This episode was recorded on December 29th, 2020, and reflects Bitcoin price discussions at that time. In this episode, we dive into how blockchain technology is affecting and changing the Energy industry. Our guest, Daniel Kauffman, has served the energy industry for many years and has been an advisor to Bitcoin mining operations since 2018. We begin our conversation by discussing how Daniel was first introduced to Bitcoin and then jump into the challenges the Bitcoin community faces when it comes to the electric utility industry, such as getting energy prices below 0.4 cents in the US. Our discussion continues on how the Energy industry and Bitcoin currently interact with one another and Daniel’s predictions for future changes. We follow this by diving into the concept that something can have value because of its collective belief. We then elaborate on the idea of Federal government-issued coins and the potential that replaced by the Federal Reserve. We close the show by talking about what the adoption of cryptocurrencies looks like for our future and the need for continuous improvement on blockchain technology. Daniel Kaufman is an entrepreneur and management consultant, serving energy sector companies, service providers, and investors. Daniel is the founder and CEO of Enpira, a software company providing analysis and data services to electric utilities and building portfolios. Daniel was formerly the Director of Strategy for Siemens Energy, as well as a Field Engineer with Schlumberger. Daniel has worked for fortune 500 companies and large consulting firms helping to solve challenges at the intersection of energy technology and business. Daniel's work has spanned the energy sector from oil and gas to smart grid, power generation, and energy-efficient consumption. Daniel has degrees from Duke University and the Wharton school.
[1:00] - How did you find out about Bitcoin and what first led you to become interested in this space?
[3:00] - Why is it so challenging to find energy prices below .4 cents in the US?
[5:00] - In your opinion, how do the energy industry and the bitcoin industry interact? What challenges are present between these two industries?
[8:00] - Can you explain what “peaks” in electricity and utility mean?
[10:00] - Do you see a shift in perspective in the energy sector with the amount of new power generation recently?
[12:00] - What are the main differences between how most of our listeners buy their power and what market-to-market contracts look like?
[15:00] - When it comes to sourcing power for the cryptocurrency mining sector, where do you see the most opportunity in the whole generation mix?
[18:00]- How do you view natural gas generators versus a renewable wind farm’s built-in generators?
[25:00] - What are your thoughts on the value stored in Bitcoin in the form of energy?
[26:00] - Is it safe to say that Bitcoin mining is a new industrial process?
[28:00] - How do you disagree with Warren Buffet on the stored value in Bitcoin?
[30:00] - Can Bitcoin be put to work as a financial instrument? What does that look like?
[35:00] - How do you see the role of governments in cryptocurrencies over the next few years?
[36:00] - Do you see the federal reserve stepping in and acting as a frictionless payment mechanism?
[41:00] - Bitcoin vs Gold
[42:00] - How far do you think Bitcoin's value is going to grow based on “collective belief”?
[46:00] - Do you think we'll have a Fed-issued digital wallet on our smartphones in the next year? Or do you believe that the banks will be replaced by the federal reserve?
[49:00] - What are the benefits of using a Fed coin and are there any specific benefits for the consumer?
[53:00] -Where do you see the future of digital security going? How do you see blockchains either interacting with the overall?
[55:00] - Do you think the blockchain is built well enough to not have a single point of failure?
Support & Connect:
• MiningStore - www.miningstore.com
• Aurum Capital Ventures - www.aurumcapitalventures.com
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/jpbaric
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpaul-baric-6372a764/
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Connect with Daniel:
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-kauffman-4445072
General Podcast Information:
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