Hidden Forces

In Episode 36 of Hidden Forces, host Demetri Kofinas interviews Leemon Baird about the launch of Hedera Hashgraph, a public ledger built atop the hashgraph consensus protocol that aims to serve as the trust layer of the modern Internet. Hedera implements a suite of solutions that we have never seen before in a public ledger. We get into the details of how Hedera does proxy staking, sharding, as well as the unique approach to open review and regulatory compliance. Follow us at @hiddenforcespod

In this special release of Hidden Forces, Demetri updates listeners on two major developments. The first deals with the Hidden Forces Media Platform, scheduled for release in early April 2018. This platform will offer multi-tiered subscriptions with access to interactive transcripts, show rundowns, and full-video service. The second piece of news deals with Demetri's involvement in Hashgraph and the company's upcoming announcement on Tuesday, March 13th, at a one-thousand person event in NYC.

In Episode 35, Demetri speaks with Alex Mashinsky, founder, and CEO of Celsius, a next generation lending wallet that aims to be the ‘Killer App’ of the cryptocurrency revolution. In this conversation, we examine the mechanics behind the Celsius Network, as well as how the company intends to manage risk, execute short sales on behalf of institutional clients, and lower borrowing costs for its users.

Episode 34 of Hidden Forces features author, investor, and contributor to CNBC's Fast Money Brian Kelly. Demetri and Brian explore familiar topics like the problem of scalability, exchange & regulatory risk, cash-settled futures & ETF’s, and how bitcoin may fare compared to gold during a financial crisis. The two also discuss the recent spike in volatility amid a rising interest rate environment and consider how the rise of systemic trading strategies may accelerate future market downturns.

In Episode 33, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Bill Browder about how his wealth was plundered by Russian oligarchs and placed in the hands of Vladimir Putin. Browder was the largest foreign investor in Russia. When he was deported, his $4.5bn in assets liquidated, and his lawyer murdered, he devoted himself to ending Russia’s endemic corruption and human rights abuses. This is the fall of Glasnost.

In Episode 32, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Ari Paul, co-founder, and CIO of BlockTower Capital, a crypto hedge fund focused on the cryptocurrency space about how are crypto funds are managing risk, what some of the most interesting and creative investment opportunities are and how investors can take advantage of them. Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @hiddenforcespod

In this Market Forces segment, Demetri speaks with Ben Friedland, Vice Chairman & Co-Head of Alternative Investments Practice for CBRE, the largest commercial real estate services and investment firm in the world. Ben advises the world’s top hedge funds and PE companies regarding real estate investments, leases, and acquisitions, and is in a unique position to provide insight into how the forces of technology and globalization are changing this age-old, multi-trillion-dollar industry in the 21st century.

In Episode 31 of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Chris Burniske about how to value a cryptocurrency. What are some of the early indicators of success or failure in a cryptoventure? How do we differentiate between the different currencies, DApps, and tokens? How does one judge the merits of a white paper, the seriousness of the dev team, and the enthusiasm of early adopters? How important are governance models, supply schedules, and money velocity in determining the value of a cryptoasset?

In Episode 30, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Tim O’Reilly about mapmaking in the 21st century. If we want to better navigate the world, and if we want to accurately anticipate and predict the future, we must start by building better maps of the present. Tim O'Reilly explains how creating a map of today can help us determine what tomorrow holds. Follow us at @hiddenforcespod

In this Crypto Forces segment of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Mark DiMichael, a Forensic Accountant who specializes in the tax implications for cryptocurrencies. What are the filing requirements for anyone who has profited from, transacted in, or mined a cryptocurrency in the last 9 years? Do cryptocurrencies qualify under the terms of a like-kind exchange? What are some exemptions that could help lower your tax burden and help you keep more of the money you've made from cryptocurrencies?

In Episode 29, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Hooman Majd about how to interpret the Iranian protests within the wider political, cultural, and financial dimensions of the greater Middle East. The story of the Iranian protests is about far more than just one nation. It's a story of powerful forces that stretch across the economic and political sectors of the Middle East. Here, Hooman Majd joins us to discuss the forces reshaping these nations. Follow us at @hiddenforcespod

In Episode 28 of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas lays out his vision for a possible future driven by the emergent forces we have been covering in 2017. What is the goal of the machine? What do we seek to accomplish with our technologies? What are the benefits and the costs associated with the technological, political, and economic forces of the modern age? Follow us at @hiddenforcespod Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @hiddenforcespod

In this Christmas Day release of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas addresses questions related to a documentary about hashgraph and the promise of distributed ledger technology.  How can a patented consensus algorithm replace an open-source blockchain protocol? How can hashgraph be reasonably compared to public blockchain networks like ethereum or bitcoin?  Demetri also shares his thoughts on bitcoin, its uninspiring value proposition, and the mania around cryptocurrencies, altcoins, and ICO's. 

In Episode 27, Demetri Kofinas speaks with economist Gary Shilling, who famously called the bottom in what has become a 36-year bull market in US Treasuries, about the ramifications of Donald Trump’s economic policies. How will the Trump tax plan and regulatory reform affect the American economy? If treasuries remain in a bull market, what will happen to stocks, commodities, and the dollar in 2018? Gary Shilling joins us to provide an overview of these topics and more. Follow us at @hiddenforcespod

In Episode 26, we explore the terrain of a warming planet with NASA's Chief Climate Scientist Gavin Schmidt. Whether is the prototypical complex system. Edward Lorenz, one of the pioneers of chaos theory, was a meteorologist. So why is climate change so controversial? Demetri Kofinas cuts through the controversy and dives right into the data, models, and forecasts of climate science.