Lex Fridman Podcast

#168 – Silvio Micali: Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, Algorand, Bitcoin, and Ethereum

Mar 15, 2021

02:00:48

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Highlights

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Episode notes

The Common Knowledge of Cryptocurrency

02:58

The Scarcity of a Particular Resource Like Bitcoin

01:42

Blockchain and Cryptocurrency - What Does Scalability Mean?

01:37

Introduction

2min

Athletic Greens Sponsored by the Information

3min

How to Find a Licensed Professional Psychologist in Under 48 Hours

4min

What Is a Blockchain?

3min

What Is Cryptocurrency?

2min

The Common Knowledge of Cryptocurrency

3min

I Didn't Even Think About That.

2min

The Scarcity of a Particular Resource Like Bitcoin

2min

Blockchain and Cryptocurrency - What Does Scalability Mean?

2min

10.

Is Scalability a Challenge in a World That Is Big?

2min

11.

The Challenge of Scalability in a Space of Cryptocurrency

2min

12.

The Quintessential Problem in a Blockchain

4min

13.

Delegated Proof of Stake

4min

14.

Randomness - A Powerful Tool to Get Decentralization

2min

15.

Random Selection in a Grand Lottery

5min

16.

What Bitcoin Got Right and Where Is It Lagging?

2min

17.

Is It Possible to Build Stuff on Top of Bitcoin?

3min

18.

Creating a Market Out of People's Creations

3min

19.

Is Decentralization of Power Really Possible?

2min

20.

The Challenge of Distributed Power in a Large System

2min

21.

Decentralized Algorithm Governance

3min

22.

The Quintessential Leader

3min

23.

Is There Space Where Blockchain Can Change Everything?

3min

24.

Privacy on the Blockchain?

3min

25.

The Future of Algorand Blockchain?

4min

26.

Is Satoshi Nakamoto Bitcoin?

2min

27.

The Future of Cryptocurrency

3min

28.

The Most Powerful Idea in Cryptography

4min

29.

Pseudo Random Number Generators

2min

30.

The Expanders of Secret Randomness

2min

31.

Is There Such a Thing as True Randomness?

3min

32.

Does Quantum Computing Challenge Cryptography?

3min

33.

The One-Way Function Is Fundamental to All of Life

2min

34.

How Interactive Proofs Work?

3min

35.

Zero Knowledge Proofs

4min

36.

Is There a Power in Games?

2min

37.

The Best Move Is the Best Move

2min

38.

Is It Possible to Maximize Your Utility?

3min

39.

Parmejana - The Last Meal

3min

40.

The Divine Comedy of Dante

3min

41.

The Limitations Are Actually Our Strength

2min

42.

The Limitations Are a Superpower

3min

43.

What Do You Hope Your Legacy Is?

4min

44.

The Journey Is More Important Than the Destination

2min

Silvio Micali is a computer scientist at MIT, Turing award winner, and founder of Algorand. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/lex and use code LEX to get 1 month of fish oil
– The Information: https://theinformation.com/lex to get 75% off first month
– Four Sigmatic: https://foursigmatic.com/lex and use code LexPod to get up to 60% off
– BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off

EPISODE LINKS:
Silvio’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/silviomicali
Algorand’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Algorand
Algorand’s Website: https://www.algorand.com/

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OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(08:55) – Blockchain
(11:52) – Cryptocurrency
(14:42) – Money
(18:56) – Scarcity
(20:37) – Scalability, Security, and Decentralization
(24:03) – Algorand
(40:36) – Bitcoin
(43:39) – Ethereum
(45:10) – NFTs
(48:34) – Decentralization of power
(52:42) – Intelligent adaptation
(55:25) – Leaders
(58:31) – Freedom
(1:01:31) – Privacy
(1:04:15) – Bitcoin maximalism
(1:08:01) – Satoshi Nakamoto
(1:12:39) – One-way function
(1:16:52) – Pseudorandomness
(1:21:34) – Free will
(1:23:39) – Will quantum computers break cryptography?
(1:28:44) – Interactive proofs
(1:35:38) – Mechanism design
(1:43:04) – Favorite meal
(1:46:18) – Book recommendations
(1:53:15) – Advice for young people
(1:55:48) – Fear of death
(1:58:29) – Meaning of life