S2 Bonus: Unpopular Opinions with Chris DeRose

Chris DeRose is one of the most divisive and controversial figures in the Bitcoin space. Though he has received the “fake Socrates” badge, he often appears to be more of a Diogenes. While he doesn’t walk with a lantern in a constant pursuit of human honesty, he definitely enjoys subverting conventions while making bold claims in which he doesn’t necessarily believe.

If you’ve been watching Bitcoin Uncensored, then you’re probably well-aware of Chris’ intellect and sometimes regret his contrarian approach to Bitcoin (because he could definitely did some good and is in a position to do a lot more, but he chooses to constantly defy and disappoint). If you only know him from Twitter, then you’ll be surprised to discover that there’s a lot more to the cynical man who claims to be “ticker agnostic”.

This episode is all about expressing the unpopular opinions, calling out names (watch out, Saifedean), questioning norms, and exorcising one’s own demons for a cathartic conclusion. By the end of the two-hour discussion, Chris DeRose will be expressing his positive thoughts on Bitcoin in a rather Leibniz-esque manner where it’s the best possible invention we can have.

As somebody who has been in Bitcoin for 8 years or longer, Chris DeRose is definitely an interesting individual who has seen all the changes of narrative, market phases, and power dynamics. The sum of experiences, combined with his contrarian worldview, result in a series of ideas that don’t necessarily have to change opinions but are thought-provoking nonetheless.

As an avid reader of philosophy, Chris likes to view everything around him as if he discovered it for the first time and had no preconceived notion of what it’s supposed to be. His approach will definitely upset people, but he doesn’t seem to be in a game of pleasing others. Instead, he wants to fulfil his intellectual curiosities while also challenging the status quo and possibly influencing others to think outside the norms.

Chris DeRose is definitely an interesting personality who makes debates insightful and worth having even when there is no clear conclusion or evident solution to the issues at stake. And while some people might feel offended by his inclusion in a roster of people who strongly believe in the current state of Bitcoin, there is still a lot to learn from somebody who is responsible for the invention of the “Bitcoin Maximalist” label.

Love him or hate him, Chris DeRose is interesting and you should at least give him the benefit of the doubt before nominating his tweets for a stupidity award. If you follow his Twitter activity without a context and prior understanding of who he is and what he does, then you’re totally missing the point.

The episode is available on YouTube, iTunes, and Spotify.

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