"Cypherpunks Write Code" And The Precursors Of Bitcoin

In this episode of the Bitcoin Magazine podcast, Bitcoin Magazine Technical Editor Aaron van Wirdum speaks with Jim Epstein, Executive Editor at Reason TV. Epstein recently produced a documentary mini series on the Cypherpunks, called Cypherpunks Write Code.

The four-part series chronicles the origins and short history of the group of hackers, cryptographers and activists that in the 1990s coalesced around a shared goal to offer and secure privacy in the digital age.

In this podcast, Aaron and Jim consider what made the Cypherpunks such a visionary and influential collective. With origins tracing back to the 1980s Bay Area, where a small group of computer scientist became known as the High-Tech Hayekians, Bitcoin represents a modern continuation of decades-old technological and ideological insights.

Aaron and Jim also discuss Jim’s recent article published on Reason titled “How Will Bitcoin Lead to More Freedom”, which breaks down an ideological divide within and around the Cypherpunk movement, dating back to their earliest beginnings. They consider whether and how this divide lives on within the broader cryptocurrency and blockchain space to this day.

Follow Jim @jimepstein
Follow Aaron @AaronVanW

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro and small talk
2:07- 3:34 intro to Jim
2:54 -3:34: Jim talking about why Bitcoin.
4:12 - 4:43 Bitcoin revitalized the Cypher punks
4:45 - 5:35 What is Reason and Reason TV.
7:33 -8:47 Discussing the High-Tech Hayekians
11:16 - 12:55 Discussing early ideas of information sharing decentralization and the internet.
13:00-14:21 The amazing prominence and overlap of intellectual groups from the late 80’s
14:26 - 15:10: Aaron explains what are the Extropianism
18:06 - 20:00 Guys with differing opinions where still friends.
21:19 - 21:39 How Tim May saw cyberspace
22:07 - 23:36 the idea and need for digital cash
26:08 - 27:23 the clear divide between cypherpunk world views.
30:20 - 31:03 Cypher pinks write code
35:35 - 37:23 Aaron explains the Bitcoin Maximalist argument in the context of the Cypherpunks.
42:00 44:27 was Satoshi a cypherpunk?

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