Blockchain: Quantum leap forward or digital snake oil?

Intelligence Squared

Arts, News, Society & Culture, News Commentary

4.2 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 27 July 2018

⏱️ 64 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Blockchain, the technology on which Bitcoin is based, has gone mainstream. Evangelists describe it as a thrilling and versatile foundation that will revolutionise everything from finance to governance. But is it really the radical new paradigm its adherents claim? We were joined on stage by Jamie Bartlett, one of the UK’s leading thinkers on the politics and social influence of the internet; Primavera De Filippi, expert on the legal challenges and opportunities of blockchain technologies and author of Blockchain and The Law; David Gerard, author of the news blog and book Attack of the 50 Foot Blockchain: Bitcoin, Blockchain, Ethereum & Smart Contracts; and Vít Jedlička, founder and first elected president of the Free Republic of Liberland, which aims to be the first country to base its government structure on blockchain technology. The event was chaired by BBC Economics Editor Kamal Ahmed. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you by Krakhan.
0:03.0	Crypto is like finance, but different.
0:06.0	It doesn't care when you invest, trade or save, do it on weekends,
0:11.0	or at 5 a.m.
0:12.0	Or on Christmas Day, at 5 a.m. or on Christmas day at 5 a.m.
0:15.2	crypto is finance for everyone, everywhere all the time.
0:19.4	Visit crackin.com slash see what crypto can be to learn more
0:22.8	don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest this is a high risk
0:26.2	investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong
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0:58.0	Thank you very much. And welcome everybody.
1:04.0	When Hannah asked me some months ago to chair this event,
1:08.0	I thought, cricky.
1:09.0	Do I understand what it is?
	...

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