Alex Gladstein: Bitcoin, Authoritarianism, and Human Rights | Lex Fridman Podcast #231

In this episode of the Lex Fridman Podcast, Lex interviews Alex Gladstein, Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation, about universal human rights, the rise of authoritarian regimes, and how cryptocurrency, specifically Bitcoin, can be used as a tool to empower individuals and resist oppressive governments. They discuss the importance of free speech, property rights, and the dangers of centralized power, particularly concerning big data analysis and surveillance. Alex argues that Bitcoin offers a means of peaceful revolution by providing a sovereign savings account and an unstoppable payments network, while Lex expresses cautious optimism about technology's potential to empower individuals. They also touch on the role of capitalism, the importance of education, and the challenges of activism in a world increasingly influenced by authoritarian regimes.