Epicenter - Learn about Crypto, Blockchain, Ethereum, Bitcoin and Distributed Technologies

Mark Miller: Agoric and the Decades-Long Quest for Secure Smart Contracts

Listen Later

We were joined by Mark S. Miller, Chief Scientist at Agoric. Mark is a computer scientist who has done ground-breaking work on many topics relevant to blockchain and smart contracts going back decades.

We discussed his visionary 1988 Agoric papers, which explored how markets could be applied to the world of software. We also covered how his view of smart contracts, which focused on secure bilateral agreements complements and converges with blockchain. Finally, we covered his new company Agoric and their conceptualization of higher order smart contracts.

Topics covered in this episode:

  • Mark's effort to prevent the government from suppressing the discovery of public key cryptography in the 1970s
  • The legendary project Xanadu and its attempt to create censorship-resistant web publishing
  • Mark's Agoric papers and the vision of markets for computation
  • Why AI hasn't changed the shortcomings of central planning
  • The difference between his view of smart contracts and Nick Szabo's
  • Their decade-spanning work on making JavaScript the best language for smart contracts
  • Agoric's work on higher order smart contracting

    • Episode links:

    • The Agoric Papers
    • Computer Security as the Future of Law - YouTube
    • Capability-based Financial Instruments (2000)
    • Distributed Electronic Rights in JavaScript – Google AI
    • Agoric at SF Cryptocurrency Devs - Programming Secure Smart Contracts -
      • YouTube
    • The Duality of Smart Contracts and Electronic Rights by Dean Tribble at
      • Web3 Summit 2018 - YouTube

      Sponsors:

      • Azure: Deploy enterprise-ready consortium blockchain networks that scale in just a few clicks - http://aka.ms/epicenter
      • Cosmos: Join the most interoperable ecosystem of connected blockchains - http://cosmos.network/epicenter

        • This episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain & Sunny Aggarwal. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/286

        ...more
        View all episodesView all episodes
        Download on the App Store
        Epicenter - Learn about Crypto, Blockchain, Ethereum, Bitcoin and Distributed TechnologiesBy Epicenter Media Ltd.
        • 4.7
        • 4.7
        • 4.7
        • 4.7
        • 4.7

        4.7

        186 ratings

        More shows like Epicenter - Learn about Crypto, Blockchain, Ethereum, Bitcoin and Distributed Technologies

        View all
        We Study Billionaires - The Investor’s Podcast Network by The Investor's Podcast Network

        We Study Billionaires - The Investor’s Podcast Network

        3,358 Listeners

        Macro Voices by Hedge Fund Manager Erik Townsend

        Macro Voices

        3,072 Listeners

        The a16z Show by Andreessen Horowitz

        The a16z Show

        1,104 Listeners

        Unchained by Laura Shin

        Unchained

        1,205 Listeners

        Hidden Forces by Demetri Kofinas

        Hidden Forces

        1,462 Listeners

        Real Vision: Finance & Investing by Real Vision Podcast Network

        Real Vision: Finance & Investing

        905 Listeners

        CRYPTO 101 by Bryce Paul & Brendan Viehman

        CRYPTO 101

        39 Listeners

        The Breakdown by Blockworks

        The Breakdown

        738 Listeners

        The Pomp Podcast by Anthony Pompliano

        The Pomp Podcast

        1,839 Listeners

        Thinking Crypto News & Interviews by Tony Edward

        Thinking Crypto News & Interviews

        251 Listeners

        Bankless by Bankless

        Bankless

        1,047 Listeners

        The Wolf Of All Streets by Scott Melker

        The Wolf Of All Streets

        243 Listeners

        Coin Stories with Natalie Brunell by Natalie Brunell

        Coin Stories with Natalie Brunell

        444 Listeners

        Raoul Pal: The Journey Man by Real Vision Podcast Network

        Raoul Pal: The Journey Man

        128 Listeners

        Forward Guidance by Blockworks

        Forward Guidance

        277 Listeners