This episode, recorded on June 25, 2013, covered the volatile state of the Bitcoin market, the use of the currency by political figures, and a major technical crisis facing the network.
Main Topics Discussed:
* Market Volatility: Bitcoin prices experienced a sharp decline to a low of 100, followed by a sudden volume spike that pushed the price back up to 109.
* Snowden and Donations: The discussion highlighted Bitcoin's potential use as a means for fugitives, noting that WikiLeaks had increased its Bitcoin donations significantly following reports of Edward Snowden's movements.
* Network Security: The Bitcoin network was recovering from a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. The source of the vulnerability was traced back to unfinished features in Satoshi Nakamoto’s original protocol code.
* Market Panic: The episode noted widespread market turmoil, with panicked investors exchanging dollars for more stable, physical assets.
Key Quotes:
* "How to help pay for American hero Snowden's getaway without being caught? Bitcoin's."
* "Bitcoin network recovering from distributed denial of service attack."
* "Bottom line, it's a seller's market."
People Mentioned:
Edward Snowden, WikiLeaks, Jeff Garznik, Satoshi Nakamoto, and Baba Bull (a regular viewer).
Bitcoin Price:
The price fluctuated between a low of 100 and a high of 109.