Nic Carter: Bitcoin Core Values, Layered Scaling, and Blocksize Debates | Lex Fridman Podcast #173

Nic Carter is a financial researcher, investor, writer, and podcaster on topics of decentralized finance. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
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EPISODE LINKS:
Nic’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/nic__carter
Nic’s Website: https://niccarter.info/
Nic’s Blog: https://medium.com/@nic__carter
Nic’s Podcast: https://onthebrink-podcast.com/

PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4
Clips playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOeciFP3CBCIEElOJeitOr41

OUTLINE:
0:00 – Introduction
7:57 – Can humans fully understand reality?
10:26 – The dollar system
16:36 – Bitcoin
18:12 – Opendime
22:14 – Core values of Bitcoin
30:43 – Who is Satoshi Nakamoto?
36:31 – How Bitcoin works
44:54 – Bitcoin blocksize wars
57:19 – Layered scaling of Bitcoin
1:02:17 – Lightning network
1:05:17 – Schnorr/Taproot update to Bitcoin
1:10:10 – Criticisms of Bitcoin
1:19:56 – Bitcoin failure modes
1:27:59 – Bitcoin vs Ethereum
1:31:55 – Vitalik Buterin
1:34:49 – Creative destruction
1:39:43 – Future of Bitcoin
1:43:30 – Tesla, Elon Musk, and Dogecoin
1:51:36 – NFTs
1:58:52 – Bitcoin maximalism
2:05:29 – On writing
2:11:30 – Writing a book on Bitcoin
2:16:00 – Bitcoin resources
2:18:49 – Book recommendations
2:20:48 – Advice for young people
2:24:05 – Meaning of life

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Written by Lex Fridman