An interview with Exiled Surfer (HCPP 2019)

Okay, here's a synthesized summary of the Exiled Surfer interview, broken down into the requested sections.

1. Narrative Summary

This interview with Exiled Surfer (Michael) provides a fascinating, firsthand account of the early days of the Bitcoin movement. Initially intrigued by Bitcoin's potential for censorship resistance after the WikiLeaks PayPal blockade in 2011, Exiled Surfer became deeply involved, co-founding "Bitcoin is Without Borders" and contributing to the "Free Ross" campaign for Ross Ulbricht. He subsequently found himself unexpectedly thrust into a critical role within the Bitcoin Foundation, troubleshooting technical issues and navigating internal conflicts following the devastating collapse of Mt. Gox. The Foundation, initially fueled by enthusiasm and strong membership (including companies like BitPay, Circle, and Coinbase), ultimately succumbed to mismanagement, internal disagreements, and the challenges of operating a dollar-denominated nonprofit. Despite the Foundation's demise, Exiled Surfer remains optimistic about Bitcoin's core principles, particularly its open-source nature and the ability to fork, and emphasizes the importance of networking and connecting with others in the crypto space. He highlights the significant influence of figures like Roger Ver and the early ambitions of Vitalik Buterin, who initially sought to build Ethereum on Bitcoin.

2. Main Topics Discussed

• Early Bitcoin Adoption & Censorship Resistance: The initial draw of Bitcoin and its use case in resisting censorship.
• "Bitcoin is Without Borders" Initiative: The creation of QR code coins and their use at Room 77.
• Free Ross Campaign: Involvement in the campaign to free Ross Ulbricht.
• Bitcoin Foundation Involvement & Crisis: The speaker's unexpected role in resolving technical issues and navigating the Foundation's internal struggles, particularly after the Mt. Gox collapse.
• Bitcoin Foundation's Demise: The reasons behind the Foundation's failure, including financial mismanagement and internal conflicts.
• Bitcoin Ambassadors Program & Subsidiaries: The Foundation's attempt to expand internationally.
• Nonprofit Status & Reporting Obligations: The challenges of operating a dollar-denominated nonprofit.
• Brock Pierce Controversy: Early debates and allegations surrounding Brock Pierce within the Bitcoin community.
• Forking as a Feature: A positive perspective on forking as a core aspect of Bitcoin's open-source nature.
• Early Ethereum Development: Vitalik Buterin’s initial plans to build Ethereum on Bitcoin.
• Networking & Community Building: The importance of connecting with others in the cryptocurrency space.
• The Role of Roger Ver: Ver’s significant early funding of the Bitcoin Foundation and its impact.

3. Key Quotes

• "That was kind of like the moment that went off… okay there's actually used for this thing" (regarding the WikiLeaks blockade)
• "People was was really already the point at which it was it was failing." (Referring to the Bitcoin Foundation)
• "It was literally just budget misplanning." (Regarding the Foundation's financial issues)
• "I've always seen forking as a feature not a bug."
• "It's just Joe… just put their pants on one leg at a time." (Referring to influential figures in the Bitcoin space)

4. People Mentioned

• Exiled Surfer (Michael): Interviewee, involved in various early Bitcoin initiatives.
• Mike Google Ski: Co-founder of "Bitcoin is Without Borders."
• Vinaigupta: Co-founder of "Bitcoin is Without Borders."
• Julian Assange: Associated with the WikiLeaks incident.
• Ross Ulbricht (aka "Dread Pirate Roberts"): Founder of the Silk Road.
• Lenn: Involved in early Bitcoin discussions.
• John Matonis: Former Executive Director of the Bitcoin Foundation.
• Mark Karpeles: Former CEO of Mt. Gox.
• Gavin Wood: Ethereum co-founder, involved in resolving technical issues.
• Roger Ver: Early funder of the Bitcoin Foundation.
• Vitalik Buterin: Ethereum co-founder.
• Chris: Considered a strong moral choice for Bitcoin Foundation president.
• York: Considered for Bitcoin Foundation president.
• Patrick: Name incomplete, involved in early Bitcoin Foundation discussions.
• Peter Vessenes: Involved in early Bitcoin Foundation discussions.
• Michael Goosey: Helped build the Bitcoin Foundation membership portal.
• Brock Pierce: Subject of controversy within the Bitcoin community.
• Andreas Antonopoulos: Bitcoin advocate.
• Charlie Trem: Arrested in connection with Bitcoin-related activities.

5. Bitcoin Price if Mentioned

• Approximately $1,000 in 2012
• ~$300 when Exiled Surfer joined the Bitcoin Foundation
• ~$600
• ~$1020 (by 2014)
• ~$600 (price at which Exiled Surfer sold Bitcoin)
• ~$0.40 (peak price of Bitcoin Cash during a fork)