The Blockchain and Us (2017)

A film by Manuel Stagars
www.blockchain-documentary.com
For more interviews about the brave new world of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies, see Manuel's podcast: www.theblockchainandus.com.
In 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto invented bitcoin and the blockchain. For the first time in history, his invention made it possible to send money around the globe without banks, governments or any other intermediaries. The concept of the blockchain isn’t very intuitive. But still, many people believe it is a game changer.
Economist and filmmaker Manuel Stagars portrays this exciting technology in interviews with software developers, cryptologists, researchers, entrepreneurs, consultants, VCs, authors, politicians, and futurists from the United States, Canada, Switzerland, the UK, and Australia.
The Blockchain and Us is no explainer video of the technology. It gives a view on the topic, makes it accessible and starts a conversation about its potential wider implications in a non-technical way. The film deliberately poses more questions than it answers.
For a deep dive, see all full-length interviews from the film here: www.blockchain-documentary.com...
Credits:
Conversations with (in alphabetical order)
David Birch
Director of Innovation, Consult Hyperion
Guildford, UK
Perianne Boring
Founder & President, Chamber of Digital Commerce
Washington, USA
Christian Decker
Core Tech Engineer, Blockstream
Zurich, Switzerland
Taylor Gerring
Co-Founder, Ethereum
Zug, Switzerland
Marco Carlo Grossi
Director Audit & Risk Advisory, Deloitte Switzerland
Zurich, Switzerland
Caitlin Long
Chairman of the Board & President at Symbiont.io
New York, USA
R. Jesse McWaters
Financial Innovation Lead, World Economic Forum
New York, USA
Paul Meeusen
Head Finance and Treasury Services, Swiss Re
Zurich, Switzerland
Dolfi Müller
Mayor of the City of Zug
Zug, Switzerland
Matthew Roszak
Co-Founder & Chairman, Bloq
Chicago, USA
Guido Rudolphi
Founder, Cryptocash
Uster, Switzerland
Jan Seffinga
Partner, Deloitte Switzerland
Zurich, Switzerland
Elizabeth Stark
Co-Founder & CEO, Lightning
San Francisco, USA
Alex Tapscott
Founder & CEO, Northwest Passage Ventures
Co-Author "Blockchain Revolution"
Toronto, Canada
Lars Thomsen
Chief Futurist & Founder, Future Matters
Zurich, Switzerland
Eric Van der Kleij
Founder Adeptra, London Tech City, Level39. Adviser UK Govt, Kickstart Accelerator
London, UK
Roger Wattenhofer
Professor, Distributed Computing Group, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH)
Zurich, Switzerland
Rik Willard
Founder & Managing Director, Agentic Group
New York, USA
Steve Wilson
Digital Identity Innovator & Analyst
Sydney, Australia
Additional conversations and special thanks (in alphabetical order): Iris Belle, Ben Bledsoe, Thomas Bromehead, Richard Cheng, Dario Duran, Marie Farrar Knowles, Olga Feldmeier, Sony Fricker, Daniel Gasteiger, Daniel Grassinger, Johs. Hoehener, Richard Kastelein, Leanne Kemp, Thomas Kern, Francine Klopfenstein, Veronica Lange, Claire LaRocca, Adriano B. Lucatelli, Christian Mäder, Ruedi Maeder, Luzius Meisser, Michael Monceaux, Martin Müller, Mia Mutic, Ian Petchenik, Nathaniel Popper, Ramon Quesada, Kamesh Raghavendra, Brian Rogers, Jouko Salonen, Vadim Shamigulov, Raffaela Stelzer, Don Tapscott, Elizabeth Wesson
Many thanks to all conversation partners and all others who made this film possible
Additional thanks (in alphabetical order): Agentic Group, Blockchain News, Blockstream, Bloq, Chamber of Digital Commerce, Constellation Research, Consult Hyperion, Cryptocash, Deloitte Switzerland, Ethereum Foundation, Everledger, Flightradar24, Future Matters, ISO-20022.ch, Lightning, Lockstep Consulting, Municipality of Zug, nexussquared, Northwest Passage Ventures, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Swiss Re, Symbiont, World Economic Forum (WEF), Zurich Airport
Recording of live air traffic courtesy of Flightradar24
Chinese subtitles: Richard Cheng
Dutch subtitles: Rein Jonkman
French translation: Thomas Bromehead
Portuguese subtitles: Caio Rearte
Russian subtitles: Vadim Shamigulov, Sergey Sevantsyan
Spanish subtitles: Jose Felip Daras and Avalbit.org team
Many thanks to all individuals and teams who contributed additional subtitles and translations.
Cinematography, Editing, Music, Narration & Sound Design by Manuel Stagars
© 2017 Manuel Stagars
The goal of this film is to encourage the conversation about the economic and social impacts of blockchain technology. Participate in the comments and subscribe to the channel to stay in the loop.
To enable more films like this one, feel free to support my projects at www.manuelstagars.com/support
Listen to the song in the end credits: / low-sea-end-credits-fr...

