Information Asymmetry | Quasimatt on AI, Grifting & the Attention Economy

DeFi Dave — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:01:23 GMT

What is a proper definition of grifting? Is accelerationism optimistic or nihilistic? And what does AI Psychosis actually mean?

DeFi Dave sits down with Quasimatt — writer, thinker, and self-described explorer of absurdity — for a wide-ranging conversation about the ideas shaping how we live, work, and consume information online.They get into:

→ What "grift" actually means (hint: it's about information asymmetry)

→ AI psychosis — how AI companies are optimizing for your dependency

→ Prediction markets as a democratizing force to information gather but at the same time act in polarity of this ethos

→ Accelerationism and why velocity is meaningless without direction

→ Why in the age of algorithms nothing sticks culturally anymore

→ Patronage, clout, and how arts & media are supported today

→ Algorithms as discovery tools vs. attention traps

Quasimatt's core thesis: almost every problem — economic, social, technological — is really an information problem. And the highest use of technology isn't to create more value faster. It's to measure value more honestly.

EPISODE LINKS

- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2UMiRkUarXGDnDHPc5NDKC

- Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defi-dave/id1882414143

- YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheDeFiDavePod

- X/Twitter: https://x.com/defidave

- Substack: https://substack.com/@defidave

GUEST LINKS

- Blog: https://quasimatt.com

- X/Twitter: https://x.com/quasimatt

SPONSOR

Cap is a stablecoin powered by a novel covered credit system that puts users first, generating yield through a transparent overcollateralized credit market. Learn more about Cap at https://cap.app and follow them on

X/Twitter at https://x.com/capmoney_---

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 - Introduction and sponsor shoutout

0:23 - Discussion on patronage and sponsorship

1:26 - Modern status symbols and luxury goods

3:02 - Attention as a luxury status symbol

4:22 - Internet and ideological goods

5:07 - Media ownership and influence

6:06 - The nature of capital and social value

8:08 - The concept of grift in the economy

9:31 - Defining grift

13:46 - AI psychosis and human interaction

17:09 - Different AI models and their uses

18:05 - Using AI for productivity and writing

23:29 - Personal writing style and AI

25:09 - AI and capitalism

27:34 - Accelerationism and technology

30:07 - The evolution of technology

33:29 - Assessing value beyond money

37:42 - Prediction markets and information

42:04 - The Oracle problem in prediction markets

45:37 - Incentive markets and collective action

49:28 - Social media consumption and dynamics

51:26 - Platforms and creators

54:15 - TikTok's impact on music and culture

57:24 - Algorithms and deep engagement

60:28 - Social media regulation and responsibility

63:48 - Closing remarks and social media links

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit defidave.substack.com

David Z. Morris - The Fall of SBF and the Techno-Utopian Mirage

DeFi Dave — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 19:31:09 GMT

In this first episode, author David Z. Morris talks about his book, Stealing the Future, that covers the rise and fall of SBF and the culture of rationalism, EA, and longtermism that he was surrounded by. Morris argues FTX’s collapse was essentially a massive margin call fueled by misuse of customer deposits and a delusion that he did no wrong. The conversation defines and critiques effective altruism, rationalism, and longtermism, linking them to techno-utopian claims, AI “doom” narratives, and investment-style thinking that can justify harming present people for hypothetical future gains.

EPISODE LINKS

- X/Twitter Post: https://x.com/defidave/status/2029613180578886038?s=20

- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2UMiRkUarXGDnDHPc5NDKC

- Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defi-dave/id1882414143

- YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheDeFiDavePod

- X/Twitter: https://x.com/defidave

- Substack: https://substack.com/@defidave

GUEST LINKS

- Stealing The Future: Sam Bankman-Fried, Elite Fraud, and the Cult of Techno-Utopia on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Stealing-Future-Bankman-Fried-Elite-Techno-Utopia/dp/1917516088-

- X/Twitter: https://x.com/davidzmorris-

- Substack: https://substack.com/@davidzmorris

SPONSOR