Crypto Voices

Crypto Voices: Episode 42

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Matthew interviews Danielius Stasiulis, co-founder of BitDegree.

We discuss the ever-present topic of education, and the possibility of disrupting and bringing its cost down via the blockchain. This is the second show on Crypto Voices covering a project on Ethereum that has leveraged an ICO. We start by discussing Danielius's business background in Lithuania and Eastern Europe, and why he decided to get into the blockchain space. We cover a variety of interesting facets about business in CEE, such as the lack of venture capital funding (ever, since fall of the Soviet Union), and why Lithuanians are leading the charge in ICOs. We discuss the warming to blockchain that is occurring for regulators in Lithuania, and why Danielius believes they are thinking critically on the potential of the technology for their local economy. Danielius informs that BitDegree is the first approved ICO/utility token in Lithuania, and likely in Europe outside of the major markets (Switzerland, Gibraltar, etc.). We then turn to education, and why Danielius believes the incentive structure offered by tokens can disrupt the old trade and bring its cost down for students. We look at some of the token economics, and how it fits together with learners, educators, and businesses. We discuss the costs of education around the world, and how this new model could be a breakthrough in delivering skills to unskilled workers. We explore some of the business relationships between BitDegree's founders, its foundation, and coinholders. Last but not least, Danielius informs and invites everyone to their Block Forum conference in Vilnius, 14-17 June.

Links for more info:

https://twitter.com/DStasiulis

https://twitter.com/bitdegree_org

https://www.bitdegree.org/

https://www.blockforum.eu/

https://www.cofmag.com/lithuanian-ico-boom/

Show sponsor: https://hodlhodl.com/

Hosts: Matthew Mežinskis, Fernando Ulrich

Music: New Friend Music newfriendmusic.com/

Site: cryptovoices.com/

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Cryptoeconomics & Liberty

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Show content is not investment advice in any way.

Crypto Voices: Episode 41

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Matthew and Fernando interview Jameson Lopp, professional cypherpunk.

We start asking Jameson 'what is Bitcoin?'. We explore some of his prior writings, and get his latest perspectives on difficult topics (in the world of Bitcoin) such as roadmaps, scaling, technical upgrades, and consensus. We take some time to unpack the idea of bugs in the code and the human factor involved in dealing with them if and when they surface (and preventing them). We explore his new non-custodial, cryptoasset key-storing service Casa, and some of the features and benefits he and his partners will offer. We discuss some economic and risk-topics surrounding Bitcoin and other cryptoassets (such as ICOs). We close with his latest (brief, more philosophical) thoughts on the risks Proof-of-Work and Proof-of-Stake.

Links for more info:

https://twitter.com/lopp

http://lopp.net/

https://statoshi.info/

https://keys.casa/

https://www.coindesk.com/nobody-understands-bitcoin-thats-ok/

Show sponsor: https://hodlhodl.com/

Hosts: Matthew Mežinskis, Fernando Ulrich

Music: New Friend Music newfriendmusic.com/

Site: cryptovoices.com/

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Cryptoeconomics & Liberty

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Show content is not investment advice in any way.

Crypto Voices: Episode 40

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Matthew and Fernando interview Dr. Lawrence White, professor of economics at George Mason University and senior fellow at the Cato Institute.

This is a continuation of sorts of our very first episode/guest with Dr. George Selgin (who has worked closely with Dr. White over the years, and originally studied under him). Dr. White is an expert in monetary and banking history. He begins with a broad overview of fractional reserve banking, his views according to the modern free banking school, and their differences with 100% reserve Austrian economists. We discuss the development of monies over time, and the various reasons why Bitcoin diverges from this blueprint, such as its prior, non-monetary use cases and fixed supply. We explore why academic experts look askance at Bitcoin. Dr. White gives a primer on the economy and banking reserves through the lenses of a gold standard, fiat standard, and bitcoin standard. We talk a bit about the current global financial system, and the optimistic (yet cautious) role he sees for Bitcoin in it. We conclude with the archetype of "Blockchain Dan" (a path which Fernando and Matthew are arguably on), and reflections from Dr. White on the monetary enthusiasm of undergraduates over the years. Finally, he reveals he is working on a new book comparing gold and bitcoin!

