Augur(ing) Assassinations

Augur represents a new type of prediction market. It’s decentralized nature allows users to stay anonymous, which may be troubling for law enforcement or other state agents if the bets placed are threatening in nature. Right now, it only has a small number of users, but it has the potential to gain traction.In these prediction markets you have the ability to place a bet, using a type of cryptocurrency, on a future action such as; whether a Supreme Court nominee will be appointed by a certain date in time. However, Augur may also host betting schemes that may seem “unsavory” to some Americans, like predicting when someone could die, otherwise known as an assassination market.What is Augur? What is a prediction market? What can you bet on? Is Augur regulated? Are people placing bets on if certain public figures would be assassinated? What kind of effects will technology like Augur have?Further ReadingMeet The ‘Assassination Market’ Creator Who’s Crowdfunding Murder With Bitcoins, written by Andy GreenbergCrypto-Convict Won’t Recant, written by Wired StaffGambling Can Save Science, written by Alex TabarrokAre We All ‘Harmless Torturers’ Now?, written by Paul Bloom and Matthew JordanRelated ContentWhat Influences Elections?, Free Thoughts EpisodeHow Egalitarianism Comes from Conflict (And Why It Matters), written by Pamela J. Hobart Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.