In this episode of Empire, Jason and Santi are joined by Erik Voorhees, the founder of Shapeshift and OG of the crypto industry (joining in 2011). Erik believes crypto can change the world, and this episode explores his thesis on Bitcoin's future, on-chain maximalism, DAO structures and crypto's path to adoption.

Highlights include:

- What is the best form of money

- Bitcoin's tail emission risk

- How DeFi will outperform CeFi

- Will all financial transactions be on-chain?

- The likely path to adoption

- Why DAO failures are a sign of innovation

- Thoughts on regulation

- The future of centralized exchanges

- Why Thorchain is a gamechanger

- -

Follow Erik: https://twitter.com/ErikVoorhees

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz

Follow Santi: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel

Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod

Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j

Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7

Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw

- -

ParaSwap:

If you want to make a swap at the best price across the DeFi market, check out http://paraswap.io/empire

ParaSwap’s state-of-the-art algorithm beats the market price across all major DEXs and brings you the most optimized swaps with the best prices and lowest slippage.

Disclaimer: 0 fees are limited to 3 weeks or first 500k.

- -

Attend DAS, crypto and macro’s favorite institutional conference: http://digitalassetsummit.co/

Use code EMPIRE250 to get $250 off tickets (Only available this week!)

--

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

--

(00:00) Introduction

(01:32) Moving Beyond Bitcoin 

(03:50) Bitcoin Is The Best Form of Money

(05:34) Bitcoin's Declining Block Subsidy

(11:13) Woke Culture vs Bitcoin Maximalism 

(12:50) The Bifurcation of CeFi and DeFi

(16:18) Limits to DeFi's Growth 

(22:50) Why Users Will Want To Use DeFi

(26:50) A Short and Long Term Vision of the World

(28:48) Paraswap Ad

(29:56) The Path to Adoption

(35:38) Is The Worst Behind Us?

(37:22) Erik's Current Focus

(38:38) DAO Structures and Experimentation

(46:08) A DAOs Most Important Use Case

(49:30) Iterative Regulation 

(55:54) Centralized Exchanges

(57:05) Thorchain's Use Case 

(58:48) Advice To New People In the Space

--

Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.