Today, we speak to Vili Lehdonvirta, Professor of Economics, Sociology, and Digital Social Research at the Oxford Internet Institute at the University of Oxford. Professor Lehdonvirta is a social scientist whose research focuses on ways digital technologies are reshaping the organization of economies, including their associated social effects. He is also the author of two books, Cloud Empires and Virtual Economies, which provide readers with an in-depth look into the power that crypto platforms hold and a well-rounded characterization of digital markets. In this episode, we talk about the ideological underpinnings of crypto and the role of governance in making cryptocurrencies possible. We discuss the role of states in scaling markets, how states and platform companies differ, the impacts of smart contracts on governance issues, and how control and power are centralized within crypto markets, as well as the social implications of blockchain technology. Listeners will also learn about past controversies within the crypto space, why people are still needed within crypto, and the blockchain paradox, plus more! Participate in our Community Discussion about this Episode: https://community.rationalreminder.ca/t/understanding-crypto-15-prof-vili-lehdonvirta-cryptocracy-the-obfuscation-of-power/19110 Books From Today’s Episode: Cloud Empires: How Digital Platforms Are Overtaking the State and How We Can Regain Control — https://cloudempires.org/ Virtual Economies: Design and Analysis — https://amzn.to/3KJ4uHk Links From Today’s Episode: Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Shop Merch — https://shop.rationalreminder.ca/ Join the Community — https://community.rationalreminder.ca/ Follow us on Twitter — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Follow us on Instagram — @rationalreminder Benjamin on Twitter — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Cameron on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Vili Lehdonvirta on Twitter — https://twitter.com/ViliLe/ Vili Lehdonvirta — https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/people/profiles/vili-lehdonvirta/ 'Mine the gap' — https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1461444818786220 'The blockchain paradox: Why distributed ledger technologies may do little to transform the economy' — https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/news-events/news/the-blockchain-paradox-why-distributed-ledger-technologies-may-do-little-to-transform-the-economy/