Mt Gox, a Japan-to-San Francisco story
author interview on The Devil Takes Bitcoin
Friends, we are now approaching the mid-point of the fall 2025 semester.
In Strategy for the Networked Economy, we just wrapped up a two-part sequence looking at Netflix and Spotify, looking at strategy, structure, and the subscription economics of each. The two present very complementary insights; notably, Netflix’s investment, following unsuccessful negotiations with Starz, into controlling its own destiny and reverse-integration into content production. What insights might that have for Spotify, given ~70% of music supply is controlled by 3 (formerly 5) major labels? Up this week: standards and the standardization process, and Qualcomm’s market entry back in the day.
In Opportunity Recognition, we’ve continued to dig into the theme of founder-funder fit, through deep tech and non-deep tech examples. Up this week: the Editpep case, about CRISPR therapeutics startup and UCB campus spinout Editpep, a case authored by none other than our own Rich Lyons and Darren Cooke!
When I explain my experience working in Japanese print and television media, a frequently asked question is whether I have met Jake Adelstein, author of Tokyo Vice and more recently, The Devil Takes Bitcoin. To date, the answer has been: we are connected digitally but have yet to meet IRL. I missed him when he came to San Francisco in late May - as fate would have it, I was in Japan!
But at last, I get to rectify this state of affairs! I am very much looking forward to interviewing Jake at an upcoming author talk at the Japan Innovation Campus November 6 in Palo Alto, at a talk organized by the Japan Society of Northern California.
The Devil Takes Bitcoin is the story of the Mt Gox hacking (remember that?)….very much brought up to present day. It is also very much a Japan-and-San-Francisco story. I am looking forward to sitting down with Jake.
In preparation, I am re-reading Tokyo Vice….and dug up my old CBS News badge from the Nagano Olympics. (Still looking around for my old Asahi Shimbun badge.)
Hope to see you there! Here’s some music to help set the mood.
Onward and upward,
Jon