Legendary scientist and cryptography pioneer Ralph Merkle joined us to discuss his recent paper on DAOs. Merkle examined how the voting mechanisms in today’s democracies are flawed and how a decentralized, transparent DAO making decisions using prediction markets could create more efficient democratic systems.
Topics covered in this episode:
- Merkle proofs, Merkle Roots and his early forays into cryptography
- Blockchains as living organisms
- Why DAOs will be subject to a Darwinian evolutionary process
- Why voting is flawed and we need new governance methods to save democracy
- The concept of a DAO democracy
- How prediction markets and futarchy would help govern a DAO democracy
Episode links:
- Ralph Merkle DAO Democracy Paper [PDF]
- Ralph Merkle’s Homepage
- Ralph Merkle’s Wikipedia page
- Episode 98 with Robin Hanson on futarchy & prediction markets
- Tim Urban: Why Cryonics Makes Sense
- Alcor – Life Extension Foundation
Thank you to our sponsors for their support:
- The open, decentralized trading protocol for ERC20 tokens using the Dutch auction mechanism. More at epicenter.tv/dutchx.
This episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain and Meher Roy. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/252
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- Source: https://epicenter.tv/252
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