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🎙️ The Altcoin Slayer | Eric Wall

A Lone Wolf on the Crypto Frontier

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Eric Wall is a prominent thinker and contrarian in the crypto space. He has an independent mind and is unafraid to bust through groupthink and act as an ideological razor for the crypto community. In this episode, Eric dives deeply into a variety of profound takes on Bitcoin, Ethereum, and his approach to the community.

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Bankless Podcast 67: The Altcoin Slayer

Guest: Eric Wall

May 31, 2021

Eric Wall is CIO of Arcane Assets, and a well-known (and often infamous) writer and thinker in the crypto space. He has engaged in arguments with camps and tribes throughout the space, remaining unapologetically independent and committed to his values. Though a Bitcoiner at heart, Eric has come around on Ethereum as the ecosystem has matured.

In this episode, we dive into values and the ethos of crypto that Eric fights for. As a principled believer in trustless systems and decentralization, Eric walks through many of the big-picture obstacles and accomplishments of the crypto space. Viewing this landscape with a digital biologist's lens, we address these projects as digital organisms, following many of the same laws we see in nature. Wherever organisms exist, Darwin is nearby.

Eric brings a refreshing and unfiltered set of takes to the Bankless Podcast, reminiscent of other independent thinkers we've had on like Hasu. Regardless of your opinions on Eric, he represents an important part of the blockchain conversation. He serves as an ideological razor, giving no one the benefit of the doubt and prioritizing accountability and earned legitimacy.


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Not financial or tax advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. This newsletter is not tax advice. Talk to your accountant. Do your own research.


Disclosure. From time-to-time I may add links in this newsletter to products I use. I may receive commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. Additionally, the Bankless writers hold crypto assets. See our investment disclosures here.

Transcript
00:07

welcome, to, bankless where, we, explore, the, frontier, of internet, money, and, internet, finance this, is, how, to, get, started, how, to, get better, and, how, to, front, run, the opportunity i'm, ryan, john, adams, i'm, here, with, david hoffman, and, we're, here to, help, you, become, more, bankless david, we, have, the, altcoin, slayer, on, the show eric, wall, how, was, that, conversation yeah, this, is, the, first, time, i've actually, gotten, able, to, talk, to, eric wall, and, he's, somebody, that's, really helped, me, formulate, mental, models, in this, space and, eric, wall, for, those, that, don't, know

00:40

very, very, prominent, in, 2017-2018 as, a, guy, that, seemed, to, go, against everyone's, grain, like, not, just, one particulars, community's, grains, but everyone's, grain uh, and, so, like, while, he's, a, big bitcoiner, he's, not, afraid, to, tell bitcoiners, when, they're, wrong and, while, he, was, never, really, uh, conv convinced, by, the, ethereum, crowd he, has, as, of, late, uh, talked, very positively, about, certain, merits, of ethereum's, construction but, then, we'll, also, go, ahead, and, say that, the, overall

01:10

ethereum, project, is, a, complete, mess, so this, guy thinks, for, himself, and, that's, kind, of why, we, got, him, on um, not, to, go, into, depths, about his, mental, models, and, the, way, that, he thinks, and, his, opinions, about, certain things, but, then, also as, an, exploration, into, the, way, that, he puts, thoughts, together inside, of, a, space, where, so, many, people are, telling, you, how, and, what, to, think eric, wall, thinks, for, himself, this, is bankless meets, tribelis, i, really, feel, like, eric wahl

01:41

strives, as, much, as, possible, not, to affiliate, himself, with, one particular, pattern, of, thought, or, one particular, tribe in, fact, i, think, early, on, he, he, very, much associated, himself at, with, uh, as, a, bitcoiner, like, very, much uh, put, the, the, mantle, of, that, tribe, on his, shoulders and, we, we, talked, about, almost, his, like ejection from, the, bitcoiner, sphere, by, by, the so-called, high, priest, and, what, that, what that, felt, like, it, was, almost, like, he, was excommunicated so, we, we, went, through, that, not, i, guess

