Where to Listen To This Episode:
Show Notes
I talk with Kevin Whitmore from Callaghan Innovation. Callaghan are a New Zealand state entity providing research and development assistance and funding to help kiwi businesses grow.
We talk about Kevin’s background and his journey of understanding Bitcoin and what money is, as well as his current role looking at Web3.
For Kevin, Web3 is focussed broadly on "decentralised internet tech". We discuss payment innovations with the Lightning network, Bitcoin, Nostr, and more.
I am encouraged to see an interest in Bitcoin technology from the New Zealand Government. I welcome Callaghan’s approach of objectively looking at everything that comes their way and making judgements based on first principles.
Ultimately having a vehicle like Kevin’s work at Callaghan Innovation could be one of the ways New Zealand becomes a first mover in adopting Bitcoin. I am quietly encouraged to see the label "Web3" reclaimed by genuinely decentralised tech such as Nostr, Lightning Zaps, and Fedi.
Show Sponsors
Swarbricks - New Zealand's first law firm to accept Bitcoin for legal services (https://www.swarbricks.co.nz/bitcoin)
Connect with The Transformation of Value
Follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/TTOVpodcast
Nostr at: npub1uth29ygt090fe640skhc8l34d9s7xlwj4frxs2esezt7n6d64nwsqcmmmu
Or send an email to hello@thetransformationofvalue.com and I will get back to you!
Support this show:
Bitcoin donation address: bc1qlfcr2v73tntt6wvyp2yu064egvyeery6xtwy8t
Lightning donation address: codyellingham@getalby.com
PayNym: +steepvoice938
PayNym Code: PM8TJhcUCtSvHe69sod9pzLCBKg6GaogsMDwfGNCnL4HXyduiY9pbLpbn3oEUvuM75EeALxRVV3Mfi6kgWEBsseMki3QphE8aC5QDMNp9pUugqfz1yVc
Geyser Fund
If you send a donation please email or DM me so I can thank you!
Links:
Kevin Whitmore on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwhitmore/
Callaghan Innovation - https://www.callaghaninnovation.govt.nz/
web3nz.xyz - https://web3nz.xyz/
Fedi - https://www.fedi.xyz/
The Wellbeing Protocol - https://www.thewellbeingprotocol.org/
Base58 Bitcoin Protocol School - https://www.base58.info/
Popular Episodes
Palash is an Indian Bitcoiner sharing his thoughts on how to bring Bitcoin adoption to the world’s largest democracy. We talk about the sudden demonetisation of certain cash notes by the Indian government, the new unified payment interface and Indian CBDC. Palash also discusses how households approach savings, purchasing and gifting gold, and the social roles of money.
A down-to-earth and impromptu catchup with HG, a local Bitcoiner from Christchurch who flew up to be at the Bitkiwi meetup in Wellington recently. We discuss Bitcoin in NZ, local initiatives, and who we think is the one kiwi we would like to see get orange pilled!
James Scaur has a great story, first discovering Bitcoin in high school, teaching himself programming and starting a business, before going on to work at Cryptopia and Easy Crypto while travelling through Europe and Brazil. He is now launching some exciting projects including bringing Azte.co Bitcoin vouchers to New Zealand, and making Bitcoin more accessible in Te reo Māori.
I talk with Paul from Bitkiwi who are organising NZ’s premiere Bitcoin events. We reflect on the most recent Bitkiwi event that was held in Wellington earlier in February. The next event will be held in Christchurch on March 25th from 2pm at the Bealey Quarter, 263 Bealey Avenue, Christchurch.
Dr. James Kierstead is a Research Fellow with the New Zealand Initiative focussing on higher education policy, including academic freedom. James co-hosts Free Kiwis!, a podcast dedicated to free speech in New Zealand, and also has a background in classical studies, in particular democracy in Ancient Greece. We talk about the declining state of New Zealand universities and the impact this has on graduates bringing their ideologies into the public sector. We also dive into the importance of language learning and, the economies of ancient Greece city states, and what we can learn from the past.