[@RobertJesionek]

This movie is well done, inspiring documentary. As a long time blockchain believer, I found many valid points that were new to me, especially about antagonists of this technology. I do see mainstream finance sector will be rather opposing it than supporting and adpoting it. The main reason is that blockchain technology will put a lot of business models at risk of vanishing. Fortunately this revolution has already started, and cannot be stopped.

[@vincealcazar2870]

Mr. Stagars: I am a profesisonal aviator. Your comparison to aviation I found intriguing, especially since I have operated in/out of that particular Swiss airport. I have come to the revolution because of my military strategist training and experience that taught me to locate the disruptor, be it a thought, idea, or weapon system. Lastly, as a photographer, I appreciated your cinematography. Stylistically, it is appealing and edifies the story. Thank you.

[@ScottAles]

Ignore at your own peril. I wonder if we have learned how fast these types of things are happening in our world today? It will be amazing to see how this unfolds. Well done Manuel!

[@Fibonacci4ever]

@@simple22travel11 giving the 6 billion people with smartphones the opportunity to own digital property, which by itself is awesome but becomes especially important at a time when every country l’s fiat currency is losing value incredibly fast. It is past-due time to move past the middlemen and gate-keepers of value, and give each human being the inherent right to hold the value directly in their own hands, without needing the permission of banks and other corrupt people/organizations.

[@josiaengelbrecht5806]

Well done for sure. Should have a lot more views, just shows you that this tech is still unknown to the majority of people out there, but the day will come.

[@ILM2219]

great work and very informative. Thank you, Manuel, for bringing life and awareness to this world of bitcoins and blockchains. Nice job!

[@BruceThomson]

Beautiful, elegant, insightful, interesting. Thanks for creating the video. Bruce Thomson in New Zealand.

[@christophersparks8625]

I really enjoyed the symbolism of the aircraft - looking up, looking head on, then looking down from a systemic vantage point. Looking forward to sharing this one.

[@ReasonsToUseBTC]

Great content, Manuel! I added it to my article "The Best Bitcoin Documentaries". Thanks for your contribution to the bitcoin space.

[@jjmorosr]

Thank you Mr Manuel Stagars for this great documentary... Changes are accelerating!

[@homemadejam2927]

Great work. I am already a believer in the blockchain technology, your documentary laid it all out very succinctly. There is really no excuse to be ignorant about the phenomenon. I have shared this on my FB page. Thanks.

[@ZafarSatyavan]

I love the airplane analogy.. we hardly know how to actually fly an airplane.. but we have all declared our suitcases, got past security and boarded an air-craft to reach so many destinations.. and so with crypto-currency!

[@noneuno2296]

Actually, in reality, an airplane in the sky is continually falling back to earth, while air is pushed out at high velocity by the engine(s), and the physical shape of the plane counteracts the fall. The hope is the plane goes from a known point A to a known point B and doesn't end up between point A and point B, at an unexpected point C and in a huge fireball.

[@whoyatoya]

I used the "we all fly but most don't know how to pilot an aircraft analogy way back in 2011. Used it at many crypto conferences. 🤔

[@jonathancooper7068]

Excellent documentary. I was hesitant to watch it because I thought it might be more explanation than application. I can find enough videos for the explanation part. Instead this gave an excellent view from the companies and people working with it. I was very pleased to hear how many of them see this as a true opportunity for the whole population not just a way to make a quick buck.

[@Rt395minerals]

Bigger than we know. Nice work.

[@d5000ster]

Much appreciated, and very helpful. Thank you.

[@cryptojedi7647]

Amazing Documentary!!! Thanks for sharing

[@backedbyblockchain6418]

Great Documentary! Love it! Thanks for the Hard Work!

[@fransgustafsson3700]

Honestly, and this is constructive criticism, I got nothing out of this documentary whatsoever. One man started explaining what blockchain is, but that was it. You basically have a lot of people talking about abstract concepts for an audience which either doesn't understand what blockchain is or which already knows 95 % of what is being said because they understand blockchain.

