Mint & Burn

‘Mint & Burn’ offers an academic analysis of the decentralised digital economy, including blockchain and other decentralised technologies. Hosted by Kelsie Nabben and the RMIT University Blockchain Innovation Hub, we bring you interesting guests, publications, and experts to test frontier ideas in these critical and emerging industries. This podcast is for academics, industry, policymakers, and anyone interested in a deeper understanding of the digital age.

Mint & Burn Episode 48: The Validator Commons (live) w. Ellie Rennie, Eric Alston, and Kelsie Nabben

In this episode, we discuss ‘The Validator Commons’, an initiative that was started via Metagov.org to create a space for blockchain validators to coordinate and cooperate in their role as operators and governors of public blockchains. This exciting conversation covers some of the dynamics, challenges, and controversies of blockchain validators - a little understood but incredibly important aspect of blockchain governance. This episode was recorded live at the ‘What’s Governing Web3?’ conference in Melbourne in December, 2022.

02-01
42:55

Mint & Burn Episode 47: Digital Ethnography in Blockchain & Governance Reading Group 3. 'Speculative Fiction' w. Ellie Rennie, Kola Heyward-Rotimi, hosted by Kelsie Nabben, Tara Merk, & Cent Hosten

In this special episode as the third installment in the ‘Digital Ethnography in Blockchain & Governance Reading Group, we’re joined by ethnographer Ellie Rennie and speculative fiction scholar Kola Heyward-Rotimi to discuss a co-authored piece that took place at ‘Decentralized Web Camp’ in 2022. We discuss speculative fiction as a method, “LARPing”, and reflecting on one’s own research methods in Web3.

11-29
56:32

Mint & Burn Episode 46: Dane Lund, AllianceDAO & Dr Aaron Lane on DAOs and the Law

In this episode, we’re joined by Dane Lund from AllianceDAO and resident legal scholar Dr. Aaron Lane to talk about DAO labour and the legal risks of participating in DAOs, DAO policy developments, and the future possibilities of DAOs. Please note that none of this episode is intended as legal advice.

11-15
53:18

Mint & Burn Episode 45: Digital Ethnography in Blockchain & Governance Reading Group 2 w. Kelsie Nabben, Tara Merk, Cent Hosten & Quinn DuPont

We’re back, with the ‘Digital Ethnography in Blockchain Reading Group’, session 2. Kelsie, Tara & CEnt are joined by Quinn DuPont, author of a number of quintessential blockchain studies, including “Experiments in algorithmic governance: A history and ethnography of “The DAO”, a failed decentralised autonomous organization”. Learn about ethnographic methods, grounded theory, and current research interests

11-01
56:52

Mint & Burn Episode 44: The New Economy w. Thomas Hardjono (MIT), Jason Potts, & Kelsie Nabben

In this wide-ranging and engaging episode we are joined by computer scientists Dr Thomas Hardjono from MIT Connection Science lab . We discuss Web3.0, data, cooperative data governance models, identity, and trust from an interdisciplinary perspective. “At the end of the day it’s about human beings, it's about societies, it's about communities. It's not about technology”.

10-17
01:00:45

Mint & Burn Episode 43: Token Engineering w. Angela Kreitenweis & Dr Imon Palit

In this episode, we’re joined by Angela Kreitenweis, Founder Token Engineering Academy and Dr Imon Palit to discuss token engineering as an interdisciplinary method and the launch of the token engineering academy. Don’t miss the launch of the Token Engineering Academy at Tokenengineering.org

10-07
51:42

Mint & Burn Episode 42: Digital Ethnography in Blockchain & Governance Reading Group 1 w. Tara Merk, Cent Hosten, & Wassim Alsindi

In this special episode, we share the recording from the kick off of the ‘Digital Ethnography in Blockchain & Governance’ Reading group, co-organised by Kelsie Nabben, RMIT University, Tara Merk, BlockchainGov, & Cent Hosten from Metagov. We’re joined by guest Wassim Alsindi, who is a seasoned researcher, designer, and critical thinker - involved in Bitcoin, creative arts production through 0xSalon, and MIT Computational Law Journal, among other projects. This is the first in a monthly series that we hope to share on the podcast.

09-27
01:02:07

Mint & Burn Episode 41: Token Mapping, Tax & Law Update w. Dr Elizabeth Morton, Dr Aaron Lane, & Danny Talwar

In this episode, we continue to endeavour to max tax fun with an update on the Australian Federal Government's announced 'token mapping' exercise and updates on the Board of Taxation. We also focus overseas on legal insights into the Tornado Cash situation. Our RMIT Blockchain Innovation Hub experts are joined by Danny Talwar from the crypto tax platform 'Koinly'. Please note, this is not financial, tax, or legal advice.

09-12
50:28

Mint & Burn Episode 40: A Revisionist History of Blockchain w. Associate Prof. Chris Berg from RMIT University Blockchain Innovation Hub

What does it mean that Bitcoin was able to achieve "a reliable system out of unreliable parts"? In this episode, we take a historical look at the development of permissionless blockchain technologies, including the Byzantine Fault Tolerant problem and the application of economic market theory to computational science. We also touch on recent events in permissionless systems, including the announcement of US sanctions on Tornado Cash.

