#231 – Alex Gladstein: Bitcoin, Authoritarianism, and Human Rights

About this episode

<p>Alex Gladstein is the Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation and the Oslo Freedom Forum. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:<br /> &#8211; <b>Stripe</b>: <a href="https://stripe.com">https://stripe.com</a><br /> &#8211; <b>Paperspace</b>: <a href="https://gradient.run/lex">https://gradient.run/lex</a> to get $15 credit<br /> &#8211; <b>Codecademy</b>: <a href="https://codecademy.com">https://codecademy.com</a> and use code LEX to get 15% off<br /> &#8211; <b>NI</b>: <a href="https://www.ni.com/perspectives">https://www.ni.com/perspectives</a><br /> &#8211; <b>Eight Sleep</b>: <a href="https://www.eightsleep.com/lex">https://www.eightsleep.com/lex</a> and use code LEX to get special savings</p> <p><b>EPISODE LINKS:</b><br /> Alex&#8217;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/gladstein">https://twitter.com/gladstein</a><br /> The Little Bitcoin Book: <a href="https://littlebitcoinbook.com/">https://littlebitcoinbook.com/</a><br /> Human Rights Foundation: <a href="https://hrf.org/">https://hrf.org/</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/lexfridman">https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman</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 /> (08:36) &#8211; Universal human rights<br /> (22:35) &#8211; Authoritarianism<br /> (32:46) &#8211; AIs impact on civil liberties<br /> (44:09) &#8211; Edward Snowden and government surveillance<br /> (47:48) &#8211; Money<br /> (52:01) &#8211; Bitcoin<br /> (1:07:48) &#8211; Government response to Bitcoin<br /> (1:18:19) &#8211; The blockchain<br /> (1:23:42) &#8211; Can Bitcoin fail?<br /> (1:26:33) &#8211; Bitcoin scams<br /> (1:30:17) &#8211; Patriotism<br /> (1:32:41) &#8211; Human Rights Foundation<br /> (1:37:15) &#8211; Conflict with China<br /> (1:40:05) &#8211; Corporate accountability<br /> (1:55:27) &#8211; Garry Kasparov and the HRF<br /> (2:00:36) &#8211; Journalism, conversations, and truth<br /> (2:07:50) &#8211; Alex&#8217;s book recommendations<br /> (2:15:56) &#8211; Attacks on Bitcoin<br /> (2:17:35) &#8211; The future of humanity<br /> (2:21:57) &#8211; Advice for young people<br /> (2:33:13) &#8211; Meaning of life</p>