Zooko Wilcox and Josh Swihart: Unstoppable Private Money

Jun 3, 2025

Zooko Wilcox, legendary cypherpunk and co-founder of Zcash, joins Josh Swihart, CEO of the Electric Coin Company, to discuss the future of private money. They delve into how Zcash innovations enhance user privacy and tackle issues around centralized exchanges. The conversation highlights the importance of zero-knowledge proofs and the significance of turnstiles in reconciling fund transparency. They also explore the philosophical impact of sci-fi on our understanding of technology and financial freedom, advocating for the moral imperative of private money in advancing society.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

DEXs Democratize Access to Zcash

Centralized exchanges restrict access via gatekeepers and compliance, limiting who can use private digital money like Zcash.
Decentralized exchanges like Maya Protocol democratize access, enabling anyone worldwide to use private money without such barriers.

ANECDOTE

Coinbase Social Engineering Breach

Coinbase suffered a social engineering attack where customer service was bribed to access accounts.
This exposed users' sensitive personal information due to regulatory KYC requirements like the Bank Secrecy Act.

INSIGHT

Private Money Defies Capital Controls

Laws like Spain's withdrawal restrictions show how capital controls limit freedom to use money.
Private money like Zcash negates these controls and supports individual financial freedom and authenticity.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

The Golden Cage

The Enigma of Anorexia Nervosa

Hilde Bruch

The Golden Cage is a seminal work by Hilde Bruch that delves into the complexities of anorexia nervosa. First published in 1978, it remains a crucial resource for understanding the relentless pursuit of thinness and the psychological factors involved. The book emphasizes early diagnosis and offers insights into the disorder's impact on individuals and families.

The Fountainhead

Ayn Rand

Published in 1943, 'The Fountainhead' by Ayn Rand tells the story of Howard Roark, a young and innovative architect who refuses to compromise his artistic vision despite the opposition from society. The novel explores themes of individualism, egoism, and the conflict between those who think for themselves (the 'first-handers') and those who follow the opinions of others (the 'second-handers'). It also delves into the lives of other characters such as Dominique Francon, Peter Keating, Ellsworth Toohey, and Gail Wynand, each representing different aspects of Rand's philosophical ideas. The book is a defense of egoism and individualism, presenting a radical rethinking of basic moral concepts and challenging conventional notions of selfishness and altruism[2][3][5].

Atlas Shrugged

Ayn Rand

Published in 1957, 'Atlas Shrugged' is Ayn Rand's magnum opus and her longest novel. The story is set in a dystopian United States where increasingly burdensome laws and regulations strangle innovation and productivity. The plot follows Dagny Taggart, a railroad executive, and Hank Rearden, a steel magnate, as they struggle against 'looters' who exploit their work. A mysterious figure named John Galt leads a strike of productive individuals, persuading them to abandon their companies and disappear. The novel culminates with Galt's three-hour radio speech explaining his philosophy of Objectivism, which emphasizes rational self-interest, individual rights, and the importance of the human mind. The book explores themes of capitalism, property rights, and the failures of governmental coercion, presenting a provocative vision of a society in collapse and the potential for a new capitalist society based on Galt's principles.