E73: Crypto, Memes, and Politics with Li Jin

Li Jin joins Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, and Antonio Garcia Martinez. Li is the co-founder of Variant Fund and a prolific writer. This episode dives deep into crypto, web3, memecoins, and the attention economy thesis. They cover the direction of techno-capitalism and its impact on politics, decentralization, and the cultural differences between American and European value systems. If you're looking for an ERP platform, check out NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/zen - now through April 15th NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program.

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Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns

Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more,

Spotify

Apple

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FOLLOW ON X:

@ljin18 (Li)

@eriktorenberg (Erik)

@dwr (Dan)

@agm.eth (Antonio)

@moz_podcast (Moment of Zen)

@TurpentineMedia

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LINKS:

Li Jin: https://li-jin.co/about/

Variant Fund: https://variant.fund/

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TIMESTAMPSL

(00:00) Adding Ukraine to NATO

(01:30) Peace in Ukraine?

(05:16) On the Attention Economy

(10:16) Meme Coins and Attention Valuation

(14:23) Sponsor: NetSuite | Squad

(17:38) Meme Coins Continued

(23:51) Marxism

(33:05) Exploring the Power Structure and Social Tensions

(34:10) The Managerial Elite and Bourgeoisie Capitalism

(36:12) Perspectives on Europe and Innovation

(44:16) Crypto's Role in Society: Egalitarian or Hierarchical?

(57:35) Attention Economy and Memetics

(59:28) Wrap