If you wanted to create an exclusive online community with a shared goal, how would you go about it? If your answer is, “with crypto, obviously!” then you’re in luck. DAOs (those are decentralized autonomous organizations, if that helps) are growing more popular with proponents of cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies. But what’s up for some debate is what these communities are actually good for, and what kind of impact this purposeful gatekeeping can have on the real world.

Content

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

This week on Gadget Lab, WIRED senior writer Gilad Edelman joins us to talk about the topsy-turvy world of DAOs and his own experience with creating one.

Show Notes

Read Gilad’s story about his experimental DAO for punchlines.

Recommendations

Gilad recommends calling the IRS (yes, seriously). Mike recommends the New Yorker Android app. Lauren recommends WIRED’s beginner’s guide to Discord.

Gilad can be found on Twitter @GiladEdelman. Lauren Goode is @LaurenGoode. Michael Calore is @snackfight. Bling the main hotline at @GadgetLab. The show is produced by Boone Ashworth (@booneashworth). Our theme music is by Solar Keys.

How to Listen

You can always listen to this week’s podcast through the audio player on this page, but if you want to subscribe for free to get every episode, here’s how:

If you’re on an iPhone or iPad, open the app called Podcasts, or just tap this link. You can also download an app like Overcast or Pocket Casts, and search for Gadget Lab. If you use Android, you can find us in the Google Podcasts app just by tapping here. We’re on Spotify too. And in case you really need it, here’s the RSS feed.


More Great WIRED Stories

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

Auto-Safety Regulator Probes Tesla Over ‘Phantom Braking’

The U.S. auto-safety regulator is investigating Tesla Inc. over customer complaints that…

A GMO Purple Tomato Is Coming to Stores. Will the US Bite?

In December 2004, plant scientist Cathie Martin went to the greenhouse to…

Amazon Fire TV Stick owners can unlock dozens of free perks using ‘magic trick’ phrase and first saves you so much time

AMAZON Fire TV users can save so much time by using an…

Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 pre-loads and launch times to play it at release

CALL of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is already out, and soon the…