Bitcoin Myths, Mr Beast on X | The Brainstorm EP 32
Jan 25, 2024
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Guest Yassine Elmandjra debunks common bitcoin myths and discusses the recent bitcoin ETF approval. The podcast also covers Mr. Beast's revenue on X and explores the monetization of video content. Additionally, the sales numbers and revenue potential of the Vision Pro are discussed.
Bitcoin's decentralized nature ensures there is no single person or entity controlling it, despite skepticism and misinformed views from traditional financial players.
Mr. Beast's success on the X platform highlights the potential for monetization through attention and ad revenue, aligning with the trend of video-focused social media platforms.
Deep dives
Bitcoin Misconceptions and Misinformation
Despite the institutional acceptance of Bitcoin with the approval of an ETF, prominent players in the traditional financial space like Jamie Dimon, Goldman Sachs, Vanguard, and UBS still exhibit skepticism and misinformed views. They claim that Bitcoin is highly speculative, volatile, and lacks real-world applications. However, these claims are rooted in a fundamental misunderstanding of Bitcoin's decentralized nature and purpose as a software-based, decentralized network. Bitcoin's governance model involves various stakeholders, including miners, nodes, developers, and end-users, who work collectively to maintain the integrity and rules of the network. The decentralized nature of Bitcoin ensures there is no single person or entity controlling it, including its anonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin's energy consumption is another point of contention, with critics arguing that it wastes too much electricity. However, Bitcoin's energy consumption is an essential design feature that creates scarcity and value. Additionally, Bitcoin's energy mix is becoming increasingly renewable, with miners finding cheap and stranded renewable energy sources. Overall, despite misconceptions and misinformation, Bitcoin continues to thrive and succeed with or without individual support or understanding.
Mr. Beast's Financial Success on X Platform
Mr. Beast recently posted a video on the X platform, in which he showed how much money he made from that video. The video gained 156 million impressions, and Mr. Beast disclosed that he made over $250,000. This success was partly due to the attention the video received, leading to additional ad revenue. While this achievement may not directly translate to the earnings of everyday creators, it highlights the potential for monetization on the X platform. However, there are ongoing discussions about how X counts views and the need for greater transparency in its monetization system. Additionally, the evolution of X into a video-focused platform aligns with current trends in social media and the increasing popularity of short-form video content. The ability to create videos easily and efficiently can attract a wider audience and offer more entertainment value, making video a crucial aspect of any social media platform.
The Vision Pro and Initial Sales Numbers
The Vision Pro, a new AR/VR product from Apple, received strong initial sales, with estimates ranging from 160,000 to 180,000 orders. While these figures surpass expectations, they are relatively small compared to the install base of other Apple products. The Vision Pro's higher price point and the emerging nature of AR/VR technology may contribute to its niche status. Nevertheless, the sales generated represent a significant revenue total, potentially amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars, considering the product's price range. However, there is some concern regarding developer support. Several platforms, including Netflix, YouTube, and Spotify, have decided not to develop for the Vision Pro, indicating some hesitation and discontent among developers. This developer sentiment could impact the future success and adoption of the Vision Pro.
Evolving Features of the X Platform
The X platform is undergoing notable changes to enhance its functionalities and address concerns. One major development is the platform's shift toward video content. Video has become the dominant format for social media, capturing user preferences and providing entertainment value. Emphasizing video content on X is crucial for long-term success. Additionally, X is implementing community notes and verification processes to ensure accurate information and fact-checking. This verification approach aims to counter the spread of misinformation and the potential influx of AI-generated content. Moreover, X's management acknowledges the importance of striking a balance between maintaining an uncompromising free speech ethos and addressing advertiser concerns. These developments demonstrate the platform's commitment to innovation and evolving with the changing landscape of social media.
Addressing common bitcoin myths! This week, Autonomous Technology and Robotics Director of Research Sam Korus and Associate Portfolio Manager Nick Grous are joined by Director of Digital Assets Yassine Elmandjra. Together they discuss some of the common bitcoin myths circulating, especially after Jamie Dimon's comments at Davos and the bitcoin ETF approval.
If you know ARK, then you probably know about our long-term research projections, like estimating where we will be 5-10 years from now! But just because we are long-term investors, doesn’t mean we don’t have strong views and opinions on breaking news. In fact, we discuss and debate this every day. So now we’re sharing some of these internal discussions with you in our new video series, “The Brainstorm”, a co-production from ARK and Public.com. Tune in every week as we react to the latest in innovation. Here and there we’ll be joined by special guests, but ultimately this is our chance to join the conversation and share ARK’s quick takes on what’s going on in tech today.
Key Points From This Episode:
Debunking bitcoin myths
Mr Beast's revenue on X
For more updates on Public.com:
Website: https://public.com/
YouTube: @publicinvest
Twitter: https://twitter.com/public
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