allowing businesses to plan campaigns over time. However, the limitations of centralized database management and the lack of programmable automation meant that a more advanced solution was needed.

Now: The Blockchain Revolution in Ad Space Trading

With the advent of blockchain and smart contracts, the original FROR marketplace is being reborn in a trustless, decentralized form. Today, BestDealOn.com is implementing NFT-based advertising slots, leveraging blockchain technology to:

• Automate FROR Contracts: Each ad slot is now represented by an NFT with an embedded renewal right, eliminating the need for centralized database management.
• Create a Liquid Secondary Market: Advertisers can now buy, sell, or trade their first-right-of-refusal options, allowing for a completely open, dynamic advertising economy.
• Transparent & On-Chain Transactions: Every bid, renewal, and transfer of ownership is recorded on the blockchain, ensuring complete transparency.
• Reduced Dependence on Centralized Gatekeepers: Unlike Google Ads or Facebook, where algorithms dictate pricing and visibility, BestDealOn.com’s system ensures that market forces determine ad value.

The Power of First-Right-of-Refusal (FROR) on Blockchain

With this new blockchain-powered system, advertisers now own their ad placements as digital assets. The FROR model ensures that:

1. High-performing ad spaces become valuable investments. Businesses that secure prime ad slots can choose to renew or sell their rights for profit.
2. Market-driven pricing replaces arbitrary fees. Instead of relying on corporate ad platforms to dictate pricing, the marketplace determines ad value based on supply and demand.
3. Ad buyers are protected from sudden price hikes. Unlike traditional ad networks that raise prices unpredictably, FROR ensures predictable renewal terms for advertisers.
4. Smart contract automation reduces inefficiencies. With NFT-based ownership, there’s no need for manual database updates or intervention—renewals, transfers, and expirations all happen seamlessly on-chain.

The Future: A Global, Decentralized Ad Economy

BestDealOn.com’s NFT-based advertising system is more than just a technology upgrade—it represents a fundamental shift in digital marketing ownership. This model creates a fair and open system where advertisers control their own visibility, rather than being at the mercy of corporate-run ad platforms.

As blockchain technology continues to evolve, the FROR advertising marketplace has the potential to expand beyond digital banners, applying to:

• Sponsored content slots on decentralized websites.
• Ad placements in the metaverse and VR spaces.
• Streaming service ad breaks auctioned dynamically via smart contracts.

Join the Advertising Revolution

By bringing blockchain to a system first conceptualized nearly two decades ago, BestDealOn.com is leading the charge in decentralizing digital marketing. Advertisers, investors, and blockchain enthusiasts alike now have the chance to participate in a self-regulating, high-value ad economy.

The future of advertising is here—transparent, fair, and owned by the people.

Then & Now: The Evolution of Credit Scores and Community-Driven Financial Trust

Then: The Era of Traditional Credit Scoring and Community Credit Piggybacking

In the early 2000s, John Coates was at the forefront of financial innovation, recognizing the systemic flaws within traditional credit scoring systems. At the time, creditworthiness was determined by centralized institutions like FICO, which assigned a credit score to individuals based on factors such as payment history, debt-to-income ratio, and credit utilization.

The CNN Interview: Exposing Credit System Loopholes

During the financial crisis, Coates appeared on CNN, discussing the credit piggybacking process, a method that allowed individuals with lower credit scores to benefit from being added as an authorized user on a high-credit individual’s account. This community-driven model democratized credit access and gave financially underserved individuals a chance to secure better loan terms, lower mortgage rates, and avoid foreclosure.

How Credit Piggybacking Worked:

• Individuals with strong credit histories would add others as authorized users on their credit cards.
• The positive payment history and account longevity reflected on the authorized user’s credit report.
• The process helped boost credit scores quickly, providing financial relief to those struggling with high interest rates.
• This was a community-driven approach to credit, leveraging financial trust within networks rather than relying solely on institutional assessments.

While the practice was legal and widely used within families and financial networks, institutions pushed back, labeling it a loophole that challenged their monopolistic grip on creditworthiness. Banks and credit agencies ultimately worked to phase out the effectiveness of credit piggybacking, further limiting access to financial mobility for millions.

