Blockchain Explained | Alex Gladstein and Lex Fridman

Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:

GUEST BIO:
Alex Gladstein is the Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation and the Oslo Freedom Forum.

PODCAST INFO:

SOCIAL:

[WayofRamen]

PoW by default moves towards centralization as mining becomes more expensive. In the end the only ones commiting blocks to the ledger are the ones powerful and rich enough to afford hardware to mine the blocks. We already see this now. Running a node gives you access to the ledger but the censorship capabilities lie with the miners which are increasingly a smaller and smaller concentrated pool.

[OnionKnight]

not really an explanation --- it's sorta like a marketing take on blockchain

[deepspace]

The fears about proof of stake are not only overblown but they illuminate a fundamental misunderstanding of the consensus mechanism as a whole.

Also, with the cost it takes to run a bitcoin mining operation, it already IS a system whereby the wealthiest people (ones who can afford to run a mining operation in 2021) settle all the transactions on the chain.

[theGADGETSplaylist]

the BITCOIN proponent goalposts have moved
I clearly remember when it was touted as fast (no longer so) low fee (pennies) for small everyday purchases (pizza)

[GueVonez]

Kind of annoying how Lex has only had supporters of Bitcoin on. All of them make it seem like its amazing. We need a view of the other side

[siomaaa]

As with mining pools, a group of individuals can pool together to stake whatever amount they wish through decentralized staking protocols. How would changing to PoS change the power dynamics then? I'm not following.

[germania]

I do not understand his argument that POW is better than POS. If I had to wager with money, I would put it on POS due to climate change being a very powerful political force.

[henryrichie]

If there is one thing I have learned in recent months it is to remain calm, especially when it comes to Trading in bitcoin.

[MrBraMusik]

​damn man, this was an adventure! Thanks for bringing us with you!

[roxlul]

do I smell bitcoin maximalism? there are and will be dozens of different blockchains used for thousands of different use cases.

[Shananana]

I’m trying to grasp the whole idea, but theres just so much to it. I think I would need someone to sit with me a explain it. And then I still may not fully get it. And most I hear talking about it, that have it, don’t seem to fully understand it either. 🤔 just me? 😆

[djay_popping]

My man has half the facts and thinks he’s got the big brain plays to decentralise the world lmao

[Sockpoppet]

Once most people realize how much more valuable Bitcoin is over fiat (USD), governments and federal reserves are going to fight Bitcoin with everything they can, but there is nothing they can do to stop it, and their worthless monetary system will be entirely replaced by private Crypto wallets.💖

[Blockchain]

Type of guy that has a degree studies Bitcoin for a good while and has it figured out. To say that EVERY other chain can be tampered with is a ignorant view. To say that POW is more decentralized than POS is stupid I don’t care what perspective you look from it from. Who is this guy lex come on ??

[joestephani]

You guys sound like the adults in the muppet babies.

[edu]

The Bitcoin blockchain doesn’t have to be “public” and transactions can potentially be disguised….right?

[jasoncoreas]

This nonedescript answer to the question of “what is blockchain?” Is further evidence that crypto is not viable.

[veksone]

99% of the population have no idea what he's talking about lol..

[Gazzapa]

Bitcoin is kinda like Multi-level marketing - there are the high priests and all the dodo's and cannon fodder community - we know who will be left standing !