Investigative reporter Zeke Faux delivers a captivating account of the sharp ascent and rapid collapse of cryptocurrency. They discuss the crypto bubble, the mysterious world of tether, the appeal and absurdity of NFT collections, risks of buying cryptocurrency, El Salvador's experience with crypto wallets, and blockchain in online scams.
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Quick takeaways
Crypto scams and questionable practices fueled the bubble and led to the financial loss for many investors.
Investing heavily in games like Axie Infinity caused dire financial situations for families caught up in the crypto mania.
The adoption of Bitcoin as an official currency in El Salvador did not bring the expected economic boost and left many disillusioned.
Deep dives
The Rise and Fall of Crypto Mania
At the height of the crypto mania, the financial world was swept up in the frenzy. From Wall Street investors to average Americans, everyone was looking to make money in this new and exciting way. However, investigative reporter Zeke Fox delves deep into this world, revealing the absurdity and questionable practices that fueled the bubble. Companies like Tether came under scrutiny for their lack of transparency and questionable business practices. The crash that followed left many people disillusioned as they lost significant amounts of money. Overall, the crypto hype turned out to be nothing more than a smoking crater of failure.
Axie Infinity and the Devastating Impact on the Philippines
One of the earliest crypto manias centered around a game called Axie Infinity, particularly popular in the Philippines. Families invested heavily in the game, racking up debt to buy crypto monsters and earn digital assets. However, when the bubble burst, many found themselves in dire financial situations. The impact was so severe that some even considered leaving their children with relatives and moving abroad to work off their losses. The promises of quick riches turned into a nightmare for those caught up in the Axie Infinity craze.
El Salvador's Disastrous Adoption of Bitcoin
President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, made headlines when he announced the country's adoption of Bitcoin as an official currency. However, the reality on the ground proved far from successful. The general sentiment towards Bitcoin in El Salvador was negative, with few embracing the cryptocurrency. Despite the initial hype, the adoption of Bitcoin did not bring the hoped-for economic boost, leaving many disillusioned with the decision. El Salvador's experience serves as a cautionary tale for others considering similar moves.
The Rise and Fall of Crypto Scams
The podcast episode explores the rise and fall of various crypto scams, highlighting the unrealistic promises and deceptive practices behind them. It delves into the example of Tara, a coin backed by another made-up coin called Luna, which turned out to be almost openly a Ponzi scheme. The podcast also mentions the involvement of big-time investors like Mike Novogratz and the dangers of getting caught up in such scams.
Dark Side of Crypto and the Future
The podcast reveals the dark side of crypto, pointing out that it has become a popular tool for online scams and even human trafficking. It discusses how scammers operate by targeting unsuspecting victims who are unfamiliar with crypto and manipulate them into sending large sums of money. The podcast highlights the lack of regulation and the risks associated with investing in crypto. It concludes by questioning the future viability of crypto, considering its association with scams and lack of widespread practical use beyond gambling.
Remember crypto? Only a year ago, it seemed like the future of finance, but now it's a smoldering crater in the ground. Between large corporations and everyday people that got caught up in the grift, trillions of dollars vanished seemingly overnight. But what was it like in the heart of this surreal, million-dollar-monkey-jpeg storm? Zeke Faux, investigative reporter and author of Number Go Up: Inside Crypto's Wild Rise and Staggering Fall, joins Adam to deliver a captivating and hilarious account of the sharp ascent and rapid collapse of the world of cryptocurrency. Find Zeke's book at factuallypod.com/books
Headgum: Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium podcasts with the funniest, most engaging voices in comedy to achieve one goal: Making our audience and ourselves laugh. Listen to our shows at https://www.headgum.com.