The Slow Hunch Juan Benet (Protocol Labs)
Jun 11, 2025
Juan Benet, the founder and CEO of Protocol Labs, is a trailblazer in decentralized web technology, creating IPFS and Filecoin. He shares insights on the evolution of decentralized systems and their potential to reshape governance and finance. Juan discusses the challenges of funding innovative research and the necessity of bridging gaps in technology development. He also explores the intersection of AI and crypto, pondering future governance models and the transformative role these technologies might play in society. Prepare to rethink the future!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Juan's Early Internet Inspiration
- Juan Benet was inspired by early internet culture through video games and Skype's transformative peer-to-peer model. - He explored how Skype rapidly built a massive telephony network using peer-to-peer technology around 2000-2004.
Decentralization vs Central Planning
- Decentralization enables faster, local decision-making at the edges of systems. - Central planning struggles at scale and often fails to serve all parties effectively.
Leadership Tension in Decentralization
- Human organizations thrive with hierarchical leadership due to evolution. - However, decentralized crypto networks face a tension balancing leadership visibility and decentralization.