#168 – Silvio Micali: Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, Algorand, Bitcoin, and Ethereum

About this episode

<p>Silvio Micali is a computer scientist at MIT, Turing award winner, and founder of Algorand. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:<br /> &#8211; <b>Athletic Greens</b>: <a href="https://athleticgreens.com/lex">https://athleticgreens.com/lex</a> and use code LEX to get 1 month of fish oil<br /> &#8211; <b>The Information</b>: <a href="https://theinformation.com/lex">https://theinformation.com/lex</a> to get 75% off first month<br /> &#8211; <b>Four Sigmatic</b>: <a href="https://foursigmatic.com/lex">https://foursigmatic.com/lex</a> and use code LexPod to get up to 60% off<br /> &#8211; <b>BetterHelp</b>: <a href="https://betterhelp.com/lex">https://betterhelp.com/lex</a> to get 10% off</p> <p><b>EPISODE LINKS:</b><br /> Silvio&#8217;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/silviomicali">https://twitter.com/silviomicali</a><br /> Algorand&#8217;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/Algorand">https://twitter.com/Algorand</a><br /> Algorand&#8217;s Website: <a href="https://www.algorand.com/">https://www.algorand.com/</a></p> <p><b>PODCAST INFO:</b><br /> Podcast website: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/podcast">https://lexfridman.com/podcast</a><br /> Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://apple.co/2lwqZIr">https://apple.co/2lwqZIr</a><br /> Spotify: <a href="https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8">https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8</a><br /> RSS: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/">https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/</a><br /> YouTube Full Episodes: <a href="https://youtube.com/lexfridman">https://youtube.com/lexfridman</a><br /> YouTube Clips: <a href="https://youtube.com/lexclips">https://youtube.com/lexclips</a></p> <p><b>SUPPORT &#38; CONNECT:</b><br /> &#8211; Check out the sponsors above, it&#8217;s the best way to support this podcast<br /> &#8211; Support on Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman">https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/lexfridman">https://twitter.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman">https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LexFridmanPage">https://www.facebook.com/LexFridmanPage</a><br /> &#8211; Medium: <a href="https://medium.com/@lexfridman">https://medium.com/@lexfridman</a></p> <p><b>OUTLINE:</b><br /> Here&#8217;s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.<br /> (00:00) &#8211; Introduction<br /> (08:55) &#8211; Blockchain<br /> (11:52) &#8211; Cryptocurrency<br /> (14:42) &#8211; Money<br /> (18:56) &#8211; Scarcity<br /> (20:37) &#8211; Scalability, Security, and Decentralization<br /> (24:03) &#8211; Algorand<br /> (40:36) &#8211; Bitcoin<br /> (43:39) &#8211; Ethereum<br /> (45:10) &#8211; NFTs<br /> (48:34) &#8211; Decentralization of power<br /> (52:42) &#8211; Intelligent adaptation<br /> (55:25) &#8211; Leaders<br /> (58:31) &#8211; Freedom<br /> (1:01:31) &#8211; Privacy<br /> (1:04:15) &#8211; Bitcoin maximalism<br /> (1:08:01) &#8211; Satoshi Nakamoto<br /> (1:12:39) &#8211; One-way function<br /> (1:16:52) &#8211; Pseudorandomness<br /> (1:21:34) &#8211; Free will<br /> (1:23:39) &#8211; Will quantum computers break cryptography?<br /> (1:28:44) &#8211; Interactive proofs<br /> (1:35:38) &#8211; Mechanism design<br /> (1:43:04) &#8211; Favorite meal<br /> (1:46:18) &#8211; Book recommendations<br /> (1:53:15) &#8211; Advice for young people<br /> (1:55:48) &#8211; Fear of death<br /> (1:58:29) &#8211; Meaning of life</p>