02:11

maybe, the, through, line, here, is, we, have, a a, contrarian, thinker, a, tribeless individual and, what's, interesting, to, me, david, is, he is coming, to, some, of, the, same, conclusions that, we've, come, to as, part, of, the, the, bankless, platform some, different, ones but, also, many, of, the, same, conclusions but, he's, doing, it like, out, outside, of, uh the, ethereum, ecosystem's, influence, or the, bankless, ecosystem's, influence, he's almost, like, arriving, at, these, opinions

02:41

independently, and, uh, that that's, what, was, so, interesting, about, i think, this, podcast and, eric's, journey, and, his, story, it's just, the, way, he, thinks, but how, he, has, arrived, at, these, opinions it's, definitely, not, through group, think, and, through, like, tribe affiliation it's, like, when, he, says, it, you, know, that like he, actually, believes, it, in, that, moment not, to, say, he, doesn't, change, his, mind because, there, are, many, instances, where he, he's, admitted changing, his, mind, in, fact, you, know, the

03:12

the, tweet, that, got, him, on, the, show i, think, was, uh, he, said, in, 2020, he stopped, being, wrong, about, eth, those, are his, words, not, mine, he, stopped, being wrong, about, eve so, this, is, someone, who's, also, very willing, to, do, it, like, a, 180 when, he, sees, that, um, the, evidence, points in, a, different, direction, so, kind, of a, cool, thinker, somebody, we've, wanted, on the, podcast, for, a, while and, we, actually, written, down, a, rabbit hole, that, we, weren't, expecting, to towards, the, beginning, of, the, podcast where, we, get, to, talk, about, my, favorite

03:42

subject, of, like evolutionary, crypto, assets, not, planned yeah, what, is, it, like, biology, biology and, like, the, evolution, of, crypto networks, right, uh, i'm, i, have, a deep-seated, belief, that, the, best, way, to understand, this, industry is, through, a, biological, perspective, uh and, eric, wahl, shares, that, belief, and, we actually, kind, of, went, down, that, rabbit hole, earlier, in, the, podcast, and, i, think that's, going, to, be, a, new line, of, a, line, of, topic, on, the, bankless podcast, that, we, haven't, really, touched on, i'm, really, happy, that, we, were actually, able, to, touch, on, it

04:13

yeah, it's, kind, of, like, expect, the unexpected, in, this, podcast, right, at, the very, beginning, he, actually, called, me, out on, some, beef that, we've, had, previously, right, so, we just, enter, in on, that, conversation, so, overall, really fantastic, episode of, course, you, can, get, a, download, of david, and, mai's thoughts, in, the, debrief, episode, that, is available, for premium, subscribers, on, the, bankless premium feed, so, make, sure, you, check, that, out, too if, you, are, a, premium, subscriber and, with, that, david, let's, talk, about, the fantastic, sponsors, that, made, this

04:44

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05:16

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05:47

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06:18

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06:50

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07:22

think, that's, because, he, busts, through groupthink, he, isn't, afraid, to, change, his mind yet, he, manages, to, stay, extremely convicted, in, his, beliefs, at, the, same time, i, think, we're, going, to, learn a, lot, from, eric, in, this, podcast, eric welcome, to, bankless, how, are, you, doing today thank, you, so, much, ryan, um, kind, of surprised to, be, here, because, we've, had, this, uh you, and, me, we've, had, this, uh, ongoing spat, about, a, particular argument, that, we've, had, in, the, past about

07:53

how, to, correctly, apply, the, term trustless to, different, types, of, cryptocurrency systems and, because, of, our, inconsistencies, of opinions, there i've, i'm, a, principal, i'm, a, principled person, and, i, try, to, stick, to, my principles as, hard, as, i, can, and, one, of, my principles is, that, if, somebody, uses, terminology in, a, way, that, i, think, is, harmful, to, the overall, ecosystem then, you, know, i, cannot, prevent, people

08:25

from saying, what, they, say, but, i, can, at, least uh choose, who, i, engage, with, uh, i, think, the spat, that, we, had, was you, know, kind, of, a, mild, one, and, you, know now, i'm, pretty, much, over, it, but, it, would be, good, if, we, could, just you, know, just, spend, a, few, seconds, just you, know hashing, over, that, little, piece, of disagreement, that, we, had around, trustlessness, uh, i, can, i, can explain, the, argument, if, if if, if, that's, helpful, to, you, yeah, let's

