Season 3 - Episode 9 - Blockchain

This episode was supposed to be "just" a discussion about blockchain, but became way more. Prof. Gilbert Fridgen from SnT (University of Luxembourg) took us on a journey through blockchain, cryptocurrencies and NFTs, but also talked about research itself. A very relevant discussion!

USEFUL LINKS

SnT - https://wwwen.uni.lu/snt
I Can't Sleep Podcast that I mention in the beginning - https://www.icantsleeppodcast.com/podcast/blockchain
Narrative style CVs at FNR - https://www.fnr.lu/research-with-impact-fnr-highlight/taking-science-to-the-next-level-research-culture/

Chapters

• 1:57 Narrative style CVs at FNR
• 2:40 What is blockchain?
• 3:39 Blockchain as a notebook
• 4:30 DLT
• 4:42 Uses - not only cryptocurrencies
• 6:07 Why do we need blockchain?
• 7:25 E-government processes and blockchain
• 9:03 Decentralisation
• 9:31 Platform businesses
• 10:26 Idealism and blockchain?
• 11:18 What actual difference will blockchain make?
• 12:17 New solutions for the financial industry
• 13:18 SnT and industry
• 14:07 Fraud in the blockchain sphere
• 17:35 What are NFTs?
• 20:03 Pub Quiz Question
• 20:26 NFTs continued
• 21:43 NFTs as an exclusive membership
• 22:35 NFTs as colectible cards
• 23:22 Does Prof. Fridgen own cryptocurrencies?
• 24:32 Getting to the core of how the technology works
• 25:30 Consensus mechanisms
• 26:18 Energy and mining bitcoin
• 28:52 Pros and cons of consensus mechanisms
• 30:08 Private blockchain and governmental systems
• 31:03 Computer science and business management
• 33:54 Decentralisation in the governmental sector
• 35:36 FLORA project - managing the asylum process in Germany
• 37:55 Decentralisation in European governmental services
• 40:17 IT systems supporting European values
• 40:54 Do we need the banking system?
• 42:47 Researching disruption
• 45:53 Second Life