Blockchain and the Law by Primavera De Filippi & Aaron Wright
Welcome to the latest book review here at blockwhat?, it’s awesome that you’re here.
This blog project tries to bundle the most important information surrounding distributed ledger technologies (DLT), with a special focus on blockchains. Apart from providing you with these reviews, that guide you to very helpful resources to further your understanding of blockchains, there is a big focus on the history and the technology behind this groundbreaking new paradigm.
Without any further ado, let’s dive into today’s review of Blockchain and the Law, a refreshingly different book in the blockchain space.
The Book
[The code] will present the greatest threat to both liberal and libertarian ideals, as well as their greatest promise. We can build, or architect, or code cyberspace to protect values that we believe are fundamental. Or we can build, or architect, or code cyberspace to allow those values to disappear. There is no middle ground. There is no choice that does not include some kind of building. Code is never found; it is only ever made, and only ever made by us.
- Lawrence Lessig
Blockchain and the Law by Primavera De Filippi & Aaron Wright is a wonderful read, from the beginning to the very end.
Overall the book finds a good balance between exploring the topic on a high conceptual level, as well as a low technical level — which is a great accomplishment in a space that is often either too technical or way too superficial.
The two authors explore the ramifications of blockchain technology in many different fields, such as financial applications or the legal sphere — with one chapter dedicated completely to the fascinating field of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs).
One of the key focuses of the book is always the look from a possible and potential regulatory perspective and they make it abundantly clear why this matters. While many authors in the blockchain space often resort to a very hyped, overly optimistic and one-sided view on the merits and consequences of this new technological paradigm, De Filippi and Wright always also take an in-depth look into possible negative outcomes.
A regulatory framework they focus on is Lessig’s so-called “Pathetic Dot Theory”, which argues that compared to other affairs in our world, software and ergo the cyberspace are completely man made — and therefore government and regulatory bodies have a great deal of possible influence on the development of these systems. The four main areas to exert control are Law, Social Norms, the market and architecture.
All in all it’s a lovely read, with a refreshingly balanced look at the consequences and ramifications of blockchains on many different fields, especially with regards to the law surrounding them.
Highly recommended read for everybody who wants to extend their understanding of the broad ramifications of blockchain technology.
The Authors
Primavera De Filippi is a permanent researcher at the CERSA/CNRS/Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas and a faculty associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School.
Aaron Wright is Associate Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Blockchain Project at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University.
I hope that you’ve enjoyed this brief review — if you’re enticed to dive into this awesome book, I’m highly confident that you’ll manage to find it in a local bookstore next to you, otherwise you can find it in the beautiful lands of the vast cyberspace of ours.
Yours truly
Till
If you’re interested in more awesome resources to enhance your knowledge about blockchain, check out these other reviews:
- Digital Gold by Nathaniel Popper (Book)
- The Truth Machine by Michael J Casey and Paul Vigna (Book)
- Blockchain Revolution by Don and Alex Tapscott (Book)
- Blockchain Innovation by Frederick Munawa (Podcast)
- Mastering Bitcoin by Andreas Antonopoulos (Book)
- Blockchain and the Law by Primavera De Filippi & Aaron Wright (Book) (this review)
- Mastering Ethereum by Andreas Antonopoulos and Gavin Wood
- Homo Sapiens by Noah Yuval Harari
- Homo Deus by Noah Yuval Harari
- 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Noah Yuval Harari
