Vitalik Buterin on effective altruism, better ways to fund public goods, the blockchain’s problems so far, and how it could yet change the world

Abstract

This podcast episode features an interview with Vitalik Buterin, the lead developer of Ethereum, a blockchain-based cryptocurrency platform. Buterin explores the potential for blockchain technology to solve problems of public good provision and global coordination. He is optimistic about the future of blockchains, arguing that they can be used to improve scalability and security, as well as to create new mechanisms for funding public goods, such as quadratic funding. Buterin also discusses the risks posed by artificial intelligence, arguing that both AI safety and cryptoeconomic research communities are ultimately tackling the same fundamental problem: using dumb systems to control smart systems. He concludes by highlighting the importance of promoting long-term thinking and effective altruism within the crypto community. – AI-generated abstract