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Rewriting the Ledger: Bitcoin and the nature of money

S1E11 • Jun 5, 2025 • 30m

What’s money, really, and how does blockchain redefine it? Our co-hosts Nathan and Adrian dive deep with Professor Bill Maurer, a leading anthropologist of finance, to unravel the essence of money from ancient Mesopotamia to Bitcoin. Bill challenges our coin-obsessed mindset, revealing how blockchain’s record-keeping roots could reshape society’s relationships and trust. No jargon, just straight talk on crypto’s sociological spark. Whether you’re new to blockchain or a crypto scholar, this episode will shift your perspective. Produced by Tonal Media. 

(00:00) Introduction: Understanding money and crypto
(01:19) Historical perspective on money
(02:28) Explaining blockchain to an alien
(05:38) AI and the future of transactions
(07:59) Bitcoin and the concept of money
(18:48) Decentralization and social trust
(22:46) Conclusion and further reading

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The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

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