08-10
41:14

Mint & Burn Episode 39: EOFY crypto tax w. Dr Elizabeth Morton from RMIT, Lisa Greig from Perigee Advisors & James Carey from Prime Partners

In this episode, we explore some essential end of financial year crypto considerations, including airdrops, DAO tokens, and the shifting tax landscape. Please note, this is not formal tax advice.

06-27
42:59

Mint & Burn Episode 38: Engineering Methods in Web3 & Sub-DAOs of DAOs w. Danilo Lessa Bernardineli from BlockScience & Kelsie Nabben

In this dynamic episode, we discuss engineering methods in Web3, algorithmic systems, what are DAOs, the governance of algorithmic processes, and applied examples of governing machine learning processes in a sub-DAO of GitcoinDAO with engineering expert Danilo Lessa Bernardineli from BlockScience.

06-14
53:52

Mint & Burn Episode 37: Blockchain & Environmental Sustainability w. Zane Griffin Talley Cooper and Kelsie Nabben

In this episode, we're joined by PhD graduate Zane Griffin Talley Cooper to discuss his research on BIT, COIN, RARE EARTH, blockchain and the environment, and what sustainability means in Web3.0. A not to miss episode!

05-31
01:02:32

Mint & Burn Episode 36: Blockchain Governance and Game Theory with Dr Peyman Khezr and Associate Professor Chris Berg

In this episode, we're joined by RMIT Blockchain Innovation Hub economist Dr Peyman Khezr to discuss cryptoeconomics and game theory. We explore the utility of blockchains, how to think about how to choose governance mechanisms in blockchain systems, and some specific mechanisms, including quadratic voting, time, and bond voting. By analyzing relatively new mechanisms in blockchain governance, we see how blockchains are evolving in the pursuit of reducing transaction costs.

05-16
47:39

Mint & Burn Episode 35: The Valuation of Virtual Land and the Metaverse with Mitchell Goldberg, Prof. Jason Potts and Kelsie Nabben

In this episode, we explore some of the economic principles of the Metaverse in a discussion of how people are valuing land in virtual worlds, such as Decentraland. Based on a working paper, we ask what drives prices of virtual land and how this is linked to business applications, and explore what this might mean for virtual spaces and their business models, as well as real cities as they seek to digitise.

04-26
47:28

Mint & Burn Episode 34: Intellectual Property Rights in Crypto Cyberspace with Prof. Sinclair Davidson, Prof. Jason Potts, and Kelsie Nabben

In this episode, we discuss intellectual property, IP rights, and what this means in the context of blockchain and crypto states. We talk about whether property rights are granted by nation-states or by community consensus. We also discuss the possibilities of composability and the limitations of property rights in Web3.0.

04-12
46:44

Mint & Burn Episode 33: Surveying a City - methods and futures in the Digital CBD project with Annette Markham & Alexia Maddox

In this episode, we're joined by Professor Annette Markham and Dr Alexia Maddox to discuss the "Digital CBD" project. We explore quantitative and qualitative ethnographic research methods in an exploration of what it means to gather data and imagine the future of a city post-COVID. A link to the Digital CBD Survey is in the show notes!

03-29
56:01

Mint & Burn Episode 32: DAO tooling & DeFi w. Dr Darcy Allen and Tulley Kearney

In this episode, we're joined by RMIT Blockchain Innovation Hub team members Dr Darcy Allen and Tulley Kearney to discuss DAO tooling and some of the latest trends in Decentralised Finance (DeFi). Darcy outlines his approach to "DAO toolkits" as composable enablers of innovation economies, the political possibilities of "cryptodemocracy", and ecosystem sustainability. Tulley talks about DeFi founders Andre Cronje exit from the space, Curve Wars, and crypto community building.

03-15
53:06

Mint & Burn Episode 31: Blockchain meets Quantum Computing w. Dr Peter Rohde, Jason Potts, Sinclair Davidson & Darcy Allen

Quantum computing is coming. What does this mean for blockchain security? In this fascinating and dynamic episode, we explore what is quantum computing, is it a threat to blockchain, and what are the timelines. We also explore some potential antidotes, including post-quantum cryptography and "quantum crypto-economics".

02-28
54:48

Mint & Burn Episode 30: Research Frontiers for 2022 (law & tax) w. Aaron Lane, Elizabeth Morton & Marta Poblet

In this "part 2" on some of the research areas that RMIT Blockchain Innovation Hub team members are focused on in 2022, we speak with Dr Aaron Lane, Dr Elizabeth Morton and Associate Professor Marta Poblet on DAO law in Australia, moving beyond CGT to a tax framework for the digital economy, and DAOs as "autonomous" organisations. Hosted by Kelsie Nabben.

02-21
47:54

Mint & Burn Episode 29: Research Frontiers for 2022 with Jason Potts & Chris Berg (pt.1)

In this episode, we talk about some of the research areas that RMIT Blockchain Innovation Hub team members are focused on in 2022. Professor Jason Potts and Professor Chris Berg discuss DAOs as economic phenomena of enquiry, and the competitive dynamics of layer 1 blockchains. Hosted by Kelsie Nabben.

02-07
49:38

Recommend Channels