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The Blockchain SocialistLearnings from my call with a North Korean hacker
How to not lose $2 billion
The Blockchain SocialistSurfing the Wind
Airdrops were once seen as a harbinger of cryptocurrency based abundance and are now seen often as an incentive to invite peoples’ worst tendencies when done poorly. But seldom are the effects of airdrops on actual communities written about. In part is the difficulty of the conversation needed when navigating a myriad of money traumas that exist in a group. It may be “free” money but perhaps there is still a price to be paid. And so gather 'round, let me tell you a story of seven friends whos...
The Blockchain SocialistDAOs: Anarcho-Syndicalism In a Digital World
On November 20th, 1936, José Buenaventura Durruti died from bullet wounds received while leading a counterattack in the midst of the Spanish Civil War. He was considered a working class and military hero, having been a prominent leader of the FAI (Federación Anarquista Ibérica), the more radical wing of the CNT (Confederación Nacional de Trabajadores), which was a confederation of anarcho-syndicalist labor unions in tacit alliance against the Nationalists, who were supported by Nazi Germany a...
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The Blockchain SocialistLearnings from my call with a North Korean hacker
How to not lose $2 billion
The Blockchain SocialistSurfing the Wind
Airdrops were once seen as a harbinger of cryptocurrency based abundance and are now seen often as an incentive to invite peoples’ worst tendencies when done poorly. But seldom are the effects of airdrops on actual communities written about. In part is the difficulty of the conversation needed when navigating a myriad of money traumas that exist in a group. It may be “free” money but perhaps there is still a price to be paid. And so gather 'round, let me tell you a story of seven friends whos...
The Blockchain SocialistDAOs: Anarcho-Syndicalism In a Digital World
On November 20th, 1936, José Buenaventura Durruti died from bullet wounds received while leading a counterattack in the midst of the Spanish Civil War. He was considered a working class and military hero, having been a prominent leader of the FAI (Federación Anarquista Ibérica), the more radical wing of the CNT (Confederación Nacional de Trabajadores), which was a confederation of anarcho-syndicalist labor unions in tacit alliance against the Nationalists, who were supported by Nazi Germany a...
Share Dialog
Share Dialog
In this episode, I talk with Adina Glickstein — Master’s student in Media Studies under Nathan Schneider at UC Boulder and editor-at-large at Spike Art Magazine — whose recent Compact Mag article, The Rise and Fall of Urbit finally gave me the excuse to talk about Urbit on the podcast.
We unpack what Urbit is trying to be (although many don’t seem to agree), its creator Curtis Yarvin (aka Mencius Moldbug, philosopher of the alt-right), and how its governance structure mirrors his anti-democratic ideals. Adina shares her experience moving from enthusiasm to disillusionment — from Berlin meetups to Urbit Assembly, to witnessing the project lean into neo-colonial “exit” politics.
We also get into the reactionary politics inside the Urbit community, the recent leadership coup pitting long-time developers against Yarvin and his backers, and how this drama unexpectedly created a demand for “voice” in a system designed entirely around “exit.”
Links:
User Error — Adina’s monthly tech column for Spike Art Magazine
The Rise and Fall of Urbit — Adina’s piece in Compact Mag
This episode is sponsored by NYM, the world’s most private VPN. Unlike traditional VPNs, Nym uses a decentralized mixnet to scramble your internet data — hiding who you’re talking to, when, and how often. You can switch between full mixnet mode for maximum anonymity, or a faster VPN mode for everyday use.
Use the code blockchainsocialist when signing up and get an extra month!
Liked it? Take a second to support The Blockchain Socialist on Patreon!
In this episode, I talk with Adina Glickstein — Master’s student in Media Studies under Nathan Schneider at UC Boulder and editor-at-large at Spike Art Magazine — whose recent Compact Mag article, The Rise and Fall of Urbit finally gave me the excuse to talk about Urbit on the podcast.
We unpack what Urbit is trying to be (although many don’t seem to agree), its creator Curtis Yarvin (aka Mencius Moldbug, philosopher of the alt-right), and how its governance structure mirrors his anti-democratic ideals. Adina shares her experience moving from enthusiasm to disillusionment — from Berlin meetups to Urbit Assembly, to witnessing the project lean into neo-colonial “exit” politics.
We also get into the reactionary politics inside the Urbit community, the recent leadership coup pitting long-time developers against Yarvin and his backers, and how this drama unexpectedly created a demand for “voice” in a system designed entirely around “exit.”
Links:
User Error — Adina’s monthly tech column for Spike Art Magazine
The Rise and Fall of Urbit — Adina’s piece in Compact Mag
This episode is sponsored by NYM, the world’s most private VPN. Unlike traditional VPNs, Nym uses a decentralized mixnet to scramble your internet data — hiding who you’re talking to, when, and how often. You can switch between full mixnet mode for maximum anonymity, or a faster VPN mode for everyday use.
Use the code blockchainsocialist when signing up and get an extra month!
Liked it? Take a second to support The Blockchain Socialist on Patreon!
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