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Crypto is about trusting the validity of code over the integrity of people. There is a bit more to it than that, in trusting that micro-economic incentives and

Crypto is about trusting the validity of code over the integrity of people. There is a bit more to it than that, in trusting that micro-economic incentives and the design of the protocol will guard the protocol against capture, but that's the gist of it. Ultimately, open source code has a higher safety potential than the integrity of individuals, so I believe static services will trend toward becoming Ethereum protocols.

jrm4 3y ago
I agree, but those cases are VERY LIMITED. They would have to be something where the slowness and clunkiness of a blockchain is worth it. Anything private and small? Blockchains are stupid there.
- ETH_start 3y ago
  The integrity of finance is worth slowness and clunkiness.
  - jrm4 3y ago
    On that, I agree. I think DeFi (even more than day-to-day currency) is the true "killer-use" of crypto. But I think what I'm seeing with e.g. DAOs and on-chain governance is that "governance" here (unlike real life) really does need to be very libertarian. Set it and forget it to the extent you can, otherwise you invite humans and and their pesky incentives to screw around with things.
    - ETH_start 3y ago
      Agreed. While DAOs may offer benefits over traditional corporations in some applications, the real value proposition in public blockchains is provided by immutable smart contracts which eliminate the vulnerabilities introduced by governance.
      - jrm4 3y ago
        Yes. But also, as a lawyer, I hate the phrase "smart contract" with the fire of a thousand suns. They are very useful and have important applications -- but they are not smart, nor are they contracts. "Automated blockchain bots" or something is far closer to the truth.
        ETH_start 3y ago
        I prefer the term programmatic contract. Contract is somewhat of a misnomer, but conveys the idea that two parties can use it to trade in accordance with some defined terms. I think the 'smart' is an attempt to convey the idea that the application acts like a contract that self-executes. 'Programmatic' might do a better job of conveying that aspect of it too.

jrm4 3y ago

I agree, but those cases are VERY LIMITED. They would have to be something where the slowness and clunkiness of a blockchain is worth it. Anything private and small? Blockchains are stupid there.

ETH_start 3y ago
The integrity of finance is worth slowness and clunkiness.
- jrm4 3y ago
  On that, I agree. I think DeFi (even more than day-to-day currency) is the true "killer-use" of crypto. But I think what I'm seeing with e.g. DAOs and on-chain governance is that "governance" here (unlike real life) really does need to be very libertarian. Set it and forget it to the extent you can, otherwise you invite humans and and their pesky incentives to screw around with things.
  - ETH_start 3y ago
    Agreed. While DAOs may offer benefits over traditional corporations in some applications, the real value proposition in public blockchains is provided by immutable smart contracts which eliminate the vulnerabilities introduced by governance.
    - jrm4 3y ago
      Yes. But also, as a lawyer, I hate the phrase "smart contract" with the fire of a thousand suns. They are very useful and have important applications -- but they are not smart, nor are they contracts. "Automated blockchain bots" or something is far closer to the truth.
      - ETH_start 3y ago
        I prefer the term programmatic contract. Contract is somewhat of a misnomer, but conveys the idea that two parties can use it to trade in accordance with some defined terms. I think the 'smart' is an attempt to convey the idea that the application acts like a contract that self-executes. 'Programmatic' might do a better job of conveying that aspect of it too.