Ralph Merkle: Revolutionizing Democracy Using DAOs (rebroadcast)

Epicenter - Learn about Crypto, Blockchain, Ethereum, Bitcoin and Distributed Technologies

• Episode: Ralph Merkle: Revolutionizing Democracy Using DAOs (rebroadcast)
• Website: Epicenter - Learn about Crypto, Blockchain, Ethereum, Bitcoin and Distributed Technologies
• Feed URL: https://feeds.simplecast.com/lKmQDG9R
• Duration: 01:16:17
• Published: 2018-09-12 23:38

Legendary scientist and cryptography pioneer Ralph Merkle joined us to discuss his recent paper on DAOs. Merkle examined how the voting mechanisms in today’s democracies are flawed and how a decentralized, transparent DAO making decisions using prediction markets could create more efficient democratic systems.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Merkle proofs, Merkle Roots and his early forays into cryptography
• Blockchains as living organisms
• Why DAOs will be subject to a Darwinian evolutionary process
• Why voting is flawed and we need new governance methods to save democracy
• The concept of a DAO democracy
• How prediction markets and futarchy would help govern a DAO democracy

Episode links:

• Ralph Merkle DAO Democracy Paper [PDF]
• Ralph Merkle's Homepage
• Ralph Merkle's Wikipedia page
• Episode 98 with Robin Hanson on futarchy & prediction markets
• Tim Urban: Why Cryonics Makes Sense
• Alcor - Life Extension Foundation

Thank you to our sponsors for their support:

• The open, decentralized trading protocol for ERC20 tokens using the Dutch auction mechanism. More at epicenter.tv/dutchx.

This episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain and Meher Roy. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/252