In this episode of the Bitcoin Magazine Podcast, Dave Hollerith talks with Alex Gladstein of the Human Rights Foundation about China’s President Xi Jinping publicly expressing admiration for blockchain technology. This news drove the bitcoin price at the beginning of November 2019, but Gladstein is wary about what China’s public praise could mean for cryptocurrency in general.
Gladstein recognizes that blockchain technology by itself is really just a mechanism for control and surveillance of financial data. He believes, from a human rights perspective, that the real value of blockchains comes from decentralization, which is essential to democracy. He stated that Bitcoin is the greatest example of a decentralized blockchain and that, in the wrong hands, this technology would be used as a tool for tyranny instead of for freedom.
Follow Gladstein and Hollerith on Twitter. Read more about the issues discussed in this episode here:
- In China, It’s Blockchain and Tyranny vs Bitcoin and Freedom
- From Pigs to Party Fealty, China Harnesses the Blockchain’s Power
This podcast content is for informational purposes only. You should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial or other advice. Nothing contained in this presentation constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement or offer by BTC Media, The Let’s Talk Bitcoin Network or any third-party service provider to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments.
The post Podcast: What Harnessing the Bitcoin Blockchain’s Power Could Mean for China appeared first on Bitcoin Magazine.
