Blockchain Journeys

Did you hear the one about the Hollywood film producer who hangs out with a former Beatle and learnt about Bitcoin from Brock Pierce?Jon Karas has produced films starring William Hurt, James Brolin and Peter Falk.And he's now hooked up with Grammy nominated recording star Akon to launch the Akoin cryptocurrency in Africa.We discuss:Why Akoin isn't a charity and the token is designed to rise in value.Why crypto is perfect for unbanked AfricansAkon is "bigger than Michael Jackson" in Africa and is thronged by crowds wherever he goesHow Brock Piece introduced Karas to Bitcoin.The phenomenon of 'minutaires' in Africa - people who are rich in pre paid mobile phone minutesAkoin's plans for microloans, finance dApps, identity verification

Prince Michael of Liechtenstein fears we only delayed the Global Financial Crisis, and another financial crisis is looming.**Bailouts, money printing and negative interest rates may have all helped stave off the inevitable but judgement day is coming."Well at the moment we are very efficiently kicking down the can along the road," he tells Blockchain Journeys. "That can go on for a while."He says he expects the European Central Bank will continue to do "whatever it takes" with a loose monetary policy allowing countries to increase debt and inflate their way out of it."At the moment we did a monetary policy for more than 20 years to avoid a crisis.""Yeah, so I see a crisis coming up."[Also in this episode:]*How ordinary investors can prepare for the upcoming crisis.*Why negative interest rates are "dangerous"*Issues with the financial system that cryptocurrencies may help with.*How he first heard about Bitcoin.*Why the tiny country of Liechtenstein - population 38,500 - has become one of the most blockchain and cryptocurrency friendly in the world.*How he talked the godfather of Ethereum into moving his new project to Liechtenstein.

Dr Craig Wright opens up on his autism, why he’s compelled to correct people and reveals he’s a lot less prickly than he used to be.The Australian computer scientist has a simple message for those who don't believe he is the inventor of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakaomoto."I am, if you don't like it, stiff."Wright joins Blockchain Journeys for an interview that attempts to go beyond the usual questions he gets asked: invariably stuff about "why haven't you proven your claim", "private keys" and "what about this fake document then?" etc.Instead we decided to try and find out what the real man is actually like.*How does his autism affect the way he interacts with people? (Is that why he can seem so rude?)*How does he behave around his wife and children? Do they bring out his best?*Why does he feel the need to 'hunt people down on the street' to correct them?*Why does he consider gaming billionaire Calvin Ayre his 'mentor'?*And how does he deal with the negativity and insults from many in the crypto community who see him as a cartoonish super villain?

Market analyst Mati Greenspan reveals why he's heavily invested in marijuana stocks and believes the industry is about to 'take off'"I've got about 10 to 15 % of my total portfolio in weed stocks," Greenspan tells Blockchain Journeys."I believe in this industry. I have a lot of conviction. It's something that I've always been interested in, I mean since I was a teenager I was like 'why is this illegal'?""It's no worse for you than alcohol."Other highlights of the interview:Mati's granddad, who turned selling scrap metal into billions of dollars.Getting 'destroyed' by a YouTuber.The importance of diversification (and why it doesn't just mean owning a bunch of different coins.)The percentage of your wealth you should have in crypto (and the highest percentage Mati's had).Mati's power to move markets.His BTC price prediction for next year.