What is Consensus: Rules without Rulers
Channel: aantonop
Date: 13/01/2018

Who is in charge of Bitcoin? Why is it so hard to change the rules? The governance model of Bitcoin, where there can be transparent and neutral rules without rulers, without regulators, is confusing to most people. It is a natural human inclination not only to appeal to authority but to see the absence of a leader as an invitation, a "job opening." Bitcoin has resisted this for nine years, but it is still immature and trying to find its potential. What the failure of SegWit2x demonstrated was not that this group one and that group lost, but that consensus is an overwhelming majority system. Without it, you are unlikely to succeed. The question is not whether we will scale, but how. The battles we've faced so far are tiny compared to what lies ahead. The choice you all make between convenience and liberty, between safety and freedom, will open up opportunities for billions tomorrow.

Chapters
0:00 Rules without rulers
2:32 If you don't have overwhelming majority to change the rules, the system ensures that the rules remain the same
5:05 Regulations
9:44 A test of democracy, self-determination, freedom of expression and freedom of association
11:10 Open blockchain potential
13:01 Scalability
20:05 There are many people who want to take the role of ruler
24:03 People who participate in this systems today are at risk
25:24 Why need bitcoin? 

This talk took place at the Swedish Bitcoin Association event on November 19th 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden: http://www.bitcoinforeningen.se/

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Andreas M. Antonopoulos is a technologist and serial entrepreneur who has become one of the most well-known and respected figures in bitcoin.

Follow on Twitter: @aantonop https://twitter.com/aantonop
Website: https://antonopoulos.com/

He is the author of two books: “Mastering Bitcoin,” published by O’Reilly Media and considered the best technical guide to bitcoin; “The Internet of Money,” a book about why bitcoin matters.

Highlights of IoM Volume 2: https://youtu.be/Qkjm5E5BeB8

THE INTERNET OF MONEY, v1: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Internet-Money-collection-Andreas-Antonopoulos/dp/1537000454/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

[NEW] THE INTERNET OF MONEY, v2: https://www.amazon.com/Internet-Money-Andreas-M-Antonopoulos/dp/194791006X/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

MASTERING BITCOIN: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mastering-Bitcoin-Unlocking-Digital-Cryptocurrencies/dp/1449374042

[NEW] MASTERING BITCOIN, 2nd Edition: https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Bitcoin-Programming-Open-Blockchain/dp/1491954388

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Videography: BitJoin (https://bitjoin.me/)
Music: "Unbounded" by Orfan (https://www.facebook.com/Orfan/)
Outro Graphics: Phneep (http://www.phneep.com/)
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