Transcript
Introduction
Patrick
Today's episode is an experiment. Rather than focusing on a business, we will be breaking down the cryptocurrency, Ethereum. Launched in 2015, Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain like Bitcoin, but is far more programmable, meaning other applications and currencies can be built on top of it. Its native cryptocurrency is Ether, which today stands as the second most valuable cryptocurrency after Bitcoin. Perhaps even more interesting, transaction fees on the Ethereum network have recently approached $15 million per day, meaning there's a real and growing demand to use the Ethereum network. In this Breakdown, we explore what differentiates Ethereum from Bitcoin, the increasing number of projects being built on the platform, and what a shift from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake means for Ethereum. To help me break down Ethereum, I'm joined by Justin Drake. Justin is a key researcher at the Ethereum Foundation, and one of the smartest people I know on Ethereum and cryptocurrency more broadly. Justin helped popularize the notion of Ethereum as ultrasound money. And we'll dive into that and so much more. I hope you enjoy this breakdown of Ethereum.