The Journey to Bitcoin
Alex Gordon-Brander, the co-founder and chief evangelist of Codex, has a story that could rival any blockbuster film. Standing curbside at the illustrious “Crypto House” during the World Economic Forum in Davos, he reminisces about his path to Bitcoin, which was not exactly smooth sailing. Before he even heard the name ‘Bitcoin,’ Gordon-Brander was deep into the world of digital currencies, even exploring energy-backed currencies. However, he soon found that it was more like trying to assemble IKEA furniture without the instructions—super complicated!
The First Encounter with Bitcoin
Like many of us, his initial reaction to Bitcoin was skepticism. When a buddy first introduced him to the idea of this revolutionary currency, Gordon-Brander thought: “This is probably going nowhere.” A wise choice of words for an era where his employer, Bridgewater Associates (a company founded by the famous Ray Dalio), was still wrestling with compliance issues around cryptocurrencies. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t until 2015 that he truly saw the light.
Finding the Light in Ethereum
2015 was a pivotal year—the launch of Ethereum was like a light bulb flicking on in a dark room. Gordon-Brander became fascinated with the concept of programmable currencies. “It was like discovering that the world could be a giant computer, connecting everything into an interoperable financial system,” he enthused. Here, he jumped right into the action; helping to launch a crypto exchange and riding the wave of the ICO boom. Talk about a rollercoaster ride!
The Shift from Bitcoin to DApps
While interest in decentralized applications (DApps) has surged recently, especially among newcomers eager to snag some Ether (ETH), Gordon-Brander notes that institutions remain firmly in the “Bitcoin first” camp. It’s like comparing your favorite classic rock band to some pop sensation—there’s a nostalgic loyalty to that first love. In his words, even amidst a prolonged bear market, the thesis for digital assets remains intact: “As a secular trend bet, digital assets still make a lot of sense.”
The Awakening of Crypto Finance
One of the more profound insights Gordon-Brander shares involves how crypto has acted like an alarm clock for many—waking them up to the reality that their money might not be safe in traditional banks, especially if their political views don’t align with the powers that be. In fact, he passionately noted, “The world is in a much better place with this technology than it would be without it.” As if prophetic, Ray Dalio now recommends a smidge of Bitcoin in investment portfolios, a seismic shift from earlier skepticism.
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