Links for more info:

https://twitter.com/lawrencehwhite1

https://www.cato.org/people/lawrence-white

https://www.alt-m.org/author/white/

https://mason.gmu.edu/~lwhite11/biography.html

https://mises-media.s3.amazonaws.com/rae9_2_5_4.pdf?file=1&type=document

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rk6N8PIf0g

Show sponsor: https://hodlhodl.com/

Hosts: Matthew Mežinskis, Fernando Ulrich

Music: New Friend Music newfriendmusic.com/

Site: cryptovoices.com/

Podcast & Information

Cryptoeconomics & Liberty

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Show content is not investment advice in any way.

Crypto Voices: Episode 39

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Matthew and Fernando interview Zooko Wilcox, co-founder of the Zcash cryptocurrency protocol and CEO of the Zerocoin Electric Coin Company.

Very interesting and broad discussion on the various social and economic implications of privacy. Zooko explores the numerous reasons for privacy coins, where Bitcoin has taken us with its success, how he hopes Zcash can take us further, why it's needed, and how privacy coins can effect society. We explore some straw men (dark markets) in terms of their analog comparisons today. We discuss other use-cases for privacy coins. We discuss some facets of the Zcash team and protocol, including some of the reasoning behind establishing a company to launch the currency. He notes the importance of security audits. He addresses the open questions on improving Bitcoin versus improving other coins (such as with privacy upgrades). Zooko concludes with some reflections on DigiCash, as well as some lessons on the importance of not resting on laurels in building this technology for the future.

Links for more info:

https://twitter.com/zooko

https://z.cash/

https://www.imf.org/~/media/Files/Publications/WP/2018/wp1817.ashx

https://www.coindesk.com/how-bitcoin-helps-afghan-girls-achieve-financial-freedom/

Show sponsor: https://hodlhodl.com/

Hosts: Matthew Mežinskis, Fernando Ulrich

Music: New Friend Music newfriendmusic.com/

Site: cryptovoices.com/

Podcast & Information

Cryptoeconomics & Liberty

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Show content is not investment advice in any way.

Crypto Voices: Episode 38 (Part II)

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Matthew (Fernando had to jet after Part I) interviews Paul Sztorc, computer scientist and founder of Bitcoin Hivemind and Drivechain protocols. This episode is part II of II.

In Part II we discuss some of Paul's recent writings and updates on the Drivechain protocol, and how Bitcoin can scale via sidechains. Related to this we discuss Bitcoin maximalism versus altcoin development. As for Drivechain, Paul's prediction market Bitcoin Hivemind (discussed in Part I) would be a key component of this new protocol, but the idea is that developers, businesses, and enthusiasts from any blockchain or scaling project could operate on Bitcoin (on- and off-chain) under the same 21 million coin protocol. We also discuss thoughts on some of the politics of Bitcoin, and how sidechains could emerge eventually via soft fork, hard fork, futures market, or a new protocol entirely (said paths are not mutually exclusive).

Links for more info:

https://twitter.com/truthcoin

http://bitcoinhivemind.com/

http://www.drivechain.info/

http://www.truthcoin.info/blog/

https://youtu.be/tzaVt7uN4p4

https://youtu.be/gUbGT70wy5k

Show sponsor: https://hodlhodl.com/

Hosts: Matthew Mežinskis, Fernando Ulrich

Music: New Friend Music newfriendmusic.com/

Site: cryptovoices.com/

Podcast & Information

Cryptoeconomics & Liberty

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Show content is not investment advice in any way.

Crypto Voices: Episode 38 (Part I)

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Matthew and Fernando interview Paul Sztorc, computer scientist and founder of Bitcoin Hivemind and Drivechain protocols. This episode is part I of II.

We discuss Paul's journey into prediction markets, and their potential in a decentralized market using Bitcoin; how a prediction market works and some of its features; governance and affecting political change via prediction markets; building prediction markets on Bitcoin versus other protocols (such as Ethereum); finally, we begin discussing the importance of Bitcoin sidechain protocols as they can/should relate to prediction markets, and Paul's protocol Drivechain specifically (more on this next week).

Links for more info:

https://twitter.com/truthcoin

http://bitcoinhivemind.com/

http://www.drivechain.info/

http://www.truthcoin.info/blog/

https://youtu.be/tzaVt7uN4p4

https://youtu.be/gUbGT70wy5k

Show sponsor: https://hodlhodl.com/

Hosts: Matthew Mežinskis, Fernando Ulrich

Music: New Friend Music newfriendmusic.com/

Site: cryptovoices.com/

Podcast & Information

Cryptoeconomics & Liberty

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Show content is not investment advice in any way.

