Balaji Srinivasan – Bitcoin and Ethereum, Crypto Oracles, and More | The Tim Ferriss Show
The Episode of Everything: Balaji on Bitcoin and Ethereum, Media Self-Defense, Drone Warfare, Crypto Oracles, India as Dark Horse, The Pseudonymous Economy, Beautiful Trouble, Ramanujan, Life Extension, and More | Brought to you by Wealthfront ( ), Athletic Greens ( ), Helix Sleep ( ).
Show Notes:
Start [00:00]
What is the significance of 1729? [06:02]
What was the subject matter and the intent behind the MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) Balaji taught prior to joining Andreessen Horowitz? [10:21]
Balaji’s thoughts on the state of media (particularly podcasts), how product is merit and distribution is connections, and more [16:57]
Balaji wonders if we should be cautious of relying on a standing media to deliver us the news of the day — or if there are better, decentralized options. [29:57]
What can we do to protect ourselves as we wait for the future to be evenly distributed? We dive deep into everything from achieving financial independence to auditing our social ties to securing our privacy with a pseudonymous economy that could diminish the effects of cancellation and discrimination. [40:27]
Roam Research co-founder Conor White-Sullivan once said: “‘Balaji was right’ might be the most terrifying phrase in the English language.” Eerily accurate early speculation about the COVID-19 pandemic aside, how would Balaji strategize a sizeable investment made today? [1:07:29]
What participating in 1729 — “the first newsletter that pays you” — would ideally look like. [1:10:55]
How Balaji envisions 1729 as a skyhook to rescue the world’s brightest minds from places that usually get overlooked — like developing countries and war zones — or allow them to operate on home ground pseudonymously. [1:14:01]
A digital native solution to education that qualifies students to work as they go instead of waiting years until a full degree is earned. [1:17:37]
How do you pseudonymously show proof of skill? Enter the crypto credential. [1:21:33]
Don’t underestimate the power of microincentives. [1:25:27]
How does Balaji rationalize a “half in Bitcoin, half in Ethereum” investment, and how does it tie into shifting establishment dynamics? [1:27:51]
Why does Balaji believe that “not many institutions that predated the internet will survive the internet” — including nation states and fiat currencies? [1:35:44]
Addressing downside risk, what circumstances might make Bitcoin or Ethereum bad investments? [1:45:06]
How can we expect crypto regulation to play out in the United States? How are cities, states, and countries with an eye on the future currently signaling their friendliness toward innovation? [1:51:57]
Why Balaji believes “win and help win” is neither progressive, nor conservative, nor libertarian, but a concept that beats them all. [2:02:22]
How Bitcoin regulation thus far hasn’t followed the course that popular opinion predicted, and why you should hold your keys locally. [2:05:07]
How do Ethereum risks differ from those faced by Bitcoin? [2:09:44]
Want to get an understanding of how unrecognizable the near future will be? Consider how much the world has changed between the year 2000 and now — and how little it changed, comparatively, between then and 1970. [2:12:36]
Does Balaji believe the changes we’re about to experience en masse will be mostly positive or mostly negative? [2:22:16]
Thinkers, scientists, or resources Balaji would recommend for people who want to further explore life-extension and transhumanism. [2:32:16]
Who was Lee Kuan Yew, and why he is interesting? [2:35:04]
What countries are on Balaji’s shortlist to watch as examples of what the future holds? [2:39:56]
Woke capital vs. communist capital vs. crypto capital, the Maginot Line revisited, and why China is so underestimated while the US is overestimated when it comes to facing the challenges of present and future. [2:45:28]
If there were a conflict with China over Taiwan and the US lost, what would be the consequences? [2:56:44]
Does Balaji see any obvious fixes the US could implement to mitigate against the risks of a cold war with China turning hot? Is there any way we can select our leaders for legitimacy and competence over popularity and inheritance? [3:01:38]
Balaji explains how a 51 percent democracy is like a Fosbury Flop, and the types of votes that really make a difference in such a system. [3:05:18]
What a convince-oriented “crypto” government versus a coercion-focused fiat government might look like. [3:12:41]
India: the dark horse, what is currently at stake as it considers banning crypto, and what Balaji sees as its way forward — by embracing crypto, learning from China’s ascendancy in the global value chain, and claiming its rightful place in the media hierarchy. [3:17:42]
Parting thoughts. [3:40:00]
This is a well detailed and informed video. I’m here to learn how to invest after listening to a guy over the air talk about the importance of investing and how he made $410,000 in 5months from $180,000 startup. Somehow this video has helped shed light on some things, but I’m still confused, I’m a newbie and I’m open to ideas
I’m glad I came across this today, I’m writing to her right now
Cryptocurrency is the future, everyone knows that now
People are poor because of dispirit from friends/relatives on investing/trading while wise ones keep breaking new grounds on trading
It is always advisable to go about your trades under professional guide
@Clara Age Sure, I’ve been attending her webinars
Balaji is a genius, he’s a profound thinker , great interview
There is no college lecture in the world that can compete with the knowledge delivered in this 3.5-hour podcast. Thank you.
