CoinDesk Confidential: Robin Schmidt

Robin Schmidt is Supermassive.one. He’s also the head of multimedia at The Defiant, where he churns out some of the highest quality videos documenting the emergence of “decentralized finance.” He’s defiant. An artist. And a muckraker. Today he fills out CoinDesk’s version of the Proust Questionnaire, a style of interview popular during that French novelist’s age, which asks a series of short questions and expects short answers. Although seemingly prosaic, the survey might reveal something of Schmidt’s “true” character. He is a speaker at CoinDesk’s Consensus festival. If you want to take the survey, find it here.

Do you own bitcoin?

Yes

Do you own dogecoin?

No

What about SHIB?

No

Where are you from?

U.K.

Greatest fear?

Losing one of my kids

Greatest joy?

My kids

What is the quality you most like in a man/woman/person?

A sense of humor

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Critical faculties

Do you often remember your dreams?

Almost never

Do you like lemons?

Yes

Is crypto still blossoming?

Yes

Is crypto an ugly duck?

Yes

Should Elon Musk run Twitter?

Yes

Should countries be run as companies?

No

In 100 years, will there be more or fewer monies?

More

Is the U.S. dollar a Ponzi scheme?

Yes

Is everything [a Ponzi scheme]?

Option 1

Who is your favorite politician? Why?

Andrew Yang, because I’ve actually spoken to him on several occasions.

Is Bitcoin forever?

Yes

Which living person do you most admire?

Simon Wan

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

A day at the beach with the family

Ću vi parolas esperanton?

No

Do what you want or do what you must?

Want

Would you choose a green thumb or the absolute guarantee you will never get gangrene?

Absolute guarantee

What is your best characteristic?

Optimism

What characteristic do you most deplore in yourself?

Risk taker

Do you use a hardware wallet?

No

Greatest extravagance?

A meebit

Your worst regret?

Lying to my wife

Favorite TV show? (What you’re watching now?)

“Euphoria”

Any words of wisdom?

Challenge all assumptions.

You can have one historical figure over for coffee. Who do you choose?

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Jack Dorsey wanted a “Blue Sky” for Twitter. Should the web only be built on open protocols?

No

Approximate size – depth and width – of the largest hole you’ve dug?

9 foot wide, 6 foot deep

What is your greatest achievement?

My kids

AI. To be pursued?

Yes

Your current state of mind?

Positive

Would you choose to live forever? Why or why not?

Yes. I will never run out of things I want to learn.

Do cars look like faces to you?

Yes

Dogs or cats?

Cats

Can dogs smile?

No

Who is your favorite singer?

Lady Gaga

Napkins: for or against them?

For

Do you have a library card?

No

How is the weather today?

Sunny

On what occasion do you lie?

When I have to

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

Varicose veins

Which living person do you most despise?

Donald Trump

Do you write a list before grocery shopping?

Sometimes

If you could be safely catapulted somewhere, would you prefer to walk?

No

Do you own an article of clothing that could be called indigo?

Yes

Bees see ultraviolet. Do you see the same world (or most of it)?

No

New York or San Francisco bagels?

New York

How many glasses of water do you drink per day?

4

Are birds real?

Yes

What drives you?

A car

Would you ever drive a red convertible regularly?

Yes

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Sarah

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

For real

What’s your strongest-held belief that would get you “canceled?”

The royal family are lizard people.

What’s the funniest/smartest tweet you’ve seen that can recall off the top of your head?

Pass

Single favorite meme?

Yeet

If you could be granted one superpower, what would it be?

Repel idiots

How would you like to die?

Beheading

In three words or fewer, what is currently the largest detriment to society?

TikTok

In three words or fewer, what is currently the greatest hope for society?

TikTok