PayPal -> LinkedIn -> AI -> Crypto: Reid Hoffman's Innovator Journey | CoinDesk Spotlight

CoinDesk Podcast Network

CoinDesk

Cryptocurrencies, Cryptocurrency, Dlt, Tokenization, Coindesk, Distributed Ledger, Blockchain, Tech News, Business News, Ethereum, Bitcoin, News, Digitalassets, Daily News, Decentralization, Defi, Crypto, Business

4.8 • 689 Ratings

🗓️ 6 November 2025

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Insights into the past, present and future of crypto, tech and AI with Reid Hoffman. Follow the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. LinkedIn co-founder and PayPal founding board member Reid Hoffman joins "CoinDesk Spotlight" to discuss his innovator journey from "PayPal mafia" to creating LinkedIn and moving into crypto and AI. Hoffman dives deep into the "discomfort" with AI development, his thoughts on crypto's political divide, and what he's building at the intersection of AI and digital assets. - This content should not be construed or relied upon as investment advice. It is for entertainment and general information purposes. - Break the cycle of exploitation. Break down the barriers to truth. Break into the next generation of privacy. Break Free. Free to scroll without being monetized. Free from censorship. Freedom without fear. We deserve more when it comes to privacy. Experience the next generation of blockchain that is private and inclusive by design. Break free with Midnight, visit midnight.network/break-free - Genius Group has partnered with CoinDesk for Bitcoin Treasury Month, launching the Genius x CoinDesk Quest. Participants can join the Bitcoin Academy, complete free microcourses from experts like Natalie Brunell and Saifedean Ammous, and enter to win 1,000,000 GEMs (worth 1 BTC) promoting bitcoin education and adoption. Learn more at: https://www.geniusgroup.ai/coindesk-bitcoin-treasury-month/ - OwlTing (Nasdaq: OWLS) is building invisible rails for global payments. With OwlPay, businesses and users can bridge fiat and stablecoins, send money instantly across borders, and access stablecoin checkout at lower costs. Licensed worldwide, OwlTing delivers secure, compliant, and regulated infrastructure for the digital economy. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠owlting.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. - Timestamps: 3:10 - The Thesis of Borderless, Networked Communities and Satoshi's Genius5:15 - PayPal: The Forerunner to Crypto15:01 - How PayPal Cooperated with the FBI to Change Regulatory Perception18:02 - Reid's Shift in Focus to AI20:37 - Crypto's Reputation in Silicon Valley24:41 - The Cognitive Industrial Revolution31:13 - Reid's Position on the Future of Stablecoins36:38 - Blockchain and IP Rights in the Age of AI45:06 - Does AI Create Sameness and Slop?48:11 - The Left's Big Mistake on Crypto53:05 - What does Reid Envision for the Future of Crypto? - This episode was hosted by Sam Ewen. “CoinDesk Spotlight” is produced by Sam Ewen, Jennifer Sanasie, Taylor Fleming and Victor Chen.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	When we look at freedom of money, that should be a very comfortable bipartisan issue.
0:04.5	Why do you think there is so much politicization in the tech and crypto industry these days?
0:09.1	I think the kickoff was completely the Democrats' fault, probably heavily originated by Senator Warren and other folks.
0:18.0	And I think it was a mistake for the country.
0:20.2	I think it was a mistake for the world. I think it was a mistake for the
0:21.7	world. I think it was also obviously a mistake for the Democratic Party.
0:31.0	Break the cycle of exploitation. Break down the barriers to truth. Break into the next generation
0:36.1	of privacy. Break free. Free to scroll
0:38.7	without being monetized, free from censorship, freedom without fear. We deserve more when it comes to
0:43.9	privacy. Experience the next generation of blockchain that is private and inclusive by design.
0:49.1	Break free with midnight. Visit midnight.net.net.net.net.net.net.net.org slash break dash free.
0:53.2	CoinDest Bitcoin Treasury Month is brought to you by Genius Group, a Bitcoin treasury company listed on the NYSE under the ticker, GNS. Genius is building toward a 10,000 Bitcoin Treasury and just launched Genius Academy, featuring courses from Safeddy and Amuse and more. Start learning for free today at geniusacademy.AI.
1:12.5	Genius Group. Genius isn't measured in IQ.
1:14.7	It's measured in Bitcoin.
1:16.3	Looking for a faster, cheaper way to move money worldwide?
1:19.9	Owl Ting, now listed on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol, Owls, is building the rails for stablecoin payments.
1:26.5	Convert fiat to stable coins and send money as
1:29.0	easily as a text message. Learn more at owleting.com. Welcome to CoinDesk Spotlight. I am Sam Ewan.
1:36.1	We are here with Reid Hoffman. Reid, thank you so much for taking the time to spend with us.
1:40.9	I want to talk about everything possible under the sign, but I'm really going to
1:44.4	limit it to the idea of internet communities, scalable intelligence in the world of AI, if you
1:53.2	will, and scalable trust in the world of crypto. I'm stealing that from John Degasino over
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 1 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from CoinDesk, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of CoinDesk and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.