80,000 Hours Podcast

#127 – Sam Bankman-Fried on taking a high-risk approach to crypto and doing good

Apr 14, 2022

Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of FTX and a vocal advocate for effective altruism, discusses his risky yet impactful approach to cryptocurrency and philanthropy. He explores the evolving landscape of crypto regulations, emphasizing the importance of accountability and relational dynamics in fostering potential for social good. Delving into high-stakes philanthropy, he contrasts personal gain with altruistic ambitions, highlighting his commitment to innovative solutions for global challenges, including pandemic preparedness and nuclear security funding.

03:20:28

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Episode guests

Sam Bankman-Fried

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Episode notes

Intro

4min

Navigating Crypto Regulation

4min

High-Stakes Philanthropy in Cryptocurrency

14min

Innovating Philanthropy Post-Pandemic

18min

Navigating Nuclear Funding and Future Risks

17min

Ethics of Animal Welfare and Activism

4min

Cultivating Biomedical Research for Global Challenges

13min

Navigating the Future of AI

9min

The Influence of Political Donations

12min

10.

Revolutionizing Finance: Blockchain and Beyond

8min

11.

Exploring Blockchain's Role in Social Media and Finance

11min

12.

Navigating Ethics: A Personal Journey

4min

13.

The Intersection of Philosophy and Action in Effective Altruism

2min

14.

Family Dynamics and the Formation of Rational Beliefs

2min

15.

Aligning Career with Values

4min

16.

Navigating Uncertainty in Career Choices

16min

17.

Navigating Crypto Entrepreneurship

21min

18.

Navigating Chaos in Organizations

8min

19.

Navigating CEO Responsibilities and Organizational Dynamics

2min

20.

Navigating Crypto Regulations in the Bahamas

2min

21.

Building New Communities Around Effective Altruism

2min

22.

Authenticity and Decision-Making in Leadership

20min

23.

Navigating Ambition in Effective Altruism: Key Challenges and Future Visions

3min

On this episode of the show, host Rob Wiblin interviews Sam Bankman-Fried.

This interview was recorded in February 2022, and released in April 2022.

But on November 11 2022, Sam Bankman-Fried's company, FTX, filed for bankruptcy, and all staff at the Future Fund resigned — and the surrounding events led Rob to record a new intro on December 1st 2022 for this episode.

• Read 80,000 Hours' statement on these events here.

• You can also listen to host Rob’s reaction to the collapse of FTX on this podcast feed, above episode 140, or here.

• Rob has shared some clarifications on his views about diminishing returns and risk aversion, and weaknesses in how it was discussed in this episode, here.

• And you can read the original blog post associated with the episode here.

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