Reid Hoffman, Tim Chantarangsu, EpicLLOYD - Bitcoin Rap Battle Debate: Hamilton vs. Satoshi lyrics

HAMILTON
Before we begin, everyone do me a favor
And read a little thing
I wrote called the Federalist Papers
I explain how a nation’s unlikely to survive
Without a strong central government to
Keep it alive
When I launched the central bank
Jefferson called me ill
Now you have my face to
Thank on every ten dollar-bill
When America was cash-strapped
I pushed past that
Now some sicko makes crypto
And our nation backtracks?

SATOSHI
Decentralized currency yes, I invented it
I’m sure many governments wish
They had prevented it
Their national cash is how they keep control
But freedom to the people
Was my ultimate goal
Am I a pseudonym? A group of
Men? It doesn’t even matter
I invented Bitcoin cause fiat is a disaster
A man from Japan or a damn hologram?
I’m the reason open season on crypto began
HAMILTON does anybody know what
This crypto-thing means? To me
Sounds like the new Get Broke Quick scheme
A bunch of fools from across the land
Investing in something they
Don’t even understand
Buying Litecoin, Dash, Bitcoin Cash
It’s all gonna crash, and be gone in a flash
All this unsupported money’s
An irrational prank
And I’ll be laughing all the
Way to my National Bank

SATOSHI
Ha ha hahahah, yeah dude, super funny
As if banks these days still
Helped people make money
The rich get richer and we
Follow like we’re all sheep
The banks serve Wall Street
Crypto serves all streets
The interest in crypto’s on rapid ascent
What’s your current interest? Half a percent?
I’m sorry, the bank’s gone past it's peak
But, I want info encrypted
Not hacked and leaked

HAMILTON
If this crypto system will be our salvation
It needs to be centralized, needs regulation
If our central database gets… how you say
"hacked?" insurance will just make a case
To get your money back
‘Cause in fact, it’s tracked
And the money leaves a trail
Central currency is strong
Cryptocurrency is frail
Untraceable money wow, so clever
One typo in your address?
Now it’s gone forever sATOSHI
Crypto is frail? That’s the
Essence of your lesson?
Your money leaves a trail? yeah
A trail to a recession
A buncha rich white guys made this system
Why would they ever change this
When it’s made them rich men
Movie moguls fought hard against the VCR
Horse and buggy manufacturers all
Hated the car
So why would I take my advice from the banks?
I don’t need a bailout to survive thanks

Satoshi backup singer:
The system is so broken
We need that crypto token

Hamilton backup singer:
The system isn’t broken
Can we trust crypto tokens?

HAMILTON: (It’s gotta be)
Centralized!

SATOSHI: Decentralized!

HAMILTON: Centralized!
SATOSHI: Decentralized!

HAMILTON: We need control!

SATOSHI: Free enterprise!

HOST debate moderator:
Bring me the facts please testify

SATOSHI fiat's the way a government
Controls the populace

HAMILTON government protects it's people all
Of this is obvious
They keep the peace, and so they KEEP control
You want us ruled by crypto-miners
No one even knows

SATOSHI oh, it’s that "Strong Central
Government" bit again
They protect people, but only their citizens
Crypto has no borders
It's a true global currency
And censorship resistance for those
Who need it urgently

HAMILTON
Banks earn trust by assuming liability
You know a key
We know the customer explicitly
Will the real Satoshi please, stand up?
Nope, you’ll still be hiding
When crypto busts

SATOSHI you don’t need to trust the people
You just need to trust the code
Every record’s in the network
You’re just one node
And when you find a flaw
There’s a software update
Now try updating cash… go ahead, I’ll wait

HAMILTON
Wait? Cash works! You immediately pay
Crypto's a far worse medium of exchange
Can’t bitcoin the dentist
Can’t bitcoin my breakfast
Can’t even use bitcoin at bitcoin conventions

SATOSHI
No currency starts with universal adoption
It takes time for places to make it an option
Plus billions of people don’t
Have bank accounts
No savings, no interest, no checks to bounce

HAMILTON you’re saving the world? But what’s
The price you’re paying?
The only change you’re creating
Is climate change
Power grids spiking all across the land
Overheated, no one needs it
Hope it all is banned

SATOSHI from the king of paper currency
The hypocrisy!
For bills and forms in triplicate
You’re killing all the trees
Don’t like my power usage?
Stop targeting my rights
I own my purchased power and
The market sets the price

HAMILTON it’s gonna get real dark if
This is crypto’s night
They use your currency for crimes
That’s your kryptonite

SATOSHI most crime is done with Benjamins
Not the blockchain
There’s a reason most dollars
Carry traces of cocaine

HAMILTON where’s your proof of work?
That’s pure speculation
Those darknet black markets
Need more regulation

SATOSHI
The world’s fulla currencies and this
One makes it worse? 1 hundred eighty now
Bitcoin’s a hundred-eighty-first

HAMILTON it’s not the currency it'self
It’s the method, man
You can’t build things that last
Without a central plan

SATOSHI
Crypto is a balance to the centralized model
Cause things fall apart the
Center cannot HODL

HAMILTON if you end up having problems
I’ll feel bad for you, son

SATOSHI
I’ve got 99 problems but a Bit ain’t one