08:56

do, it, and and, to, bankless, listeners, uh, as, you, can see, the, the, introduction, did, eric justice, because, we, didn't plan, any, of, this, pre-recording, and, we're jumping, right, in, with, the, contrarian opinion, um, eric, yeah, i'd, love, to, i'd love, to, hear, you, i so, i, think, this, is, in, regards, to, an article, that, i wrote, uh, sometime, in, march, 2020 and, the, reason, i'm, remembering, is actually, because, i, did, pull, it, up because, i, was, wondering, if, if, you, would uh, pull, this, up, and, want, to, talk, about this, first, and

09:27

the, article, title, is, called, eth, is irreplaceable and, uh, it's, basically, a, taxonomy about, the, uh, trustlessness, the, spectrum of, trustlessness of, certain, assets, so, i, make, the, basic uh, assertion, that, you, know, different assets on, ethereum, have, different, or, in, crypto writ, large, have, different settlement, levels, of, settlement guarantee, right, and, like even, in, the, real, world, different, assets have, different, levels, of, settlement guarantee

09:57

some, are, backed, by, the, nation, state, some require uh, like, legal, um, legal, trust uh, some, are, more, bearer, asset instruments and, some, i, put, in, a, quadrant, called, a trustless quadrant, and, again, i, pitch, this, as, sort of, a, spectrum of, trust, right, recognizing, that, nothing on, earth nothing, that, can, be, created, nothing, that has, ever, been, created, is, completely trustless but, i, think, you, take, issue, with, the, uh the, term, trustless, in, and, of, itself

10:28

and, i, would, love, for, you, to, explain, that as, we, start, this, episode where, you, take, issue, and, uh, we'll, we'll see, whether, we, actually, disagree, at, the end, of, this uh, or, whether, we, agree, yeah, so, i, can give, my, take the, reason, that, i, took, issue, with, how you characterized, uh, the trustlessness, taxonomy, was, that, uh, if, i remember, it, correctly, and please, correct, me, if, i'm, wrong, you basically put, different, cryptocurrency, projects, on

11:00

an, axis, on, on, a, spectrum, where, they, went from uh, more, trustless, to, less, trustless whereas, in, in, yeah, you, can, see uh, in, this this, chart, here, that uh, basically, you, can, go, from more, trustless, to, less, trustless, where, i think, that, there, are uh, things, that, are, completely, trusted that, should, not be, on, a, trustless, diagram, at, all

11:31

so, i, don't, think, that, trustlessness can, in, can, incorporate, everything because, there, are, some, things, that should, be, completely, outside of, this, spectrum, because, they're, trusted so, i, don't, think, that, you, can, say, that you, know uh, a, bank, is, just, uh less, trustless, or, or, or and, that, the, die, is, more, trustless, i think, that banks, are, 100, trusted, and, doesn't, belong

12:02

in, a, diagram, of, trustlessness, at, all uh, i, think, that's, if, i, that's, how, i recall, the, argument and, i, tried, to, persuade, you, to remove, completely, trusted, things from, a, trustlessness, diagram and, you, rebutted, and, said, well, you, know that's, not, how, i, think, about, it, and, i said well, in, if, that's, the, case, then, i'm going, to, stop, engaging with, you, until, uh, you've, refreshed, your thinking, on, it, and, then, we, had, all, these

12:33

discussions, around, how, you, can, view, this topic, and uh, now, i'm, you, know, i've, i've, listened to, your, bankless, part, and, i, i i, don't, think, that, you, are, a, malicious actor, in, any, way, we, just, had, a disagreement, about terminology, but, i, don't, think that, you, are, harmful or, that, you're, bringing, a, negative nuance, to, the, industry, so, that's, why, i came, on that's, why, i've, now, come, around, so, i'm

13:04

on, the, pod, now i, think, we, can, get, over, this, and, we, can we, can, be, friends, again and, and, chat, about, things, that, are really, important, because, i, think, that our main, goals, with, our, efforts, in, the cryptocurrency, space are, pretty, much, 90, percent, aligned so, eric, i, think, that, if, i'm, interpreting what, you're, saying, correctly, that what, you, are, really, asking, to, change, in this, diagram, here, is, really asking, to, change, where, like, the, x, x, and y, axes, are

