IORADIO #20 – Does Decentralization Make Any Sense?

Do you have questions about decentralization? We do.

When cryptobros invoke its name, bagholders of all tokens bow their heads and mutter a prayer to Our Lord Nakamoto, but why is it so important to them?

The blasphemy of centralization is a curse to true believers, but are these the crazed rantings of religious zealots, or have the The Chosen People discovered the word of a digital Prophet?

Does decentralization offer the faithless hearts of heretical nocoiners digital salvation or does it pull the guileless and the gullible into the waiting arms of damnation?

Does it make things better? How important is it? And does it actually apply to blockchain and cryptocurrency?

On this episode of IORADIO we’re out to chew bubble gum and destroy talking points, and we’re all outta bubble gum! Adam and Sal kick away crypto propagandists’ most beloved crutch: decentralization.

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IORADIO #18 – In the Garden of Snakes with Stephen Diehl

When cryptocurrency’s malign influence on the software industry began to be felt in 2019, an engineer working in finance took notice. After seeing first hand how public permissionless blockchains could be used to pervert incentives and undermine common interests, Stephen Diehl’s views on the decade old tech changed. What he had previously dismissed, he now saw as dangerous, and Stephen began to write a series of influential blog posts that have helped educate the public about the true nature of crypto.

In the intervening years Stephen’s written dozens of articles and two books on the subject and has become one of crypto’s most prominent critics. He’s also become an activist against the well funded cryptocurrency industry and has challenged those seeking to exploit and defraud the public by organizing with others who are critical of the tech.

We sit down with Stephen to discuss his activism, the ever changing ecosystem of tokenized fraud known as cryptocurrency, and if we should let Sal burn it with fire or apply the law according to Adam. Tune in!

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IORADIO #13 – Interview with Computer Science Professor and Crypto Critic: Dr. Nicholas Weaver

In this episode, we interview one of the cryptocurrency industry’s earliest and most staunch critic, Berkely Computer Science Professor Doctor Nicholas Weaver, who has authored various articles and presentations on how and why Bitcoin and crypto are unsuitable for any of the applications they claim, if not downright, in his own words, “criminally negligent” technology.

Watch on Video:

Watch here – Interview with Dr. Nicholas Weaver

Listen to the audio-only podcast below:

IORADIO # 11 – RFK Jr: Covid Restrictions Bring Totalitarianism & Bitcoin Fixes This?

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AmericanScream and I react to RFK Jr.’s Bitcoin 2023 keynote rantings in Miami. Kennedy equates public health measures during COVID to totalitarian oppression and argues that Bitcoin is important because it protects civil liberties from governmental repression.

In IO Radio #11 we discuss the democratic presidential candidate’s COVID obsession and anti-vaxxer status. Were the Canadian truckers freedom loving patriots, or whiny entitled far right anti-science nut jobs? Join us, and let us know if ‘Bitcoin solves this’™.

P.S. I want to drown Bitcoin in a bathtub.

IORADIO #9 – Reaction to Adam Back & Co. “Biggest Bitcoin Ballers” Panel at Bitcoin 2023 + bonus

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American Scream and I react to the “Biggest Bitcoin Ballers” panel discussion at Bitcoin 2023 in Miami.

Watch Saint Adam Back, joined by fellow cultists Jack Mallers & Matt Odell, preach the gospel of FOMO and evangelize the sacred tenant of HODL. How much fiat are you donating to the church of crypto? It might be time to sell your worldly possessions and become a Bitcoin monk, while some might pray, the truly devout DCA.

In IO Radio #9 we provide colour commentary while three of the world’s biggest con-artists try to take every last dollar you have and stuff it into their already overflowing pockets. The only thing on stage scarcer that the panellist’s sense of empathy is a real world use case.

To finish, we share a sneak peak of highlights from day 1 of Bitcoin 2023. Enjoy!

IORADIO #8: Bitcoin 2023 Miami Reaction Video – Bitcoin Economics, Flow States, & Right Wing Dog Whistles

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One of the largest Bitcoin conferences has started in Miami this weekend and we’re peeking into the livestream presentations and commenting — adding a bit of FACT CHECKING and logic, reason and evidence into the constant stream of marketing propaganda about crypto and bitcoin.

Tune in to IO Radio #8 and see just how insulated this bubble really is. Coolly observe or recoil with horror as you witness how both presenters and attendees are detached from reality, with no semblance of actual understanding of money, finance or how government works. The liberal sprinkling of right wing dog whistles are an added bonus.

IORADIO #6 – Is Texas a Crypto Welfare State? – Interview with Jackie Sawicky of the Texas Coalition Against Crypto Mining

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Is Texas a crypto welfare state? We often hear that the crypto mining industry is good for the economy and the energy business. In IO Radio #5 we reacted to a propaganda video claiming that Riot and other crypto miners were good for Texas, but what do local citizens think?

American Scream and I talk to Jackie Sawicky – founder of the Texas Coalition Against Crypto Mining – her organization has boots on the ground in Navarro county and is trying to educate people about the lies and misinformation being spread about mining facilities being built and operated in Texas.

What’s at stake when a mining operation moves next door? According to Jackie it’s much more than you think. Communities are being exploited and people’s lives are are put at risk while municipalities give away electricity to private corporations who sell it back to the public at a huge profit.

Listen to the shocking story of what’s happened to the small rural Texas communities who’ve had bitcoin mining come to their front door, and ask yourself if government should be in the business of subsidizing the crypto industry.

IORADIO #5 – We React To “Dear Elizabeth Warren” – A Bitcoin Propaganda Film

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There appears to be a sizable amount of resources being pumped into producing these pro-Bitcoin propaganda films. This one was released recently, making some serious claims about Senator Elizabeth Warren and whether Bitcoin is in fact good for energy production instead of being criminally wasteful.

Now you can see both sides as we react to this new video. My apologies if the audio levels are a bit wonky on this – I made some mistakes during the recording and hopefully fixed them as best I could (and will do better for future episodes).

Additional details:

Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index – https://ccaf.io/cbnsi/cbeci

Petition opposing Bitcoin Mining by the Concerned Citizens of Navarro County – https://www.change.org/p/no-to-riot-bitcoin-mine-in-navarro-county.