[@lifetakesGRIT]

Absolutely EXCELLENT! Thank you so much for your passion and immense work to put this together for the masses to learn & be inspired by the blockchain!!!!!! I'll be sharing and hope that EVERYONE I KNOW will watch this and catch the message.

[@michaelvingerhoet8460]

Very interesting and well done documentary on blockchain technology. Clearly the revolution of our world for global transactions of all kinds

[@enthused1286]

Nice job, wish it was longer!

[@rhettmelton]

I'm really enjoying this, midway into watching. Very well done!

[@mariusklingl1328]

Goosebump-video!

[@FightMaxGaming]

Amazing work putting this documentary together! Very Informative and insightful. As a long time believer in blockchain based technologies, this documentary was very refreshing and inspiring. Thanks

[@jbbolts]

bitcoin is the basis of AI ... no one knows who made it.. really? ... and it needs all this computing power... which they get for free... not only the number crunching bt the equipment too? do your research

[@billilkovski7928]

I'm just beginning to research this, It sure does not seem like what these people are pushing. I agree, as if you need all these computers mining just to ensure reliable transactions, what a load of rubbish.

[@johnfehringer]

Nice Job - Thank you for this. I hope to see a yearly sequel.

[@thebaby-boomerminer9934]

Fantastic documentary.

[@ImFatdaddy7]

Absolutely outstanding video! Thank You!!!

[@BC-uu6iz]

Great informative vid for anyone, not just how points we gained, tk you

[@dannyiskandar]

Amazing documentary ...

[@WickedNature2112]

Fantastic content, great camerawork and presentation. As a film maker/vid producer, I “get” the airplane analogy- thanks for NOT doing a rocket for the “moon” kids. This is a big boy game...and the shift is HERE. Time for implementation.✌🏼

[@SuperGcell111]

Incredible. Thank you!

[@CryptoSupportChannel]

Very nice documentary, thanks!

[@RamonQuesada]

I see this film, 4 day before you launched Manuel (8 abr. 2017) and I haven had the chance to say thanks you, for your good job, if I could help, you only have to tell me, right? thanks again!!!!

[@ignaciocardenas3847]

amazing material, thanks.

[@btfdlivewebinarstradingedu6036]

just brilliant! wel done on a great job on so many levels

[@kamaleshbhowmik7103]

excellent documentation

[@alexpupiales5757]

Outstanding film! It presented a great introduction to the real potential of this revolutionary technology. As some people mentioned, it goes far beyond cryptocurrencies. Thanks!

[@changedoktor]

This is a great, inspiring video thank you

[@FryeNeil]

Excellent documentary thank you.

[@jackbaxter]

Brilliant documentary. Very informative. This cements in my mind that one day everybody will be affected by blockchain.

[@goodboytech]

very nice.. reminds me of a werner herzog film

[@bagadonutsu4]

Great documentary Manuel and crew! Very cool corporation perspectives and long term vision potential of blockchain. The question is 'will we'? Best line.

[@Ben-oi4gs]

great....open my eye!!!! Thanks!

[@TheSafetyman1000]

Great work Manuel!!

[@Brisius]

Wow, today this documentary is more relevant than ever.

[@Mira5924]

Thank You, Manuel !!!

[@shadabfariduddin6784]

Thank you. Learned a lot

[@sivakumar-fg2lk]

Excellent Brother

[@hellosugoiyoutube2534]

Amazing documentary!! Very inspiring :-)

[@dddr7823]

very inspiring! insighful. thanks for upload. added to my playlist

[@kokopelli314]

In Ontario, Canada, a dollar creates another dollar through 13% taxation when it moves 8 times. This is a huge source of revenue that governments wont give up. An unbreakable blockchain represents a threat to state taxation.

[@wuda88]

What year was this video created? I am wondering how's Blockchain is doing now.

[@MandeepSingh-tu4hp]

Nice Documentary Amazing work. Thanks

[@mtmaz]

Really insightful quote by Elizabeth Stark.... "Necessity is not just the mother of invention, but the mother of ADOPTION".

[@dimitriskaragioras6253]

Excellent documentary!

[@mammynuns]

music in the last section is so nice

[@luisgarcia639]

This movie is AMAZING. THANK YOU GUYS FOR IT . GOD BLESS YOU 😘

[@rafakortez]

Excellent!

[@francis612]

Great documentary! But at 07:10 the pilot missed the middle line which is a bit irritating.

