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1 - The Origins of the Blockchain

from Part I - The Blockchain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 January 2020

William Magnuson
William Magnuson
Affiliation:
Texas A&M Law School
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Summary

In this chapter, the author explores the philosophical roots of the blockchain. Beginning with an account of Satoshi Nakamoto's famous bitcoin white paper, the chapter then goes on to describe the history of virtual currencies, the cypherpunks, and debates in political theory over the benefits of centralization and decentralization.

Keywords

bitcoinblockchainLockeHobbescypherpunks
Type
Chapter
Information
Blockchain Democracy
Technology, Law and the Rule of the Crowd
 , pp. 9 - 40
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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