Chris Dixon, founding partner of a16z crypto and author of 'Read Write Own,' dives into how blockchain technology could redefine the internet as a more open and democratic space. He shares insights on the art of writing in a digital world, emphasizing the enduring value of books. The conversation explores the complexities of blockchain, its dual nature, and the cultural implications of cryptocurrencies. Dixon also highlights innovative concepts like collaborative storytelling and speculates on the future of technology, AI, and the creative economy.
Blockchain and tokens offer the potential to reshape the internet, fostering creativity, entrepreneurship, and open networks.
Books are valuable tools for deepening understanding and developing a comprehensive worldview, especially important when navigating complex systems like the internet and technology.
Blockchains serve as an antidote to the centralized control of the internet, allowing for the distribution of power and the preservation of the democratic spirit.
Deep dives
The Power of Blockchains and Tokens
The podcast episode explores the positive vision of how blockchains and tokens can be used to reshape the internet. It emphasizes their potential to foster creativity, entrepreneurship, and open networks. The episode discusses how these technologies offer economic, governance, and software development benefits, making them a better way to build networks compared to traditional methods.
The Book as a Culmination of a Career
The episode features an interview with Chris Dixon, the author of the book 'Read, Write, Own: Building the Next Internet.' Dixon shares his experience and insights as an entrepreneur, investor, and participant in the internet era. He explains how his book breaks down the cycles of crypto and blockchain, addressing the 'why now' question and exploring the distinction between the computer and the casino.
The Importance of Books and Primary Sources
During the conversation, Chris Dixon emphasizes the value of books as a means of deepening understanding and developing a worldview. He explains how books can penetrate culture and present a comprehensive theory or worldview. Dixon also highlights the importance of primary sources, such as history books, in gaining insights into complex systems like the internet and technology.
The Exciting Future of Technology and Ideas
The episode acknowledges the current era as a period of unprecedented technological advancements and innovations. It discusses the potential for major technological shifts in AI, self-driving cars, virtual reality, and more. Dixon expresses enthusiasm about the future and the emergence of 'weirdos' who will drive innovation and transform the world with their ideas.
The importance of new systems built on blockchains
The podcast episode discusses the speaker's belief in the potential of new systems built on blockchains as an antidote to the centralized control of the internet by a few dominant companies. The speaker highlights that the internet was originally open and democratic, allowing anyone to build a website, but this openness has been eroded over time. The speaker emphasizes the need for new systems to distribute power and allow individuals to regain control over their online presence. Although the speaker acknowledges that finance is an important area for blockchain, they assert that blockchains have various applications beyond finance. The speaker predicts that artificial intelligence (AI) will further centralize control, making it crucial to rely on the decentralized and open nature of blockchains to preserve the democratic spirit of the internet.
The potential of blockchain to empower creators and communities
Another key point discussed in the podcast is the transformative potential of blockchain for creators and communities. The speaker advocates for using blockchain and NFTs to establish a direct relationship between creators and their audience, allowing creators to monetize their work more effectively. The speaker presents the concept of collaborative storytelling, where communities collaboratively build and evolve their own narrative universes and are rewarded with tokens for their contributions. This approach addresses the current challenges faced by creators, such as limited earnings and reliance on centralized platforms. By bypassing the intermediaries, blockchain enables a more equitable distribution of economic benefits and fosters a golden era for creators. The speaker also addresses the issue of take rates imposed by centralized platforms and highlights the potential for blockchain to revolutionize the economics of the internet for creators.
Welcome to the web3 with a16z crypto podcast. I'm Robert Hackett, an editor here at a16z crypto, and I'm here with Chris Dixon, founding partner of a16z crypto and author of the new book Read Write Own: Building the Next Era of the Internet. I had the privilege of editing Chris throughout the book writing process, and I'm thrilled now to talk to you about what went on behind the scenes, the big themes of the book, the challenges, and also about the crypto industry at large as well as what we can expect from it in the future.
As a reminder, none of the following should be taken as business, legal, tax, or investment advice; please see a16z.com/disclosures for more important information, including a link to a list of our investments.
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