Crypto Hackers Face The Courts

One of the more interesting phrases used by folks in crypto is this one: “code is law.” Think of it this way. Under the idea that “code is law”, what governs whether something - say a transaction - is valid or not isn’t the whims or caprices of any individual. Instead, what determines whether something is acceptable, permissible, or appropriate is what’s written into the software that enabled that transaction in the first place. It is another way of thinking about the so-called immutability of the blockchain - if the blockchain says it, then that’s what’s going to remain.

Sounds logical, right? But what happens when the code doesn’t do what you were expecting it to do - or when someone exploits loopholes in the logic of the software for their own personal financial gain? These questions are at the crux of today’s episode, that will review an interesting precedent set by a crypto trader named Avraham Eisenberg, who exploited the “idea of code is law” for millions of dollars - and then was arrested and charged with fraud. Bloomberg reporter Muyao Shen and Bloomberg Law correspondent Matthew Bultman join this episode to discuss.

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This podcast is produced by the Bloomberg Crypto Podcast team: Supervising producer: Vicki Vergolina, Senior Producer: Janet Babin, Producers: Sharon Beriro and Muhammad Farouk, Associate Producers: Mo Andam and Ty Butler. Sound Design/Engineer: Desta Wondirad.

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