James & Omid Malekan analyze of the Bitcoin flash crash and other catalysts for big moves in crypto as they unravel the complexities and future implications of today's volatile market,
 So much happening in crypto last yesterday. There was a flash crash, of Bitcoin when there was rumors that the Bitcoin ETF might not happen. But there's a lot of other news, a lot of other catalysts for big moves in crypto. I brought on my good friend and super crypto expert, Omid Malekan.Â
Omid is a professor of crypto at Columbia business school. He's written two books, The Story of the Blockchain, and his most recent book - which is a great book, I highly recommend it - Re-Architecting Trust, The Curse of History and the Crypto Cure for Money Markets and Platforms.Â
He also was one of the first people to help guide Citigroup, the largest bank in the world on the topic of crypto.
We talked about everything from the Bitcoin ETFs to the convergence of crypto and AI to the Ethereum upgrade, and all sorts of other catalysts for Bitcoin and crypto in general. So, a lot of topics. Here it goes!Â
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Episode Summary
Crypto Writing and Teaching [00:01:30]: Malekan discusses his focus on writing about crypto and his fully enrolled class after a hiatus​​.
Crypto's Disruptive Nature [00:02:42]: He reflects on the fundamentally challenging, confusing, and disruptive aspects of crypto​​.
The Future of Money [00:04:14]: The conversation touches on the surprising lack of foresight in sci-fi literature regarding the future of money, despite advancements in other technologies​​.
Evolution of Money [00:05:50]: Altucher points out that major evolutions in money, such as the use of gold as currency, were always unexpected​​.
Crypto's Initial User Base [00:06:46]: Malekan agrees that all major monetary evolutions were unexpected and discusses how crypto's initial user base was tech-savvy, leading to some resistance as it became mainstream​​.
Expansion of Crypto [00:09:15]: The discussion covers the expansion of crypto beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum, highlighting the growth of the field since 2017​​.
Ethereum's Use Cases [00:11:04]: Malekan points out that Ethereum has opened the door to many new use cases, far beyond what was initially envisioned​​.
Killer App of Decentralized Cloud Computing [00:12:37]: He speculates on the potential 'killer app' for decentralized cloud computing, emphasizing that the best applications may not have been seen yet​​.
Digital Identity [00:14:03]: Malekan discusses the potential for blockchain in managing digital identities and the convergence of crypto and AI​​.
AI and Blockchain Intersection [00:16:51]: The conversation touches on the intersection of AI and blockchain, including decentralized computing for controversial AI models​​.
Advanced Cryptography for Data Protection [00:20:20]: Malekan highlights the need for advanced cryptography for secure data sharing and training AI models on encrypted data​​.
Complexity of Crypto Transactions [00:21:05]: The complexity and difficulty of buying Bitcoin, especially for non-tech savvy individuals, are discussed​​.
Challenges in Evolving Crypto [00:25:05]: Malekan points out the paradox at the core of evolving crypto, balancing decentralization with user-friendliness​​.
Radical Decentralization and ETFs [00:26:39]: The conversation shifts to the radical decentralized dream in crypto and the conflict it creates with the emergence of ETFs​​.
Crypto and Tax Laws [00:33:26]: Malekan discusses how new tax laws involving crypto are indicative of the government recognizing crypto as a legitimate form of payment​​.
Global Nature of Crypto [00:33:56]: The global nature of crypto is discussed, highlighting its potential as a global financial system and the reluctance of some US government officials​​.
Current Events and Crypto [00:35:04]: Altucher segues into current events, discussing the weaponization of the dollar and the potential of crypto as a global reserve currency​​.
Imminent Approval of Crypto ETFs [00:36:09]: Malekan talks about the imminent approval of crypto ETFs and the impact it may have​​.
Involvement of Hedge Funds in Crypto [00:44:23]: The interest of hedge funds in cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin and Ethereum, is discussed​​.
Potential Multiples Increase in Bitcoin Price [00:47:26]: The possibility of Bitcoin's price increasing several multiples is explored, along with the role of other countries in adopting crypto ETFs​​.
Post-Bitcoin ETF Roadmap [00:50:12]: The roadmap after the approval of a Bitcoin ETF, including the possibility of an Ethereum ETF and others, is discussed​​.
Stablecoins and Crypto Predictions [00:53:55]: Malekan mentions a public figure's recent change in stance towards crypto and the development of a so-called stablecoin​​.
Maturation of Crypto [00:56:55]: The significant strides in the maturation of crypto over the past year are highlighted​​.
Crypto's Tipping Point [01:01:24]: The discussion focuses on the tipping point for crypto's takeover, emphasizing the need for practical use cases beyond speculation​​.
Future of Bitcoin [01:08:39]: Malekan speculates on the future of Bitcoin, particularly concerning miners' revenue and the potential for new financial models​​.
Bitcoin's New Use Cases [01:13:27]: The conversation turns to new use cases for Bitcoin and the search for product-market fit within the crypto space​​.
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