Now: The Birth of Community-Driven Blockchain Credit Scoring

Fast forward to today, and the need for community-driven credit solutions is greater than ever. With the emergence of blockchain technology, BestDealOn.com is revolutionizing credit scoring by removing centralized control and shifting the credit system to the blockchain.

How Blockchain-Based Credit Scoring Works

Unlike traditional credit scores tied to Social Security numbers, this new system is tied to blockchain wallet addresses, allowing for:

• Trustless & Transparent Credit History: Every successful transaction is recorded on-chain, making credit scores fully verifiable and tamper-proof.
• Decentralized Reputation System: Instead of relying on a single entity like FICO, the community determines trustworthiness through on-chain transactions and lending behavior.
• No Gatekeepers: Financial institutions can no longer deny credit access based on arbitrary rules—blockchain credit scores provide borderless financial inclusion.
• Incentivized Good Financial Behavior: Users who engage in responsible lending, timely payments, and peer-to-peer transactions build their blockchain credit scores over time.

BestDealOn.com: A New Credit Economy

BestDealOn.com integrates community-driven blockchain credit into its decentralized marketplace, ensuring that:

• Users can earn credibility through successful transactions, not arbitrary financial gatekeepers.
• Marketplace sellers and buyers are ranked based on on-chain reputation, not traditional credit histories.
• High-reputation users receive lower transaction fees and premium marketplace placement.
• This system mirrors the trust-based nature of credit piggybacking, but removes the reliance on third-party institutions.

The Future: Financial Freedom Through Community-Backed Credit

The shift from traditional Social Security-based credit scoring to blockchain wallet-based scoring represents the next step in financial democratization. Just as Coates pioneered community credit piggybacking to help families keep their homes, his work with BestDealOn.com ensures that credit scores are now controlled by the people—not financial elites.

With blockchain-based reputation systems, individuals can own their financial trustworthiness, free from corporate interference. As adoption grows, this model could reshape global finance, making financial inclusion a reality for billions.

Join the Credit Revolution

The old credit system was built to serve institutions. The new credit system is built to serve the people. BestDealOn.com is leading this transformation—where trust is earned transparently, not dictated by corporations.

The future of credit is here—decentralized, fair, and community-driven.

 

Then & Now: The Evolution of Credit Scores and Community-Driven Financial Trust

Then: The Era of Traditional Credit Scoring and Community Credit Piggybacking

In the early 2000s, John Coates was at the forefront of financial innovation, recognizing the systemic flaws within traditional credit scoring systems. At the time, creditworthiness was determined by centralized institutions like FICO, which assigned a credit score to individuals based on factors such as payment history, debt-to-income ratio, and credit utilization.

The CNN Interview: Exposing Credit System Loopholes

During the financial crisis, Coates appeared on CNN, discussing the credit piggybacking process, a method that allowed individuals with lower credit scores to benefit from being added as an authorized user on a high-credit individual’s account. This community-driven model democratized credit access and gave financially underserved individuals a chance to secure better loan terms, lower mortgage rates, and avoid foreclosure.

How Credit Piggybacking Worked:

• Individuals with strong credit histories would add others as authorized users on their credit cards.
• The positive payment history and account longevity reflected on the authorized user’s credit report.
• The process helped boost credit scores quickly, providing financial relief to those struggling with high interest rates.
• This was a community-driven approach to credit, leveraging financial trust within networks rather than relying solely on institutional assessments.

While the practice was legal and widely used within families and financial networks, institutions pushed back, labeling it a loophole that challenged their monopolistic grip on creditworthiness. Banks and credit agencies ultimately worked to phase out the effectiveness of credit piggybacking, further limiting access to financial mobility for millions.

Now: The Birth of Community-Driven Blockchain Credit Scoring

Fast forward to today, and the need for community-driven credit solutions is greater than ever. With the emergence of blockchain technology, BestDealOn.com is revolutionizing credit scoring by removing centralized control and shifting the credit system to the blockchain.

How Blockchain-Based Credit Scoring Works

Unlike traditional credit scores tied to Social Security numbers, this new system is tied to blockchain wallet addresses, allowing for:

• Trustless & Transparent Credit History: Every successful transaction is recorded on-chain, making credit scores fully verifiable and tamper-proof.
• Decentralized Reputation System: Instead of relying on a single entity like FICO, the community determines trustworthiness through on-chain transactions and lending behavior.
• No Gatekeepers: Financial institutions can no longer deny credit access based on arbitrary rules—blockchain credit scores provide borderless financial inclusion.
• Incentivized Good Financial Behavior: Users who engage in responsible lending, timely payments, and peer-to-peer transactions build their blockchain credit scores over time.

