Out of the Ether: The Amazing Story of Ethereum and the $55 Million Heist that Almost Destroyed It All

Written by:
Matthew Leising
Narrated by:
Chris Henry Coffey

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
11
Narrator
5
Release Date
October 2020
Duration
10 hours 16 minutes
Summary
In June of 2016, $55 million worth of the cryptocurrency ether vanished in one of the biggest hacks in the history of crypto. By exploiting a bug in a contract that held $250 million, hackers stole the funds in the digital equivalent of
broad daylight, siphoning off the money in full view of anyone with an internet connection.
Out of the Ether: The Amazing Story of Ethereum and the $55 Million Heist That Almost Destroyed It All tells the compelling tale of the cryptocurrency heist that shook the world of blockchain as well
as the early history of the brilliant and often eccentric coders and hackers who created Ethereum, the second most-valuable blockchain after Bitcoin.
Author and reporter Matthew Leising paints vivid portraits of the inventor of Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin, and many of the cofounders he gathered around him. While the hackers who made off with the
$55 million have never been caught, Leising reveals here a person associated with the 2016 attack, whom he identified using blockchain forensics, encrypted messages, and insider sources. The
book details the dramatic and, to some, unthinkable “fix” to the hack dreamt up by Buterin and others in the Ethereum community. A fix so controversial, many predicted that it, and not the attack
itself, would prove to be the undoing of Ethereum.
Out of the Ether provides in-depth coverage not only of the massive heist that forms the core of the narrative, but also the technological, social, and economic questions raised by Ethereum
and other cryptocurrencies. The book examines questions of decentralization, anonymity, and privacy in light of the actions of the larger-than-life coders, developers, and hackers in the story.
Perfect for anyone with even a passing interest in daring heists, digital financial technologies, or blockchain, Out of the Ether is a thriller so cutting-edge you may just choose not to believe it.
Reviews
Profile Avatar
shark_week

Excellent piece of journalism. I suggest this title for anyone looking to learn the history of modern crypto through the lens of etherium, especially for gaining context of second gen block chains. This would not be a useful book if you’re looking for more technical understanding of eth or blockchain.

Profile Avatar
Philip H.

An interesting story that is well read by the narrator. I wanted to learn about Ethereum and wasn't sure if this book would be too technical and boring. I enjoyed the story, think I understand the objectives and the continuing challenges with blockchains.

Profile Avatar
Anonymous

Interesting story. Learned some. However, I definitely could put it down and come back to it.....

1 book added to cart
Subtotal
$24.99
View Cart