Mel & Earendil w/ Eric Tung | FIAT LUX Podcast #12

In this episode of FIAT LUX, we talk to Eric Tung, the founder of Mel, Geph & Earendil. MEL aims to build a clean-slate L1 to expand the Web3 vision of a decentralized, secure, and private internet beyond blockchains. Earendil is the first anonymous communication and transaction network designed to be decentralized, incentive-compatible, and ban-resistant. It is a foundational off-chain protocol in the Mel ecosystem.

Eric emphasizes the importance of decentralization, trustless interactions, and explores the vulnerabilities of centralized systems. The conversation delves into the resilience of the internet, the impact of shutdowns, and the demand for privacy in oppressive regimes, particularly in the Chinese underground VPN market. We also explore the unique perspective of living in China and the role of decentralized incentives in serving unserved populations.

OUTLINE:
00:00 - Introduction
03:11 - Overview of Mel
07:24 - Discussion on Web3 and Post-Blockchain
11:41 - Motivation and Goals of Mel
18:03 - Expanding the Vision of Crypto and Web3
23:20 - Decentralization and the Post-Blockchain Idea
25:06 - Use Cases of Mel
37:05 - Traffic Obfuscation in Earendil
42:30 - Designing for Future Freedom and Censorship Resistance
46:42 - The Vulnerability of Centralized Systems
47:11 - The Resilience of the Internet
48:21 - Earendil and Internet Shutdowns
49:30 - The Economic Vacuum and Capitalism
52:20 - The Chinese Underground Market
54:08 - The Unique Perspective of Living in China
57:42 - The Importance of Privacy and Freedom
59:49 - The Cultural Mismatch in Perspectives
01:05:49 - The Need for Privacy in Oppressive Regimes
01:06:07 - The Demand for VPNs and Internet Freedom
01:10:09 - The Potential of Decentralized Incentives
01:13:55 - Using Market Forces to Serve Unserved People
01:16:12 - Helium and Mesh Networks
01:16:12 - Final Thoughts and Outro

MEL & EARENDIL LINKS:
Mel Website: https://melproject.org
Mel Twitter: https://twitter.com/melproject_org
Mel GitHub: https://github.com/mel-project
Earendil Website: https://earendil.network/en/
Earendil GitHub: https://github.com/mel-project/earendil

GUEST LINKS:
Eric Tung Twitter: https://twitter.com/nullchinchilla

PARTNERS:
LunarDAO: https://lunardao.net/
LunarDAO Telegram: https://t.me/LunarDAO_Official

PODCAST INFO:
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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fiat-lux/id1676853919
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#Crypto #Privacy #Mel #Anon