S2 E1: Wassim Alsindi on Bitcoin as a Time Machine

In this in-depth interview, polymath Wassim Alsindi talks about his views on Bitcoin, why it resembles the qualities of a time machine, and how altcoins can actually be interesting experiments which reveal the limitations of certain technological and social governance models. The discussions transcend the idea of maximalism and explore a more scientific approach to everything involving blockchains: while there is no doubt that Bitcoin reigns supreme and will remain king, there are always good or bad lessons to be learned from the more or less reckless experimentation conducted via altcoins. The fundamental idea is that some technological breakthroughs (such as MimbleWimble and Confidential Transactions) may end up being implemented in BTC at some point, but the fact that other projects try them first ensures a better implementation in the conservative, definitely more decentralized, and resilient-by-design network of Bitcoin. Also, Wassim Alsindi is specialized in protocol forks and political hacks, which makes his points about derived altcoin projects much more knowledgeable and interesting. Throughout the nearly three hours of interview, you will also get to find out more about the early days of Mr. Alsindi as a Bitcoiner and how he became interested in pursuing research in this exciting field which combines computer science and cryptography.

If you’re going to ask me about the most underrated Bitcoin Takeover Podcast episode, then I’m going to mention my recording with Wassim Alsindi from June 2019. You see, Wassim is the kind of guy who doesn’t have much of a social media presence and is mostly known by developers and people with whom he interacts regularly. He teaches at MIT and has some very fascinating inter-disciplinary views on Bitcoin.

What makes this episode a must-listen: I really like the way that Wassim explains his understanding of Bitcoin and how alts/shitcoins merely experiment with features that can become features on the longest and most battle-tested chain after enough testing. He’s a reasonable maximalist who understands that a truly hyperbitcoinized world will require the most secure network which transacts the hardest money to accommodate all the use cases that we may or may not personally like.

The element of surprise: Wassim Alsindi is a true polymath. He’s been successful in lots of areas, including music and astronomy. So when he switched to computer science and eventually Bitcoin, he applied his past learnings in ways that might surprise you. Also, I love his theory about Bitcoin being a time machine.