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The Cryptopians: Idealism, Greed, Lies, and the Making of the First Big Cryptocurrency Craze Audio CD – Unabridged, February 22, 2022

by Laura Shin (Author, Reader)
4.3 out of 5 stars 334 ratings
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The story of the idealists, technologists, and opportunists fighting to bring cryptocurrency to the masses.

In their short history, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have gone through booms, busts, and internecine wars. Yet today they are very much still with us: Bitcoin currently trades for almost $10,000, the value of all crypto assets is greater than $250 billion. The central promise of crypto is too good to pass up-vast un-taxable fortunes made from decentralized networks not controlled by any single entity.

Yet cryptocurrency was growing increasingly marginal until a brilliant new idea changed its fortunes once again: Ethereum. In this book, Laura Shin takes readers inside the creation of this new form of cryptocurrency network, which enabled users to launch their own new coins, and in so doing, created a new crypto fever. You'll meet people like Vitalik Buterin, the wunderkind whose idea quickly became a $20 billion empire; Charles Hoskinson, the initial CEO who left the project within five months; and Joe Lubin, a former Goldman Sachs VP whose early involvement in Bitcoin and Ethereum helped him become one of crypto's most well-known billionaires. Sparks flew as these outsized personalities fought for their piece of a seemingly limitless new business opportunity.

The fortunes of crypto continue to rise and fall, but the people fighting to take it mainstream are making and losing fortunes and careers on it. This fascinating book shows the crypto market for what it really is: a deeply personal struggle for a revolution that may come tomorrow, or not at all.

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  1. Language
    English
  2. Publisher
    Blackstone Pub
  3. Publication date
    February 22, 2022
  4. Dimensions
    6.06 x 1.81 x 5.67 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1668603659
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1668603659
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A financial journalist and podcaster looks into the tangled rise of cryptocurrency. Imagine the internecine politics that Alexander Hamilton had to endure in piecing together a dollar-based treasury. Amplify it with backchannel drama, dark web intrigues, and head-butting mad scientists.

-- "Kirkus Reviews"

The most authoritative account yet of Ethereum. Laura Shin is deeply sourced in the crypto world and this is reflected on every page. The Cryptopians also casts new light on Vitalik Buterin, showing the human side of Ethereum's founding genius as never before.

-- "Jeff John Roberts, executive editor of Decrypt and author of Kings of Crypto"

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Blackstone Pub; Unabridged edition (February 22, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1668603659
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1668603659
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.06 x 1.81 x 5.67 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 334 ratings

About the author

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Laura Shin

Laura Shin

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Laura Shin is a crypto journalist, host of the Unchained podcast, and author of “The Cryptopians: Idealism, Greed, Lies, and the Making of the First Big Cryptocurrency Craze” (Public Affairs, 2022). During the course of writing her book, she and her sources uncovered who they believe was behind the biggest whodunnit in crypto — the 2016 DAO attack on Ethereum.

Formerly a senior editor at Forbes, she was the first mainstream journalist to cover crypto full-time, and her podcasts and videos have had more than 15 million downloads and views. Shin has spoken about cryptocurrency at places such as TEDx San Francisco, the International Monetary Fund, Singularity University and the Oslo Freedom Forum.

She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with Honors from Stanford University and has a master of arts from Columbia University’s School of Journalism. She lives in New York City.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
334 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book well-researched and highly detailed, making it essential reading for crypto enthusiasts. The writing is eloquent, with one customer noting how it provides insight into Vitalik's mind. Customers describe it as an awesome read that will be a classic, and find it interesting.

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15 customers mention "Research quality"15 positive0 negative

Customers praise the research quality of the book, finding it well-researched and essential reading for crypto enthusiasts, particularly for understanding the history of Ethereum.

"...tell Laura Shin is a seasoned journalist by the quality and sophistication of this book, even if you weren’t already familiar with her podcast or..." Read more

"...The research involved in this book is breathtaking, but Laura pulls it all together into a tale that draws us in and keeps us guessing...." Read more

"...who has been in the industry for years, this is the best book ever on the culture of crypto, and the clash between people who want to change the..." Read more

"...Impeccable research concerning the formation of Ethereum and the first crypto bubble but didn’t hold my interest...." Read more

11 customers mention "Writing quality"11 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it highly detailed, eloquent, and insightful, with one customer noting how it provides a view into Vitalik's mind.

"...true story of the early alt-coin years is every bit as appalling, enlightening, and dramatic as “The Wolf of Wall Street,” though it involves much..." Read more

"This book provides a highly detailed & exhaustively documented historical account of the Ethereum ecosystem. I found it riveting...." Read more

"Laura Shin is the ultimate narrator for this historic episode of technology and crypto...." Read more

"...It is really detail packed. What I enjoyed the most was the view inside Vitalik's mind (a hard to read person to say the least) and the view the..." Read more

10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, with several noting it will be a classic, and one mentioning it's particularly suitable for non-industry readers.

"...Thank you, Laura! It was also a great read for anyone who’s not in the industry or super technical...." Read more

"...My take is that this book will be a classic, especially to scholars in the future who are researching the brilliance and character of Vitalik B." Read more

"Well written, great content, and very enjoyable to read." Read more

"...Very impressive work and a fun to read history on the creation of Ethereum and the early struggles. Five stars!" Read more

3 customers mention "Interest"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting, with one describing it as a fascinating ride.

