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This article explores the cultural and intellectual canon of blockchain through key events, texts, and memetic reactions. It outlines how these elements shape the field's understanding and development, highlighting significant moments and proposals from its inception to the present.
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The article examines the concept of a blockchain canon, emphasizing that some of the most significant moments in the field are not just written texts but events that shaped cultural understanding and behavior. Key events include the People's Bank of China's ICO ban in 2017, the Mt. Gox collapse in 2014, and the FTX implosion in 2022. Each incident triggered discussions, memes, and shifts in trust, which are more impactful than the legal documents themselves. A16z's reading list offers a snapshot but fails to capture the complexities driving the blockchain narrative.
It also presents a timeline of important works and events that outline the intellectual and cultural foundation of blockchain. Starting with David Chaum's 1983 paper on digital money, the list includes Timothy May's 1988 "Crypto Anarchist Manifesto," which laid the groundwork for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Zcash. Other notable entries are Robin Hanson's proposal for prediction markets in 1990 and the introduction of proof-of-work by Cynthia Dwork and Moni Naor in 1992, which later became essential for Bitcoin's consensus mechanism.
The timeline continues through significant moments like the governance crisis surrounding Ethereum's DAO in 2016 and the emergence of concepts like "fat protocols," which argue that value accrues to base protocols rather than applications. Each item in the timeline illustrates a turning point, showing how the blockchain ecosystem has evolved through a mix of technical, financial, and cultural shifts. The narrative is rich with specific references, highlighting the intertwined nature of technology and culture in shaping the blockchain landscape.
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