code: @Deprecated
  public static byte[] convertLongToVarInt(long value) {
  	
  	// to make it threadsafe - could be optimized at a later stage
  	ByteBuffer longBB = ByteBuffer.allocate(EthereumUtil.LONG_SIZE);
  	
  	longBB.putLong(value);
  	byte[] result = longBB.array();
  	int leadingZeros=0;
  	for (int i=0;i<result.length;i++) {
  		if (result[i]==0) {
  			leadingZeros++;
  		} else {
  			break;
  		}
  	}
  	 return Arrays.copyOfRange(result, leadingZeros, result.length);
  }
docs: *
  Converts long to variable number without leading zeros
  
  @param value
  @return byte array containing variable number (without leading zeros)