One of crypto’s favorite narratives has always been that it can help people in places where their local currency is being debased. Venezuela, with its 1,000,000% inflation rate and political instability, has been a prime topic of conversation. As the situation in Venezuela unravels further, Jill and Meltem bring you up to speed on what’s going on, what role crypto can (and cannot) play, and what fundamental challenges the crypto community has yet to address.
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This podcast is presented by BlockWorks Group. For exclusive content and events that provide insights into the crypto and blockchain space, visit them at:
https://www.blockworksgroup.io

Episode 5: Venezuela: Living in a Powder Keg

From Meltem Demirors and Jill Carlson, welcome to What Grinds My Gears, a podcast about the bizarre and buzzworthy happenings in the world of cryptocurrency. Each week, we delve into one key theme in crypto, and examine this theme through a broader financial, political, and cultural lens to learn from the past, understand the present, and explore the future.

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Jill and Meltem reunite amidst corona-madness to breakdown how they are thinking about this unprecedented situation. They take us back to the Black Plague and project into an increasingly sci-fi future. Tune in as they discuss the options on the table, the policy responses (and lack thereof), and the implications of it all--exploring everything from deflationary crises to inflationary spirals. Get ready to get angrrrry and to grind some gears.
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If you enjoyed this conversation, share it with your colleagues & friends, rate, review, and subscribe.This podcast is presented by BlockWorks Group. For exclusive content and events that provide insights into the crypto and blockchain space, visit them at: https://www.blockworksgroup.io

Episode 29: Money Printer Go BRRR

This episode of What Grinds my Gears was recorded live on stage at SF Blockchain Week 2019.
In this episode, Meltem Demirors and Jill Carlson discuss banking Bitcoin, what a bank really is, and whether or not we're just building the same thing in a different way.
-----If you enjoyed this conversation, share it with your colleagues & friends, rate, review, and subscribe.This podcast is presented by BlockWorks Group. For exclusive content and events that provide insights into the crypto and blockchain space, visit them at: https://www.blockworksgroup.io

Episode 28: Breaking Banks with Bitcoin

Every movement that has withstood the test of time — from religions to empires — has had a founding myth attached. This is the story of how it all started. Often these legends are shrouded in mystery. They are left open to interpretation. This week we discuss how bitcoin is no different. From the cypherpunk mailing list to Occupy Wall Street, we put bitcoin’s beginnings in context and discuss their significance.
If you're interested in reading the full episode transcription, visit the BlockWorks Group blog.
This episode is sponsored by Voyager, a fast and 100% commission-free app that helps you trade over 20 cryptocurrencies. Sign up today to earn $25 worth of free Bitcoin when you get the Voyager iOS app and register.
-----If you enjoyed this conversation, share it with your colleagues & friends, rate, review, and subscribe.This podcast is presented by BlockWorks Group. For exclusive content and events that provide insights into the crypto and blockchain space, visit them at: https://www.blockworksgroup.io

Episode 27: Origin Myth: The Market and Marketing of Bitcoin

They say there are two certainties in life: death and taxes. And while we don’t get know of anyone who has managed to cheat death, we certainly know of people who have dodged their taxes. In this episode we unpack the myth that cryptocurrency can help you evade taxes, walk through the history of offshore accounts, and discuss some of the open questions about paying tax on your bitcoin!
Check out the extended shownotes on Medium, and if you're interested in reading the full episode transcription, visit the BlockWorks Group blog.
This episode is sponsored by Voyager, a fast and 100% commission-free app that helps you trade over 20 cryptocurrencies. Sign up today to earn $25 worth of free Bitcoin when you get the Voyager iOS app and register.
-----If you enjoyed this conversation, share it with your colleagues & friends, rate, review, and subscribe.This podcast is presented by BlockWorks Group. For exclusive content and events that provide insights into the crypto and blockchain space, visit them at: https://www.blockworksgroup.io

Episode 26: Death and Taxes

Most of us take our connectivity to the internet and other telecommunications networks for granted. But behind the simple and benign act of connecting to the internet lies an intricate maze of physical hardware, wires, and complex routing logic consisting of layers upon layers - and many curious parties sniffing your web traffic. In this episode, we discuss the origins of mesh networking topologies and innovations in using cryptocurrencies to enhance security, facilitate more complex logical ordering, and incentivize resource sharing in these new networks.
Check out the extended shownotes on Medium, and if you're interested in reading the full episode transcription, visit the BlockWorks Group blog.
This episode is sponsored by Voyager, a fast and 100% commission-free app that helps you trade over 20 cryptocurrencies. Sign up today to earn $25 worth of free Bitcoin when you get the Voyager iOS app and register.
-----If you enjoyed this conversation, share it with your colleagues & friends, rate, review, and subscribe.This podcast is presented by BlockWorks Group. For exclusive content and events that provide insights into the crypto and blockchain space, visit them at: https://www.blockworksgroup.io

Episode 5: Venezuela: Living in a Powder Keg

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