Crypto’s Undeniable Use Case | Erik Voorhees

In this episode of Empire, Jason and Santi are joined by Erik Voorhees, the founder of Shapeshift and OG of the crypto industry (joining in 2011). Erik believes crypto can change the world, and this episode explores his thesis on Bitcoin's future, on-chain maximalism, DAO structures and crypto's path to adoption.
Highlights include:
- What is the best form of money
- Bitcoin's tail emission risk
- How DeFi will outperform CeFi
- Will all financial transactions be on-chain?
- The likely path to adoption
- Why DAO failures are a sign of innovation
- Thoughts on regulation
- The future of centralized exchanges
- Why Thorchain is a gamechanger
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Follow Erik: / erikvoorhees
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Referenced in the show:
Balaji & Tim Ferris podcast
sptfy.com/KI4z~s
Money & State (Erik's blog)
www.moneyandstate.com/
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Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
01:32 Moving Beyond Bitcoin
03:50 Bitcoin Is The Best Form of Money
05:34 Bitcoin's Declining Block Subsidy
11:13 Woke Culture vs Bitcoin Maximalism
12:50 The Bifurcation of CeFi and DeFi
16:18 Limits to DeFi's Growth
22:50 Why Users Will Want To Use DeFi
26:50 A Short and Long Term Vision of the World
28:48 Paraswap Ad
29:56 The Path to Adoption
35:38 Is The Worst Behind Us?
37:22 Erik's Current Focus
38:38 DAO Structures and Experimentation
46:08 A DAOs Most Important Use Case
49:30 Iterative Regulation
55:54 Centralized Exchanges
57:05 Thorchain's Use Case
58:48 Advice To New People In the Space
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Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

[@myblockcrypto]

Erik is a legend

[@pyorba]

Much respect Eric

[@monikamaier2509]

Eric is great. Love

[@Sinekyre14]

amazing video, how am i just finding this now?

[@sketchyjoe1]

Mate how has this only got 300 views after 4 hours? Should be at least 10k views. This channel is so underrated.

[@Tm-ev6jm]

High key

[@monikamaier2509]

In general: great show. Thanks

[@dimitriosales]

Erik is one of the rare real gems in this space let alone any other space.

[@simplyexplained2901]

Awesome episode!

[@TrevmiceterZ]

35:42 lmao. Thx SBF

[@lherfel]

Thanks

[@jacobhawkins3795]

Erik Voorhees for President 2024

[@brad6105]

Has there been a regulatory debate on here yet?

[@lukevoorhees2207]

we have the same last name, i wonder if we happen to be related....."voorhees" being so common and all lol. was born in MN

[@heatherquinn6086]

I thought ShapeShift was based in Switzerland. I didn't know it was decentralized.

[@rr.lt3]

It wasn't in the beginning but later it became decentralized.

[@gamedaydos7825]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@howardscott-bm7nm]

Bitcoin will never be used as a world currency when it is so volatile, nobody wants to be paid $1000 in bitcoin and have it worth 500 the next day. If it was stable it would be different.

[@monikamaier2509]

Please show in the next show the ParaSwap chart

[@Matt_NL]

💥 A tyrannical government can be very clear about what the rules are. I don’t advocate for regulatory clarity, I advocate for peaceful individuals to be left alone to interact with each other voluntarily. 💥

[@MykeMellow]

We need part 2 after the CZ takedown

[@viybzcontact]

Balaji said there would bitcoin supporters vs fiat supporters. And that would be the new Democratic vs Republican camps. Not woke camp vs btc camp. If I remember correctly. Great conversation tho, Erik is the man.

[@ra803g6]

Erik is losing his hair

[@lherfel]

biggest thing with ETH is that ETH has won versus the BTC maxi case, its over...... conflation between btc and btc maxis = common please all ETH maxis move on, and support Bitcoin for good of crypto

[@adiintel1]

You make no sence?

[@lherfel]

@@adiintel1 some btc maxis said eth = scam/shtcoin/etc eth clearly has proven them wrong btc is a program/idea/movement as well as money btc =\ btc maxis btc and eth are same side

[@adiintel1]

@@lherfel and xrp?

[@SaundraRaynor]

No question we need reform of our fist financial system. The idea described by Voorhees deserves serious consideration. The resistance is probably insurmountable as the implementation of it would require cooperation of our oligarchical power base. Unlikely in my lifetime. But I am over 80. Good luck.

[@mercyajah8587]

Is he a scammer?