13:34

it's, like, on, and, so, perhaps, so, you, you do, agree, that, there's, this, thing, in concept called, called, trustlessness, that, some crypto, assets try, to, emulate, like, you, know, bitcoin, and ether, to, perhaps, the, most, degree and, what, i, think, what, you're, saying, is everything, to, like, perhaps, on, the, left side, of, this, diagram you, you, are, saying, like, why, are, we, even calling, it, uh, putting, it, on, the trussless, spectrum, at, all, in, the, first place, let's, use, completely, different words, for exactly, completely, different, part, of this, zone, exactly exactly, what, different, words, would, you

14:06

use, than, eric versus, trustless, no, i, just, put trusted, and, trustless, in, completely different axis, you, should, have, a, split, here, where you, put things, that, ultimately, do, depend, on trust in, a, complete, on, a, completely, different axis, here and, because, right, now, if, you, look, at, the you, have, trustless, issuance on, the, y, axis, and, then, the, trustless

14:37

settlement, on, the, x axis, i, think, that, you, should, have there, should, be, uh, an, axis, that, goes, to the, left, where, you, have, completely trusted, things uh, but, you, know, i, don't, want, to, spend too, much, time, on, this, bat can, i, just, can, i, just, say, something, i actually, don't, think uh, there's, a, real, spat, there, i, think much, of, this, is actually, uh, semantics, and, probably, the result of, uh, me, just, being, a, sloppy, diagram drawer i, think, maybe, someone, who's, listening, to

15:08

bankless uh, and, in, the, bankless, nation, can, take the, diagram, that, we're, showing, right, now and, come, up, with, something, that, better illustrates, that because, fundamentally, i, think, i, agree with, with, what, you're, saying, right like, some, assets are, completely, trusted, on, on, one, side, of the, spectrum and, then, you, have, the, spectrum, of trustlessness, where, maybe, you, get, this this, perfect, state, on, the, other, side, of the, spectrum, that's that's, completely, trustless, but, of course, no, asset, can, achieve, that

15:38

i, just, think, the, diagram, is, maybe, drawn in, a, way, that, does, not, make, that, clear and somebody, else, could, do, a, better, job, i, am not, a, diagram that, is, not, my, day, job, i, was, just, trying to, write, an, article, to, get, a concept, out, there, and, a, mental, model, out there, which, is, the, mental, model, of different, assets, on, ethereum, have different, degrees of, trust, so, if, you're, buying, usdc on, ethereum, final, settlement, actually happens

16:08

in, meat, space, it, happens, inside, of, a coinbase uh, bank, account, in, the, traditional finance, world and, that, is, a, much, that, has, much different, settlement, guarantees than, something, like, die, where, you, have, a larger, degree of, that, settlement, happening, on, chain and, of, course that, is, much, different, than, something like, bitcoin, where the, entire, settlement, process, it's, a bearer, instrument, the, entire, settlement process, is, on, chain, i, felt, like, the crypto, world, didn't, completely understand, that, at, the, time anyway, i, actually, think, that, we, are

16:41

closer, in, alignment maybe, than, uh, than, was, previous, thought coming, into, this, podcast and, some, of, this, is, just, as, a, result, of a, sloppy, diagram, design, that, could, be improved, upon what, say, you, sir, i'm, perfectly, happy with, this, resolution, of, the, argument, and i, think, that if, we, just, zoom, out, a, little, bit, and like why, are, we, having, this, types, of disagreements, in, the, first, place it's, because, you, know, my, um interest, in, the, cryptocurrency, space

17:13

um, you, know, i've, i, i, got, into, into, the bitcoin, industry, uh, very, long ago, i, purchased, my, first, bitcoin, in 2012. uh, please, don't, rob, me, because, i, got, i lost, all, of, them when, mount, gox, collapsed, in, 2014, so don't, think, that don't, come, to, my, house, and, think, that you're, gonna, find, an, ocean, of, bitcoins there, that, i, bought, for uh, ten, dollar, space, um uh, but, uh, you, know, i've, become, so

17:43

fascinated, by, cryptocurrencies as, a, concept, and, as, a, revolution, that i'm so, ideologically, and, philosophically interested, in, the, space, that, you, know how, i, view, my, participation, and, interest in, this, space it's, not, about, you, know, i, don't, care as, much, as, i, probably, should, from, a commercial, perspective, about uh, you, know, making, the, right, types, of business, relationships, or, uh

