The Milk Road Show Crypto’s Future Explained by One of Coinbase’s First Employees w/ Dan Romero
Jan 2, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Dan Romero, a pioneer from Coinbase and co-founder of Farcaster, shares his firsthand experiences from the early days of cryptocurrency. He reveals the challenges of getting merchants to accept Bitcoin back in the day and reflects on the explosive growth from 2014 to 2017. Dan discusses the possibility of nations adopting Bitcoin into their strategic reserves and how regulatory changes could further shape the crypto landscape. His insights provide a compelling glimpse into the future of blockchain technology.
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Bitcoin's Evolving Perception
- In 2014, Bitcoin was primarily seen as a payment method, not digital gold.
- The focus has shifted over time, with Bitcoin now often viewed as a hedge against inflation.
Early Coinbase Focus
- Dan Romero, Coinbase's 20th employee, initially focused on Bitcoin payment adoption.
- This was challenging due to Bitcoin's slow confirmation times and price volatility.
Coinbase's 2017 Growth
- Coinbase experienced 100x revenue growth in 2017, driven by the Bitcoin bull run.
- This surge brought mainstream attention to crypto but also operational challenges, like website downtime.