Other Life

Urbit, Nockchain, and the Current State of Sovereignty Technology


Listen Later

In this episode, I review the state of Urbit and my history with this ambitious project to rebuild the internet. I explain why I stepped back, detailing what's happened with the network in the past few years, including the challenges faced by startups attempting to build on the platform and the surprising return of founder Curtis Yarvin. I take an honest look at how my initial timeline expectations were off, and other mistakes I made.

This period taught me a lot about technology, market sentiment, and cognition. I share how the experience has shaped my current thinking, as well as my current work with Zorp, a startup from the Urbit ecosystem now building Nockchain. I discuss the attraction of zero-knowledge proofs and why I've adopted a more patient attitude in my relationship with radical technology projects, now preferring to work behind the scenes if I really believe in something.

This is my first update on what I've been doing with Nockchain over the past year, helping to build their audience.

01:21 Discovering Urbit
02:44 Involvement with Urbit
04:44 Challenges and Reflections
05:38 The Independent Scholar
06:57 Urbit's Market Dynamics
15:31 Urbit Startups and Setbacks
22:49 The Rise and Fall of Urbit
23:38 Orbit's Struggles and My Realizations
24:54 Current State and Future Potential of Urbit
31:42 The Promise of Zero Knowledge Proofs
35:18 Introducing Nock Chain
38:31 Reflections and Lessons Learned
45:05 The Launch of Nock Chain


Other Life
✦ The coolest free newsletter in the world: https://otherlife.co
✦ The monthly PRINT edition: https://otherlife.co/upgrade
✦ My new book, The Independent Scholar: https://otherlife.co/scholar

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Other LifeBy Justin Murphy

  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4

4.4

180 ratings


More shows like Other Life

View all
The Joe Rogan Experience by Joe Rogan

The Joe Rogan Experience

228,777 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,454 Listeners

Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast by Matt McCusker & Shane Gillis

Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast

11,431 Listeners

The Tim Dillon Show by The Tim Dillon Show

The Tim Dillon Show

12,863 Listeners

This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von by Theo Von

This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von

27,904 Listeners

Interesting Times with Ross Douthat by New York Times Opinion

Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

7,229 Listeners

Calmversations by Benjamin Boyce

Calmversations

372 Listeners

Demolisten by demolisten

Demolisten

137 Listeners

How Long Gone by Chris Black & Jason Stewart / Talkhouse

How Long Gone

947 Listeners

Doomscroll with Joshua Citarella by Joshua Citarella

Doomscroll with Joshua Citarella

286 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,836 Listeners

Compact Podcast by Compact

Compact Podcast

81 Listeners

The Auron MacIntyre Show by Blaze Podcast Network

The Auron MacIntyre Show

508 Listeners

The Tucker Carlson Show by Tucker Carlson Network

The Tucker Carlson Show

16,924 Listeners