[@gardnercalibuso]

Great work!

[@ronaldcorlette2923]

It is to facilitate the speed of transactions globally like clock work , eliminate the hassle to go a plain to close deals on business goals etc.

[@bigreality411]

awesome, thank you Emanuel!!!

[@stampa8090]

great video, thanks

[@blockchainbonn9989]

Very great swiss precision work :)

[@bitsocioxchangeinc3015]

Great Documentary!

[@CryptoResources]

Thanks for this.

[@BarryDuttonSellsHomes]

Great stuff!!! I shared this in a blog post dedicated to this movie and tweeted it also -- and it definitely got shares and comments and traction. Hope it helps onboard and teach a lot of people!!

[@Stagars]

Thank you, Barry!

[@yllibtaog]

Awesome Doc!!!

[@InvestOrama]

Feels and sounds like Werner Herzog! Great doc

[@alejandromiles]

Muy bueno. Muchas Gracias.

[@Greenflashtech]

This was great! Could you do a follow up zooming in to more "real world" examples of how it can be used? Like the idea of people being able to send each other money without a bank being involved. I think this already happens today, but actually showing us a step by step of how this is done and/or how it will be done in future would be very interesting.

[@Stagars]

Thanks, William! I am planning to make a sequel with twenty new interviews in spring 2018. This space is moving very fast, so I hope to include more current examples of applications then.

[@Greenflashtech]

Thanks for the reply, as with all new ideas, education is the most important step to main stream implementation!

[@rclake3026]

Need more real life day-to-day transactions and how they will work would help a lot of us understand this more

[@BeehadHero]

Very insightful!

[@kotwal0shashank]

Nice work

[@ronaldcorlette2923]

move from book ledger of banking records to digital ledger and file keeping in all your finances , instead of store in banks you can access your finances on a smart phone etc in transactions and so on .

[@junior888br]

Amazing work =D

[@VIRGOMobile]

Thank you!

[@tonysearightinvestmenteduc2566]

Good Introduction For Me....

[@kunaalsingh510]

Great film. Such an inspiring technology that can change the world.

[@dimitriskaragioras6253]

Very nice video. Thanks

[@meeforspirit]

Great stuff!

[@gabrielparra7001]

Me gustó mucho este documental; como entusiasta de blockchain te digo gracias por postearlo. Sorry if i no writte in your lenguage and bad ortography . 👍

[@playguy555]

Great Article, I understand how blockchain works and useful for people and business. Can any help me to understand more how the interaction works between B2B and helpful to users?

[@zabarsion]

A good documentary. It assumes you know what is a blockchain and bitcoin, the least ...

[@prinnygaming2147]

Amazing.

[@W5mba]

Great job! THis is excellent!

[@Amyls64]

What will this mean for credit cards? and how can you earn interest on cryptocurrencies

[@Lumii_Iseyaki]

Brilliant! Stands up well over a year later.

[@Stagars]

Many thanks, Nathan!

[@winston2015]

0:42 He, or, they didnt _invent_ it though. It was a follow-up (and quite similar to an earlier project) so it was genesis involving many people over time.

[@NoraGermain]

Wish there was a documentary or at least footage of what people said about the internet before it got going, or anyone speculating about technology we all use every day now. Would be interesting to compare :)

[@Vajra_Bodhi]

Bring it on.

[@caiorearte2451]

Awesome!!!!!!

[@sevantsyan]

Обновлены русские субтитры этого фильма. Смотрите, наслаждайтесь!

[@dynomania]

Great doco got me pumped 😊✌️🇦🇺

[@jorgefernandez4812]

Super, good job

[@sourlarry4927]

Awsome

[@tux7]

Execellent!

[@bgsain]

Very well done doc. Thank you.

[@Angel-O369]

14:50... Somebody's taking this blockchain thing a bit too literal!

[@timothyott8273]

haha, as soon as i saw that, i scrolled down to the comments to see if anyone else picked up on that.

[@gnosisdocumentaries4481]

HA!

[@arifnoorani2292]

Took me a second . . . :)

[@RPetruccione]

Hilarious! I was listening so intently and of course missed it.

[@nallap6566]

Block change may be! :)

[@creatorthecreature]

Nice doku! Laht richtig ruum frei für inspiration! Ono coole sound am schluss!

[@gutzz12]

So cool. Thanks

[@TT-tg6gn]

amazing tech ( although knowing that nb knows who created ,it h started with the left foot) btw just be sure you have the proper exit strategy before the bubble pops !!!!!