18:14

positioning, myself, that, strategically like, if, i, had, that intention, of, you, know, just, building, out um you, know, making, as, much, money, as possible, then, i, would, have, been, on bankless, podcast, a, year, ago, or, you, know so, to, to, to, market, myself, but, i care, about, the, space, and, i, care, about things, being stated, correctly, so, that, we, can, as, an industry move, in, the, direction, that, i, think, is most, interesting, and, that, direction is, where, how, much, can, we, decentralize

18:47

pieces, of, the, economic, world, and, the finance, world to, to, basically, create, a, form, of revolution that, changes, how, humans, can, interact, and how, society, can, function that, is, much, larger, and, much, more interesting, goal, to, me, than you, know, caring, about, who, i, am, friends with so, that's, why, i, will, get, into, arguments with, all, sorts, of, people, that, i kind, of, actually, like, um, but, i, cannot you, know, i'm, just, trying, to make, sure, that, we're, all, on, the, right

19:18

path of, uh, optimizing, uh, how, much, we we, can, improve, uh, the, systems, for, the systems, of, today well, eric, wall, i, think, that, is, an extremely, noble, goal, and, it's, a, goal that, we share, on, the, bankless, podcast, as, well, we very, much view, this, as, a, very, fun, industry, with a, lot, of, you, know, money-making, potential but, really, at, the root, of, it, is, much, more, of, a, political and, cultural, revolution uh, and, we, see, ourselves, as, uh, you, know

19:48

people, that, are, attempting, to steward, that, revolution, into, into existence and, so, tip, of, the, hat, for, for, being, on that, on, that, same, you, know, path, as, well and, i, kind, of, want, to, just, dive, deeper into, why, this, industry, and, why, this revolution, resonates, with, you, so, much you, talked, about, your, philosophical interest in, uh, this, industry, okay, just, let's, uh just, dive, deeper, down, that, hole what, about, this, industry, do, you, think really, uh, is, fitting for, the, future, of, the, world, that, you think, should, come, about

20:19

um, yeah, i, i, just, want, to, add, one one, thing, uh, to, that, uh, before, we, get into, that, topic, which, is you, know, what, how, come, you, er, the, three of, us we, seem, to, have, the, same, ideological alignment how, come, we, get, into, these, kinds, of spats, and, i, think, that, has, to, do, that, i am, such, an, old, i, describe, myself, as, an old, dog, you, know, i my, terminology, and, my, way, of, thinking, of things comes, very, much, from, the, early, days, of bitcoin and, we, uh, shaped, the, early

20:51

terminology, for, things, uh, in, order, to make, sense, and, classify, different, crypto cryptocurrency, systems, and, that, has, been a, very you, know, conservative, and, restricted type, of, terminology, and, taxonomy so, uh, that's, why, you, know, people, that come, into, the, space perhaps, a, little, bit, later, that, aren't uh you, know, as, plugged, into, that, type, of taxonomy, thinking, that's, why, i, think, we

21:23

can, get, into, disagreements, it, just happens, that, we, come, a little, bit, into the, space, from, different, angles i'm, a, long-time, bitcoiner, we, care, very very, much, about very, specific, anal, things, and we, are, a, bit, ocd, in, terms, of, that, so that's, the, only, reason, that i, think, that, you, know, we, have, these, kind of, kinds, of, spats but, to, get, back, to, your, question, um, you know, i, have a, i, i, have, um, i, have, actually, i i, don't, have, a, youtube, channel, but, i have, a, youtube, account and, i, use, that, youtube, account

21:56

just, to, collect, all, the, videos, of presentations that, i've, made, that, other, people, have uploaded, and, i, put, it, into, a a, playlist, so, that, i, can, you, know, gather all, my, performances, in, the, in, in, the past, that, have, been, recorded and, one, of, those, performances, that, i personally, uh, liked, the, most, was, when, i was, invited to, a, swedish, uh, cryptocurrency uh, um, just, a, meet, up, and, they, asked, me to, talk, about, consensus, algorithms