BestDealOn.com: A New Credit Economy

BestDealOn.com integrates community-driven blockchain credit into its decentralized marketplace, ensuring that:

• Users can earn credibility through successful transactions, not arbitrary financial gatekeepers.
• Marketplace sellers and buyers are ranked based on on-chain reputation, not traditional credit histories.
• High-reputation users receive lower transaction fees and premium marketplace placement.
• This system mirrors the trust-based nature of credit piggybacking, but removes the reliance on third-party institutions.

The Future: Financial Freedom Through Community-Backed Credit

The shift from traditional Social Security-based credit scoring to blockchain wallet-based scoring represents the next step in financial democratization. Just as Coates pioneered community credit piggybacking to help families keep their homes, his work with BestDealOn.com ensures that credit scores are now controlled by the people—not financial elites.

With blockchain-based reputation systems, individuals can own their financial trustworthiness, free from corporate interference. As adoption grows, this model could reshape global finance, making financial inclusion a reality for billions.

Join the Credit Revolution

The old credit system was built to serve institutions. The new credit system is built to serve the people. BestDealOn.com is leading this transformation—where trust is earned transparently, not dictated by corporations.

The future of credit is here—decentralized, fair, and community-driven.

 

About John Coates: A Lifetime of Innovation and Advocacy

Early Life and Engineering Beginnings

John Coates has dedicated his life to pushing the boundaries of engineering, physics, and technological innovation. His journey began at just 15 years old, when he enrolled in Tidewater Community College’s engineering program before he could even drive. This early start set the stage for a career defined by cutting-edge research, entrepreneurship, and advocacy.

Entrepreneurial Ventures in Aspen, Colorado

Before entering the world of technology and telecommunications, Coates was an entrepreneur in Aspen, Colorado, where he founded:

• Aspen Limousine, a premier transportation service in the Rocky Mountains.
• Coates Tire and Auto, an automotive repair and maintenance business that catered to high-performance vehicles and local residents.

Founder of RF Safe: Pioneering EMF Protection

John Coates is best known as the founder of RFsafe.com, a pioneering company in the field of electromagnetic radiation safety. Over the years, he has introduced numerous first-to-market products designed to protect users from the potential dangers of wireless radiation, including:

• Anti-Radiation Phone Cases
• Air Tube Headsets
• EMF-Shielded Belly Bands
• Radiation-Blocking Apparel

His work has been instrumental in raising awareness about the health risks associated with prolonged RF exposure, and he remains a leading voice in the fight for safer telecommunications standards.

Advocate for Telecommunications Reform

Beyond product innovation, Coates is a staunch advocate for legislative changes that prioritize public health over corporate interests. He has been a vocal opponent of Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act, which restricts communities from opposing cell tower placements based on health concerns. Additionally, he is a strong proponent of Public Law 90-602, which addresses non-ionizing radiation exposure and the need for updated safety regulations.

Webmaster of Liberty Unites: A Platform for Free Speech & Tribute

Since 2001, Coates has been the webmaster of LibertyUnites, an online tribute and free speech platform dedicated to honoring fallen soldiers and victims of terror. The site hosts:

• Over 10,000 tributes
• Tens of thousands of prayers and condolences

Liberty Unites has remained a free and open platform for discourse and remembrance, championing the values of free speech and digital preservation.

The Future: Blockchain, AI, and Decentralized Marketplaces

John Coates continues to be at the forefront of technological innovation, integrating his expertise in engineering, AI, and blockchain technology into his latest ventures. His blockchain-based initiative, BestDealOn.com, is designed to redefine trust and reputation through decentralized, community-driven credit scoring and marketplace systems.

With a lifetime of engineering excellence, entrepreneurial success, and policy advocacy, Coates remains committed to empowering individuals with the tools, knowledge, and technology to shape a safer and more transparent future.

Connect with John Coates

For more information about John Coates’ work and ongoing projects, visit:

• RFsafe.com – Leading innovations in RF safety.
• LibertyUnites – A free speech and tribute platform.
• BestDealOn.com – The future of decentralized commerce.