"Well researched, objective, informative and interesting...." Read more

"Incredible book, clearly written, informative with Laura’s engaging and high-integrity style of reporting...." Read more

"Interesting and refreshing..." Read more

It’s fascinating to follow the start up of Etherium.
5 out of 5 stars
It’s fascinating to follow the start up of Etherium.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Sma580
    5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely well-written, comprehensive and great for non-industry people to read
    Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    You can tell Laura Shin is a seasoned journalist by the quality and sophistication of this book, even if you weren’t already familiar with her podcast or work. In attending an event in which Laura talked through her process for gathering the facts for this book, she mentioned having done 200 interviews over the course of 3 years. Her comprehensiveness shows. Like anytime throughout history when people were establishing and building a new frontier — the beginning of Ethereum was messy, complicated and full of drama. Laura has uncovered (as she does) so much for the rest of us to understand and appreciate in that story. Thank you, Laura! It was also a great read for anyone who’s not in the industry or super technical. I feel much better informed about how crypto works now having read this book!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • John
    4.0 out of 5 stars Crypto's "Wolf of Wall Street" tale, made comprehensible to normies
    Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This true story of the early alt-coin years is every bit as appalling, enlightening, and dramatic as “The Wolf of Wall Street,” though it involves much more complicated morality and mischief. Laura Shin animates every page, giving us a vivid sense of the surreal lifestyles and characters that produced “the financial revolution.” The research involved in this book is breathtaking, but Laura pulls it all together into a tale that draws us in and keeps us guessing. Most impressively, she made the highly-technical coding and investing schemes comprehensible to normies like me.

    There are many who have questioned the philosophies and failures of our current economic system, myself included. This book is about many such people who decided (for very diverse reasons) to do something about it. I have learned invaluable lessons by following the details of their experiences, though primarily, they are examples of what not to do (as so many life lessons are). I’d recommend this book for any crypto-enthusiast, whether idealogue or speculator.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Jennifer Manganello
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read to understand the culture of crypto and how it is going to change the world
    Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    As someone who has been in the industry for years, this is the best book ever on the culture of crypto, and the clash between people who want to change the world for the better, and those who are looking for a get rich quick scheme. Ethereum is by far the most important project in crypto, and maybe all of technology, and it is great that Laura digs deeply into the characters that made it happen. My take is that this book will be a classic, especially to scholars in the future who are researching the brilliance and character of Vitalik B.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Theodore Stamas
    3.0 out of 5 stars Suited for programmers and crypto enthusiasts
    Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I’m not a Luddite and found this book very difficult to understand and follow. Impeccable research concerning the formation of Ethereum and the first crypto bubble but didn’t hold my interest. The writing is not suited for the masses.
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  • Michael Hardiman
    5.0 out of 5 stars the amazing beginnings of Ethereum
    Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The book title is not accurate. This is a book about Ethereum, not crypto generally.
    Lays bare the internecine back-and-forth between the genius Vitalik Buterin and the others who created Ethereum, when there was no established road map. Financed largely by money made from bitcoin, the group did a lot right and some wrong, but eventually overcame obstacles and got out of their own way to get Ethereum established.
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  • J. Turner
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read on History of Ethereum
    Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This book provides a highly detailed & exhaustively documented historical account of the Ethereum ecosystem. I found it riveting. If it accurately portrays some of the personalities involved, one should be suspect before investing in some of the top crypto projects out there.

    I would highly recommend the book to anyone out there involved with blockchain technology, speculating on cryptocurrencies, or just interested in the coming wave of DAO-based “crypto capitalism.”
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  • N. A. Long
    4.0 out of 5 stars a fascinating ride focused on altruism meeting reality
    Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Well researched, objective, informative and interesting. Laura Shin was thorough in her investigation and worked diligently to identify the dizzying array of characters.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Kayla Bobos
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Love ETH and this is a must read if you want to understand crypto
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Top reviews from other countries

  • eyespy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very Entertaining
    Reviewed in Canada on September 2, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Very entertaining if you have been in the space from day one and know all the players. The back stories and gossip fill in the blanks of what most know and have heard from the beginning to this day.
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  • Catherine Green
    5.0 out of 5 stars An important guide to social history that we all need to read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 4, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I loved reading this book! Being new to cryptocurrency and wanting to learn more, I found a podcast with Laura Shin and decided to order her book. The Cryptopians is a comprehensive introduction to the new history of cryptocurrency, explaining jargon, key people in the industry, and explaining how this all came about as a movement and how it continues to grow.

    I really think that we all need to read this book if we have children because it will be relevant to them as they grow up, so we might as well learn about cryptocurrency too!
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  • Martin
    2.0 out of 5 stars Content exhibits detailed but slightly biased research
    Reviewed in Germany on May 19, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting, in-depth researched content: overall book is cumbersome to read. Cheering author on for enormous work to have done to compile all of this, yet it still reads like a slightly biased tale of what happened.
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  • Ron Well
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well written history of Ethereum
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this book - especially the DAO saga. It’s at the right technical level and yet very entertaining. If you are interested in the beginnings of ETH I would recommend this book.
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  • Leo Weese
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling and detailed read about the early days of Ethereum
    Reviewed in Canada on March 16, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Well researched and detailed, very much enjoyed reading this!
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