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When Jed McCaleb discovered Bitcoin, there didn't even exist an online marketplace to trade the cryptocurrency yet. The experienced founder who had earlier started file sharing site eDonkey, acted fast and started the first Bitcoin exchange MtGox which he later sold to now-infamous Mark Karpeles. Jed later founded the pioneering Ripple project before leaving to start Stellar.

We discussed his journey through the industry and the ambitious plans Stellar has to create an open financial system that will give access to financial services to a much broader spectrum of humanity.

Topics covered included:

- Jed's early involvement in the industry and founding of MtGox and subsequently Ripple

- Why Jed left Ripple and started Stellar

- How Ripple and Stellar differ

- The Stellar Consensus Protocol

- Why the organization behind Stellar is a non-profit foundation

- Stellar's focus on developing markets and Nigeria in particular

- The role and distribution of Stellar's currency Lumen

Links mentioned in this episode:

- Stellar Website http://bit.ly/1XUNvCf

- Stellar Consensus Protocol http://bit.ly/1MWfMrJ

- Bitcoin-Lumen Giveaway http://bit.ly/233DGTG

- Stellar Graphic Novel http://bit.ly/1NwIXl7

- Digital Gold by Nathaniel Popper http://amzn.to/1LxK5im

Sponsors:

- Ledger Nano: Smart card security for your Bitcoins - Get 10% off your first order when you use the code EPICENTER at http://ledgerwallet.com

Show notes: http://epicenterbitcoin.com/podcast/128

YouTube: https://youtu.be/dHkrrMg9RUw

Epicenter Bitcoin is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain, Sébastien Couture & Meher Roy.

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