Unchained

In this Best of 2019 episode, I selected the clips that seemed most representative of what crypto was about this year, which I call, The Year Things Got Geopolitical. My only regret is that none of the clips about DAOs lent themselves well to this episode. However, years from now, after we’ve got global stablecoins pinging around the world at a high transactions-per-second rate, the crypto community has made peace with U.S. regulators, and more of our lives seems to take place in the borderless digital world, perhaps we'll find it ironic that DAOs were burbling up right around the same time. Thank you to our sponsors!  Kraken: https://www.kraken.com Crypto.com: http://crypto.com/ CipherTrace: http://ciphertrace.com/unchained Episode links:  Unchained Interview with Vitalik Buterin: https://unchainedpodcast.com/vitalik-buterin-on-whether-or-not-ethereum-is-blowing-it/ Unchained Interview with Hester Peirce: https://unchainedpodcast.com/sec-commissioner-hester-peirce-come-talk-to-the-sec/ Unchained Interview with Ted Livingston: https://unchainedpodcast.com/kin-sets-up-5-million-defendcrypto-org-to-take-on-the-sec/ Unchained Interview with Glen Weyl and Santiago Siri: https://unchainedpodcast.com/how-blockchains-can-help-create-little-democracies-everywhere/ Unchained Interview with Christian Catalini: https://unchainedpodcast.com/a-libra-co-creator-on-how-facebook-will-make-money-from-calibra/ Unchained Interview with Martin Chorzempa and Dovey Wan: https://unchainedpodcast.com/why-china-aims-to-replace-cash-with-the-digital-yuan/ Unchained Interview with Emily Parker: https://unchainedpodcast.com/crypto-in-china-what-it-really-looks-like/ Unchained Interview with Sandra Ro: https://unchainedpodcast.com/sandra-ro-why-crypto-friendly-laws-are-coming-in-the-us/  Unchained Interview with Patrick McHenry: https://unchainedpodcast.com/congressman-patrick-mchenry-bitcoin-will-be-of-enormous-value/ Unchained Interview with David Andolfatto: https://unchainedpodcast.com/fed-economist-on-the-prospect-of-the-usd-losing-global-reserve-status-who-cares/ Unchained Interview with Yeonmi Park: https://unchainedpodcast.com/yeonmi-park-on-why-doing-business-with-north-korea-is-like-buying-a-ticket-to-a-concentration-camp/ Unchained Interview with Alex Gladstein: https://unchainedpodcast.com/alex-gladstein-of-the-human-rights-foundation-on-the-3-reasons-bitcoin-matters/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore the crypto world in a simple way! Discover the basics of Bitcoin and its role as a digital currency. Learn how mining works and why it's crucial to the ecosystem. Delve into Ethereum's capabilities beyond currency, and tackle environmental impacts of mining. Understand Bitcoin's origins and its advantages during economic instability. Plus, get practical tips on buying, storing, and using cryptocurrency to navigate the market safely. This fun and informative guide makes crypto accessible for everyone!

Priscilla Moriuchi, an expert on North Korea's internet activities and cryptocurrency at Recorded Future, dives into North Korea's surprising fascination with crypto. She reveals how the regime's limited internet access is heavily monitored and primarily reserved for elite members. Moriuchi uncovers North Korea's sophisticated cyber operations, including malware attacks and the infamous WannaCry ransomware. Additionally, she discusses their methods for converting crypto gains to fiat and their connections to broader illicit activities like smuggling and drug trafficking.

Yeonmi Park, a North Korean defector and renowned human rights activist, shares her gripping journey from oppression to freedom. She reveals her childhood indoctrination in North Korea and how watching 'Titanic' sparked her understanding of love. Her escape to China was fraught with danger, pushing her to confront the brutal realities of both regimes. Park emphasizes the importance of sharing external information with North Koreans and critiques tourism that fuels the oppressive government. Her insights shed light on the complexities of freedom and resistance.

Kain Warwick, founder of Synthetix, dives into the fascinating world of synthetic assets on Ethereum. He explains why people might choose synthetic Bitcoin over the real deal and how the SNX token plays a pivotal role in the ecosystem. Warwick recounts a dramatic incident where a trading bot nearly caused insolvency and how they negotiated to keep the platform afloat. Topics also include governance aspirations toward a DAO, upcoming changes like decentralized futures, and the challenges DeFi faces against centralized finance.

Carylyne Chan, Chief Strategy Officer at CoinMarketCap, and Gerald Chee, Head of Research, dive into the evolution of CoinMarketCap and its new liquidity metric aimed at tackling fake trading volumes. They reveal how the ICO frenzy reshaped definitions of circulating supply and why analyzing user behavior is crucial. The guests discuss the site's correlation with Bitcoin prices and innovative strategies to enhance transparency and market efficiency. Additionally, they explore the significance of the Data Accountability and Transparency Alliance in addressing cryptocurrency volume inflation.

Martin Chorzempa, a research fellow at the Peterson Institute, and Dovey Wan, a founding partner at Primitive Ventures, dive into China's digital currency, the DCEP. They discuss the intersection of blockchain technology and the U.S.-China trade dynamics, emphasizing how DCEP could challenge shadow banking and reshape global finance. The conversation explores the concept of 'controlled anonymity' in transactions and its potential benefits over existing payment systems. They also speculate on the impact of DCEP on interest in Bitcoin among the Chinese populace.

Christopher Giancarlo, former chairman of the CFTC and dubbed 'Crypto Dad', dives into his timely insights on regulation and innovation. He reflects on the financial crisis that sparked his interest in blockchain and advocates for modernizing outdated regulations. Giancarlo discusses the implications of Bitcoin futures, the unique challenges of classifying digital assets, and the potential impact of Libra and the Chinese digital yuan. He hints at his vision for a digital dollar with a blend of existing innovations while emphasizing the need for thoughtful oversight.

Christian Catalini, co-creator of Libra and chief economist at Calibra, dives into the intricate design choices behind Libra and how Facebook addressed substantial regulatory backlash. He discusses the implications of losing initial payment partners and explores the balance between robust KYC processes and including the unbanked. Catalini also unveils Calibra's monetization strategies, transparency about privacy, and Facebook's positioning against China's digital yuan, painting a complex picture of the future of financial inclusion in a digitized world.

Hunter Horsley, cofounder and CEO of Bitwise Asset Management, and Matt Hougan, Global Head of Research at Bitwise, provide insights into their plans for a Bitcoin ETF. They discuss the SEC's recent disapproval of their application and what their next steps will be. The duo shares their vision for making cryptocurrency accessible to mainstream investors, the rigorous strategies for managing airdrops and forks, and their stance on the evolving regulatory landscape in the crypto space. Plus, they explore the future of funds indexed to the top 100 assets.