An interview with Joe Ratheram (BitBrum 2019)

## WCN Episode Summary: An Interview with Joe Ratheram (BitBrum 2019) - 2020-08-27

This episode features an interview with Joe Ratheram, discussing the evolution of the BitBrum conference, Bitcoin adoption, and its potential impact on various industries, particularly the automotive sector.

Main Topics:

• BitBrum's Evolution: The conference, once popular during the 2017 Bitcoin boom, is now navigating a bear market while maintaining its focus on Bitcoin education and innovation.
• Community-Driven Conferences: Appreciation for smaller, community-focused events like Coinfest versus larger, commercial conferences.
• Slow Bitcoin Adoption: The surprisingly slow uptake of Bitcoin by British small businesses despite its potential for low-cost global payments.
• Bitcoin & Automotive Industry: Exploring Bitcoin’s potential for micro-payments, data sharing, and car-sharing services within the automotive sector.
• Cybersecurity Risks: Discussing the increasing cybersecurity vulnerabilities of connected vehicles, drawing parallels to Andreas Antonopoulos’s “Bubble Boy” analogy.

Key Quotes:

• "It's like a musician whose popularity has waned, but you still keep playing." (Referring to BitBrum's current state)
• "Bitcoin's utility and transparency make it unsuitable for serious criminal endeavors."
• "Cars will be utilizing micro-payments...potentially even lightning payments to move other vehicles."

People Mentioned:

• Joe Ratheram
• Adam (Coinfest)
• Peter Todd
• Ben
• Andreas Antonopoulos
• Jay

Bitcoin Price: Not mentioned.

The interview highlights the ongoing challenges and opportunities surrounding Bitcoin, emphasizing the importance of community, education, and addressing security concerns as the technology continues to evolve and potentially integrates into new industries.