https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP_4RKyicKQ&t=3s

General

• Aims to be able to explain complex information very simply and easily for the public.
• Was introduced to Bitcoin in 2012
  • See’s crypto as the future of finance
    • Able to remove inherent friction in the finance system
    • Fairer for everyone
• He see’s Crypto complimenting the worlds current national currencies, rather than usurping them.
  • “A compliment to and a hedge for government issues currencies.”

CBDC’s.

• Good
  • No printing notes, no distribution, removal of basic supply chains
  • Easier to get people banked
  • Easier to exchange within an economy
• Bad
  • Allows for open finance. May be used to weight your insurance premiums, etc.
  • Allow for control over people’s lives
  • Restricted use of CBDC’s in certain situations (ie, you can only buy 1kg of Chocolate per week).

Working at Consensys

• Worked in the professional services arm in Europe.
  • This arm helps firms build projects on Blockchain.
    • Shell, Deutsche Bank, etc
• Role was leading out Architecture and Applied cryptography.
  • Software
  • Cryptographic primitives

Why Algorand?

• Because it is fundamentally sustainable.
  • Cost
  • Speed
  • Live Execution
• It’s fit for purpose to be used by a large nation state. It’s ready to go. That makes it a very exciting prospect.
  • Able to empower many people.

Cardano

• Came from essentially what is Cardano’s ‘AlgoInc’ - Named IOHK
• IOHK was very interesting and challenged him more than his previous work.
  • He got the opportunity to become Chief architect at Cardano and couldn’t turn it down.
  • Loved his time working at Cardano.

How John came to Algorand

• Was approached by Algorand to become the CTO.