The recent Bankless podcast explored the potential advantages of authoritarian regimes in the 21st century, contrasting them with the US government's more hands-off approach. Hosts Ryan Sean Adams and David Hoffman, along with economist Noah Smith and Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, discussed whether authoritarianism could outperform liberal democracies.

Smith argued that while liberal democracy was celebrated as the ideal model in the late 20th century, recent developments, such as China's ascent and internet's transformative role, challenge this belief. He highlighted the internet's ability to centralize vast amounts of data, enabling authoritarian states to gauge public sentiment, allocate resources efficiently, and respond swiftly to unrest, exemplified by China's actions post-2022 protests.

Buterin expanded on this, likening the internet to Thomas Hobbes' "war of all against all," suggesting that monopolistic narrative control could emerge as a stable equilibrium, reinforcing centralized authority.

They also explored counterarguments, such as the historical impact of technologies like the printing press, which initially boosted liberalism despite reducing information costs. Buterin emphasized the digital world's unique defenses, like encryption and decentralized platforms, which could mitigate totalizing control.

Discussing blockchain's potential, Smith questioned whether it could facilitate secure communication and voting in authoritarian states. Buterin cited Rarimo's "Freedom Tool," using zero-knowledge proofs to enable anonymous voting, suggesting blockchain's role in fostering dissent and democratization within such regimes.

Overall, while acknowledging authoritarian advantages, the discussion underscored blockchain's promise in bolstering democratic resilience against centralized control and fostering pluralistic, secure information ecosystems.