Crypto Voices: Episode 37

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Matthew and Fernando interview Jeremy Gardner, co-founder & managing partner at Ausum Ventures.

We discuss Jeremy's history at Augur and his current view on the platform for the future; his thoughts on ICOs in general and the state of the market today; his thesis on which and how many decentralized protocols there will be in the future; his interest in venture and what he and his team are focusing on at Ausum VC; the price-stable coin Basecoin; the future of regulation around these protocols; and some book recommendations.

Links for more info:

https://twitter.com/Disruptepreneur

https://twitter.com/AusumVentures

https://www.ausum.vc/

https://distributed.com/

https://www.blockchainedu.org/

http://www.augur.net/

http://www.getbasecoin.com/

Show sponsor: https://hodlhodl.com/

Hosts: Matthew Mežinskis, Fernando Ulrich

Music: New Friend Music newfriendmusic.com/

Site: cryptovoices.com/

Podcast & Information

Cryptoeconomics & Liberty

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Show content is not investment advice in any way.

Crypto Voices: Article 48

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Category: Markets & political

Author: Andreas Antonopoulos

Originally published: 12-Mar-2014

Published at: Andreas M. Antonopoulos

Source: https://antonopoulos.com/failure-is-an-option/

Narrator: Crypto Voices https://cryptovoices.com/

Production: Mama Studios http://www.mamastudios.eu/

Music: New Friend Music http://newfriendmusic.com/

Thanks for listening!

This recording is a reproduction of author Andreas Antonopoulos's piece 'Failure is a fundamental component of business evolution'. The author's original work is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY 4.0. In addition, Crypto Voices did receive express permission from the author to reproduce this content in audio. However, the author does not necessarily endorse the manner of reproduction, nor has verified its recorded accuracy as it relates to the author's original material. Crypto Voices is grateful to work with such authors in this exciting industry.

Crypto Voices: Episode 36

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Matthew and Fernando interview Paul Puey, founder and CEO of mobile blockchain wallet Edge.

We discuss lots of security topics in Bitcoin and other crypto assets, specifically regarding the average user’s concerns. Paul details his history in tech and how we got into Bitcoin, as well as why he decided to found Edge (formerly known as Airbitz). We cover the current differences between the newly branded Edge wallet versus Airbitz, and the longer-term plans for the company under the Edge brand. We cover a good deal of time on the exchanges, how their business model differs from wallet providers, security versus utility versus risk, how they work together, fees, and some of the challenges of centralized entities (exchanges) in crypto versus more decentralized ones, such as client-side wallet providers. We discuss some of the technical, longer-term prospects for Edge, such as when and how multi-sig will be usable and easy for the average user (across crypto assets, not just in Bitcoin). Also, will the future of crypto use wallets? We further do some speculating on more philosophical questions, such as will all bitcoin in the world eventually be lost (or stolen)? Paul has some cautious views on the Lightning Network, which tandems with their more crypto-agnostic efforts and company direction.

Links for more info:

https://twitter.com/paullinator

https://edgesecure.co/

https://edgesecure.co/developer/

https://airbitz.co/

Show sponsor: https://hodlhodl.com/

Hosts: Matthew Mežinskis, Fernando Ulrich

Music: New Friend Music newfriendmusic.com/

Site: cryptovoices.com/

Podcast & Information

Cryptoeconomics & Liberty

Thanks for listening!

Show content is not investment advice in any way.

Crypto Voices: Article 47

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Category: Investment

Author: Henry Brade

Originally published: 9-Jun-2016

Published at: Medium

Source: https://medium.com/@Technomage/10-good-reasons-to-buy-bitcoin-now-9c5438893df9#.bdi9txje1

Narrator: Crypto Voices https://cryptovoices.com/

Production: Mama Studios http://www.mamastudios.eu/

Music: New Friend Music http://newfriendmusic.com/

Thanks for listening!

This recording is a reproduction of author Henry Brade's piece '10 Good Reasons To Buy Bitcoin Now'. Crypto Voices did receive express permission from the author to reproduce this content in audio. However, the author does not necessarily endorse the manner of reproduction, nor has verified its recorded accuracy as it relates to the author's original material. Crypto Voices is grateful to work with such authors in this exciting industry.

Podcast & Information

Cryptoeconomics & Liberty

Thanks for listening!

Show content is not investment advice in any way.