CRYPTOLAND

Episode 01

Where Are the Earliest Bitcoin Investors Now?

Mar 10, 2022 · 32 min

In this episode of Cryptoland, Motherboard catches up with some of the earliest investors present at the Bitcoin 2013 conference and reckons with how the cryptocurrency industry has evolved over the past decade and looks at where it's going.

Episode 02

What Is Bitcoin's Environmental Impact?

Mar 17, 2022 · 27 min

Follow Motherboard to West Texas, which is quickly becoming a global Bitcoin mining hotspot, followed by a panel discussion on whether Bitcoin lives up to the promises of its biggest supporters or reflects the fears of its strongest environmental critics.

Episode 03

DeFi & Memecoins

Mar 24, 2022 · 32 min

In the beginning there was only Bitcoin, but today there exists a dizzying array of crypto projects promising eye-popping returns to investors. In this new Wild West, doge-themed memecoins and complex "decentralized finance" (DeFi) projects are making some people rich and ruining others due to scams, hacks, and plain old poor investing.

Episode 04

The Family Business

Mar 31, 2022 · 29 min

"Be your own bank" reflects the core libertarian ethos of Bitcoin. But what happens when it goes wrong? A shocking amount of Bitcoins have been lost by their owners either because they lost their passwords or lost their wallets. In this episode of Cryptoland, Motherboard follows a father-and-son duo who run a business unlocking Bitcoin wallets for investors who could be rich—if they can remember their passwords.

Episode 05

Sex Workers Banned From Banks Turn to Crypto

Apr 7, 2022 · 29 min

Crypto is often said to be a lifeline for people who are blocked from mainstream finance, and one community in particular has embraced its potential: sex workers. Sex workers routinely face discrmination from banks, credit card companies, and payment services, and so some performers—and startups—have turned to the blockchain. But is it a solution, or merely a Band-Aid? Motherboard visits the Spankchain hype house in Las Vegas to see what this world looks like in actions, and speaks to sex worker and author Liara Roux about how Bitcoin fits into sex work.

Episode 06

Ransomware Is Everywhere. Can It Be Stopped?

Apr 14, 2022 · 24 min

All over the world, criminals are locking up important computer systems and demanding crypto as a ransom. So-called ransomware is officially an epidemic, and cryptocurrencies sit at the nexus of the crisis. In this episode of Cryptoland, Motherboard sifts through the fallout of a ransomware attack at schools in Afton, Missouri, and our panelists discuss the history and current role of crypto in this booming type of cyber-crime.

Episode 07

How Bitcoin Mines Were Airlifted From China to the US

Apr 21, 2022 · 27 min

The Chinese government has long tried to stamp out cryptocurrencies in the country with varying levels of success. In 2021, a ban on mining finally sent firms packing and seeking countries like Kazakhstan with friendlier stances toward crypto mining. They've also found homes in towns all over the US, where companies are encountering both support and criticism from locals, as well as politicians at the state and federal levels. Will Bitcoin be regulated in the States, and how should our leaders approach it?

Episode 08

Liberland

Apr 28, 2022 · 23 min

In this episode of Cryptoland, Motherboard takes you to 'Floating Man,' a wild multi-day festival for believers in Liberland, a Bitcoin-powered micronation located in a contested patch of land between Croatia and Serbia that technically doesn't exist.