Transcript Ep. 417: Does Maximalism Help or Hurt Bitcoin? Lyn Alden and Udi Wertheimer Debate
Laura Shin:
Hey, everyone, just a quick note before we begin. Unchained is doing its annual survey. Head to SurveyMonkey.com/r/Unchained2022 to tell us how you think we’re doing and how we could improve, whether it be on the podcast, in the newsletter, or in our premium offering. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Again, the link is SurveyMonkey.com/r/Unchained2022, and you can also check the show notes for the link.
As for today’s episode, this debate over Bitcoin maximalism between Lyn Alden and Udi Wertheimer started off in a Twitter thread, and it ended up being a really thoughtful discussion about the Bitcoin community and how Bitcoiners should handle the ways in which Bitcoin is distinct from other crypto assets. Lyn makes a strong case for all the ways in which Bitcoin is unique, especially in terms of how decentralized it is, while Udi wonders why Bitcoiners have turned themselves into the token police, and why morality forms the basis of the identity for a number of Bitcoiners.
He takes a more practical approach, looking at how people have recently been entering the space, and pointing out that they’re probably not starting with Bitcoin. Lyn pushed back, noting that Bitcoiners have been entering in bottom-up communities in developing countries. What was interesting to me was that they actually agreed on a number of things, but have different conclusions. I’d be interested to hear what you think, either on Twitter, or if you’re in our Discord, then over in that forum. And now, on to the discussion with Lyn and Udi.
Hi, everyone. Welcome to Unchained, your no-hype resource for all things crypto. I’m your host Laura Shin, author of The Cryptopians. I started covering crypto seven years ago, and as a senior editor at Forbes, was the first mainstream media reporter to cover cryptocurrency full-time. This is the November 8, 2022 episode of Unchained.
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Today’s show features a debate about Bitcoin maximalism. Here to discuss are Udi Wertheimer, recovering Bitcoin maxi, and Lyn Alden, founder of Lyn Alden Investment Strategy. Welcome, Lyn and Udi.
Udi Wertheimer:
Hey, it’s great to be here.
Lyn Alden:
Thanks for having me back.
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