22:27

and, uh in, that, format, i, got, full, full, uh control, of, what, i, wanted, to, express, and what, i, wanted, to, say and, what, i, wanted, to, talk, about, there was, and, now, i, think maybe, this, sounds, uh, like, an, outdated take, or, you, know everyone's, heard, it, before, but, when, this happened, this, was four, four, or, five, years, ago, i, think, it was, four, years, ago, when, we, talked, about it i, described, how, i, view

22:57

bitcoin, as, a, digital uh, a, primitive, digital, form, of, life because, if, you, think, about, what, actually uh constitutes, life, what, is, life, form, is, an amino, acid, a, life, form is, a, bacterial, life, form, uh there, is, no, discrete, the, step, where something uh, goes, from, being, you, know not, alive, to, more, alive, it's, it's, a spectrum, just, like, the trust, trustlessness, spectrum, that, we

23:28

talked, about uh, we, when, things, are, complex, enough and, they, are, self-sufficient, enough, and they, act, organically, enough, then, we, say they, are, alive, so you, know, a, bacteria, operates, almost entirely, algorithmic, and, i, think, that bitcoin when, i, compare, bitcoin, to, a, very, uh primitive, life, form, uh, like, a, bacteria or, even, perhaps, a, mushroom, mushroom, is

23:59

the, one, that, i, think, bitcoin, mostly resembles uh, i, do, classify, bitcoin, as, a, as, a as, a, as, a, primitive, form, of, life, and, i think, that, there, are, going, to be, more, and, more, uh, primitive, life, forms like, everyone, else, of, course, like, ai when, ai becomes, sentient, but, you, know, not, all life, forms, are, sentient uh, but, they, can, still, be, sent, because they, can, still, be, life, forms so, we, don't, have, sentient, uh, digital, uh life, forms, yet but, we, are, now, seeing, that, we, are, are

24:30

having, digital life, forms, that, haven't, reached sentience, yet so, the, way, that, i, think, about, it, and what, makes, me, most interested, in, the, cryptocurrency, space is, just thinking, about, uh, how, we, are, seeing digital, things, come, to, life, and, we, can analyze, those, as, life, forms and, i, think, that, if, you, look, at, the bitcoin, system, um you, know, every, 10, minutes, there's, a block almost, like, a, pulse, and, if, you

25:00

listen, if, you, put, your, ear, uh, next, to, a bit, main, server, hall, you, can, actually hear, bitcoin's, breath um, so, i, do, think, i, do, think, of, these things, as, primitive, life, forms, are, very interested, in, and, and, all cryptocurrencies, are, competing uh, with, each, other, uh, which, makes, it, uh that, we, also, have, an, evolutionary, aspect to, it, which where, the, uh, strong, and, the, weak, uh, this is the, strong, it's, it's, the, survival, of the, fittest

25:30

uh, it's, basically, like, a, big, hunger games, game and, what, adds, an, extra, interesting quality, to, this, evolutionary, game, of cryptocurrencies is, that, what's, um, you, know, in, the, in, the physical evolutionary, world, uh, you, know, a, cat cannot, clone, the, features, of, a, dog, a, cat it, can, do, that, over, many, many, iterations uh and, it, can, evolve, into, a, dog, if, it, needs to, but, in, the, cryptocurrency, world uh, one, cryptocurrency, can, actually, steal

26:01

features from, another, project, which, changes, the entire, dynamics, of, the, evolutionary, game so, uh, charles, darwin, when, he, was analyzing, different, life, forms, and evolution um, that, was, probably, very, interesting, to him uh, to, think, about, and, i, think, that, we have, a, new uh, evolutionary, game, with, different rules that, are, to, me, because, they're, new, it's it's, even, more, interesting so, it's, the, intellectual, uh, challenge

26:34

of, being, able, to, actually, take, all, of that in, and, analyze, it, from, that, perspective and, that, later, also, translates, like, if you, understand, the, evolution, of cryptocurrencies if, you, have, that, as, your, framework, that you're, thinking, about, it, as as, things, that, have, different evolutionary, characteristics that, make, them, uh, fit, to, survive then, you, can, actually, become, an, investor because, if, you, can, pick, the, ones, that are, likely, to, survive, then, you, can, also be, a, good, investor, so, that's, how

