Ethereum

Ethereum

Jul 6, 2021 183m

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Episode Description

We close out Season 8 with the most ambitious organization we've ever covered on Acquired: Ethereum, and it's celebrity wunderkind founder Vitalik Buterin. If you thought Mark Zuckerberg IPO-ing Facebook at $100B by age 27 was something, just wait until you hear the story of this high school junior creating $500B (!!) of market cap by the same age — and oh yeah, maybe seeding the future dethroning of Facebook, Google, Amazon and all of big tech in the process. Regardless whether you're a crypto neophyte, a die-hard bull, or a skeptical bear, this is a story you need to hear, and Ethereum is an innovation you need to understand. Buckle in for a wild ride... and some special surprises from a few Acquired friends. :)

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Links:

The Ethereum Whitepaper: https://ethereum.org/en/whitepaper/
Yung Spielburg https://open.spotify.com/artist/273so0X2Yuo93vfeX2nLDI and Mike Taylor https://open.spotify.com/artist/30ejUciK31BCg0IVCbt1dW on Spotify

Carve Outs:

Arthur C. Clarke: https://www.amazon.com/Arthur-C-Clarke/e/B000APF21M? (especially Rendezvous with Rama and The City & The Stars)
Disney-Marvel's Loki: https://www.disneyplus.com/series/loki/6pARMvILBGzF
The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson: https://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Age-Illustrated-Primer-Spectra/dp/0553380966
Nier Automata: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nier:_Automata
Magic the Gathering IRL: https://magic.wizards.com/en/events/event-types/friday-night-magic

AI-Generated Summary

Introduction to Ethereum and Vitalik Buterin

The episode closes out Season 8 with a focus on Ethereum, its celebrity founder Vitalik Buterin, and the monumental journey of building a new fraction of the internet via blockchain technology. The hosts reflect on Buterin's rapid rise to fame, creating a groundbreaking technology that spawned a $500 billion market cap.

The Unique Features of Ethereum

Ethereum is compared to Bitcoin, with emphasis placed on its capabilities as a decentralized world computer rather than merely a digital currency. Discussion highlights Ethereum’s smart contract feature, which transforms traditional tech sectors by allowing developers to create complex applications that don't rely on a centralized authority.

History of Ethereum's Development

The hosts recount the history behind Ethereum’s creation and notable milestones, including major events, hacks, and forks that have defined the platform. The importance of Ethereum as a pioneer in decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) is addressed, showcasing its influence across various sectors.

Challenges Facing Ethereum

As Ethereum has grown, so have its challenges, particularly in scalability and high transaction fees due to network congestion. The upcoming transition to Ethereum 2.0 and the potential threats posed by other competing platforms are discussed as the hosts assess the long-term viability of Ethereum.

Ethereum's Game-Changing Potential

The conversation moves towards the future potential of Ethereum, highlighting its revolutionary role in creating decentralized applications (DApps) and the growing NFT market. Possible impacts of achieving significant adoption for Ethereum and implications for traditional finance are examined, demonstrating the platform's capacity to influence global economies.