@Young And Investing 0
My biggest takeaway is that we need an army of polymath geniuses like Balaji running the world. Leave it to Tim to introduce me to a caliber of human I didn’t previously have proof could exist.
It is sad to realize most people aren’t capable of understanding 20% of the information in this interview and realizing this information could drastically improve the world if it was applied en masse.
Easily one of the best episodes on this show.
@Arturo J. Real What are some of the other best episodes of Tim Ferriss? I’m new to his work so I might need some pointers.
@Michael Taphouse long-time listener. Looks like 18 people have agreed so far.
Must be a first time listener
These episodes are SO long, I don’t (can’t) usually listen to the whole thing. But with Balaji as a guest? He’s better at telling the future than anybody. Yeah, I’ll listen the whole way through.
One of most eye opening podcasts I’ve ever listened to. Starts off slow but it gets better and better…
Agree. Freaking brilliant stuff.
One of the best podcasts I’ve ever listened to and I’ve learned countless lessons. Thank you so much for this
This interview changed my life….. I should learn information like that
[Great video really. Also i agree with your opinion, For the newbie if you are actually trading in the crypto space and you don’t have a sound mentor. Then you are certainly going to get liquidated in 90% of your trades. Yeah that’s the sad truth. For a start you need a good and experienced hand to guide you. Trust me, trading isn’t difficult as we see it. With the right Signals and guide, you can earn hugely monthly.
Even with the Fluctuation in price, My crypto still grew with his trading strategies.
Yeah!! good and profitable signal is the main key to successful trading shout to Alex.
Alex taught me how to trade and recommended some good exchange with lesser fees. so yes if you are in for gains not just holding. i’d highly recommend Alex Mathew for advise and guide.
@Pascual caraballo Got it. Thank you so much for this useful information
I feel so much more knowledgeable after listening to these men.
Thank you for all the financial advice. I will do exactly what you say with my money. ??
I need to listen this, at least, 6-7 times. Just to unpack everything they talk about
nice bro sempak koyak
Superb analysis on this podcast. Bitcoin and the rest of crypto market currently is bearing with the effects of the recent luna crash, inside a sideways pattern. Highly elevated fear levels have historically marked promising accumulating opportunities for the contrarians. I’ve had series of trading losses I’d best not mention before being introduced to Mr. Callum Lucas. My experience using his Signal strategies for my trades has been excellent. Thanks to his careful guidance portfolio took a positive turn to 13 BTC from 2 BTC . His algorithms combine unique indicators to provide signals.
Thanks for the info, my inability to mitigate risk in time of stress has cost a lot trading…very much.;;ok.
My first signal subscription with him got me 5.6btc with just 0.5btc in a ranging price action which I’ve never traded before.
Sometimes realistic factors discourage people from reaching their goals in life. I’ve tried investing in crypto several times but always got rekted by volatility. Will definitely reach out.
Investing in crypto now should be in every individuals list, in some months time you’ll be ecstatic with the decision you made/
His private group on telegram is full of trading setups and market reports. Sad an impersonator is trying to rip off unsuspecting traders interested in his signal guide.
Profound. There could be several courses taught on this marathon of a podcast. And it’s a thing of beauty how the topic of media and podcasts illuminated the set of circumstances that manifested this gem of a show. Absolutely foundational study material for those looking to calibrate truly innovative thinking. Looking forward to (and a little nervous) seeing things unfold over the next decade or so.
Excellent podcast! Balaji is incredible! My company, Longevity Plan, is focused on a lot of the ideas Balaji describes starting at 1:24:03
Have you heard of the superman fortress of solitude paradigm?
This guy is the king of arcane theories.
Brent! I love Lifespan News! I’ll check out Longevity Plan!
nice
Balaji: “You know about this thing – – – right?”
… Me getting sitting down to take notes.
Incredible episode
I hope you do a follow-up. This was phenomenal.
This is simply the greatest single podcast of all time
Absolutely
@kevin rice that’s a bot, it’s a scam. Not real tim. Please don’t fall for this.
Agreed
Agreed…I just forwarded this to everyone I know…unbelievable podcast. Thanks Tim and Balaji!