27:05

uh, even, though, this, sounds, very, you, know abstract, and, theoretical, and, scientific it, actually, maps, perfectly, well, with being, a, cryptocurrency fund, manager, because, i, just, gotta, try, to understand, the, dynamics, of, the, game, and the, evolutionary, game and, and, and, i, think, david, that, you've probably written, some, article, that, uh, also tunes, into, this, team, haven't, you, yeah yeah, this, is, a really, one, of, my, favorite, subjects, in this, industry, is is, i, actually, don't, think, you, can, really

27:36

understand, the, crypto, industry, at, large if, you, aren't, viewing, it, from, a biological, perspective uh, and, one, of, the, reasons, like, this, this industry, is, famously, like, so multi-disciplinary, and, that, complexity of, so, many, disciplines turns, into, complexity, theory uh, which, turns, into, just, the, the conversation, that, you, started, off, with with, is, where, does, life, actually, begin and, we, don't, really, know, but, the patterns, are that, life, is, always, about, the, management

28:06

of, economic, resources and, if, some, sort, of, organizational entity, can, manage, these, economic resources, appropriately, to to, the, benefit, of, the, life, form, and growing, because, it's, as, a, life, form, it is efficient, at, consuming, economic resources, while, also, capturing, further economic, resources all, of, a, sudden, we, have, like, the groundings, for, sustainability and, so, i i, applied, this, same, sort, of mental, model, to, um to, defy, apps, right, uh, where, defy, apps are, and, i, used, ether, as, like, the

28:38

metaphor, of, like, nutrients, or, food value, is, like, the, the, new, communication medium, inside, of, the, you, know, the internet, of, money, or, the, crypto, world and, so, defy, apps, that, consume, ether, and then output, some, sort, of, like, useful, product that, is, demanded, by, the, market are, able, to, go, out, into, the, world, and venture, into, this, new landscape, that, is, the, internet, find nutrients, which, is, value, you, know valuable, assets uh, and, then, produce, something, new, right and, so, the, the, mental, model, for, this, is that, like, or, more, concrete, model, for

29:09

this, is, that maker, dao, you, come, in, and, you, submit ether, you, can and, the, maker, dial, consumes, that, ether and, then, it, outputs, die and, that, die, is, demanded, by, the environment, around, maker, and, so because, maker, is, a, viable, economic manager, life, form, it, has, sustainability and, we, can, talk, about, that, with basically, every, single, defy, app, like there's, some, amount, of, value, input there's, some, amount, of, value, output, and because, the, output, is, demanded and, because, the, uh, the, defy, application

29:41

is, efficient uh, there, is, more, value, that, is, created by the, defy, app, more, than, it, is, consumed and, all, of, a, sudden, it, is, a, net outputter, of, economic, resources, which, is good, for, the, world, there's, more, value created, by, these, things, than, what, is consumed, and, that's, why, they, are sustainable and, we, can, put, them, into, the, category, of life, forms, and, i, think, this, is an, insanely, interesting, topic, of conversation, that, i, was, not, actually did, not, know, we, were, actually, going, down this, rabbit, hole, but, it's, literally, my favorite, rabbit, hole, in, all, of, crypto might, as, well, um, but, yeah, that, was

30:14

uh, something, that, i dived, very, deeply, into, into, 2015, 2016 and, it's, been my, framework, for, of, thinking, for, a, very long, time um, but, it's, it's, i, think, you've, phrased it, very, well, and, i, resonate with, with, what, you, said, to, a, very, large degree um, but, yeah, let's, let's, jump, into, the other, other, topics, that, you, guys, wanted to, discuss, well, really, quick, there because, i, think, we're, we're, starting, to see, how, eric, wall thinks, right, which, is, a, kind, of

30:46

part, of, the, the, entire, purpose, of, this podcast, because, i, think, you, you, bring some, really, interesting, insights, uh, to the, table, but you, almost, just, painted, yourself, just now, as, sort, of, a, digital, biologist of, types, right, just, studying, the evolution yeah, i, used, to, call, me, i, i, used, to, call myself, uh crypto, darwinist, i was, thinking, about, i was i, was, i, was, thinking, about, uh, actually giving, out, that, you, know, there's, this darwin, award that, you, give, to, someone, does, something

David Hoffman

1493 posts

Co-owner at Bankless. Optimistic storyteller of frontier technology.

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