How Bitcoin Fights Tyranny with Erik Cason - WBD730

Erik Cason is a cypherpunk and author of Cryptosovereignty: The
Encrypted Political Philosophy of Bitcoin. In this interview, we
discuss his book, philosophy, censorship in academia, and Erik's
personal journey from socialism to anarchism. We also talk about
technology’s use for state control and violence, the potential of
Bitcoin to decentralize power, the philosophical implications of
Bitcoin, the potential of living in a virtual world and the
nature of consciousness.


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Erik Cason is a philosopher, cypherpunk, crypto-anarchist,
educator and author. He has just published a book exploring the
intersection of Bitcoin, sovereignty, and cryptography in the
21st century. The book’s basis was a series of essays Eric has
produced over the years that have focused on the philosophical
and sociological aspects of cryptography and Bitcoin.


Eric shared his journey from the Occupy Wall Street movement to
discovering Bitcoin and embracing anarchism. His experience of
being beaten by the police during a protest led to his
realization that the state cannot be relied upon for help. We
also discussed the accountability of police officers when they
use their firearms, comparing the UK to the US.


Our discussion touched on the dangers of a monopoly on violence
by the state, mentioning historical genocides and the efficiency
of the current Chinese Uighur genocide in eradicating a people's
culture. We talked about the normalization of weapons of mass
destruction and the potential for a nuclear holocaust. We debated
whether Bitcoin can end wars versus the concept of an "infinity
war" perpetuated by the state.


Eric suggested that Bitcoin represents a return to truth in a
world that has become nihilistic and devoid of values. He talked
about how through advanced mathematics and cryptography, Bitcoin
allows for a monetary system that enables true accountability.
Bitcoin is a radical way of regaining control over money and
limiting the overbearing nature of governments, allowing
individuals to make ethical choices even in the face of
destruction.


Eric fundamentally believes that Satoshi Nakamoto opened up a new
frontier for warfare on the internet and provided a space for
rebellion movements to operate against oppressive states. That
tool still relies on humans who believe in freedom, taking
agency: it is vitally important for everyone to take
responsibility for addressing societal issues to ensure a better
future for our children.


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Show notes:
https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/podcast/how-bitcoin-fights-tyranny


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