Bitcoin vs Economic Imperialism with Erik Hersman - WBD749

Erik Hersman is a co-founder of Gridless. In this interview, we
discuss Africa, focusing on economic issues like inflation,
devaluation and people’s struggles to make a living. We talk
about Bitcoin’s potential to create economic opportunities in
Africa, the importance of building products that meet the needs
of people and provide real value, and the use of mobile money.
Finally, we cover Bitcoin mining in Africa and its impact on
energy infrastructure.


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On previous podcasts, we’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Erik
Hersman to better understand how his company, Gridless, is
partnering with East African communities in need of energy to
provide subsidised power using Bitcoin mining. Last week we had
the incredible honour of being invited to visit one of Gridless’s
operational sites in Malawi. This will be included in a
forthcoming film we will release in 2024. But, we used the
opportunity to record another interview with Erik.


Being here, in person, allowed us to gain a better understanding
of the context and ask relevant questions. We were not just
discussing abstract concepts; we were seeing them first-hand and
interviewing people on the ground. As per our previous podcast
with Femi Longe, this interview has provided us with valuable
insights into the Bitcoin story in Africa.


We delved into the challenges and complexities of addressing the
historical and current inequalities between Western countries and
Africa, and why such inequalities are being allowed to
perpetuate. Erik and I talk about why there is a belief in the
potential of Bitcoin to create economic opportunities in Africa.
We covered the challenges of implementing Bitcoin-focused
initiatives, the need for a comprehensive plan and how Bitcoin
adoption in Africa.


Erik emphasized the importance of building products that meet the
needs of people and provide value in their lives, rather than
creating products based on assumptions or fantasies. We consider
some of the plenty of examples of unique innovations utilising
Bitcoin across Africa that address real needs. We also cover the
concerns of government surveillance of mobile money that Bitcoin
could help address.


Finally, Erik explained how Gridless has helped communities in
Kenya and Malawi increase their usage of hydropower. This has led
to financial and energy sustainability for such communities, but
more fundamentally, it has also provided families with
electricity for the first time. Erik emphasised the amazing
potential for Bitcoin mining to bootstrap renewable energy
infrastructure in Africa. As he stated “There's nothing to fight
against here. It's good for everyone.”


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Show
notes: https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/podcast/bitcoin-vs-economic-imperialism


This episode’s sponsors:
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