Erik Voorhees Talks About Bitcoin, Altcoins, Gold, Money, Business, Freedom. Interviewed by Ashe Oro

23 Comments

1. Wow amazing interview! ?

2. Holy crap this poscast was done back in May 19th 2017. Please include that into your info section.

3. Excellent interview! Thanks.

4. Colin, when was this podcast recorded?

5. Schiff is a sad relic now. All his investors should fire him immediately: how could you ever do business with a fund manager that missed out on one of the biggest revolutions in financial history (millions times over in returns)? Schiff can’t see the elephant standing on his head.

6. Well done Colin. I think it is a perfect time for You to make different interviews with people like Eric Voorhees, John McAfee, Tim Draper etc. Because of that people like me finally understand what is going on with global financial system. Respect from Poland.

7. Thanks for the share, Colin!

8. No wonder Erik is no longer a Bitcoin maximalist when his business Shapeshift depends on multiple coins to create revenue. I mean duh. They can easily point out the conflict of interest in the case of Peter Schiff and his gold business, but Erik can't see his own when it comes to cryptos.

9. Thanks for re-posting this, Colin. You're drawing attention to some senior data on the topic.

   One thing I want to mention, though:

   The 'infighting' in the space, referred to by Ashe, I believe, is not harmful. It's a necessary stand against the view that holds that in order for Bitcoin/cryptocurrency to gain widespread adoption, the cryptocurrency community needs to gain the respect of financial 'regulators' and their beneficiaries(cronies).

   I don't think one can say one is ensuring or preserving security of the network by allowing its sworn enemies a foothold to take it down from the inside. If you don't recognize Bitcoin's enemies, you are not preserving network security by jumping into bed with those who's idea of security has always been more about self-preservation by legally stifling open competition. Sure: anyone is more secure if they aren't exposed to open competition, but to suggest that we don't all win, in the bigger scheme of things, by having obsolete need-meeters return to the available pool of product/service providers(where they can again be selected to meet the next highest-priority need *on merit*) and hence some always need protection from market forces at the expense of others is just a very cynical view.

   I think the scaling debate highlighted an important distinction which exists between two views in the crypto' space, but which somehow still escapes the attention of a lot of people. Some see Bitcoin/cryptocurrencies as a technological innovation without acknowledging its real value i.e. that it can make fiat currencies obsolete. This view, with it's failed acknowledgment, can easily be identified in that it's holders – quite overtly – seek recognition by financial 'regulators' and the monopoly-holders of the very unfree financial sector. As Wendy McElroy points out in the introduction to her book 'The Satoshi Revolution': 'The cryptocurrency community wants the blockchain and its currencies to be widely accepted. Some want to expand freedom on an individual-by-individual basis until liberty wins the world. Others believe their holdings and investments will soar in value as governments and institutions become users. And respectability is viewed as the key to increasing value. Unfortunately, “respectability” is becoming a synonym for “state sanctioned” when the two terms should be viewed as antonyms'.

   If your goal is to make the Mafia obsolete, you don't go cap in hand asking for the freedom to compete… that will only get you a slice of the corrupt pie…. a kind of faux free market(crony-capitalism). You will then have achieved nothing more than enlarging the size of the existing problem. No.. what you do instead, is you take the means to make it(the rendering of the mafia obsolete) happen and simply do it in a way that cannot be reversed i.e. you put an honest, voluntary(opt-in) working currency-replacement into the hands of millions of geographically-dispersed people in a very short amount of time – with no State or crony endorsement – and watch as the powers that be lose their stranglehold over people for the first time. Yes, they will shriek and cry hysterically that the sky will fall, but that is nothing new.

   For Bitcoin to succeed in this role, as disruptor of financial monopolies/cartels(currency by State decree), the technologically-savvy yet non-liberty-minded, non-historically-literate, in the cryptocurrency space, will have to cede their role as visionary directors in the space. If they don't, then they'll eventually be exposed as capitulators to faux competition in currency, as sleeping with the enemy. I believe most of them would far rather history judge them favorably for not over-stepping their proper role and contribution. It's easy to think you are free to choose, when your choices, which benefit a few at the expense of the many, go unhindered.

   A few, on this comment section, have already raised the fact that shapeshift, for example, may have compromised to some extent when it comes to the 'regulation' of their business.

   Perhaps get Erik on your show, Colin, and ask him personally what happened and whether he sees it as a capitulation or not, given his early statements.

10. Eric puts integrity into Bitcoin and crypto. He’s the real deal… I use ShapeShift all the time through my Exodus wallet

11. Thanks for sharing this! Would have never stumbled upon it in a million years. Bloody good podcast

12. Colin, this was great. Loved to hear from Erik as he is a real example of an entrepreneur. Please keep this up!

13. Thanks colin!

14. I wonder how you know bitfinex (some guy(s) of them) didnt take the money for themselves and printed money out of thin Air to "pay off the debt" as erik vorhees put it. Don't know whats so innovative and good about that.

15. Both very smart and more importantly seem honest.

16. I really enjoyed this interview. Especially the perspective about the so called "Bitcoin Maximalist". I too want Bitcoin to succeed, but you have to admit, there are other projects that are innovating and they cant just be wholeheartedly ignored as scams. I find maximalist to be rather annoying and tend to ignore them for the most part.

17. Excellent video Colin. Puts things in to perspective. Thank you.

18. I did not know this was the creator of shapeshifter.. I felt he sold out after listening to how he started and created shapshift.. because at the time this was decided I don’t believe shapeshift required kyc, or any info from its users.. Now it does, and went against his core beliefs on money and gov control.. I’m sure they had to switch because gov/reg would shut them down.. This is what money will do to someone, make them go against there core beliefs.. thank you for showing this podcast

19. Lest we forget who the revolutionaries in this space are, the Austrian School guys and Anarcho Capitalists that are striving for peace and prosperity, nice share.

20. 352nd viewer

21. Crypto ❤️

22. “Because i wanted to get more shares and listens” lol…. i THINK you meant listens/shares to the topic…. but it comes off like you wanted the listens/shares for your self by taking someones content

    Still i never heard of this podcast, so thanks for sharing

23. btc is the best lol.