Podcast Episode Details

Ralph Merkle: Revolutionizing Democracy Using DAOs

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Episode 141

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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
• EB98 - Robin Hanson: Futarchy, Prediction Markets
• Tim Urban: Why Cryonics Makes Sense
• Alcor - Life Extension Foundation

This episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain and Meher Roy. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/141

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Published on 9 years, 5 months ago